Difference between revisions of "Expressing "so-called" with "suowei""

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所谓 (suǒwèi) is the Chinese way of expressing "so-called." It can also be used in scenarios you would use sarcastic air quotes. Just keep in mind that "so-called" frequently comes with a negative attitude in English, but this is not always so in Chinese.
所谓 (suǒwèi) is the Chinese way of expressing "so-called." It can also be used in scenarios you would use sarcastic air quotation marks. Just keep in mind that "so-called" often comes with a negative connotation in English, but this is not always so in Chinese.  
 
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
所谓 + "so-called name"
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所谓 + (的) Noun Phrase
 
</div>
 
</div>
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The nouns phrase in this pattern is the "so-called name" being called into question. The 的 is optional.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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*<em>所谓</em> 的 天才,有 可能 有 这样的人,也有 可能,他 自己 偷偷 地 努力。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suǒwèi</em> de tiāncái, yǒu kěnéng yǒu zhèyàng de rén, yě yǒu kěnéng, tā zìjǐ tōutōu de nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">There may be such a person as this the so-called "genius," or, possibly, he has been secretly trying really hard.</span>
*学 中文 <em>少不了</em> 要 学 拼音 和 汉字 。<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén <em>shàobùliǎo</em> yào xué pīnyīn hé hànzì.</span><span class="trans">Studying Chinese always involves studying pinyin and Chinese characters.</span>
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*没有 <em>所谓</em> 的 失败,除非 你 不 想 再 尝试。<span class="pinyin">Méiyǒu <em>suǒwèi</em> de shībài, chúfēi nǐ bù xiǎng zài chángshì.</span><span class="trans">There is no such thing as so-called "failure," unless you do not want to try again.</span>
*回家 过年  <em>少不了</em> 要 带 点 礼物 给 家人 。<span class="pinyin">Huí ji guònián <em>shàobùliǎo</em> yào dài diǎn lǐwù gěi jiārén.</span><span class="trans">When you return home for CNY, you will definitely have to bring back some presents to give to your family.</span>
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*<em>所谓</em> 的 “名医”, 连 最 基本 的 医学 知识 都 不 知道。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suǒwèi</em> de "míngyī", lián zuì jīběn de yīxué zhīshì dōu bù zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">So-called "famous doctors" do not even know the most basic medical knowledge.</span>
*过 生日 <em>少不了</em> 要 吃 生日 蛋糕 。<span class="pinyin">Guò shēngrì <em>shàobùliǎo</em> yào chī shēngrì dàngāo.</span><span class="trans">There are always birthday cakes when we spend birthdays.</span>
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*<em>所谓</em> 企业 管理,是 需要 解决 一个 接 一个 的 问题。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suǒwèi</em> qǐyè guǎnlǐ, shì xūyào jiějué yī gè jiē yī gè de wèntí.</span><span class="trans">So-called "corporate management" requires solving one problem after another.</span>
*大家 都 是 邻居 ,以后 <em>少不了</em> 要 麻烦 您 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu shì línjū, yǐhòu <em>shàobùliǎo</em> yào máfan nín.</span><span class="trans">We're neighbors, so we'll definitely have to trouble you.</span>
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*<em>所谓</em> 没有 时间,是 你 没有 好好 安排 时间。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suǒwèi</em> méiyǒu shíjiān, shì nǐ méiyǒu hǎohāo ānpái shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">The so-called lack of time means that you have not managed your time well.</span>
*他 负责 联系 客户 ,所以 <em>少不了</em> 要 请 客户 吃饭 。
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*<em>所谓</em> 成长,就是 自己 可以 照顾 自己,自己 开始 考虑 别人的 感受。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suǒwèi</em> chéngzhǎng, jiùshì zìjǐ kěyǐ zhàogù zìjǐ, zìjǐ kāishǐ kǎolǜ biérén de gǎnshòu.</span><span class="trans">So-called "growth" is taking care of yourself and starting to consider the feelings of others.</span>
 
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*人生 没有 <em>所谓</em> 的 答案。<span class="pinyin">Rénshēng méiyǒu <em>suǒwèi</em> de dá'àn.</span><span class="trans">There is no such thing as "answers" in life.</span>
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*这种 <em>所谓</em> 的 名牌 ,是 销售 自己 说的。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng <em>suǒwèi</em> de míngpái, shì xiāoshòu zìjǐ shuō de.</span><span class="trans">This so-called "famous brand" was proclaimed by the salesperson himself.</span>
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*<em>所谓</em> 永远 的 爱,是 不 存在 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suǒwèi</em> yǒngyuǎn de ài, shì bù cúnzài de.</span><span class="trans">There is no such thing as "eternal love."</span>
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*为了 <em>所谓</em> 的 权力,去 放弃 家人,是 不 聪明 的 做法。<span class="pinyin">Wèile <em>suǒwèi</em> de quánlì, qù fàngqì jiārén, shì bù cōngming de zuòfǎ.</span><span class="trans">It is not wise to give up your family for the sake of so-called "power."</span> 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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{{Source|Anything Goes (无所不谈)|266}}
 
{{Source|Anything Goes (无所不谈)|266}}
 
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Expressing so-called}}
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{{Basic Grammar|所谓|B2|所谓 + (的) Noun Phrase|<em>所谓</em> “小意思” 就 是 指 礼物。|grammar point| ASGC4C1F}}
{{Basic Grammar|所谓|B2|所谓 + Noun Phrase + 就是…… |<em>所谓</em> “小意思” 就 是 指 礼物。|grammar point| ASGC4C1F}}
 
 
{{Rel char|谓}}
 
{{Rel char|谓}}
 
{{Rel char|所}}
 
{{Rel char|所}}
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{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Translation|so-called}}
 
{{Translation|so-called}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 07:02, 11 December 2020

所谓 (suǒwèi) is the Chinese way of expressing "so-called." It can also be used in scenarios you would use sarcastic air quotes. Just keep in mind that "so-called" frequently comes with a negative attitude in English, but this is not always so in Chinese.

Structure

所谓 + (的) Noun Phrase

The nouns phrase in this pattern is the "so-called name" being called into question. The 的 is optional.

Examples

  • 所谓 的 天才,有 可能 有 这样的人,也有 可能,他 自己 偷偷 地 努力。Suǒwèi de tiāncái, yǒu kěnéng yǒu zhèyàng de rén, yě yǒu kěnéng, tā zìjǐ tōutōu de nǔlì.There may be such a person as this the so-called "genius," or, possibly, he has been secretly trying really hard.
  • 没有 所谓 的 失败,除非 你 不 想 再 尝试。Méiyǒu suǒwèi de shībài, chúfēi nǐ bù xiǎng zài chángshì.There is no such thing as so-called "failure," unless you do not want to try again.
  • 所谓 的 “名医”, 连 最 基本 的 医学 知识 都 不 知道。Suǒwèi de "míngyī", lián zuì jīběn de yīxué zhīshì dōu bù zhīdào.So-called "famous doctors" do not even know the most basic medical knowledge.
  • 所谓 企业 管理,是 需要 解决 一个 接 一个 的 问题。Suǒwèi qǐyè guǎnlǐ, shì xūyào jiějué yī gè jiē yī gè de wèntí.So-called "corporate management" requires solving one problem after another.
  • 所谓 没有 时间,是 你 没有 好好 安排 时间。Suǒwèi méiyǒu shíjiān, shì nǐ méiyǒu hǎohāo ānpái shíjiān.The so-called lack of time means that you have not managed your time well.
  • 所谓 成长,就是 自己 可以 照顾 自己,自己 开始 考虑 别人的 感受。Suǒwèi chéngzhǎng, jiùshì zìjǐ kěyǐ zhàogù zìjǐ, zìjǐ kāishǐ kǎolǜ biérén de gǎnshòu.So-called "growth" is taking care of yourself and starting to consider the feelings of others.
  • 人生 没有 所谓 的 答案。Rénshēng méiyǒu suǒwèi de dá'àn.There is no such thing as "answers" in life.
  • 这种 所谓 的 名牌 ,是 销售 自己 说的。Zhè zhǒng suǒwèi de míngpái, shì xiāoshòu zìjǐ shuō de.This so-called "famous brand" was proclaimed by the salesperson himself.
  • 所谓 永远 的 爱,是 不 存在 的。Suǒwèi yǒngyuǎn de ài, shì bù cúnzài de.There is no such thing as "eternal love."
  • 为了 所谓 的 权力,去 放弃 家人,是 不 聪明 的 做法。Wèile suǒwèi de quánlì, qù fàngqì jiārén, shì bù cōngming de zuòfǎ.It is not wise to give up your family for the sake of so-called "power."

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5