Mosquitoes seem to be everywhere
During the summer, you almost certainly need to say some things about mosquitoes! Where are the mosquitoes? What should you wear? And, very importantly, should you slap a mosquito when it lands on another person??!! Here is some vocabulary you will find in the sentences about the pesky mosquito:
Vocabulary
蚊子 ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙ mosquito
那要看 ㄋㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ it depends
影響 ㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ to influence or affect (usually adversely)
例如 ㄌㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ for example, for instance
是否 ㄕˋ ㄈㄡˇ whether or not, is or isn’t
露營 ㄌㄨˋ ㄧㄥˊ camping, to camp out
營地 ㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ campsite, camp
又如 ㄧㄡˋ ㄖㄨˊ also if
外面 ㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ outside
腳踏車 ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄔㄜ bicycle (foot pedal vehicle)
自行車 ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄔㄜ bicycle (self move vehicle)
踩 ㄘㄞˇ to step on, to press a pedal
咬 ㄧㄠˇ to bite, to nip
太陽下山 ㄊㄞˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄢ sunset
天黑 ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄟ to get dark, dusk
聞到 ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄠˋ to smell, to sniff out
味道 ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ flavor, smell
因此 ㄧㄣ ㄘˇ thus, consequently
長袖 ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ long sleeves
襯衫 ㄔㄣˋ ㄕㄢ shirt
戴 ㄉㄞˋ to put on, to bear
帽子 ㄇㄠˋ ㄗ˙ hat, cap
帳篷 ㄓㄤˋ ㄆㄥˊ tent
睡得著 ㄕㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄓㄠˊ to fall asleep, to obtain sleep
睡不著 ㄕㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ to not fall asleep
回答 ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˊ to reply, to answer
打死 ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ to kill, to beat to death
到底 ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄧˇ when all is said and done, in the end
離 ㄌㄧˊ to be away from, to leave
河川 ㄏㄜˊ ㄔㄨㄢ rivers
湖泊 ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄛˋ lake
滯留不動 ㄓˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ to rentain motionless
水域 ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄩˋ waters, body of water
遠近 ㄩㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ far and near, distance
停 ㄊㄧㄥˊ to stop, to park
別人 ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄣˊ other person
某人 ㄇㄡˇ ㄖㄣˊ someone
反擊 ㄈㄢˇ ㄐㄧˊ to strike back, to counterattack
Let’s talk about the infamous mosquito.
蚊子影響很多事情
(蚊子)(影響)(很)(多)(事情)
(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)(ㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ)(ㄏㄣˇ)(ㄉㄨㄛ)(ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ)
(wén zi.)(yǐng xiǎng)(hěn)(duō)(shì qíng)
(mosquito)(to affect)(very)(many)(affairs, matters, things)
Mosquitoes affect many things.
例如：我是不是要去露營，那要看營地那裡有多少蚊子？
(例如)：(我)[(是)(不)(是)]❶(要)(去)(露營)，
(ㄌㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ): (ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄕˋ)()()(ㄧㄠˋ)(ㄑㄩˋ)(ㄌㄨˋ ㄧㄥˊ) ，
(lì rú): (wǒ)(shì)(bú)(shì)(yào)(qù)(lù yíng),
(for example): (I)(to be)(not)(to be)(to want)(to go)(to camp out, camping)
……[(那)(要看)](營地)(那裡)(有)(多少)(蚊子)
……[(ㄋㄚˋ)(ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ)](ㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ)(ㄋㄚˋ ㄌㄧˇ)(ㄧㄡˇ)(ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕㄠˇ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)
……[(nà)(yào kàn)](yíng dì)(nà lǐ)(yǒu)(duō shǎo)(wén zi.)
……[(that)(must see) = it depends](campsite)(there)(to have)(how many)(mosquito)
For example, whether or not I want to go camping depends on how many mosquitoes are at the campground.
又如外面有太多蚊子的話我也不想騎腳踏車！
(又如)(外面)(有)(太多)(蚊子)(的話)
(ㄧㄡˋ ㄖㄨˊ)(ㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ)(ㄧㄡˇ)(ㄊㄞˋ)(ㄉㄨㄛ)(ㄨㄢˊ ㄗ˙)(ㄉㄜ˙ ㄏㄨㄚˋ)
(also if)(outside)(to have)(too)(many)(mosquito)(if that is so)
……(我)(也)(不)(想)(騎)(腳踏車)
……(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄧㄝˇ)(ㄅㄨˋ)(ㄒㄧㄤˇ)(ㄑㄧˊ)(ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄔㄜ)
……(wǒ)(yě)(bù)(xiǎng)(qí)(jiǎo tà chē)
……(I)(also)(not)(to want, to think)(to ride)(bicycle)
Also, if there are too many mosquitoes outside, I don’t want to ride my bike!
有可能那要看我踩得多快！
(有)(可能)(那要看)(我)(踩)❷(得)(多)(快)
(ㄧㄡˇ)(ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ)(ㄋㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄘㄞˇ)(ㄉㄜ˙)(ㄉㄨㄛ)(ㄎㄨㄞˋ)
(yǒu)(kě néng)(nà yào kàn)(wǒ)(cǎi)(de.)(duō)(kuài)
(to have, there is)(might, possible)(it depends on)(I)(to pedal, to step on)(particle attaching previous verb to adverb)(much)(quick, to make haste, rapid)
Possibly, it might depend on how fast I ride！
蚊子很喜歡咬我，所以太陽下山以後我在外面就很注意小心它們！
(蚊子)(很)(喜歡)(咬)(我)，
(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)(ㄏㄣˇ)(ㄒㄧˇ ㄏㄨㄢ)(ㄧㄠˇ)(ㄨㄛˇ),
(wén zi.)(hěn)(xǐ huān)(yǎo)(wǒ),
(mosquito)(very)(to like)(to bite)(me)
……(所以)(太陽下山)❸(以後)(我)(在)(外面)
……(ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧˇ)(ㄊㄞˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄢ)(ㄧˇ ㄏㄡˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄗㄞˋ)(ㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ)
……(suǒ yǐ)(tài yáng xià shān)(yǐ hòu)(wǒ)(zài)(wài miàn)
……(so)(sunset)(after)(I)(at)(outside)
…………(就)(很)(注意)(小心)(它❹們)
…………(ㄐㄧㄡˋ)(ㄏㄣˇ)(ㄓㄨˋ ㄧˋ)(ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄣ)(ㄊㄚ ㄇㄣ˙)
…………(jiù)(hěn)(zhù yì)(xiǎo xīn)(tā men.)
…………(adds emphasis)(very)(to pay attention)(to be careful)(them)
Mosquitoes like to bite me, so I am careful outside after dark/after sunset.
那也要看它們是不是可以聞到我的味道！
(那)(也)❼(要看)(它們)(是)(不)(是)(可以)(聞到)(我的)(味道)
(ㄋㄚˋ)(ㄧㄝˇ)(ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ)(ㄊㄚ ㄇㄣ˙)(ㄕˋ)(ㄅㄨˊ)(ㄕˋ)(ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄠˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜ˙)(ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ)
(nà)(yě)(yào kàn)(tā men.)(shì)(bú)(shì)(kě yǐ)(wén dào)(wǒ de.)(wèi dào)
(that)(also)(it depends on)(they)(are, to be, is)(can, may, able to)(to smell, to sniff)(my)(flavor, smell)
It depends on whether or not they can smell me!
因此我得穿長袖襯衫和戴帽子。
(因此)(我)(得)(穿)(長袖)(襯衫)(和)(戴)(帽子)
(ㄧㄣ ㄘˇ)(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄉㄟˇ)(ㄔㄨㄢ)(ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ)(ㄔㄣˋ ㄕㄢ)(ㄏㄢˋ)(ㄉㄞˋ)(ㄇㄠˋ ㄗ˙)
(yīn cǐ)(wǒ)(děi)(chuān)(cháng xiù)(chèn shān)(hàn)(dài)(mào zi.)
(thus, consequently)(I)(must)(to wear)(long sleeve)(shirt)(and)(hat, cap)
Thus, I must wear both a long sleeve shirt and a hat.
有時候我們露營時蚊子飛進我們的帳篷裡。
(有時候)(我們)(露營)(時)(蚊子)
(ㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄏㄡˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄣ˙)(ㄌㄨˋㄧㄥˊ)(ㄕˊ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)
(yǒu shí hòu)(wǒ men.)(lù yíng)(shí)(wén zi.)
(sometimes)(we)(to camp out)(when)(mosquito)
……(飛進)(我們的)(帳篷)(裡)
……(ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧㄣˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄣ˙ ㄉㄜ˙)(ㄓㄤˋ ㄆㄥˊ)(ㄌㄧˇ)
……(fēi jìn)(wǒ men. de.)(zhàng péng)(lǐ)
……(to enter by flying)(our)(tent)(in)
Sometimes when we are camping, a mosquito flies into our tent.
我老公會問我：妳能睡得著嗎？
(我)(老公)(會)(問)(我)：
(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄌㄠˇ ㄍㄨㄥ)(ㄏㄨㄟˋ)(ㄨㄣˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ):
(wǒ)(lǎo gōng)(huì)(wèn)(wǒ):
(my)(husband)(will)(to ask)(me):
……(妳)(能)(睡得著)(嗎)
……(ㄋㄧˇ)(ㄋㄥˊ)(ㄕㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄓㄠˊ)(ㄇㄚ˙)
……(nǐ)(néng)(shuì dé zháo)(ma.)
……(you)(able)(to fall asleep)(question particle)
My husband asks me, “Will you be able to sleep?”
我回答說：那要看你是不是能打死蚊子！
(我)(回答)(說)：(那要看)
(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˊ)(ㄕㄨㄛ): (ㄋㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ)
(wǒ)(huí dá)(shuō): (nà yào kàn)
(I)(to reply)(to say): (it depends)
……(你)(是)(不)(是)(能)(打死)(蚊子)
……(ㄋㄧˇ)(ㄕˋ)(ㄅㄨˊ)(ㄕˋ)(ㄋㄥˊ)(ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)
……(nǐ)(shì)(bú)(shì)(néng)(dǎ sǐ)(wén zi.)
……(you)(to be)(not)(to be)(to kill)(mosquito)
I answer, “That depends on whether or not you kill the mosquito!”
到底會有多少蚊子，那要看我們離河川湖泊或別的滯留不動的水域的遠近，因為蚊子就生長在滯留不懂的水域。
(到底)(會)(有)(多少)(蚊子)，
(ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄧˇ)(ㄏㄨㄟˋ)(ㄧㄡˇ)(ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕㄠˇ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙),
(dào dǐ)(huì)(yǒu)(duō shǎo)(wén zi.),
(in the end)(will)(to have)(how many)(mosquito)
……(那要看)(我們)(離)❺(河川)(湖泊)(或)
……(ㄋㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄣ˙)(ㄌㄧˊ)(ㄏㄜˊ ㄔㄨㄢ)(ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄛˋ)(ㄏㄨㄛˋ)
……(nà yào kàn)(wǒ men.)(lí)(hé chuān)(hú bò)(huò)
……(it depends)(we)(to be away from, distance from)(rivers)(lake)(or)
…………(別的)[(滯留不動)(的)(水域)(的)](遠近)，
…………(ㄅㄧㄝ ㄉㄜ˙)[(ㄓˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ)(ㄉㄜ˙)(ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄩˋ)(ㄉㄜ˙)](ㄩㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ),
…………(bié de.)[((zhì liú bú dòng)(de.)(shǔi)(yù)(de.)](yuǎn jìn)
…………(other)[(to retain motionless)(adjective marker)(body of water)(adjective marker)](near or far, distance)
…………………(因為)(蚊子)(就)❻(生長)(在)(滯留不懂的水域)
………………(ㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˋ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)(ㄐㄧㄡˋ)(ㄕㄥ ㄓㄤˇ)(ㄗㄞˋ)(ㄓˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄩˋ)
………………(yīn wèi)(wén zi.)(jiù)(shēng zhǎng)(zài)(zhì liú bú dòng de. shǔi yù)
………………(because)(mosquito)(right where)(to grow)(at)(stagnate water)
How many mosquitoes there are depends on how close we are to a lake or stagnate water, because mosquitoes live near stagnate water.
如果你看見蚊子停在別人身上，你 可能要決定是不是要打死它。
(如果)(你)(看見)(蚊子)(停)(在)(別人)(身)(上)，
(ㄜㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄛˇ)(ㄋㄧˇ)(ㄎㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ)(ㄨㄣˊ ㄗ˙)(ㄊㄧㄥˊ)(ㄗㄞˋ)(ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄣˊ)(ㄕㄣ)(ㄕㄤˋ)
(rú guǒ)(nǐ)(kàn jiàn)(wén zi.)(tíng)(zài)(bié rén)(shēn)(shàng),
(if)(you)(to see, to catch sight of)(mosquito)(stop)(at)(other person)(body)(on)
……(你)(可能)(要)(決定)(是)(不)(是)(要)(打死)(它)
……(ㄋㄧˇ)(ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ)(ㄧㄠˋ)(ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄧㄥˋ)(ㄕˋ)(ㄅㄨˊ)(ㄕˋ)(ㄧㄠˋ)(ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ)(ㄊㄚ)
……(nǐ)(kě néng)(yào)(jué dìng)(shì)(bú)(shì)(dǎ sǐ)(tā)
……(you)(probably)(must, to want)(to decide)(to be)(not)(to be)(to kill)(it)
If you see a mosquito on someone else’s body, you must decide whether or not to kill it.
那就要看那個人會謝謝你或可能會反擊你噢！
(那)(就)❼(要看)(那個)(人)(會)
(ㄋㄚˋ)(ㄐㄧㄡˋ)(ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄢˋ)(ㄋㄚˋ ㄍㄜ˙)(ㄖㄣˊ)(ㄏㄨㄟˋ)
(nà)(jiù)(yào kàn)(nà ge.)(rén)(huì)
(that)(then, just)(it depends)(that)(person)(will)
……(謝謝)(你)(或)(可能)(會)(反擊)(你)(噢)
……(ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝ˙)(ㄋㄧˇ)(ㄏㄨㄛˋ)(ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ)(ㄈㄢˇ ㄐㄧˊ)(ㄋㄧˇ)(ㄡ)
……(xiè xie.)(nǐ)(huò)(kě néng)(huì)(fǎn jí)(nǐ)(ō)
……(to thank)(you)(or)(possibly)(will)(to strike back)(you)(conversational sound)
It depends on whether or not that person will thank you or hit you back!
Notes：
❶ In the title of the blog we used 是否 to mean “whether or not” because titles are considered more formal. However, in the body of the blog we used 是不是, which is the more conversational, everyday way of saying “whether or not.” Literally it can be translated “to be or not to be,” which is a fun Shakespearean way to remember it!
❷ For this sentence we could have just as easily used the verb 騎 ㄑㄧˊ (qí) meaning “to ride”, but the visual of 踩 “to pedal” faster was more fun.
❸ If you look closely at the characters 太陽下山 you will see that they literally mean “the sun going below the mountain.” Hence, the sun is setting. In the vocabulary list there was the more stark word for sunset 天黑 meaning “day black” or to get dark.
❹ My tutor says that it is common to use the non-life form pronoun 它 for things like mosquitoes, as a way to both make a point that they are worthless and to make destroying them more acceptable. Unless you are a Buddhist.
❺ 離 is part of the word 離開 and technically means “to leave,” but by extension of that meaning is also used to refer to how far away something is.
❻ The 就 here is for emphasis. “Then” it just depends….
❼ These are two examples of how another character might be inserted into “it depends” to give a more specific meaning.
