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0 U9 z- P% q0 f/ L# B! Z$ MChinese expressions that are hard to translate to English: 很难翻译到英文的中文说法: U) L, |+ z ?2 S" z
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They're simple and common expressions, but with rich cultural context: 这些说法很简单,但是包含了很深的文化概念% k- `/ ^& G' t) U+ j) u2 k
What are those? Let me take a stab at it: 多有哪些词?我来试试看 $ U3 d+ ]. h5 B2 M! T3 L& ~ ' h" X/ {- q9 w4 B1 ?. g e1 c1 q2 O5 m3 z: i0 E
辛苦了
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How do you say 辛苦了 in English? “辛苦了“英语就很难表达
There might be an English equivalent, but there's no exact match: 可能有对应的说法,但没有完全符合的 # G4 v) c0 t0 i% r2 w
It can't perfectly convey the mood and meaning: 不能百分百把情绪和意思传递出去
It's a form of acknowledgement and gratitude: 这是用来表达认可和感谢的% S, n; R! F. V# [/ U6 W/ ]
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“辛苦了”英语可以这么说↓↓
Thank you, you did a good job/job well done! 谢谢,你做的很棒, 比较多用于上级对下属+ F- t3 A, u. ^
Thanks for your hard work: 谢谢你辛勤的工作
When you say this, you acknowledge that it might not have been very easy: 你这样说,代表你觉得那个工作比较辛苦、不容易 0 V. g# o: n F2 O2 ~But sometimes I feel saying "辛苦了" is a bit of an exaggeration: 但是我有时候觉得说“辛苦了”有点夸张,因为并没有很辛苦 . F* Q" d2 L. u H) p$ S/ S! \% F8 [ f* j
But it's a way of showing appreciation and respect in Chinese culture: 但是这是中国文化里表达感谢和尊重的方式( v- o9 V5 X0 R6 X# R3 `& ?
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人情 # x' O* |- ]( W, e* w1 C
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How would you translate that? 这个怎么翻译啊? O# m2 T! r6 G9 Y5 ^' {When you check the dictonary, you might find "human feelings": 查字典,字典会告诉你“human feelings" . F) j) K9 a$ ?* v" P4 _" dSome foreigners might call it 关系, which has entered the English vocabulary: 有些外国人会用“关系”,这个词现在已经进入英语了 9 Q! O3 U% Y) N' s, { y% Y$ x; T" Z. q! [/ o( q+ ]
I don't think there's a one word equivalent of "人情” in English: 我觉得英语里没有“人情”3 Q# @% L7 d7 Z+ h& t
“人情” is such an important aspect of Chinese society: 人情在中国社会是很重要的组成部分 5 ?) B/ I" x$ p/ n' PIt's untranslatable: 这个词翻译不了 % z% z/ g, w0 v+ D4 I9 ~6 A" P/ e ; q" y L" _" F/ _8 m& t( t ! D4 ~! ^: q5 k) ?; l5 ^- U9 r. a
得瑟
8 M. V- v- P, @$ y( a. s( G+ K # ~! |# L( m: h9 o# t 1 \$ k* N0 c2 |7 s! H& @+ p1 KSpencer, I noticed you like to use "得瑟“ a lot: Spencer, 我发现你最近很爱说“得瑟”4 z* [7 i% t8 R0 L5 c
How would you translate that in English? 这个英语怎么翻译?- T, u& s3 E2 h2 u _5 M3 T
These are words that you won't be able to find in a dictionary, never mind textbooks: ! n# ~3 C1 V3 l" c8 E* k+ L5 l# S- o0 S" t
Arrogant: 傲慢& I: P3 f) d7 [
Pretentious: 装% e+ R% c5 { N$ F% k% h: y" L
Full of themselves/himself/herself: 得瑟、自我感觉良好( x- o d! C- U8 ]
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混
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"混" is also very hard to translate: “混”也很难翻译+ e1 [3 x7 _0 @' U: h. y5 a
It has both negative and positive connotations: 它既可以是褒义,又可以是贬义 5 ?: [" v) o+ H- c: kTo waste time, muddle through, mucking around: 混日子 , V8 C& t2 l4 JYou're doing well: 你混得不错- Y' S! @5 c# V/ L
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! W R: \4 t# z- OI've got a bunch of related ones that are hard to translate: 我有一串相关的难翻译的词 9 ? j; b, L$ f# X6 NBeing cutesy, girly: 撒娇 $ m1 A o. q, c! t L, C% }. a& L# JThe dictionary defines it as "coquettish", but we don't really use that word: 字典会告诉你“嗲”是“coquettish”,但这个词日常不会用9 \+ V: y. m, r, E
A lot of things are represented by one character in Chinese, but need a few English words to translate completely: 中文很多时候只需要一个字,但英文要好几词才能翻译、解释( B2 s& t7 r# S% A! m/ G
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Even though they look similar, cutesy means 撒娇 and cute is more like 可爱: 虽然它们看上去很相像,“cutesy”更加撒娇,“cute”可能更可爱3 s& \4 k: C' Z7 o3 W# O
Cutesy: 嗲/ U3 m" p$ Z& f4 H3 Z3 w
Feminine: 女性化( B( k1 X6 e. d7 L& V3 n0 a
You got me: 我被问住了 ?, U$ r! o/ ?2 g
' D5 J. j2 m% ZHigh maintenance: 作,需要高度保养: \) _6 ]* e$ V Q* s6 q
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What about?
素质
讨厌
素质 is class. # ~: I# i; K7 L9 M1 I. ?You can say someone has no class to mean 素质差:你可以说一个人“have no class", 就是素质差的意思. v# _" u$ f3 Z; k, U' s& T, ~
讨厌 is annoying % s0 R( V; f5 y! E. ?3 I! ]8 n' {5 SBut when we say "讨厌", we often don't mean it. It's a way of 撒娇:但是很多时候说讨厌,不是真的觉得你annoying, 其实是在撒娇2 f& Q( G8 L# F: B+ o- M
I think in English, we'd express a lot of things with the tone of voice: 我觉得英语里,会更多用语气来传递意思上的差别9 U9 y$ r$ I. ?& }( g6 P+ L