NelsonK Posted August 3, 2016 at 12:05 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 at 12:05 PM Hello! My apologies if I've chosen the wrong section of the forum to post this in, but I've recently started reading 紅高粱家族 by 莫言 and have come to a clause that I can't quite understand. I think I get the general idea, but if someone could help describe for me how the various characters connect to each other grammatically, I'd be very grateful. For those who aren't familiar with the story, I think all you need to know for context is that there's a regiment of soldiers marching through a sorghum field. Here's the clause: 高粱的騷動因為人們的疲憊困乏而頻繁激烈起來 There are a lot of things here that confuse me. I'm used to seeing 起來 almost exclusively as a complement, which it may be here if 激烈 is meant as a verb, but the first time I read through this clause, I understood 激烈 as an adjective modified by the adverb 頻繁 and connected by 而 to the other adjective(s) 疲憊困乏. And whether the verb is 激烈起來 or simply 起來, what is the subject of the verb? And does 而 really connect adjectives, or does it go with 因為? The problem is probably my English-language brain that is too limited by English ideas of grammar. I've been taught that parts of speech aren't necessarily delineated in Chinese the same way they are in English. All the same, I'd very much appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davoosh Posted August 4, 2016 at 04:02 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 at 04:02 PM I think it helps to rearrange this clause in English for a smoother translation. It was because of the people's exhaustion and fatigue that Gao Liang's restlessness often became more intense. (The exact translation of each of the words could probably be better but this is the basic idea.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NelsonK Posted August 4, 2016 at 04:10 PM Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 at 04:10 PM Thanks very much! That helps clear things up immensely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
陳德聰 Posted August 4, 2016 at 09:50 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 at 09:50 PM For those who don't see how to get to that translation: 因(為)A 而 B Is yet another way to express the reason why something happens. B because of A, or A so B, B due to A, etc etc. 騷動 [因為...而] 頻繁強烈起來 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinkpanda Posted February 10, 2017 at 01:31 AM Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 at 01:31 AM HI op here in this sentence , 頻繁 and 激烈 are both adjectives, not verbs. both of these two adjectives are used to describe the noun 騷動 . 起来 is a complement , which means 頻繁and激烈 are becoming more obvious. better believe me `cause im 100% pure Chinese from mainland china LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NelsonK Posted February 10, 2017 at 12:26 PM Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 at 12:26 PM Thanks so much, thinkpanda! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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