<p>I think I've found similar grammar that I do know how to use: 通过。
So I've just replaced all instances of this sort of "by" with "through." Seems to have identical meaning in English, so I'm fine with this.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-05T23:30:40.397Z
2014-10-05T23:30:40.397Z
Jonson
<p>通过假装...是真的的方式</p>

<p>By pretending the dinner is real, Peter and his friends forgot about hunger.
通过假装晚餐是真的的方式， 潘和他的朋友们忘掉了饥饿。</p>

<p>Or you can take a little liberty:</p>

<p>通过假装用晚餐的方式， 潘和他的朋友们忘掉了饥饿。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-06T00:00:45.003Z
Perhaps 透过 instead of 通过?
Andrew Kozak
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-06T00:06:02.040Z
@AndrewKozak - That's fine. I heard people from Taiwan speak like that.
George Chen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-07T09:26:05.660Z
Or ... "彼得和朋友們以假晚飯忘卻饑餓."
Henry HO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-05T23:31:34.517Z
2014-10-05T23:31:34.517Z
George Chen
<p>Just as the title says. I really have no idea how to translate the word "by" in this sense. It's just a form of grammar I've never even been exposed to, so I wouldn't know where to start. Anyone know how?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-07T07:50:42.950Z
May we have the whole sentence?
Henry HO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-07T21:55:38.603Z
There was no whole sentence, this was a generic phrase I was trying to use to demonstrate the English use of "by" in this case. George Chen left a well-stated answer.
Jonson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-08T03:36:25.520Z
Then, it would be easy to trap ourselves in clumsy or even ill-formed Chinese using word-wise translation.
Henry HO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T18:51:35.683Z
I disagree with you there. I would argue that "by" in this sense is akin to a grammar pattern, not a "word-wise translation." This is in the sense that using "by" in this sense is similar in both languages in that there is a common one-word phrase which can encompass the use of such.
Jonson
<translation>
How do I translate, "by pretending that something is real?"
# How do I translate, "by pretending that something is real?"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-05)

Just as the title says. I really have no idea how to translate the word "by" in this sense. It's just a form of grammar I've never even been exposed to, so I wouldn't know where to start. Anyone know how?

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: May we have the whole sentence?  
> **username_0**: There was no whole sentence, this was a generic phrase I was trying to use to demonstrate the English use of "by" in this case. username_2 username_2 left a well-stated answer.  
> **username_1**: Then, it would be easy to trap ourselves in clumsy or even ill-formed Chinese using word-wise translation.  
> **username_0**: I disagree with you there. I would argue that "by" in this sense is akin to a grammar pattern, not a "word-wise translation." This is in the sense that using "by" in this sense is similar in both languages in that there is a common one-word phrase which can encompass the use of such.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-10-05. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

通过假装...是真的的方式

By pretending the dinner is real, Peter and his friends forgot about hunger.
通过假装晚餐是真的的方式， 潘和他的朋友们忘掉了饥饿。

Or you can take a little liberty:

通过假装用晚餐的方式， 潘和他的朋友们忘掉了饥饿。

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Perhaps 透过 instead of 通过?  
> **username_2**: @username_3 - That's fine. I heard people from Taiwan speak like that.  
> **username_1**: Or ... "彼得和朋友們以假晚飯忘卻饑餓."  

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### Answer by username_0 on 2014-10-05. Score: 2

I think I've found similar grammar that I do know how to use: 通过。
So I've just replaced all instances of this sort of "by" with "through." Seems to have identical meaning in English, so I'm fine with this.


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