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Table 4 English: nouns into verbs

From: That “certain cut”: towards a characterology of Mandarin Chinese

*jīnnián zhè jǐkē shù dū búhuì shuǐguǒ

None of these trees will fruit this year

*zhème dūo rén kǒngpà fángbuxià

I’m afraid we can’t house so many people

*wǒde huā shuǐhǎole méiyǒu?

Have my flowers been watered?

*tā búshì xiǎoháiz le, búbì mǔqīn tā

He’s not a child any more, no need to mother him

*tā gěi jǐngchá wěibale liǎngge xīngqí

He was tailed by the police for a fortnight

*níu shì měitiān yào nǎi liǎngcì

The cows need to be milked twice a day