How to say "when is the latest we can get there?"

xiaophil
May 10, 2010, 11:33 PM posted in I Have a Question

I just had a tough time translating this sentence.  I'm afraid to even type out my attempt for all to see.  Anyway, just so it is down here in the text box, this is what I want to say:

"When is the latest we can get there?"

Thanks

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bababardwan
May 10, 2010, 11:48 PM

Ok,decided to put myself on the spot just for fun to have a shot and this is what I would have come up with on the spur of the moment:

shenme shihou women keyi zui wan le daole?

..sure it's way off,but I'll be interested to see what it should have been

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bababardwan

ok,now had a chance to think a bit more,perhaps I'd modify it to"

women shenme shihou zui wanle keyi daole nali ?

..hehe,probs just getting in more of a hole

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bababardwan

come on xiaophil,out with your attempt mate ;)

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xiaophil

Hi Baba,

Another reason I didn't attempt was time considerations. I just got back online and am happy to see so much activity. Thanks for jumping in first!

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ruoruodewen
May 11, 2010, 12:23 AM

I think "women zui wan shenme shihou keyi dao nali? " sounds more natural. ^___^

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go_manly
May 11, 2010, 12:30 AM

How about:

"Wǒmen děi shénme shíhou yǐqián dào nàli?"

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go_manly

Actually, lets change the word order slightly:

"Wǒmen shénme shíhou yǐqián děi dào le?"

Does that make any sense?

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suansuanru

I like the dei3 you used here.It is correct.

"我们什么时候得到那里"makes sense.

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bodawei
May 11, 2010, 12:56 AM

我们最晚的到达时间是几点钟? women zuiwan de daoda shi jian shi ji dian zhong?  

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changye
May 11, 2010, 01:34 AM

我们最晚什么时候能到那里?

我们最迟什么时候能到那里?

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go_manly

changye

In your 2nd sentence, doesn't 迟 mean 'late' as in 'not on time' ?

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changye

HI go_manly

That's right. The original meaning of “迟” is "late" (not on time), but the character is also used in the sense of "later". For example, you can say both “迟早” and “早晚” (sooner or later) in Chinese.

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xiaophil

Thanks Changye

It all seems so simple now.