Messages: 9
Language: English
DesertNaiad (User's profile) April 16, 2007, 6:06:48 AM
erinja (User's profile) April 16, 2007, 1:05:24 PM
DesertNaiad:Does bedaŭri mean "to apologize"? There's no listing for apologize in the lernu dictionary, but bedaŭri is listed under "to regret". I wish to apologize for missing someone's message and not replying, and I'm not sure what verb to use."bedaŭri" does mean "to regret" and it doesn't really mean an apology. I sometimes use it to mean something like "I'm sorry". But it doesn't include any admission of fault; for example, you also might use it if someone informs you that they have a sick relative. Obviously it is not your fault that their relative is sick, but you are sorry to hear it. The Esperanto definition of "bedaŭri" in lernu!'s Eo-Eo dictionary says: 'diri aŭ pensi: "estas malbone, ke tio okazis tiel"' (to say or think: it's bad/unfortunate that that happened in that way).
For "apologize" I sometimes use "pardonpeti". literally, "to request pardon" or "to request forgiveness". That *does* indicate fault on your part. So you might say "Mi pardonpetas pro mia malfrua respondo". Or else, you might just say something like "Pardonu", in a context like "Pardonu min, ke mi ne respondis rapide"
For something like a missed message, I might use any one of these. Even "bedaŭri", since I'm sure you didn't miss the message on purpose!
DesertNaiad (User's profile) April 17, 2007, 3:35:41 AM
richardhall (User's profile) April 17, 2007, 12:34:58 PM
erinja:["bedaŭri" does mean "to regret" and it doesn't really mean an apology. I sometimes use it to mean something like "I'm sorry". But it doesn't include any admission of fault/quote]So "bedaŭri" is what your lawyer would tell you to use!
DesertNaiad (User's profile) April 18, 2007, 7:53:49 AM
richardhall:I'd be a lawyer's worst nightmare. Mia culpa! lol
So "bedaŭri" is what your lawyer would tell you to use!
richardhall (User's profile) April 18, 2007, 11:17:03 AM
I have a vocabulary question of my own. How would you translate "Thought for the Day"? Should that be "Penso de la tago", "Penso por la tago", or something else?
mnlg (User's profile) April 18, 2007, 11:36:06 AM
richardhall:How would you translate "Thought for the Day"? Should that be "Penso de la tago", "Penso por la tago", or something else?"Penso de la tago" is fine.
You could also go for, e.g., "hodiaŭa penso".
For the initiated, "Pens' de la tag'" is a nifty variation.
richardhall (User's profile) April 18, 2007, 12:07:31 PM
Does this make sense? Diru ne, "Mi ne povas." Diru, "Mi ne jam lernis."
(Don't say "I can't." Say, "I haven't learned yet.")
mnlg (User's profile) April 18, 2007, 11:18:07 PM
richardhall:Dankon.Tute ne dankinde!
Does this make sense? Diru ne, "Mi ne povas." Diru, "Mi ne jam lernis."I'd say "Mi ankoraŭ ne lernis". Also I would say "Ne diru" instead of "Diru ne", but this is just out of my experience and preference.
(Don't say "I can't." Say, "I haven't learned yet.")
If I were you I might consider using "Mi ne scias", in place of "mi ne povas", I think that would increase the strength of the saying, but it does indeed sound fine that way as well.