Learning by Translating

[yhenry]

Because of sniper activity, no soldiers on our base in Iraq were ever permitted to jog along the perimeter fence.
저격사건 때문에 이라크 미군기지 군인들은 페리미터 펜스에서 조깅할 수가 없었다.

your translation is good with no wrong expression.
However, you lost a little bit of original meaning.

First, 조깅할 수가 없었다, meaning can't do jogging, but the original text is about 'not permitted', which can be translated as '조깅이 금지 되었다 (prohibited) or 허락이 않되었다 which is kind of clumsy for written word but ok for spoken word in Korean sense.

Revised:저격사건 때문에 이라크 미군기지 군인들은 페리미터 펜스에서 조깅이 금지 되었다

Since 'to jog along the perimeter fence' is infinitive phrase, a verbal phrase having its own modifier, you can use '것' to make verbal phrase into adjectival phrase like 펜스에서 조깅하는것.

Revised; 저격사건 때문에 이라크 미군기지 군인들은 아무도 페리미터 펜스에서 조깅하는것이 금지 되었다

no soldiers ==> 군인 아무도(no one)

페리미터 ; 경계 guard 선line, which is a military term meaning a boundary line to guard

펜스; 철책fence/철조망barbed wire

The final draft; 저격사건 때문에 이라크 미군기지 군인들은 아무도 경계선 철책에서 조깅하는것이 금지 되었다

(Or maybe "...조깅하기가 허용 절때 안됐다"? Also, I thought it might sound awkward to say "펜스를 따라서..." even though it might be the literal translation for "along.")

조깅하기가 허용 절때 안됐다 ==>조깅하는것이 허용이 안됐다
Just like 나는 형이 있다, looks like two subject, take '조깅하는것이 허용이 안됐다' as Subject, subject and verb.
펜스를 따라서 is good and natural

Some rule... smarter than some of the guards who worked there.
규칙은 좋았는데 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들은 너무 대단했다.
아님... 규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다.

규칙은 좋았는데 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들은 더 똑똑했다.
규칙은 좋았는데 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들은 더 똑똑했다.
Some rule==>대단한 규칙이야 a great rule, sarcastic.
너무 much 대단했다.great ===> 더 more 똑똑했다 smart

규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다
==>규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다*도...

When I told an MP about some joggers near the fence, he asked, "These runners, are they on foot?"
MP한테 군인들이 펜스 가까이서 조깅했다고 말해줬는데 MP는 "걔들이... 걸어 가고 있었니?"라고 물어봤다.

Good job!

I still don't understand why it is funny.
Do you know why?

[cheri]

I still don't understand why it is funny.
Do you know why?

제가 하고싶은 얘기인데... ㅎㅎ
But anyway, the joke is making fun of the MP's question, "These runners, are they on foot?" Is there any other way to run? Obviously you can only run on foot (using your feet)... 별로 안 웃기죠?

규칙은 좋았는데 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들은 더 똑똑했다.
규칙은 좋았는데 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들은 더 똑똑했다.
Some rule==>대단한 규칙이야 a great rule, sarcastic.
너무 much 대단했다.great ===> 더 more 똑똑했다 smart

규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다
==>규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다*도...

If you want to say, "Smart rule," could you literally say "똑똑한 규칙이다?" or would it not make sense? I think "smart" is more flexible in English than in Korean. So what do think the best translation for this sentence is? "규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다도?"

Thank you : )

[yhenry]

제가 하고싶은 얘기인데... ㅎㅎ
But anyway, the joke is making fun of the MP's question, "These runners, are they on foot?" Is there any other way to run? Obviously you can only run on foot (using your feet)... 별로 안 웃기죠?

Yes, I think MP's answer is very funny.

If you want to say, "Smart rule," could you literally say "똑똑한 규칙이다?" or would it not make sense? I think "smart" is more flexible in English than in Korean. So what do think the best translation for this sentence is? "규칙은 좋았다. 거기서 일했던 초소경비병들의 머리보다도?"Thank you : )

We say, 사람이 똑똑하다, 원숭이가 monkey 똑똑하다, but never say 규칙이 똑똑하다 or 정책이policy 똑똑하다. no policy can be smart.
Instead we say 규칙이/정책이 좋다 or 좋은 정책.

So if you want to use 좋다, you can say like this.
규칙은(subject) 좋았으나 (predicate) 거기서 일했던(adjective) 초소경비병들의 (preposition phrase) 머리는 (subject) 더 좋았다(predicate; was & good)

Some good rules, but those guards who worked at the fence were better than that.

You already know this expression; 머리가 좋다, literally, head is good, meaning 'smart'.
I am very much impressed.

[yhenry]

Several women were chatting at a bridge party.
One, who was suspected of being much older than she claimed, said with a sad face, 'My, I hate to think of life at 40.'
One of her friends couldn't miss the opportunity to say, 'What happen to you then?'

[cheri]

Several women were chatting at a bridge party.
One, who was suspected of being much older than she claimed, said with a sad face, 'My, I hate to think of life at 40.'
One of her friends couldn't miss the opportunity to say, 'What happened to you then?'

브리지 카드놀이 파티에서 여자들은 수다를 떨고 있었다.
주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많은 여자가 슬픈 표정으로 "어머나, 40살 인생 생각하긴 싫어!"라고 말했어요.
그녀 친구가 기회를 놓칠 수가 없어서 "그럼 넌, 어떻게 됐니?"라고 말했어요.

I realize I left out the "suspected" part b/c I started to confuse myself with where or how to put it, and semi-gave up. How in the world do you write the second sentence?

[yhenry]

Several women were chatting at a bridge party.
One, who was suspected of being much older than she claimed, said with a sad face, 'My, I hate to think of life at 40.'
One of her friends couldn't miss the opportunity to say, 'What happened to you then?'

브리지 카드놀이 파티에서 여자들은 수다를 떨고 있었다.
주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많은 여자가 슬픈 표정으로 "어머나, 40살 인생 생각하긴 싫어!"라고 말했어요.
그녀 친구가 기회를 놓칠 수가 없어서 "그럼 넌, 어떻게 됐니?"라고 말했어요.

I realize I left out the "suspected" part b/c I started to confuse myself with where or how to put it, and semi-gave up. How in the world do you write the second sentence?

브리지 카드놀이 파티에서; I like word-for-word translation- that way I can relate the Korean translation as close to the English text and memorize the English text easier.
The first sentence has no problem to be translate like that.

여자들은 ==>여자들이 : 은/이 both are grammatically correct subject marker but have functional differences between them.
이 is used to make a general statement.
*** 은 has a special effect: it specialize the the thing it is attached.
은 makes 여자들 stand out in contrast with the rest, getting the special attention.
If there were men, who were doing something else, then you can say 여자들은 played card, unlike men or in contrast with men.

브리지 카드놀이 파티에서 If you want to be more common and natural, you can say like what we like to say in that situation, at the cost of losing the originality, authenticity if you will, like; 화투를 치면서, playing card game.

화투 is the name of traditional Korean card.
호투치다 play a card game.
치다 means 'hit' literally. When we play the card game, we actually hit a matching card on the table with the card in a player's hand.
We don't play around but hit hard making all kind of rockets. hehe

여자들은 수다를 떨고 있었다. This is good.

주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많*다고 의심되는 여자가

Here, you can't translate word for word, so you must get the thought translated.
The thought is that the woman is suspicious 의심되다 and actual age is older than she said.
그녀는 의심받았다 and 그녀는 나이가 많다
To combine to sentence you have to make one sentence into subordinate clause.
In this case a adverb clause to modify the verb 의심되다.
So attach 고/라고 to the root word 많다; 많다고/라고
These suffix can turn a sentence into a adverb clause modifying the verb 의심되다
주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많*다고 **의심되다

Now, to change this sentence 주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많*다고 **의심되다 to an adjective clause modifying noun 여자, pick the suffix that is used to make a verb into adjective, in this case, 는.
주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많*다고 의심되*는 여자

슬픈 표정으로 "어머나, 40살 인생 생각하긴 싫어!"라고 말했어요. Good.

그녀 친구가 기회를 놓칠 수가 없어서 "그럼 넌, 어떻게 됐니?"라고 말했어요.

그럼 넌, 어떻게 됐니?"==> 그때 무슨일이 있었는데?

I have more for you when I get back from work.

[yhenry]

We will see how a noun is turned into verb, adjective or adverb by adding different functional suffixes.

의심(疑心) doubt;question;【불신】mistrust;distrust;【혐의】suspicion
《a matter》 in question;be doubtful 《of, about》;【불신】distrust;be distrustful 《of》;lack confidence in;【혐의】suspect;regard 《a person》 with suspicion

as noun;
타당한[엉뚱한] 의심 a reasonable[misplaced] doubt
가벼운[중대한] 의심 a slight[severe, grave] doubt
더해가는[강한] 의심 a growing[strong, deep] doubt
의심을 품게 하다 cause (a) doubt
의심을 낳다 creat[breed] doubt
의심을 느끼다 feel (a) doubt
의심을 털어버리다 brush[sweep] away doubts
의심을 나타내다 express[voice] one´s doubt 《about》
의심을 두다 suspect 《a person》;throw[cast] suspicion 《on a person》
# 의심을 품다 (embrace)
# 의심을 받다 receive
의심을 풀다 dispel[eliminate, dismiss] 《a person´s》 doubt;clear[clean] up doubts
의심을 받다[사다] incur suspicion;fall under suspicion;be suspected;be regarded
의심 없이 하다 do without a doubt

의심이 많다 be distrustful;be doubting;be skeptical(회의적이다);be suspicious
# 의심이 생기다 arose.
# 의심이 풀리다 undone, resolved
# 의심이 가득한 눈으로 쳐다보다
# 그는 의심이 많아 이웃 사람도 잘 믿지 못한다.
의심이 들게[생기게] 하다 make 《a person》 doubt;arouse a doubt

as adjective;
의심스럽다(adjective0 be doubtful;be questionable;be uncertain(불확실);be open to doubt[question];be suspicious(수상하다)
의심스러운 점 a doubtful point
의심스러운 주장 a questionable assertion
의심을 받고 있는 사람 a suspected person;a suspect
의심이 많은 사람 a distrustful person;a doubting Thomas
의심할 여지가 없다 leave no room[place] for doubt;admit no doubt;be beyond[out of] doubt[question];be certain;there is no doubt about 《it》

의심하는 눈으로 보다 view[eye] 《a person》 with suspicion
그가 올지 어떨지 의심스럽다 It is doubtful whether he will come.
그 계약에는 뭔가 의심스러운 데가 있다 There´s something fishy about that deal.
그것에 관해서는 별로 의심할 바가 없었다 There appeared little doubt about that.

as adverb;
의심스럽게 하다 act doubtfully;suspiciously

As verb;

의심받지 않도록 조용히 나가다 go out quietly so as not to excite any suspicion
당선을 믿어 의심치 않다 be confident of 《a person´s》 election


나는 그의 성공을 의심한다 I doubt his success. or I doubt whether[if] he will succeed.
나는 그가 범인이 아닌가 하고 의심했다 I suspected that he was the offender.
나는 그의 성공을 의심하지 않는다 I have no doubt of his success[that he will succeed]. or I do not doubt (but) that he will succeed.
나는 내 귀를 의심했다 I thought I had heard amiss. or I could hardly believe my ears.
나는 그의 정직함을 믿어 의심치 않는다 I am sure of his honesty.
나는 결국 그가 이길 것을 의심치 않는다 I do not doubt that he will win in the end.
의심받지 않도록 조심하십시오 Don´t let suspicion fall on you.

의심하지 않다 make[have] no doubt of;be confident of

Copied from Naver to share with you.
Check them out and ask question if you have any.
Due to time limit, I did in a hurry so there might be some mistakes or typos.
Be aware.

[cheri]

First off, thank you so much for going through this step by step and in such detail. It's really helpful!

여자들은 ==>여자들이 : 은/이 both are grammatically correct subject marker but have functional differences between them.

I think I still have trouble distinguishing when to use which. I think this definitely comes with time and practice.

화투 is the name of traditional Korean card.
호투치다 play a card game.
치다 means 'hit' literally. When we play the card game, we actually hit a matching card on the table with the card in a player's hand.
We don't play around but hit hard making all kind of rockets. hehe

I like playing 화투 hehe. But I'm not very good or lucky, I think.

주장한 나이보다 진짜 나이 더 많*다고 의심되는 여자가

Thanks for the breakdown here - it was really helpful. ^^ I think these things trip me up the most... when the sentence gets more "complex." I didn't even think of using the ~다고 form there... need more practice with this. ^^

그럼 넌, 어떻게 됐니?"==> 그때 무슨일이 있었는데?

I was originally thinking that the woman was asking, "So what happened to you/why did you turn out this way?" but your (literal) translation makes more sense, and makes the joke funnier when you translate it as "at that time."

[yhenry]

You translate this joke and I will laugh at whatever mistakes you make. hehe

The neighborhood was celebrating the 100th birthday of their beloved eldest citizen.
Among other exciting eventa, he was being interviewed on television.
'You look pretty healthy', the young reporter said, 'Are you able to get around and walk very much these days?'

"Why, certainly, the old man said with a grin, ' I can walk a lot better today than I could a hundred years ago.'

[John]

[spoiler]근처는 100생일게 사랑 장녀시민을 축재기 했슴니다. 그는 텔레비전을 그중에서 흥분 행사도 와희견핬세요. [/spoiler]

The neighborhood was celebrating the 100th birthday of their beloved eldest citizen.
Among other exciting events, he was being interviewed on television.

That's all I decided to butcher. Don't hurt yourself laughing.

[yhenry]

[spoiler]근처는 100생일게 사랑 장녀시민을 축재기(를) 했슴니다. 그는 텔레비전을 그중에서 흥분 행사도 와희견핬세요. [/spoiler]

The neighborhood 이웃/동네 (사람) was celebrating 축하하다 the 100th birthday 100 회 생일 of their 그들의 beloved 존경하는 eldest citizen 최고 고령자 노인 어른.


Subject; The neighborhood 이웃 사람들*이
Object; the 100th birthday 100 회 생일*을
Verb; was celebrating 축하하고 있었읍니다 (present participle)
Modifier of Object; prepositional phrase; of their 그들의 beloved 존경하는 eldest citizen 최고 고령자 노인 어른*의
이웃 사람들*이 (S) 그들의 존경하는 최고 고령자 노인 어른*의 100 회 생일*을 (O) 축하하고 있었읍니다 (V)

Among 중에 other 다른 exciting 신나는 events 행사들 , he 그가 was being interviewed 회견되다 on television TV 방송국에
Adverb phrase; other 다른 exciting 신나는 events 행사들 Among 중 (하나는)
Subject; he 그가
Verb; was being interviewed 회견되다
adverbial phrase; on television TV 방송국 (기자와)

; other 다른 exciting 신나는 events 행사들 Among 중 (하나는) he 그가 adverbial phrase; on television TV 방송국에/과 was being interviewed 회견되다/하다
==>다른 신나는 행사들 중에 (하나는) he 그가 on television TV 방송국과 회견하기로 되엇습니다

ex·cit·ing; adj
1 흥분시키는, 자극적인, 손에 땀을 쥐게 하는, 피끓는;약동하는;호기심을 불러 일으키는
an exciting story 신나게 재미있는 이야기[소설]
in·ter·view
1 회견, 대담, 인터뷰;면접
a job interview=an interview for a job 구직자의 면접
seek[ask] for an interview with …와의 회견을 요청하다
2 (신문 기자의) 방문[면담];회견[방문]

That's all I decided to butcher. Don't hurt yourself laughing.

Thank you for fixing a typo, eventa to events. That ain't much of translating but provide a good laughing point,
that is, 'a' and 's' are neighbors, a good one only if they are separated by 'and-fence'.
Another silly joke. hehe
(please don't translate this silly joke)

[John]

Yeah I know I don't have enough understanding to try to translate anything, I just thought I might try, oh well. Maybe someday..................

[cheri]

You translate this joke and I will laugh at whatever mistakes you make. hehe

The neighborhood was celebrating the 100th birthday of their beloved eldest citizen.
Among other exciting events, he was being interviewed on television.
'You look pretty healthy', the young reporter said, 'Are you able to get around and walk very much these days?'

"Why, certainly, the old man said with a grin, ' I can walk a lot better today than I could a hundred years ago.'

동네 사람들이 사랑하고 가장 나이 많은 동네 시민의 100살 생일을 축하하고 있었어요.
다른 신난 행사 중에 그 할아버지 테레비에 인터뷰를 보고 있었어요.
"정말 건강하게 보이시네요."라고 젊은 기자가 말했어요. "요즘은 어디 걸어다니실 수 있으세요?"
"그럼요."라고 늙은 할아버지가 웃으며 말했어요. "100년 전에보다 지금 더 잘 걷거든요."

1) When you're telling a joke like this... do you tend to use honorifics?
2) Which is most common... 테레비 or just 티비?
3) Laugh away...^^

[cheri]

Oh I just saw the updated thread! ^^ My browser had been opened to this earlier and I didn't refresh...
Wow, John, I didn't even realize there was a "spoiler" button... very cool... ^^ Haha.

[yhenry]

You translate this joke and I will laugh at whatever mistakes you make. hehe

The neighborhood was celebrating the 100th birthday of their beloved eldest citizen.
Among other exciting events, he was being interviewed on television.
'You look pretty healthy', the young reporter said, 'Are you able to get around and walk very much these days?'

"Why, certainly, the old man said with a grin, ' I can walk a lot better today than I could a hundred years ago.'

동네 사람들이 사랑하고 가장 나이 많은 동네 시민의 100살 생일을 축하하고 있었어요.
다른 신난 행사 중에 그 할아버지 테레비에 인터뷰를 보고 있었어요.
"정말 건강하게 보이시네요."라고 젊은 기자가 말했어요. "요즘은 어디 걸어다니실 수 있으세요?"
"그럼요."라고 늙은 할아버지가 웃으며 말했어요. "100년 전에보다 지금 더 잘 걷거든요."

1) When you're telling a joke like this... do you tend to use honorifics?
2) Which is most common... 테레비 or just 티비?
3) Laugh away...^^

Only problem is with the second sentence, in passive voice.
Translation of passive voice into Korean is kinda awkward.
But, if you change passive to active, you have no problem.
Among other exciting events, he was being interviewed on television.
==> Among other exciting events, a TV reporter interviewed him.
다른 신난 행사 중에 (하나로) 티비 기자가 그 할아버지를 회견했읍니다

1. If you telling this joke to an elder, you need to use honorifics. If not, need not.
2. both
3. How can he walk better than 100 years ago?