• Hegar@kbin.social
    7·
    1 month ago

    The way I was taught to ask for a light in chinese is literally translated as ‘Hit the fire machine?’ (打火機嗎)

    • pepperonisalami@sh.itjust.works
      2·
      1 month ago

      It’s because “打火機” is a noun, direct translation would be “the fire striking machine” which means the lighter. So the sentence is a shorthand to ask whether they have a lighter.

      • Hegar@kbin.social
        2·
        1 month ago

        Oh, that’s great to know! I’d got the impression that 打 was being used as a verb in the sense of use/make/play with 火機 as the object. Thanks!