By which it means

Hi. Welcome to EF.

xczzhh One difficulty in translation lies in obtaining a concept match which/that means that a concept in one language is lost or changed in another.

By which = by means of.

He darted after the criminal by which[by doing so] he wanted to catch him up.

xczzhhOne difficulty in translation lies in obtaining a concept match, by which it means that a concept in one language is lost or changed in meaning in translation.

The idea the sentence tries to express is very odd. It says that a concept match means that something is lost or changed in translation. I think the opposite is true: nothi

Thanks for your reply. Your answer is very helpful to my understanding of this problem. Please excuse me for asking another two questions:

1). Is the following sentence grammatical:

One difficulty in translation lies in obtaining a concept match, by this is meant that a concept in one language is lost or changed in meaning in translation.

?

2). Is it

One difficulty in translation lies in obtaining a concept match, without which a concept in one language may be lost or changed in meaning by translation.

Also possible:

One difficulty in translation lies in obtaining a concept match, by which is meant that a concept in one language must be expressable in the other language, or it may be lost or changed in m

Thanks for the reply, CJ. Your revision of the original sentence seems much better to me. I am really grateful for this! But, I am still not sure I understand your second sentence in terms of grammar:

CalifJimOne difficulty in translation lies in obtaining a concept match, by which is

xczzhhShould the italicized clause be considered a relative clause?

Yes. That's what it is!

xczzhhThe red part is very confusing to me; would you be so kind as to shed more light on that?

by which is meant ... = and by this people mean ...

What do you mean by "wicked"? = What do you mean when you say "wicke

CalifJimWhat do you mean by "wicked"? = What do you mean when you say "wicked"?
What is meant by "wicked"? = What do people mean when they say "wicked"?

Doing something like that is wicked, and when they say this, people mean ....
=
Doing something like that is wicked, and by this, people mean ...
=
Doing something like that is wicked, by whic