Expert: Sir William - 1/8/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sir William,

I am writing a novel with Chinese characters, and I am hoping you can help translate the English names into Chinese Pinyin for me:

1. Sweet Girl
2. Little Girl
3. Baby
4. Sweet Baby
5. Little Baby

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it.
Kinds regards,
Camille

ANSWER: Hello, Camille,

1. Sweet Girl - "可""爱""的"(sweet)Pinyin="Ke""Ai""Di"[adjective] "女""孩"(girl)Pinyin="Nu""Hai"[noun].
2. Little Girl - "小" (little)Pinyin="xiao"[adjective] "女""孩"(girl)Pinyin="Nu""Hai"[noun].
3. Baby - "婴""儿"(baby)Pinyin="ying""er".
4. Sweet Baby - "可""爱""的"((sweet)Pinyin="Ke""Ai""Di"[adjective] "婴""儿"(baby)Pinyin="ying""er"[noun].
5. Little Baby - "小" (little)Pinyin="xiao"[adjective] "婴""儿"(baby)Pinyin="ying""er"[noun].

In Chinese, the word "sweet" also means "甜"Pingyin="Tian"(having the taste of sugar or a substance containing or resembling sugar).

I hope you'll find the above helpful.

Thank you for your question and good luck for your novel.

Sir William

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Sir William,

Thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it.

Question: When you say Girl = "Nu" "Hai" does that mean I can use either of those words and get the same meaning? Or does Nu Hai have to be used as one word?

Thank you!
-Camille

Answer
Hello, Camille,

In Chinese, the word "Nu" means female, the word "Hai" means kid/teenager.  As such, when you say "Nu" "Hai", you are saying "a little girl" (or, a teenage girl).  These two words can be used together and they can also be used separately, depends on what you want to express. However, you will not get the same meaning by using either of those words.

Thank you for your question. It's nice to hear from you again.

With kind regards,

Sir William