Ch 26 · Lesson 9Mandarin · Chapter 26 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
令人: disappointing, satisfying, worrying
+ a feeling word is a ready-made written adjective: , disappointing. In speech, say . What follows it is a reaction, not something people decide to do.
The short version
。Zhège jiéguǒ lìngrén shīwàng.
Why?Hide
(lìngrén) means 'causing people to feel', and with a feeling word it works as an adjective: (lìngrén shīwàng), disappointing; (lìngrén mǎnyì), satisfying. It belongs to writing; in speech, say (ràng rén). What follows it is a reaction, not something people decide to do.
令 (lìng) and 令人 (lìngrén)
(lìng) sits where (shǐ) sits, and leans towards feelings: 。 (Zhège xiāoxi lìng wǒ hěn shīwàng.), the news left me very disappointed. Its commonest use by far is (lìngrén), "causing people to feel", plus a feeling word: together they work as one adjective.
disappointing
satisfying
worrying
frightening
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| lìngrén shīwàng | disappointing |
| lìngrén mǎnyì | satisfying |
| lìngrén dānxīn | worrying |
| lìngrén jīngyà | surprising |
| lìngrén nánwàng | unforgettable |
It goes where an adjective goes, and before a noun it takes (de):
。(Zhège jiéguǒ lìngrén shīwàng.) - The result is disappointing.(yí cì lìngrén nánwàng de lǚxíng) - an unforgettable trip
What follows (lìngrén) is a reaction people have, not something they decide to do: there is no , "makes people go".
In speech: 让人 (ràng rén)
The spoken twin of (lìngrén) is (ràng rén), with the same shape:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Zhège jiéguǒ ràng rén hěn shīwàng. | The result's really disappointing (speech) |
。 | Zhège jiéguǒ lìngrén shīwàng. | The result is disappointing (writing) |
。 | Zhège jiéguǒ lìngrén bù mǎnyì. | The result is unsatisfactory |
。 | Zhège jiéguǒ bù lìngrén mǎnyì. | The result is unsatisfactory |
The last two rows show both places for the negative: inside the frame, before the feeling word, or before the whole frame. Both are written Chinese.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
。 | 。 | an order or permission takes (ràng) |
。 | 。 | (shǐ) is the verb: no (shì) |
。 | 。 | causative "make" is never (zuò) |
Going further: The whole system on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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