fij Posted May 7, 2012 at 01:18 AM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 01:18 AM Could someone help with the meaning of the phrase "写给小朋友的话"? (from a book for children) This is not the first time that I think I know all characters and also some of the words in a phrase, but I just can't put the pieces together :-) I think this time I'm fine until 写给小朋友 , but when I add 的话 , I do not understand the whole phrase together: 写给小朋友的话 I may be missing a new word here Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiMaKe Posted May 7, 2012 at 02:12 AM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 02:12 AM Providing full context would make for a more complete response. With what you have provided here are two possibilities: 1. "what (the words) you wrote to the children..." (e.g. may have gotten them excited) 2. "if you write to the children, then..." (e.g. give them my best) 1 is the which/what/who clause construction. E.g. the words which you wrote... 2 is the construction A+的话; meaning "if A, ..." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweis Posted May 7, 2012 at 06:20 AM Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 at 06:20 AM Isn't it the title of a page where the author addresses the readers? I'd translate it as "To my little friends", or "A few words to my little friends". Edit: or perhaps "Foreword". Edit: to explain the structure, the main word is 话 ("words"), and 写给小朋友的 is merely a qualifier. A literal translation would be: "words written for (my) little friends" It is not a full sentence (there is no verb and so on, only a "subject") because it is a title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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