“打几巴掌,再给个甜枣”

English translation: carrot after stick

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:“打几巴掌,再给个甜枣”
English translation:carrot after stick
Entered by: Caroline Moreno

21:00 Jun 1, 2010
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Foreign Relations
Chinese term or phrase: “打几巴掌,再给个甜枣”
中国不能接受美国“打几巴掌,再给个甜枣”的套路.

I understand the literal meaning of this but not the figurative meaning and cultural nuances. Thanks in advance!
Caroline Moreno
United States
Local time: 21:46
carrot after stick
Explanation:
Not punishment and award together, (as "carrot and stick"), but punishment first.
Selected response from:

kager
Local time: 12:46
Grading comment
I like this one because it conveys the 再 and the idea that the punishment is first and the reward comes later. Thanks everyone!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5carrot and stick
James L.
4carrot after stick
kager


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
carrot and stick


Explanation:
It means to make threat / punishment, then give some reward / consolation.

James L.
Works in field
Native speaker of: Chinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Grace Liu
2 hrs

agree  Tai Fu: Or to tear down and build back up, similar to boot camp in the military.
10 hrs

agree  Adsion Liu
14 hrs

agree  Bin Tiede (X)
15 hrs

agree  Rita Pang
278 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
carrot after stick


Explanation:
Not punishment and award together, (as "carrot and stick"), but punishment first.

kager
Local time: 12:46
Native speaker of: Chinese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I like this one because it conveys the 再 and the idea that the punishment is first and the reward comes later. Thanks everyone!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hmm, that is a very good point!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  James L.: It is not. This context implies repeated actions instead of a sequence. Chinese idioms are not of such rigidity.
6 days
  -> Then how do you translate 软硬兼施 ?

agree  Jinyu Wen: Agree with ' carrot after stick'. ‘打几个巴掌,再给甜枣’ is actually a punishment mechanism.
3059 days
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