Questions tagged [translation]
Questions on specific points regarding translating Chinese. Do your own research first!
2,180
questions
1
vote
4
answers
452
views
Translation of Stack Exchange’s “upvote”
Sort of a meta-textual question here. How would I explain to someone who’s unfamiliar with Stack Exchange what an upvote is?
The English term is probably a neologism as well, although it can be used ...
- 5,416
3
votes
1
answer
121
views
Reverse Translation: “The Devil’s own uncle knows!“
In Peter Hessler’s (何伟) latest article for The New Yorker, China’s Reform Generation Adapts to Life in the Middle Class, there is a paragraph which reads:
The man swore in dialect: “The Devil’s own ...
Mou某♦
- 34.9k
1
vote
2
answers
249
views
非切片精分，1V1，丧了吧唧强大攻 mean?
非切片精分，1V1，丧了吧唧强大攻 I read it in some web novel's description. What does it mean? I know about 1v1 and gong. Please help me understand the rest. Thank you.
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
177
views
yixing teapot Mark translation please
I puchased this teapot and believe it to be Yixing but I would like to see if I can find out when it was made or the artist.
0
votes
2
answers
64
views
Can someone help me translate this?
This reverse painted glass ball was made for me 18 years ago before I came to the US.I have no knowledge of the language but I would like to know what it says. I tried looking it up but no websites ...
0
votes
3
answers
95
views
How to translate 钓胃口?
The word 胃口 means appetite but the verb 钓 makes it tricky to translate the term literally as it wouldn't really make sense.
Just wondering if anyone has found a nice way to translate this common term ...
- 751
2
votes
2
answers
183
views
What does 丑八怪 mean?
I have a gaming group in which this term "丑八怪" is being used a lot along with the 眼皮底下, anyway all the letters look similar.
1
vote
3
answers
168
views
What does 他们说他写歌词找枪手 mean?
The line cane from the song "pride of mine". I understand that 他们说 mean they said and 他写歌词 mean he wrote the lyrics, but i dont understand the 找枪手.
- 13
1
vote
3
answers
219
views
Correct translation of 我司言开宗立派到如今
The sentence is:
我司言开宗立派到如今。
I translated this as "I 司言 started a school and established a political group until now".
I already tried with online translators but they all gave me ...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
110
views
I would like to check if I did well the small seal script translation, on an ancient seal, into English
The seal, a longitudinal one in green Jade, represents a roaring imperial lion with the mouth towards the sky. The base of the seal has the four small seal script characters (as you can see it has a ...
- 49
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
I would like to check if I did well the translation of the writings on an ancient seal, into English
The seal, a longitudinal one in green Jade, represents a roaring imperial lion with the mouth towards the sky. On the frontal part has one column of chinese characters. It seems to be from the Empress ...
- 49
0
votes
1
answer
60
views
What is the function of “而” and “使” in this sentence?
all.
I'm reading through a textbook and came across this sentence:
“那些得益于畜牧农耕而使人类实现了定居的地方，大都成为人类文明的摇篮。”
Overall, the sentence doesn't really give me much trouble except for that “而使” in the first ...
- 69
0
votes
3
answers
86
views
Exact meaning of 都 in 刚刚你的担忧，我都听见了?
In 李芳，实不相瞒，刚刚你的担忧，我都听见了。
What is the real meaning of 都？
Cause i think it can have the 都...了 pattern wich means "already" so the sentence can be translated as ：李芳 ,to be honest i already ...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
105
views
I would like to know the translation from a small seal script, on an ancient seal, into English
The seal represents an imperial dragon in red porfido stone. On the lateral of the base, it seems that is written "Year of the dragon, Hu Zhengyan", the 1584-1674, printer, artist and seals ...
- 49
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
I would like to know the translation of the writings on an ancient seal, to English, please
The seal representing an imperial lion in red porfid, has two scripts.
On the lateral of the base, two colons (XVI-XVII Chinese Characters). My research helped by one chinese friend say that it says &...
- 49
1
vote
1
answer
196
views
I would like to know the translation of the writing on this ink stamp, to English please
From the research I've found on many websites, this trinket is an antique Chinese ink stamp/seal. It's included with what looks to be a writing utensil. The attached writing utensil is all the same ...
1
vote
2
answers
147
views
What does 中国爱丽一枚 mean?
I don't really speak chinese (except very, very basic stuff), but I try to understand this:
中国爱丽一枚～glad to see you！
A chinese person wrote this in a profile in a pen pal app. I'm really confused, ...
- 121
-1
votes
1
answer
56
views
What kind of tea is this?
I was gifted some Chinese tea, but I have no idea what kind it is. Can someone please help me with this?
- 3
1
vote
2
answers
109
views
Is there a "complete list" of compound nouns in Chinese/English?
I am looking at this and it's wonderful / super helpful!
王子 (wángzǐ) “Prince”, literally: king-son
钱包 (qiánbāo) “wallet/purse”, literally: money-bag
密码 (mìmǎ) “password/code”, literally: secret-...
- 653
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
以故 at the beginning of the sentence
I am wondering if the following translation is correct?
以故使炳夏搜送刊行文集，則歸報以不得，極可歎也。
This (以故) caused 炳夏搜 to pursue publication of the collected essays, thus there will be no payback, which is extremely ...
- 475
3
votes
1
answer
67
views
who is the author of 行狀 in the phrase " 其祖考所撰行狀"
Here is a sentence I have a problem with:
再昨招宋炳夏商量，又更審其祖考所撰行狀...
I just want to make sure whether the obituary (行狀) was composed about the deceased grandfather (祖考) or by the grandfather of 宋炳夏?
(EDIT)...
- 475
1
vote
2
answers
109
views
How to translate "meme" in social media in Chinese?
According to wikipedia
A meme is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
42
views
relation between "疏" and "上命" (clarifying meaning in a sentence)
I have a couple of problems concerning this sentence:
庚辰，具疏投進，上命校書館印布正文，其後玉堂權尚游、尹趾仁請下兩南，竝注疏印進，學士大夫皆印藏而賞。
How does 上命 relate to the previous clause (具疏投進)?
I am not sure how to understand "尚游&...
- 475
1
vote
1
answer
65
views
meaning of "正相發"
There is this passage from the Doctrine of the Mean:
""Hence the sovereign may not neglect the cultivation of his own character. Wishing to cultivate his character, he may not neglect to ...
- 475
2
votes
3
answers
736
views
How to say "sexist" in Chinese?
Today in class we were discussing a dialogue and one student wanted to say that pne phrase is "sexist". Our teacher wasn't able to provide an answer for that, also because she doesn't speak ...
- 33
1
vote
2
answers
181
views
How do I answer 你家有几口人？他们是谁？
My homework is asking about my family but the question after asks about what they do. How do I answer the question of who are they?
- 11
2
votes
3
answers
390
views
Meaning of "辭" in a passage from 晦庵先生朱文公集
I have a question concerning a passage from a text by Zhu Xi.
The full passage goes as follows (passages I have problem with are marked):
"唐子西嘗曰，弘景知本草而未知經。注本草誤，其禍疾而小，注六經誤，其禍遲而大。前世儒臣引經誤國，其禍至於伏屍百萬，...
- 475
1
vote
1
answer
335
views
Help identifying chinese marks and signstures on porcelain and pottery
I bought a collection of antique porcelain and pottery and I've identified a lot but I have a couple that are stumping me, no matter how much research I do. Can anyone help identify these?
1
vote
2
answers
161
views
Does anyone know what this says and in what language?
I would like to know what language this is in. It's a pendant that belonged to my mother. I may be holding it backwards.
0
votes
2
answers
38
views
How to translate "Critically Examine“？
I am trying to translate some academic essay:
By critically examining the original records of the history of Chinese Bible translation....
Google translates "critically" to "批判地",...
- 223
0
votes
3
answers
104
views
With the meaning of lying down, what's the difference between these three characters? 躺 vs 卧 vs 趴
With the meaning of lying down, what's the difference between these three characters? 躺 vs 卧 vs 趴
- 249
0
votes
5
answers
170
views
Hi I was planning on getting tattooed 'love yourself' in Chinese. Should I use '爱你自己' or '爱自己'?
Hi I was planning on getting tattooed 'love yourself' in Chinese. Should I use '爱你自己' or '爱自己'? Is there any difference and if so what are they?
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
103
views
How do you type this in Chinese?
I want to be able to type this in Chinese but I cannot recognize the characters.
0
votes
4
answers
170
views
Help understanding this sentence “你不会不明白的”
I saw this sentence when I was watching a TV play. I don't understand what it means.
The heroine said this to the hero. My brother thinks this sentence means "you don't understand". However, ...
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
"她从他的邻居那里借了一把铁锹，现在他正在用这把铁锹挖泥土。" What does "那里" contribute to this sentence's meaning?
"她从他的邻居那里借了一把铁锹，现在他正在用这把铁锹挖泥土。" In the first half of this sentence, the speaker uses "那里." I'd love to know how it affects the meaning of the sentence. For example, if we remove 那里,...
- 249
2
votes
2
answers
258
views
Help understanding the Min song 追追追
Cross-post notice
I already posted the question here, but have since received only one helpful answer, which promised "more later" but never came back with "more". Since it's been ...
- 2,310
2
votes
2
answers
147
views
What does "Xian" mean to a native Chinese speaker?
This might sound a little silly I know, but there is a game called Tomb Raider 2, which contains an artifact called the Dagger of Xian. No explanation is given in the game for the name. I have looked ...
- 33
0
votes
4
answers
116
views
How would you translate "for just a moment" in Chinese?
I am wondering if there's a more accurate way to say "for just a moment", or "if not for just a moment" in Chinese?
I am not certain because the translations I found sounds ...
- 91
0
votes
1
answer
38
views
Translating terms like function and toggle
Bolded terms I'm struggling to translate using dictionaries and online resources:
My IME has a pronunciation lookup function.( CTRL+ALT+E )
I've tried to find the right translation, but I'm not sure....
- 145
3
votes
4
answers
124
views
Is there an ordering to words like 喜欢，喜爱，喜好?
In English, the phrase "I love chocolate" implies greater affinity for chocolate than "I like chocolate". The phrase "I adore chocolate" implies an even greater affinity. ...
- 309
2
votes
2
answers
97
views
How accurate is SCMP's translation of “任期内打仗”“今晚准备打仗”不是一句口号，而是一种现实存在?
“‘A war within the president’s term’ or ‘war breaking out tonight’ are not just slogans, they are becoming a practical reality,” it said.
China ‘steps up preparedness for possible military conflict ...
- 13.7k
-1
votes
1
answer
193
views
Translation of a weird email draft [closed]
Today I have checked my drafts in GMAIL account just by chance, and I saw one email from 22.10.2021 (last friday) with chinese text and english subject. The subject makes sense since I am indeed ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
What does this mean (handwriting)
Can you all help me to translate this character. It was written on machine that was delivered to me, and it is malfunctioning, i thought this might give me a clue.
2
votes
4
answers
743
views
How would I say "change the laundry"?
I use the phrase "change the laundry" to mean "move the laundry from the washing machine to the dryer." I would like to know how to say this in Chinese.
I checked Pleco, and found ...
- 309
1
vote
1
answer
164
views
Is there a colloquial word for 'bro'?
I know 弟弟 and 哥哥, but I've also heard something like 大哥 being used and I've also been referred to as 兄弟 when someone younger than me greeted me。 Are there any other variants? And which one is most ...
- 177
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Meaning of "集合论提供了要如何描述数学物件的语言" in an article on set theory
Here is a sentence from the Baidu Baike article on set theory 集合论. I am trying to read this article using a dictionary because it has many words that I have not seen before.
在大多数现代数学的公式化中，...
- 349
2
votes
1
answer
101
views
Is there a translation of the daodejing into modern mandarin grammar?
Apologies for a classic "lmgtfy" question, but you probably appreciate that the nature of what I'm asking is hard to properly convey to a search engine, regardless of whether the query is ...
- 123
1
vote
4
answers
167
views
Garden Path Parsing of 雲南那兒的人有少數幾個民族說的是漢語的方言
I'm trying to parse the syntax of a sentence from a fairly well-known textbook. I understand the meaning.
雲南那兒的人有少數幾個民族說的是漢語的方言.
I keep parsing 2 different sub-sentences, but am having trouble putting ...
- 243
0
votes
2
answers
41
views
"你们现在有什么活动？" The material translation of this sentence confuses me. Is the usage of 活动 colloquial in this sentence?
"你们现在有什么活动？" The material's translation is, "What offers do you have on at the moment?" But I don't know how it means that, as I don't know of 活动 ever meaning "offers."
...
- 249
0
votes
1
answer
40
views
Help with 之，間，於
衛福編編報報 發文時間：2021.10.14
台積電、鴻海永齡、慈濟三間企業和民間團體捐贈之第八批BNT疫苗82.7萬劑於10月14日上午抵臺
Is this translation correct?
Weifu edited report, publish date: 2021.10.14
The eighth batch of 827,000 BNT doses donated by TSMC,...
- 129