"我的孩子爱英语歌。"
Translation:My child loves English songs.
24 Comments
Am I correct in thinking that 英语 refers only to the language, or can it be used for nationality as well? I got this wrong the first time because I wrote 英国的 - as in songs from England (which would also generally be called "English songs" in English). I learned 语 is language, 国 is land or country, and 文 is culture (and language), so English (language) is 英语 or 英文, and English (person or something from the country) is 英国～.
"~语" only refers to languages :) However if you really use "French song" to mean "the song from France," it can really be "法国(的)歌," though this sense is less common. For "~文," it generally just means languages. "法语" and "法文" are interchangeable for most speakers. The others you mentioned are all correct :)
553
If you want to use it in the singular it has to have an article, "the English song." It doesn't have to have the article in the plural.
Like how do you pronounce it? I can't really tell with the automated voice.
Strictly speaking, English song is correct. "Song" can be a collective noun, as in the expression "song and dance."
- 884
Hmm, interesting. I agree that one could (but only rarely would) say "he likes English song," with "song" referring to something more general (i.e. music or 'song and dance' rather than particular songs). Does the Chinese sentence support this translation?
- 553
You could say "the English song," but in the singular "English song" is wrong without an article.
- 553
I think "songs in English" should be accepted. Honestly "English songs" isn't a good translation anyway. If you say "English songs" it sounds more like songs from England specifically, 英国哥. American songs and Kiwi songs can also be 英语歌 but nobody would call them "English songs" even if that's technically correct.
- 213
No difference. When translated to English it can be plural or not, depending on the context
