Thread Content
1. The most tricky translation: Asia is four times larger than Europe. Asia is four times as big as Europe / Asia is three times larger than Europe. 【Comment】As the translation that most shook the editors’ worldviews and values in 2011, none could surpass this sentence. Four times, five times? Can’t tell the difference at all! I’m sure all high school teachers have their various opinions. The editor is here to correct your view on life: “N times as large as” and “N times larger than” mean the same thing! 2. The most up-to-date translation: “peanut-buttering” describes spending time, money, and effort on several things at once, only to achieve nothing in any of them. Google should create fewer products and make less investment. They are doing too much and trying to apply their efforts to everything. Google should develop fewer new products and invest less money. They go too broad, and as a result achieve nothing. 【Comment】The action of applying peanut butter is vividly absorbed and metaphorically used to describe achieving nothing – truly innovative! 3. The most affectionate translation: There you are. I’ve been looking for you forever. Do you think translating it as “So you’re here after all; I’ve been searching for you the whole time” is too plain and uninteresting? Here is the poetically translated version by the American drama subtitle team: \"I searched for him a thousand times among the crowd; suddenly, when I turned around, he was there, in the dim light.\" 【Comment】The subtitle teams for American shows are truly amazing (think of the stunning lines that appear from time to time in \"The Big Bang Theory\"); it’s really sweet that famous lines by the Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji were used as well. 4. The most popular translation: love letter. The farewell letter written by Jobs to his wife sparked intense discussions among millions of netizens – which version is the best? Recommended version: 20 years ago, we knew little about each other. Fate brought us together, and you have captivated my heart. On a snowy day, we got married at Avani. Years later, when I had children, neither the good times nor the difficulties made me feel bad. Love and respect for one another grow through trials. After going through all this, we are now back to the place where we met 20 years ago—the marks on our faces and in our hearts have made us grow older. 【Comment】Simplicity is the truest form of elegance. The original English text by Qiao Bangzhu (forum) does not contain any elaborate wording; it only expresses the most genuine emotions. 5. Simplest translation: My lady, you are a phoenix among people; I am but an ordinary person. How could I possibly guess the noble character and refined heart of my lady? You’re so distinguished, but I’m just an ordinary person. I’m incapable of even getting a hint of what you’re thinking. 【Comment】Simplicity is key! A phoenix among men, with a heart as pure as that of a orchid – it’s better to use simple and precise words to express such qualities, rather than resorting to long and awkward phrases that disrupt the integrity of the sentence. But the editor is being mischievous here: if this English sentence is translated back into Chinese, I doubt there’s anyone who can come up with terms like \"a phoenix among humans,\" \"ordinary people with ordinary qualities,\" or \"someone of noble character and refined taste.\" 6. The most surprising translation: They went away as wise as they came. They gained nothing. 【Comment】Upon reading this sentence, one feels surprised first, then hesitant, followed by confusion, and finally realizes it all; thinking to oneself: What a harsh remark. 7. The most poetic translation: Someone like you should seek a new world. You’d know how quickly time flies; just yesterday was the best time of our lives. Let’s not lament the passing of time – all I remember in the rest of my life is what happened yesterday. 【Comment】How many people were amazed by the translation of this song? The choice of words is exquisite, delicate, and appropriate, without any sense of artificiality from excessive embellishment. Whether it is the original English words or a Chinese translation, deep affection is evident in every line. 8. Most appropriate translation: Completely clueless! What absolute nonsense that was! 【Comment】It is very difficult to preserve both the form and meaning, as well as the sound and meaning, when translating Chinese classics into English, but this sentence managed to do just that. It would not be strange at all even if an old Chinese scholar with a trembling beard shouted, “What absolute nonsense that was!” 9. The worst translations: Construction in progress? (Correct answer: Under construction.) Please wait outside the one-meter line. Please wait outside rice-flour noodles? (Correct answer: Please wait outside the one-meter line.) Cashier accept the set of silver? (Correct answer: Cashier/checkout counter) …… [Comment] The ‘Worst Translations’ series has revealed so many astonishing examples of bad Chinese-style English – how could you miss it? 10. Most vivid translation: Fuming with anger, he released his hand and sat down in the chair, fuming. He let go of his hand and sat down in that chair, filled with anger. 【Comment】Using the image of smoke to describe an angry expression – could it be any more vivid than that?