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How do you say "to hit back"?

by Polaris, June 18, 2010

Messages: 12

Language: English

Polaris (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 4:31:26 PM

I want to be able to use the expression "to hit back" (as in, a little girl hits her brother, so her brother turns around and hits her in return). I can't think of an equivalent expression. The Lernu vortaro suggests "rebati", but wouldn't that mean "to hit again"? Any ideas? Thanks!

Hispanio (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 4:37:36 PM

mmm, I would say interbati, but I'm not sure a lot.

Roberto12 (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 4:46:48 PM

I was actually wondering this exact same thing a few months ago. I used "rebati" because that's what ReVo instructed (and vee must obey how zee people use Esperanto, even ven it seems vrong) but if something better pops up in this thread, I'll switch to that.

ceigered (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 4:48:31 PM

Polaris:"rebati", but wouldn't that mean "to hit again"? Any ideas? Thanks!
Well, there's definitely hitting, and it's definitely happening again regardless of who the hitter and hittee are this time, so it makes sense in a sort of psychedelic way okulumo.gif

For a much longer creative translation, maybe "bati por egaleco" might work - "to hit for the sake of equality!".

Maybe Zamenhoff was thinking that Esperanto would be spoken in a utopian world were an eye for an eye didn't exist, and thus decided to do a newspeak-style omission of the "redundant" phrase for "to hit back", and left us with these very ambiguities!

Donniedillon (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 5:10:32 PM

Rebati make the most sense to me. I would use it as Li batis mi do mi rebatis lin or something to that effect.

utku (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 5:56:59 PM

Can not be used kontraŭbati or retrobati?

Miland (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 6:37:20 PM

PIV 2005 defines rebati among other things as reciproki per bato. I'd go with it.

Belmiro (User's profile) June 18, 2010, 6:54:13 PM

I would say : “redonfrapo” ; Li ŝin redonprapis

Donniedillon (User's profile) June 19, 2010, 2:46:19 PM

super-griek:"Rebati" is good, but I like "venĝbati" as well.
+1 for venĝbati

Hispanio (User's profile) June 19, 2010, 2:50:54 PM

super-griek:"Rebati" is good, but I like "venĝbati" as well.
It would be better venĝobati, because of its pronunciation.

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