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Blackbird26

May 20, 2026

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Things about Languages (2)

I once tried to learn Korean on Duolingo. I didn't persist because I found it very difficult to memorize Hangul (the Korean alphabet). Later, I tried Italian because of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, which have become very popular among young women in China since being translated into Chinese. The TV adaptation has also been widely discussed. I bought the first book in the series, My Brilliant Friend, at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur. Although it's available online in China, I decided to buy it there as a souvenir. Anyway, Italian sounds great, but the verb conjugations and pronunciation are too difficult for me, at least for now.

After that, I realised that conjugations are very common in European languages. Although I already knew about conjugations in Japanese, I still find it hard to learn any language that has them. Out of curiosity about the German language itself and its writers, such as Trakl, I began learning German by myself as a hobby about a year ago. Sometimes I find German pronunciation a little easier to learn compared to English. I like that German, like Chinese, can form words by simply combining them, whereas English requires mastering numerous roots. German might be the last language I learn, given that I haven't yet mastered English or Japanese very well. Also, I haven't had much time to learn it—I'm still stuck at the stage of learning pronunciation and memorizing the gender and plural forms of nouns, both of which are very difficult for a Chinese speaker.

I learned that there is grammatical gender in Russian when I was reading The Unwomanly Face of War. It is said that some branches of the military acquired feminine nouns in Russian because of those brave female soldiers. Here is an interesting difference. In languages that have grammatical gender, the emergence of feminine job titles signifies a step further toward gender equality. We have been there too. We used to add ‘女’(female/woman) before someone's job title to emphasize that she is brilliant. However, in recent years, we have been trying to remove the gender marker from job titles. After all, if gender equality is truly real, then no one need to emphasize gender when referring to a title.

One example of gender in Chinese is the translation of Virginia Woolf's name. Her family name used to be translated as '伍尔芙', and the character '芙' is commonly used in girls' names. Some people objected to this, arguing that foreign family names should not be translated by using characters that imply gender. As a result, 'Woolf' is now translated as '伍尔夫' in some versions. However, this still cannot satisfy everyone, because '夫' also implies gender—its basic meanings are 'husband' and 'male'. So, this has become a problem that is difficult to please everyone.

Another example is the translation of 'Monroe'. It can be translated as '梦露' in Marilyn Monroe or '门罗' in James Monroe. Although these two words mean nothing more than transliterations, this reflects a tendency to emphasize gender. Because Marilyn Monroe has always been seen as a sexy actress, she got a beautiful translation of her family name—'梦' means 'dream' and '露' means 'dew'—which is quite unfair to her, since she was an excellent person, not just a symbol of sexiness. By the way, Alice Munro's family name is also translated as '门罗', the same as James Monroe's, and this is because 'Munro' and 'Monroe' sound similar. In a word, gender is everywhere in languages, even in a language like Chinese without grammatical gender.

By the way, when My Brilliant Friend was published in China, some people were confused about the title '我的天才女友'—which means 'My Genius Girlfriend'. This title perplexed people: who is the genius girlfriend? Some even thought the book was about a lesbian couple. Although the word '女友(girlfriend)' could mean either 'someone's girlfriend' or 'a female friend' decades ago, people now tend to use it only to mean 'someone's girlfriend'. Therefore, the title has been explained many times to help people accept and understand it.

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Blackbird26's avatar
Blackbird26

yesterday

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Things about Languages (2)

I once tried to learn Korean on Duolingo.

I didn't persist because I found it very difficult to memorize Hangul (the Korean alphabet).

The TV adaptation has also been widely discussed.

Although it's available online in China, I decided to buy it there as a souvenir.

Anyway, Italian sounds great, but the verb conjugations and pronunciation are too difficult for me, at least for now.

After that, I realised that conjugations are very common in European languages.

Although I already knew about conjugations in Japanese, I still find it hard to learn any language that has them.

Out of curiosity about the German language itself and its writers, such as Trakl, I began learning German by myself as a hobby about a year ago.

I like that German, like Chinese, can form words by simply combining them, whereas English requires mastering numerous roots.

German might be the last language I learn, given that I haven't yet mastered English or Japanese very well.

Also, I haven't had much time to learn it—I'm still stuck at the stage of learning pronunciation and memorizing the gender and plural forms of nouns, both of which are very difficult for a Chinese speaker.

Here is an interesting difference.

In languages that have grammatical gender, the emergence of feminine job titles signifies a step further toward gender equality.

However, in recent years, we have been trying to remove the gender marker from job titles.

Her family name used to be translated as '伍尔芙', and the character '芙' is commonly used in girls' names.

As a result, 'Woolf' is now translated as '伍尔夫' in some versions.

However, this still cannot satisfy everyone, because '夫' also implies gender—its basic meanings are 'husband' and 'male'.

Another example is the translation of 'Monroe'.

It can be translated as '梦露' in Marilyn Monroe or '门罗' in James Monroe.

Because Marilyn Monroe has always been seen as a sexy actress, she got a beautiful translation of her family name—'梦' means 'dream' and '露' means 'dew'—which is quite unfair to her, since she was an excellent person, not just a symbol of sexiness.

By the way, Alice Munro's family name is also translated as '门罗', the same as James Monroe's, and this is because 'Munro' and 'Monroe' sound similar.

This title perplexed people: who is the genius girlfriend?

Some even thought the book was about a lesbian couple.

Blackbird26's avatar
Blackbird26

yesterday

0
2

Thanks! I know A2 is a level of the European language standard, but I don't know much about it. In China, although most college students pass the CET-4 and CET-6 English exams, we generally lack sufficient practice in listening and speaking. I only learned about this standard after I started learning German.

Blackbird26's avatar
Blackbird26

yesterday

0

Things about Languages (2)


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I once tried to learn Korean on Duolingo.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I didn't persist because I found it very difficult to memorize Hangul (the Korean alphabet).


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Later, I tried Italian because of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, which have become very popular among young women in China since being translated into Chinese.


Later, I tried Italian because of Elena Ferrante's 'Neapolitan Novels', which have become very popular among young women in China since beingthey were translated into Chinese. Later, I tried Italian because of Elena Ferrante's 'Neapolitan Novels', which have become very popular among young women in China since they were translated into Chinese.

Later, I tried Italian because of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, which have become very popular among young women in China since beingthey were translated into Chinese. Later, I tried Italian because of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, which have become very popular among young women in China since they were translated into Chinese.

We have been there too.


We have been there too've experienced this too in China. We've experienced this too in China.

We have been there, too. We have been there, too.

The TV adaptation has also been widely discussed.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The television (TV) adaptation has also been widely discussed. The television (TV) adaptation has also been widely discussed.

I bought the first book in the series, My Brilliant Friend, at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur.


I bought the first book in the series, 'My Brilliant Friend', at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur. I bought the first book in the series, 'My Brilliant Friend', at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur.

I bought the first book in the series, My Brilliant Friend, at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur. I bought the first book in the series, My Brilliant Friend, at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur.

Although it's available online in China, I decided to buy it there as a souvenir.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Anyway, Italian sounds great, but the verb conjugations and pronunciation are too difficult for me, at least for now.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Anyway, Italian sounds great, but the verb conjugations and pronunciation are too difficult for me, at least for now. Italian sounds great, but the verb conjugations and pronunciation are too difficult for me, at least for now.

After that, I realised that conjugations are very common in European languages.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Although I already knew about conjugations in Japanese, I still find it hard to learn any language that has them.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Out of curiosity about the German language itself and its writers, such as Trakl, I began learning German by myself as a hobby about a year ago.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Out of curiosity about the German language itself and its writers, such as Trakl, I began learning German by myself as a hobby about a year ago. Out of curiosity about the German language itself and its writers, such as Trakl, I began learning German by myself as a hobby about a year ago.

Sometimes I find German pronunciation a little easier to learn compared to English.


Sometimes I find German pronunciation a little easier to learn compared tothan English. Sometimes I find German pronunciation a little easier to learn than English.

I like that German, like Chinese, can form words by simply combining them, whereas English requires mastering numerous roots.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I likappreciate that German, like Chinese, can form words by simply combining them, whereas English requires mastering numerous roots. I appreciate that German, like Chinese, can form words by simply combining them, whereas English requires mastering numerous roots.

German might be the last language I learn, given that I haven't yet mastered English or Japanese very well.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Also, I haven't had much time to learn it—I'm still stuck at the stage of learning pronunciation and memorizing the gender and plural forms of nouns, both of which are very difficult for a Chinese speaker.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I learned that there is grammatical gender in Russian when I was reading The Unwomanly Face of War.


I learned that there is grammatical gender in Russian when I was reading 'The Unwomanly Face of War'. I learned that there is grammatical gender in Russian when I was reading 'The Unwomanly Face of War'.

I learned that there is grammatical gender in Russian when I was reading The Unwomanly Face of War. I learned that there is grammatical gender in Russian when I was reading The Unwomanly Face of War.

It is said that some branches of the military acquired feminine nouns in Russian because of those brave female soldiers.


It is said that some branches of the military acquired feminine nouns in Russian because of thoseeir brave female soldiers. It is said that some branches of the military acquired feminine nouns in Russian because of their brave female soldiers.

It is said that sSome branches of the military acquired feminine nouns in Russian because of those brave female soldiers. Some branches of the military acquired feminine nouns in Russian because of those brave female soldiers.

Here is an interesting difference.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

In languages that have grammatical gender, the emergence of feminine job titles signifies a step further toward gender equality.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

We used to add ‘女’(female/woman) before someone's job title to emphasize that she is brilliant.


We used to add ‘女’ (female/woman) before someone's job title to emphasize that she is brilliant. We used to add ‘女’ (female/woman) before someone's job title to emphasize that she is brilliant.

However, in recent years, we have been trying to remove the gender marker from job titles.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

After all, if gender equality is truly real, then no one need to emphasize gender when referring to a title.


After all, if gender equality is truly real, then no one needs to emphasize gender when referring to a title. After all, if gender equality is truly real, then no one needs to emphasize gender when referring to a title.

After all, if gender equality is truly real, then no one needs to emphasize gender when referring to a title. After all, if gender equality is truly real, then no one needs to emphasize gender when referring to a title.

One example of gender in Chinese is the translation of Virginia Woolf's name.


One example of gendered language in Chinese is the translation of Virginia Woolf's name. One example of gendered language in Chinese is the translation of Virginia Woolf's name.

Her family name used to be translated as '伍尔芙', and the character '芙' is commonly used in girls' names.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Some people objected to this, arguing that foreign family names should not be translated by using characters that imply gender.


Some people objected to this, arguing that foreign family names should not be translated by usingwith characters that imply gender. Some people objected to this, arguing that foreign family names should not be translated with characters that imply gender.

As a result, 'Woolf' is now translated as '伍尔夫' in some versions.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

However, this still cannot satisfy everyone, because '夫' also implies gender—its basic meanings are 'husband' and 'male'.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

So, this has become a problem that is difficult to please everyone.


So, this has become a problem thabecause it is difficult to please everyone. So, this has become a problem because it is difficult to please everyone.

So, this has become a problem than issue where it is difficult to please everyone. So, this has become an issue where it is difficult to please everyone.

Another example is the translation of 'Monroe'.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

It can be translated as '梦露' in Marilyn Monroe or '门罗' in James Monroe.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Although these two words mean nothing more than transliterations, this reflects a tendency to emphasize gender.


Although these two words meanare nothing more than transliterations, this reflects a tendency to emphasize gender. Although these two words are nothing more than transliterations, this reflects a tendency to emphasize gender.

Although these two words meanare nothing more than transliterations, thisey reflects a tendency to emphasize gender. Although these two words are nothing more than transliterations, they reflect a tendency to emphasize gender.

Because Marilyn Monroe has always been seen as a sexy actress, she got a beautiful translation of her family name—'梦' means 'dream' and '露' means 'dew'—which is quite unfair to her, since she was an excellent person, not just a symbol of sexiness.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

By the way, Alice Munro's family name is also translated as '门罗', the same as James Monroe's, and this is because 'Munro' and 'Monroe' sound similar.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

In a word, gender is everywhere in languages, even in a language like Chinese without grammatical gender.


In a wordEssentially, gender is everywhere in languages, even in a language like Chinese withouthich doesn't have grammatical gender. Essentially, gender is everywhere in languages, even in a language like Chinese which doesn't have grammatical gender.

I changed out "in a word" because more than one word follows, haha.

By the way, when My Brilliant Friend was published in China, some people were confused about the title '我的天才女友'—which means 'My Genius Girlfriend'.


By the way, when 'My Brilliant Friend' was first published in China, some people were confused about the title '我的天才女友'—which means 'My Genius Girlfriend'. By the way, when 'My Brilliant Friend' was first published in China, some people were confused about the title '我的天才女友'—which means 'My Genius Girlfriend'.

This title perplexed people: who is the genius girlfriend?


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Some even thought the book was about a lesbian couple.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Although the word '女友(girlfriend)' could mean either 'someone's girlfriend' or 'a female friend' decades ago, people now tend to use it only to mean 'someone's girlfriend'.


Although the word '女友(girlfriend)' could mean either 'someone's girlfriend' or 'a female friend' decades ago, people now tend to use it only to mean 'someone's girlfriend'.' Although the word '女友(girlfriend)' could mean either 'someone's girlfriend' or 'a female friend' decades ago, people now tend to use it only to mean 'someone's girlfriend.'

Although the word '女友 (girlfriend)' could mean either 'someone's girlfriend' or 'a female friend' decades ago, people now tend to use it only to mean 'someone's girlfriend'. Although the word '女友 (girlfriend)' could mean either 'someone's girlfriend' or 'a female friend' decades ago, people now tend to use it only to mean 'someone's girlfriend'.

Therefore, the title has been explained many times to help people accept and understand it.


Therefore, the title has had to been explained many times to help people accept and understand it. Therefore, the title has had to be explained many times to help people accept and understand it.

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