▎Topic as Contrastive (2)

 

Function A topic in Chinese can serve as the contrastive element in a sentence, i.e., ‘this, but not that...’. Either a subject or an object can be so contrasted.

1 A：台灣小吃，你都喜歡嗎？

Táiwān xiǎochī, nǐ dōu xǐhuān ma?

Do you like all Taiwanese snacks?

B：水餃、包子，我喜歡；臭豆腐，我討厭。

Shuǐjiǎo, bāozi, wǒ xǐhuān; chòudòufu, wǒ tǎoyàn.

Dumplings and steamed buns I like. Stinky tofu I dislike.

2 A：你建議我們帶什麼東西去旅行？

Nǐ jiànyì wǒmen dài shénme dōngxi qù lǚxíng?

What do you suggest we bring on the trip?

B：錢、手機一定要帶；藥，不一定要帶。

Qián, shǒujī yídìng yào dài; yào, bùyídìng yào dài.

Wallet and cell phone, these are a must, but meds are optional.

3 A：高小姐有教語言的經驗嗎？

Gāo xiǎojiě yǒu jiāo yǔyán de jīngyàn ma?

Does Miss Gao have any language teaching experience?

B：教法文的經驗，她有。教西班牙語的經驗，她沒有。

Jiāo Fǎwén de jīngyàn, tā yǒu. Jiāo Xībānyáyǔ de jīngyàn, tā méi yǒu.

Experience teaching French, yes. Experience teaching Spanish, no.

4 A：小明是不是會騎車？

Xiǎomíng shìbúshì huì qí chē?

Can Xiaoming ride a bicycle/motorcycle?

B：機車，他不會騎，他只會騎腳踏車。

Jīchē, tā bú huì qí, tā zhǐ huì qí jiǎotàchē.

Motorcycles, he can’t ride. He can only ride bicycles.

5 A：他們都會包小籠包嗎？

Tāmen dōu huì bāo xiǎolóngbāo ma?

Can they all wrap steamed dumplings?

B：包小籠包，小陳不會，可是美美會。

Bāo xiǎolóngbāo, Xiǎo Chén bú huì, kěshì Měiměi huì.

Wrap steamed dumplings Xiao Chen can’t, but Meimei can.