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  1. KudoZ™ Top
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  3. Wine / Oenology / Viticulture

中国白酒

English translation: Chinese baijiu

06:42 Oct 6, 2008
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Wine / Oenology / Viticulture
Chinese term or phrase: 中国白酒
The general term in the US would be "liquor." But what about in the UK? Would one use "spirits" or "liquor" to refer to this class of alcohol?
liberation
English translation:Chinese baijiu
Explanation:
I dunno, but I'd tend to just stick with the original Chinese. Sake and Soju are simply not translated normally. I'd do the same here. Maybe italicize it if necessary.
Selected response from:

Aaron Gilkison (X)
United States
Local time: 21:19
Grading comment
I needed a quick answer, and thus appreciate yours. But to be frank, neither of the answers was what I was looking for. I wasn't interested in what English speakers worldwide should say; I wanted to know what term Brits actually employ to describe this class of alcohol. A quick look at Google seems to indicate Americans prefer liquor, while in the UK it is more likely to be spirits.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +10Chinese baijiu
Aaron Gilkison (X)
3 +3Chinese liquor /Chinse spirit
fly away
4Chinese white wine
nigerose


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +10
Chinese baijiu


Explanation:
I dunno, but I'd tend to just stick with the original Chinese. Sake and Soju are simply not translated normally. I'd do the same here. Maybe italicize it if necessary.

Aaron Gilkison (X)
United States
Local time: 21:19
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I needed a quick answer, and thus appreciate yours. But to be frank, neither of the answers was what I was looking for. I wasn't interested in what English speakers worldwide should say; I wanted to know what term Brits actually employ to describe this class of alcohol. A quick look at Google seems to indicate Americans prefer liquor, while in the UK it is more likely to be spirits.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Leaving it as a foreign term will NOT do, Aaron. I need to know how such alcohol is referred to by native English speakers in Britain.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  orientalhorizon: Very good choice.
2 mins
  -> thank you, OH
agree  Wenjer Leuschel (X): How about Chinese liquor, such as Maotai? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maotai
8 mins
  -> thank you, Wenjer
agree  TRANS4CHINA
14 mins
  -> thank you, Mingle
agree  lemonde
29 mins
  -> thank you, lemonde
agree  Ritchest
1 hr
  -> thank you, Ritchest
agree  ricochu0311
1 hr
agree  y_lewarne
2 hrs
agree  Felix Lew: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baijiu
2 hrs
agree  jessalexande (X): definitely maintain the original
9 hrs
agree  William Wu: Baijiu 就可以了，之前做过很多，国外公司给的翻译建议就是 baijiu
18 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Chinese liquor /Chinse spirit


Explanation:

还是直接翻译比较好一点

fly away
China
Local time: 09:19
Native speaker of: Chinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jason Ma: A couple of times when I drank 中国白酒 with native speakers of English, I heard "nice liquor or strong liquor...", something to that effect.
1 hr
agree  tianshandun (X): 对于不知道中国白酒是什么东西、有不懂汉语的人，读了Chinese Baijiu 还是不知道它是什么东西。
4 hrs
agree  William Wu: Baijiu 就可以了，之前做过很多，国外公司给的翻译建议就是 baijiu
17 hrs
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6 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Chinese white wine


Explanation:
见《英汉发酵工业词汇》

nigerose
China
Local time: 09:19
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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