Questions tagged [translation]
Questions on specific points regarding translating Chinese to/from another language. Do your own research first!
1,511
questions
-1
votes
1answer
76 views
anybody knows what this means? tatto from my brother [closed]
anybody knows what this means? tatto from my brother
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Meaning of the saying 逢着天门
逢着天门 Does anyone know the meaning of this saying or idiom? It is part of the commentary to a Shenshu verse, which doesn't really make sense to me, but it seems this expression more or less explains ...
4
votes
3answers
99 views
What is the common word used among programmers for a bug?
What is the translation for a computer bug that is being commonly used in the programming environment?
3
votes
1answer
176 views
How do you say 学霸 in English?
Is there a word for 学霸 in English?
霸 comes from 霸王， which is an attribute people gave to a super warlord in ancient China who is invincible even when he was just fighting along against an entire army. ...
1
vote
3answers
102 views
How do I say “我不是太喜欢旅游.” in English?
The translator gives the translation is
I don't like traveling very much.
But it sounds like I hate traveling. But I'm just not a traveling enthusiast. If my family need a traveling, I can go with ...
1
vote
2answers
204 views
Does the word proud exist in Chinese?
I know this is gonna get closed because it's more philosophical in nature but it's something that's brought up (subtle Asian traits, if curious)
the word proud is rarely used in Chinese culture and ...
2
votes
2answers
132 views
Does '到现在' imply a recent change?
Chinese-to-English dictionaries seem to translate '到现在' as 'up to now' or 'until now'. In English this often implies a recent change in conditions rather than a continuation of conditions; however, in ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
How to understand 灵魂 sense of spirit?
The words 灵魂 translates to 'soul' or 'spirit'. In English, the word 'spirit' can refer to the undefinable spiritual entity associated with the divine. I think that in Chinese, 灵魂 can refer to a person'...
1
vote
1answer
449 views
How to translate “舔狗” to English?
This is a popular word in China. I know 舔 means lick, 狗 means dog. But it seems that the meaning of 舔狗 is not to do with lick, there is a sentence says 舔狗不得好死, so I think it's a noun. And according ...
3
votes
2answers
72 views
How do I translate these verbs?
I recently saw these phrases (from the song 我要你的爱):
你为什么不走过来 (I think it basically means: Why won't you come here)
你为什么不说出来 (I think it basically means: Why won't you say it)
为什么不肯说 (I think it ...
0
votes
2answers
152 views
I looked for it “until” I found it
How do I say “I looked for it until I found it“ or “I looked for (something) until I found it” what is the word that i use for “until”?
1
vote
2answers
94 views
“To give someone space”
I was looking for the equal word of "to give someone space" in Chinese and found this :
给我一点空间。
I'm not sure if 空间 is the correct word though. 空间 means "space" but I think it refers to a visible ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Can someone please translate this for me? I’ve had a piece of metal with this written on it for years but have no idea what it says!
Can someone please translate this for me? I’ve had a piece of metal with this written on it for years but have no idea what it says!
4
votes
4answers
227 views
What's the best translation to 「要看两千年的中国，去西安；要看一千年的中国，去北京；要看一百年的中国，去上海；要看十年的中国，去深圳」？
What's the best translation to 「要看两千年的中国，去西安；要看一千年的中国，去北京；要看一百年的中国，去上海；要看十年的中国，去深圳」？
My version is
To find two thousand years of China, go to Xi'an; To find one thousand years of China, go to ...
6
votes
2answers
458 views
How is this sentence translated as “I can't believe it!”
I found this expression the other day :
我简直不敢相信！
I failed to get what it means and looked for its meaning on the Google translate and it told me that the meaning of this sentence is : "I can't ...
4
votes
1answer
128 views
How to refer to 'depression' in Chinese?
Depression is a word used to describe a 人 who feels a sadness that is buried deeply in heart and mind.
What word is used to refer to this kind of depression?
If you can think of any idioms or ...
2
votes
2answers
184 views
How to translate the famous saying “路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索” in Li Sao?
"路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索" is a verse in Qu Yuan's classic Li Sao. My translation is:
My journey is so hard and nearly endless, I will keep going forward until I get to the end in someday.
1
vote
2answers
113 views
What is the translation of my guild’s name?
I started playing a game and joined a Chinese guild (luckily there is a rough built in translator for chat).
Below pictured is my guild name
I attempted to get the correct characters which I think ...
0
votes
1answer
166 views
Please may someone tell me what this symbol means?
Hello!
I was wondering whether this symbol meant anything? I tried to search on Google and even used the image search on Google translate but nothing came back.
Thanks in advance!
-1
votes
1answer
57 views
飛鵝山 final paragraph translation to English
Could someone please translate this paragraph from this essay by 余光中.
(第27段) 對着珠江口這一盤盤的青山，一灣灣的碧海，對着這一片南天的福地，我當風默許：無論我曾在何處，會在何處，這片心永遠縈迴在此地，在此刻踏着的這塊土上，愛新覺羅不要了，伊麗莎白保不了的這塊土上，正如它永遠向東，縈迴着一座島嶼，向北，...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
What is 汉白玉 and is it 大理石?
汉白玉 is translated to English as "White Marble".
Is that translation correct? Is it a form of 大理石?
And if it is a form of marble then is it a valuable, expensive form or a cheap form?
And is there ...
5
votes
3answers
209 views
A better translation of 假作真时真亦假，无为有处有还无。
In the Chinese classic 红楼梦 ("Dream of Red Mansions"), there is a famous couplet:
假作真时真亦假，无为有处有还无。
Pinyin:
jiǎ zuò zhēn shí zhēn yì jiǎ, wú wéi yǒu chù yǒu huán wú.
This has been translated into ...
1
vote
3answers
126 views
How To Interpret 患难见真情
患难见真情
A google search from sites shows:
"A friend in need is a friend indeed" (is in here meaning during or requiring?).
A literal translation reveals "adversity" while another shows "adversity ...
0
votes
5answers
127 views
What is the colloquial Cantonese translation for “还真是”?
A says: 他自从遇到车祸以后就不开车了。
B says: 还真是，我以为他不喜欢开车呢。
1
vote
2answers
67 views
Correct grammar? 她对待客人很友好。
In an Anki deck I downloaded, the Chinese translation of "Her treatment of the guests is very friendly." is given as "她对待客人很友好。" Shouldn't it be "她对待客人得很友好。"?
3
votes
2answers
114 views
Is 不要在厨房里留下任何废物 the correct way of saying “do not leave any waste in the kitchen”?
Is 不要在厨房里留下任何废物 the correct way of saying "do not leave any waste in the kitchen"?
Background: I'm living in an apartment building in Taipei and there is a common kitchen on the first floor that I ...
7
votes
2answers
799 views
Why 你在笑什么？, why not 你笑在什么？
In English, you say
What are you laughing at?
I'm laughing at this situation.
Here, the preposition "at" refers to "this situation" and "what", respectively. In German it's more clear, since the ...
0
votes
0answers
170 views
Need translation please
I have recently gotten this photo and am having a hard time finding it and reading the signature and stamps and would like to know what the stamps are as well as the signature translated please and ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
What is the purpose of 一切信息 in this sentence?
Example sentence, from 青少年科学百科全书 （第一章：声音）
各种各样的声音能够使我们了解来自内部身体和外部世界发生的一切信息。
I've translated this as:
Various sounds can enable our understanding of events in the human body and the outside ...
3
votes
2answers
220 views
What 意思 means in below?
In this situation, B gave A (B's leader) some bonus money.
A：“你这是什么意思？” 'what do you mean?'
B：“没什么意思，意思意思。”'nothing. just .?.'
A：“你这人真有意思。” ?
B：“其实也没有别的意思。” ?
A：“那我就不好意思了。” ?
B：“是我不好意思。” ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
How to translate “and” to Chinese
I would like some clarification on translating 'and' into Chinese. I know 和 and 跟 can be used as 'and' with nouns, 也 can be used with verbs, and often 'and' isn't translated but a comma is used. But ...
2
votes
2answers
232 views
How do I translate the words “player” and “team” into Mandarin?
I have noticed there is a large number of words that translate as “player” and “team”. I've been trying to decipher those and so far it seems that:
玩家 wánjiā, 玩者 wánzhě – those two mean a player ...
4
votes
2answers
104 views
What do the characters I've found on this old gun mean?
On an antique shotgun I was told had Korean origin I found the following (what I presume are Hanja?) characters†. Four out of five I believe I have correctly identified. One character I could not find ...
1
vote
4answers
77 views
“That's so like you!” or “That's typical of you” in chinese
I'm having trouble formulating "That's so like you!" or "That's typical of you" in Chinese. I'm trying to write a dialogue where a friend responds to someone who lost their phone, by replying "That's ...
0
votes
0answers
66 views
Need help translating writing on painting
I have a painting and I am trying to learn more about it. I'm not familiar with the language and hoping you could help translate. Thank you!
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Translation help needed
I am doing some DIY and stumbled upon blog that should aid me in figuring out details of some obscure electronic PCB.
Google translate was useful for most of the text but I am not able to translate ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Are the wiktionary definitions for 切 qiè correct?
Definitions 2 through 11 for pronunciation qiè are missing in the 11 dicitionaries I compare from qtranslate. Would they be recognizable in mainland chinese?
to be close to
to bite tightly;
to clench
...
4
votes
4answers
128 views
How to ask for “free-range eggs” in Chinese?
Quick question: I will be going to a local supermarket here in Taipei. How do I ask for "free-range chicken eggs"? According to google translate its "自由放养的鸡蛋." Is this correct?
0
votes
1answer
60 views
Trinket translation problem
Could you translate me this phrase or sentence please. No translating app is helping me and I have no one who knows Chinese.
0
votes
1answer
108 views
How do you translate “share” in the context of social media
I'm creating a website in Chinese and realize I dont have translations for small UI terms, such as:
- About
- Latest recipe
- Read More
- Share (In the context of Social Media)
- Nutritional value
-...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Best translation for “confused”: 迷惑，困惑，弄混，搞亂，搞混？
This page lists multiple entries for confused:
https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php
What's the best translation for confused in these contexts:
1) English: "What you just said ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
What it mean the name Alexander Esam Abood in Chinese and what it is it’s calligraphy?
I’m asking this question because, I’m really interested to know what does it mean that name in Chinese and how it is written in Chinese English, such as Cheng.
When I found this site, I thought it ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Mandarin equivalent of 同 when the meaning is “for, on behalf of”
As the dictionary entry below lists, 同 in Cantonese means for, on behalf of.
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/215/
In Cantonese, you might say something like this (slightly ...
-1
votes
1answer
66 views
Need help with translating operating instructions
Could anyone spare a minute or two to help me out with this?
I'm here in Taiwan for a few days. Long story short I need to wash my cloths but don't know how to operate this machine. Nobody here ...
-5
votes
1answer
81 views
Say no to Animal Cruelty [closed]
Because of the latest announcement by the government of China regarding reintroduction of use of endangered species I’d like to the translations for the following...
Not medicine.
Arrogance will ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
How could I translate “一语道破”, “一语道破天机”
I want translate "一语道破" or "一语道破天机" to a phase with an etymology.
tell the truth, blurts out the whole truth,
seem not very good.
-1
votes
1answer
93 views
Can someone translate this message?
Someone sent me this:
所有这些塑料袋都来自于周边非洲国家，因为他们经常应用这种黑色袋子。
And when I translated it sounded offensive.
1
vote
2answers
115 views
How to express psychological insecurity (not physical insecurity)?
These two dictionaries seem to offer translations for insecurity that capture the physical sort, not the psychological sort (i.e., insecurity about your looks, weight, smarts, etc.).
http://www....
0
votes
3answers
72 views
Appearance should be 現象, 跡象, or 表面？
This dictionary page lists many options for appearance: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/scripts/wordsearch.php?level=0
現象, 跡象, and 表面 all seem like good candidates.
1) Which one is the most common ...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
What is the function of 便 here? And what does the sentence mean?
This is a sample sentence for 八九不离十, from 现代汉语规范词典：
不猜便罢, 若猜便猜它个八九不离十。
It uses an interesting idiom 八九不离十 which I just learnt thanks to duchinese.net.
http://www.duchinese.net/lessons/E269-eight-...
