Oct 22, 2014 07:20
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Chinese term
小人
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
孔子的小人。
I need a word for this, and it's got to be a good one. I've brainstormed, I've pondered, and I haven't got it yet...
They've got to be selfish, a bit pathetic, inconstant, untalented. In context:
说她是坏人吧，看重了她，但她实实在在地播下了永远也清除不净的罪恶的种子...对于这样的女人，我们所能给予的还是那个词：小人。小人的生存状态和社会后果，由此可见一斑。
My best ideas so far:
1) mediocrities 2) weasels
I need a word for this, and it's got to be a good one. I've brainstormed, I've pondered, and I haven't got it yet...
They've got to be selfish, a bit pathetic, inconstant, untalented. In context:
说她是坏人吧，看重了她，但她实实在在地播下了永远也清除不净的罪恶的种子...对于这样的女人，我们所能给予的还是那个词：小人。小人的生存状态和社会后果，由此可见一斑。
My best ideas so far:
1) mediocrities 2) weasels
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
6 hrs
Dariush Robertson
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Chinese to English freelance translator
Native in: English
Works in: Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
Charlatans (I've put a few more below)
Shams, rascals, good-for-nothings, ne'er-do-wells, rotters, maggots (maybe a bit too strong).
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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-10-22 13:45:58 GMT)
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I'd like to add riffraff and rabble.
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Note added at 8 days (2014-10-30 15:40:06 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks! Good luck with the rest of the text.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-10-22 13:45:58 GMT)
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I'd like to add riffraff and rabble.
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Note added at 8 days (2014-10-30 15:40:06 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks! Good luck with the rest of the text.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Dariush. You get the points for giving the most options. In the end I've stuck with weasels."
13 mins
vile character/villain
可恶的家伙
19 mins
Kate Shapkina
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Eng/Chi/Ita - Rus Translator
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Chinese to Russian, Italian to Russian, and 3 more.
women with little minds
Very interesting question. On one hand so simple, on another very difficult in its simplicity.
What about people/women with little minds? I think here the author wants to show his scornful attitude to the women, whose minds are limited, narrow and shallow.
What about people/women with little minds? I think here the author wants to show his scornful attitude to the women, whose minds are limited, narrow and shallow.
50 mins
Sneaky Person
sneaky person,especially one who betrays or informs upon associates
5 hrs
Frank Wong
Native in Chinese
hello word
Native in: Chinese (Variants: Simplified, Mandarin)
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese
mean person
According to a dictionary, mean: characterized by malice; having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality, or (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
+1
6 hrs
Peter Zhuang
Germany
Germany
Native in Chinese
&
English
Germany
Culturally Intelligent Translation
Native in: Chinese 
, English
Works in: German to English, Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
2
despicable person (weasel/rat/scoundrel)
君子与小人
a noble person and a despicable one
To add more emphasis:
a despicable weasel/rat/scoundrel as opposed to a noble gentleman/lady
a noble person and a despicable one
To add more emphasis:
a despicable weasel/rat/scoundrel as opposed to a noble gentleman/lady
1 hr
Bea Geenen
Chinese/English/Spanish/German/French
Native in: Dutch 
Works in: Chinese to Dutch, English to Dutch, Spanish to Dutch, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
dimwit
Or if it's only female: "bimbo".
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Note added at 7 hrs (2014-10-22 14:35:46 GMT)
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I just thought of another one - a lowlife.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2014-10-22 14:35:46 GMT)
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I just thought of another one - a lowlife.
1 day 6 hrs
a low-minded
a low-minded, a low-minded character/person
供参考
供参考
2 days 20 hrs
孔子的小人: Inferior
孔子论述的小人是与君子在理念, 道德修养和行为上的区别相对而论的. 与君子的 “superior” 对应, 或许可以考虑 “Inferior” or “minion”.
However, in the given context, I also thought about words such as churl, vulgarian, and subaltern.
However, in the given context, I also thought about words such as churl, vulgarian, and subaltern.
30 days
Petty man; petty person
I remember hearing Professor Robert Chard at Oxford University give a lecture on this term (he is an expert in classical Chinese, especially Spring and Autumn period). His suggested translation was 'petty man', or 'petty person'. I have an inkling this may be the suggested translation given by Raymond Dawson in his version of the Analects too...
Discussion