Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Apr 17, 2007 08:50
17 yrs ago
Chinese term
Singapore
Business & Legal Translator
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US, Singaporean) 
Works in: Chinese to English
若烹小鲜
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
小区管理确实是一门学问，需要讲求一种“若烹小鲜”的精神和艺术。
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | handle it gently and delicately |
pkchan
|
| 3 +3 | like frying small fish /as cooking small fish |
Julia Zou
|
| 3 | a piece of cake |
David Shen
|
Proposed translations
+1
6 hrs
Selected
handle it gently and delicately
60 治大國 若烹小鮮
老子道德經第六十章
治大國 若烹小鮮
以道蒞天下 其鬼不神
非其鬼不神 其神不傷人
非其神不傷人 聖人亦不傷人
夫兩不相傷 故德交歸焉
======
SIXTY
Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish.
Approach the universe with Tao,
And evil will have no power.
Not that evil is not powerful,
But its power will not be used to harm others.
Not only will it do no harm to others,
But the sage himself will also be protected.
They do not hurt each other,
And the Virtue in each refreshes both.
其他人的翻譯﹕
Beck-Leading a large country is like cooking a small fish.
Blackney-Rule a large country As small fish are cooked.
Bynner-Handle a large kingdom with as gentle a touch as if you were cooking a small fish.
Byrn-Governing a large country is like frying small fish. Too much poking spoils the meat.
Chan-Ruling a big country is like cooking a small fish.
Cleary-Governing a large nation is like cooking a little fish.
Crowley-The government of a kingdom is like the cooking of a fish.
Hansen-Ruling a large state Is like grilling a small bit of fresh food.
LaFargue-Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish.
Legge-Governing a great state is like cooking small fish.
Lindauer-Governing a great nation looks like cooking tiny fish.
LinYutan-Rule a big country as you would fry small fish.
Mabry-Govern a big country as you would fry a small fish.
McDonald-Ruling a big kingdom is like frying a small fish.
Merel-Manage a great nation as you would cook a delicate fish.
Mitchel-Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
Muller-Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish.
Red Pine-Ruling a great state is like cooking a small fish
Ta-Kao-Govern a great state as you would cook a small fish (do it gently).
Walker-Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish.
Wayism
Wieger-To govern a great state, one should act like someone cooking a very small fish (very delicately, otherwise they break up).
World-Ruling a country is like cooking a small fish. If you forget your oneness with the fish, you become confused in what you are doing.
Wu-Ruling a big kingdom is like cooking a small fish.
老子道德經第六十章
治大國 若烹小鮮
以道蒞天下 其鬼不神
非其鬼不神 其神不傷人
非其神不傷人 聖人亦不傷人
夫兩不相傷 故德交歸焉
======
SIXTY
Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish.
Approach the universe with Tao,
And evil will have no power.
Not that evil is not powerful,
But its power will not be used to harm others.
Not only will it do no harm to others,
But the sage himself will also be protected.
They do not hurt each other,
And the Virtue in each refreshes both.
其他人的翻譯﹕
Beck-Leading a large country is like cooking a small fish.
Blackney-Rule a large country As small fish are cooked.
Bynner-Handle a large kingdom with as gentle a touch as if you were cooking a small fish.
Byrn-Governing a large country is like frying small fish. Too much poking spoils the meat.
Chan-Ruling a big country is like cooking a small fish.
Cleary-Governing a large nation is like cooking a little fish.
Crowley-The government of a kingdom is like the cooking of a fish.
Hansen-Ruling a large state Is like grilling a small bit of fresh food.
LaFargue-Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish.
Legge-Governing a great state is like cooking small fish.
Lindauer-Governing a great nation looks like cooking tiny fish.
LinYutan-Rule a big country as you would fry small fish.
Mabry-Govern a big country as you would fry a small fish.
McDonald-Ruling a big kingdom is like frying a small fish.
Merel-Manage a great nation as you would cook a delicate fish.
Mitchel-Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
Muller-Ruling a large country is like cooking a small fish.
Red Pine-Ruling a great state is like cooking a small fish
Ta-Kao-Govern a great state as you would cook a small fish (do it gently).
Walker-Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish.
Wayism
Wieger-To govern a great state, one should act like someone cooking a very small fish (very delicately, otherwise they break up).
World-Ruling a country is like cooking a small fish. If you forget your oneness with the fish, you become confused in what you are doing.
Wu-Ruling a big kingdom is like cooking a small fish.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I used one word: gentle. I think in this case, the more elaborate I phrase it, the more I will lose the meaning. Hence, I decided to keep it simple."
+3
12 mins
like frying small fish /as cooking small fish
如果要翻译成形容词形式，是否可以用：like-frying-small-fish 呢？
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Note added at 16 mins (2007-04-17 09:06:19 GMT)
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“若烹小鲜”来自“治大国若烹小鲜”，在网上查到的翻译有：Governing a Large Country as Cooking Small Fishes和 Rule large countries like frying small fish 。不知两种译法是否可以稍做修改一下：Governing a Large Country as Cooking Small Fish和 Rule a large country like frying small fish 。
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-04-17 10:34:58 GMT)
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如果最终读者不懂汉语，这么翻译可能会让他们很困惑。所以，我觉得不妨尝试一下意译：
like doing simple things会不会太简单幼稚了呢？
我在网上又查到这么一段：
“治大国如烹小鲜”中的“小鲜”是整体数量的概念是指大多数，比喻芸芸众生。与小国寡民相反的，是大国多民，民众多如过江之鲫，人满为患。河上公说：“烹小鱼，不去肠，不去鳞，不敢挠，恐其糜也。”也就是说国家的施政纲领必须是简单和有效的，必须持续稳定。
根据这段解释，我想翻译成 simple and efficient 应该也是可以的吧。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2007-04-17 09:06:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
“若烹小鲜”来自“治大国若烹小鲜”，在网上查到的翻译有：Governing a Large Country as Cooking Small Fishes和 Rule large countries like frying small fish 。不知两种译法是否可以稍做修改一下：Governing a Large Country as Cooking Small Fish和 Rule a large country like frying small fish 。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-04-17 10:34:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
如果最终读者不懂汉语，这么翻译可能会让他们很困惑。所以，我觉得不妨尝试一下意译：
like doing simple things会不会太简单幼稚了呢？
我在网上又查到这么一段：
“治大国如烹小鲜”中的“小鲜”是整体数量的概念是指大多数，比喻芸芸众生。与小国寡民相反的，是大国多民，民众多如过江之鲫，人满为患。河上公说：“烹小鱼，不去肠，不去鳞，不敢挠，恐其糜也。”也就是说国家的施政纲领必须是简单和有效的，必须持续稳定。
根据这段解释，我想翻译成 simple and efficient 应该也是可以的吧。
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
7 mins
|
|
Thank you, Wenjer!
|
|
| agree |
Jian Zhang
10 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Jian Zhang!
|
|
| agree |
Naikei Wong
11 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Naikei!
|
1 day 7 hrs
David Shen
United States
United States
Native in Chinese
United States
Careful translation and prompt service
Native in: Chinese
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English
a piece of cake
Handle it as if you are having a piece of cake.
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Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2007-04-18 16:49:14 GMT)
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Most people on this side of the pond don't know how to cook fish, big or small. And if it is small, they don't even eat it even if it is well cooked. People only eat fish with no bones in it.
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Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2007-04-18 16:49:14 GMT)
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Most people on this side of the pond don't know how to cook fish, big or small. And if it is small, they don't even eat it even if it is well cooked. People only eat fish with no bones in it.
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