Breakdown of wǒ kěyǐ bǎ zhè gè fānyì chéng yīngwén, nǐ bāngmáng ma?
我wǒ
I
你nǐ
you
吗ma
question particle
这zhè
this
个gè
noun classifier
Used when counting nouns or when specifying a specific instance of a noun.
There are also classifiers for people, for bound items such as books and magazines, for cups/glasses, etc.
The classifier 个 is a general one that can be used for any of these.
可以kěyǐ
can
把bǎ
disposal marker
帮忙bāngmáng
to help
英文yīngwén
English
翻译fānyì
to translate
成chéng
into
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Questions & Answers about wǒ kěyǐ bǎ zhè gè fānyì chéng yīngwén, nǐ bāngmáng ma?
Why is 把 used here?
- 把 highlights what happens to a specific, known object: you’re disposing of or transforming it. Here, 把这个翻译成英文 means “take this and translate it into English.”
- A 把-sentence typically needs: 1) a specific object (here: 这个), 2) a verb phrase that shows a result/change (here: 翻译成英文).
- Without 把, you can also say: 我可以翻译这个成英文 or simply 我可以翻译成英文 (if “this” is clear from context). The 把 version sounds more natural when the object is topical or already known.
What does 成 do in 翻译成英文?
- 成 is a resultative complement meaning “into/become,” marking the outcome of the action: “translate into English.”
- With 翻译, the common pattern is 翻译成 + 语言 (e.g., 翻译成中文/英文). Using 到 here (e.g., 翻译到英文) is ungrammatical.
Is there a difference between 英文 and 英语?
- Both generally mean “English (language).”
- Nuance:
- 英语: the language as a subject/discipline, more common in Mainland formal contexts (e.g., 英语考试).
- 英文: often “English text/writing,” but in everyday speech (especially Taiwan/HK) it also just means “English.” In this sentence, 英文 is perfectly natural.
Why is there 个 after 这?
- 个 is the default measure word when the noun is not specified or is general. 这个 literally means “this one.”
- If you know what “this” is, use a specific classifier:
- A sentence: 这句话
- A paragraph: 这段
- An article/file: 这篇/这份
- A word/term: 这个词/这个术语
Is 你帮忙吗？ polite and natural?
- It’s grammatical but can sound quite direct, even a bit pushy (“Are you helping or not?”), depending on tone and relationship.
- Softer, more common requests:
- 你能帮忙吗？
- 可以帮忙吗？
- 你可以帮我一下吗？/ 能帮我一下吗？
- Add 一下/一下儿 or 吗/吧 to soften: 帮忙一下可以吗？, 帮个忙吧.
What’s the difference between 帮 and 帮忙?
- 帮 (verb “to help”) can take a person or task: 帮我, 帮我翻译, 帮他做作业.
- 帮忙 is a verb-object compound meaning “to do a favor/help (in general).” It doesn’t directly take a specific task as an object:
- Good: 你能帮忙吗？, 帮个忙, 帮我一个忙
- Not good: 帮忙我翻译 (use 帮我翻译 instead)
If I actually want to ask “Can you help me translate this into English?”, how should I say it?
- Most natural: 你能帮我把这个翻译成英文吗？
- Variants:
- 你可以帮我把这个翻译成英文吗？
- 能不能帮我把这个翻译成英文？
- To soften: add 一下 after 翻译: …翻译一下….
Why use 可以 here? How is it different from 能 and 会?
- 可以: permission/possibility (“may/can”). 我可以把这个翻译成英文 = I’m allowed/it’s possible for me to translate this.
- 能: ability/feasibility (“can/be able to”). 我能把这个翻译成英文 = I’m able to do it.
- 会: skill or future tendency (“know how to/will”). 我会把这个翻译成英文 = I know how to do it / I will do it.
- In requests, both 能 and 可以 are common: 你能/可以帮我…吗？ (能 can feel a hair more about ability, 可以 a hair more about permission, but both are polite.)
Is the comma before the question mark correct?
- Yes. It’s two clauses: a statement (我可以把这个翻译成英文) followed by a yes–no question (你帮忙吗？). The comma marks a natural pause.
- If you want a single-question sentence, recast as: 你能帮我把这个翻译成英文吗？
Could I use 将 instead of 把?
- 将 is a formal/written equivalent of 把. In speech, 把 is preferred.
- Written style: 我可以将这个翻译成英文。
Can I drop 把 altogether?
- Yes, especially if the object is short or not topical:
- 我可以翻译这个成英文。
- If context makes the object clear: 我可以翻译成英文。
- With pronouns or longer objects, 把 often sounds more natural: 我可以把它翻译成英文。
How do I negate this naturally?
- No ability: 我不能把这个翻译成英文。
- No permission: 我不可以把这个翻译成英文。
- Lack of skill: 我不会把这个翻译成英文 or more idiomatically 我不会翻译成英文 / 我不会把这个翻成英文.
Is 翻译 a verb or a noun?
- Both.
- Verb: 翻译这段文字 (translate this passage)
- Noun: 这份翻译 (this translation), 中文翻译 (Chinese translation), 他是翻译 (he is a translator)
Can I use 为 instead of 成 (e.g., 翻译为英文)?
- Yes. 翻译为 is common in written/formal registers. 翻译成 is very common in speech. Meaning is the same here.
- Don’t use 成为 in this pattern; it doesn’t work with 翻译.
Is 这个 the best choice, or should I say 它?
- If the referent is already known, 它 (“it”) is often smoother: 我可以把它翻译成英文.
- If you are pointing to something new or visible, 这个 (“this one”) is fine.
- For precision, replace with a specific noun phrase: 这句话/这段话/这篇文章.
Any pronunciation tips in this sentence?
- 可以: third-tone sandhi makes it sound like kéyǐ (2–3) in fluent speech.
- 这个: often zhège with 个 in a light/neutral tone; some speakers say zhèige.
- 吗 is neutral tone.
- 帮忙 is bāngmáng (first + second tone).
Is there a better flow if I want to request help directly?
- The original sequence can feel slightly odd (“I can do it; can you help?”). For a direct, polite request, say:
- 你能帮我把这个翻译成英文吗？
- 可以帮我把这个翻译成英文吗？
- Even softer: 麻烦你帮我把这个翻译成英文，可以吗？
Other common yes–no request patterns I can use?
- A-not-A: 能不能帮我把这个翻译成英文？, 帮不帮忙？
- Tag with 好吗/行吗/可以吗: 帮我翻译一下，行吗？
- Use 吧 to coax/soften: 帮我把这个翻译成英文吧。
Where do I put softeners like 一下?
- After the main verb:
- 帮我一下 / 帮忙一下
- 把这个翻译一下 / 帮我把这个翻译一下
- Example: 你能帮我把这个翻译一下吗？