1. Vocabulary Introduction:
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhòu): “When.” A phrase used to inquire about the time at which something occurred or will occur.
- 我们 (wǒmen): “We” or “us.” The plural first-person pronoun.
- 开始 (kāishǐ): “Begin” or “start.” Indicates the initiation of an action or process.
- 没有 (méiyǒu): “Not have” or “lack.” A negation indicating the absence of something.
- 了 (le): A particle indicating a completed action or a change of state.
- 底线 (dǐxiàn): “Baseline” or “bottom line.” Refers to fundamental principles or limits.
2. Grammar and Structure:
The sentence begins with a temporal query “什么时候,” asking about the time of an event.
This is followed by the subject “我们,” referring to the group including the speaker.
“开始” is the verb, indicating the start of an action or condition.
The phrase concludes with “没有了 底线,” which translates to “no longer have a bottom line.” Here:
- “没有” – Indicates the absence or lack of something.
- “了” – A particle used here to signify a change in state or completion.
- “底线” – Refers to fundamental principles, standards, or limits that are no longer adhered to.
3. Translation and Meaning:
A direct translation would be: “When did we start to not have a bottom line anymore.”
In natural English, it would translate to: “When did we begin to lose our principles?”
4. Conveying Nuance:
This phrase is likely used to express concern or dismay about a perceived decline in moral or ethical standards within a group or society. It questions the point at which fundamental principles or limits were abandoned.