Difference between revisions of "Comparing "buduan" and "buting""
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| − | If something keeps happening and won't stop happening, we say that it is "continuous" or "incessant". In Chinese, the words are "不断" (bùduàn) and "不停" (bùtíng). Instead of being adjectives, these two words are adverbs | + | If something keeps happening and won't stop happening, we say that it is "continuous" or "incessant". In Chinese, the words are "不断" (bùduàn) and "不停" (bùtíng). Instead of usually being adjectives, these two words are usually adverbs (but they can sometimes be adjectives too!). However, they are used in different ways and different places, so this article will help you distinguish when and where to use them. |
==不断== | ==不断== | ||
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| − | *客户 <em>不断地</em> 改变 主意，怎么 办？ | + | *客户 <em>不断地</em> 改变 主意，怎么 办？<span class="trans">The client won't stop changing his ideas. What should I do?</span> |
| − | *过去 的 两 年 里，我们 <em>不断地</em> 在 努力，也 <em>不断地</em> 在 进步。 | + | *过去 的 两 年 里，我们 <em>不断地</em> 在 努力，也 <em>不断地</em> 在 进步。<span class="trans">For two years, we continuously pushed ourselves and continuously improved.</span> |
| − | *他们 之间 的 矛盾 一直 <em>不断</em>，关系 <em>不断</em> 恶化。 | + | *他们 之间 的 矛盾 一直 <em>不断</em>，关系 <em>不断</em> 恶化。<span class="trans">The argument between them is ongoing. The relationship is consistently worsening.</span> |
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| − | *我今天很困，<em>不停地</em>打哈欠。 | + | *我今天很困，<em>不停地</em>打哈欠。<span class="trans">I'm so tired today. I can't stop yawning.</span> |
| − | *感冒了，喉咙痛，还<em>不停地</em>留鼻水。 | + | *感冒了，喉咙痛，还<em>不停地</em>留鼻水。<span class="trans">I got a cold. My throat hurts and my nose keeps running.</span> |
| − | *吃饭的时候他一句话也不说，<em>不停地</em>吃。 | + | *吃饭的时候他一句话也不说，<em>不停地</em>吃。<span class="trans">When he's eating, he doesn't say anything. He doesn't stop eating.</span> |
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| − | *孩子 <strong>哭</strong> <em>个不停</em>，是 不 是 发烧 了？ | + | *孩子 <strong>哭</strong> <em>个不停</em>，是 不 是 发烧 了？<span class="trans">The child is crying constantly. Does he have a fever?</span> |
| − | *今天 电话 <strong>响</strong><em>个不停</em>，烦 死 了。 | + | *今天 电话 <strong>响</strong><em>个不停</em>，烦 死 了。<span class="trans">The phone is ringing incessantly today, it's so annoying.</span> |
| − | *一天到晚 老婆 <strong>唠叨</strong> <em>个不停</em>，你 受 得 了 吗？ | + | *一天到晚 老婆 <strong>唠叨</strong> <em>个不停</em>，你 受 得 了 吗？<span class="trans">In the evening, the wife doesn't stop chatting. Can you stand it?</span> |
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Revision as of 04:04, 19 July 2013
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If something keeps happening and won't stop happening, we say that it is "continuous" or "incessant". In Chinese, the words are "不断" (bùduàn) and "不停" (bùtíng). Instead of usually being adjectives, these two words are usually adverbs (but they can sometimes be adjectives too!). However, they are used in different ways and different places, so this article will help you distinguish when and where to use them.
不断
"不断" is usually placed before the verb it modifies, and it often requires the particle "地" to show that it is an adverb.
Subject + 不断 + 地 + Verb
Examples
- 客户 不断地 改变 主意，怎么 办？The client won't stop changing his ideas. What should I do?
- 过去 的 两 年 里，我们 不断地 在 努力，也 不断地 在 进步。For two years, we continuously pushed ourselves and continuously improved.
- 他们 之间 的 矛盾 一直 不断，关系 不断 恶化。The argument between them is ongoing. The relationship is consistently worsening.
不停
"不停" is a little more versatile and can be placed both before the verb as an adverb, or after the verb as something that is somewhat like a complement. Either way, it means the same thing.
Subject + 不停 + 地 + Verb
Examples
- 我今天很困，不停地打哈欠。I'm so tired today. I can't stop yawning.
- 感冒了，喉咙痛，还不停地留鼻水。I got a cold. My throat hurts and my nose keeps running.
- 吃饭的时候他一句话也不说，不停地吃。When he's eating, he doesn't say anything. He doesn't stop eating.
When "不停" comes after the verb, it behaves somewhat strangely and takes "个" before it in order to become grammatical, like so:
Subject + Verb + 个 + 不停
Examples
- 孩子 哭 个不停，是 不 是 发烧 了？The child is crying constantly. Does he have a fever?
- 今天 电话 响个不停，烦 死 了。The phone is ringing incessantly today, it's so annoying.
- 一天到晚 老婆 唠叨 个不停，你 受 得 了 吗？In the evening, the wife doesn't stop chatting. Can you stand it?
