"Who plays soccer the best?"
Translation:谁踢足球踢得最好?
28 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
869
I don't think so. This is proving to be one of the most difficult things in Chinese grammar for me. It's just not sinking in. I'm going to drill it specifically to get used to it.
1101
I agree, this sentence structure is very difficult, the literal translation reads, "Who+play soccer+ play+ 得 ('de', particle)+ the best (最好, zuì hǎo)? 谁+踢足球+踢+得(de)+最好(zuì hǎo)? For me, the question's structure has several interesting features worth noting which might help others to help understand the complex grammar rules: (Note #1) 最好 (zuì hǎo) is an 'adjective' that means 'the best'. (Note #2) 得 (de), is a 'particle' used here to show 'degree complements'[- a 'complement' is something that appears right after the verb and adds more information about it.] I think that the question's structure, is, Subject 谁+Verb 踢足球 + Another Verb 踢+ Degree Compliment 得最好? These websites are useful to read, https://www.chineseboost.com/grammar/de-grammar-summary/, https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Degree_complement#Degree_Complements_with_Objects
1625
The suggested sentence seems to be missing the 得 in order to connect a verb (踢) to an adjective (最好).
I don't see anything wrong with: "谁踢得最好的足球."
Both of your English sentences could mean the same thing, even though one of them is more naturally phrased.
打 is not the appropriate verb to use here. Moreover, 踢 is the verb in this sentence and I don't think you can use them together. 打 means "hit". Where electronics are involved, 打 means things like "type", "click", and "dial". It's an action involving the hands. The left part of the character actually means "hand" (it's the compressed form of 手). You 打 basketball and volleyball, for instance. You also 打 a phone call. 踢 means "kick". You 踢 soccer. The left part of the character means "foot" (it's the compressed form of 足).
It's ironic that Chinese grammar supposed to be relatively easy with respect to many other languages. However, the construction of the sentences seem to be redundant, particularly for English speakers. ' Who plays soccer, plays belonging the best 'is wording very strange for English speakers studying Chinese. Oh well, c'est la vie.
得 (de) functions as an adverb of manner, so it indicates the manner of playing (the best). You may be confusing it with 的 (de) which is a particle indicating possession 我 = I, 我的 = my or mine. So maybe think of it as "Who, in playing soccer, plays the best?" I believe you can also say it more directly, as in "'Who plays the best soccer" by saying 谁踢得最好的足球?, but I'd have to confirm that with a native speaker.
I don't believe so. 得 is used with verbs to construct a complementary phrase, which is a little like an adverb, but not quite https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Structural_particle_%22de%22#Not_an_Adverb.3F