I Use AI Translation to Learn English

For the previous post, Why I Started This Blog, I used AI to help with the translation—I have to admit that upfront. My goal is to study the translated English text to learn the correct usage and structure. I understand that the translation might not always be perfect, but I can’t expect too much in the beginning. After all, I wouldn’t be able to write such an article myself right now. I’ll refine it gradually over time.

Analyzing the Language in the Article

I find that comparing the Chinese and English versions helps a lot in understanding English structures.

For example, in Chinese, we might say, “这念头就没断过,” which was translated as “the thought has never left my mind.” I think this is a great expression. If I were to translate it myself, it would probably turn into Chinglish like “the thought always continues” or “the thought is always here,” and so on.

1. land a job

This is my first time learning the phrase “land a job.” To better understand how it’s used, I searched it on Google Learn About and came across the explanation below:

To “land a job” means to successfully secure or obtain a job offer. It’s like achieving a goal after a process of searching, applying, and interviewing. It implies that you’ve successfully convinced an employer to hire you. It can be used interchangeably with “get a job” but emphasizes the effort and success in securing the position.

For example, you could say:

• “After months of searching, I finally landed a job at a marketing firm!”
  • “经过几个月的寻找，我终于在一家营销公司找到了一份工作！”
• “She’s hoping to land a job in finance after graduating.”
  • 她希望毕业后能找到一份金融方面的工作”
• “He worked hard to improve his skills and eventually landed his dream job.”
  • 他努力提高自己的技能，最终找到了理想的工作”

From these examples, I feel like “land a job” emphasizes the effort and actions taken to secure the job.

Next, I searched “land a job” on Google again, and someone happened to ask about this phrase on Reddit.

The answer is as follows:

The answers included another meaning: in everyday language, “land a job” can also imply getting a job through sheer luck.

2. resolve to do

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary, “resolve” means “to make a definite decision to do something” (下决心；决定).

So, the phrase “resolve to do” translates to “making a firm decision to do something.” I’ve learned another useful expression!

If it were me, I might have used “determine to do something” instead. While these two phrases are similar, “resolve to do” carries a more nuanced tone and is often used when discussing personal goals or major life decisions.

3. only to do

The phrase “only to do” is used to introduce an unexpected or disappointing result following an action or event. It often implies a sense of frustration, surprise, or the feeling that the effort wasn’t worth it.

These are my attempts to break down and learn from the English translations while improving my understanding of English usage and structure.