“available” is a common word in English that doesn’t seem to have an elegant equivalent in Chinese.
English has an unusually large number of words. I think it has like 40,000 words and then a family member of mine who lives in Japan told me that not counting loan words, Japanese has only about 3,000 words.
Is it possible to get creative? I had an ex who once described her cat kneading as “making muffins” (this was English, not chinese, but I think the same idea might apply).
Sounds like reliable information. 
You see, in Japan we don’t need words so much - we go more for mind reading.
Good point, I hadn’t ever really thought about that. It falls under the wide umbrella of 抱抱 I guess.[/quote]
Yeah, interesting that English would have such technical terms for these things. I’d use 抱在一起 or 窩在一起, but still not really the same.[/quote]
since we are on the topic, there’s no Chinese word for spooning…
[quote=“Dr. Milker”]
I guess hansouix is too manly for the 疊字, ha. 
[/quote]
not at all, I use 疊字 all the time, it just that they don’t seem like a “word” to describe said cat behavior accurately… similar case with 抱抱 as well.
Well Chinese lack of “snuggling” and “kneading” is more than made up for with the words 氣質 and 撒嬌, two of my favorite words.
[quote=“hansioux”][quote=“Dr. Milker”]
I guess hansouix is too manly for the 疊字, ha. [/quote]
not at all, I use 疊字 all the time, it just that they don’t seem like a “word” to describe said cat behavior accurately… similar case with 抱抱 as well.[/quote]
Yeah, I kind of got that you weren’t worried about being manly enough after you started talking about spooning, ha.
They’re probably not your favorites when you’re trying to translate them into English though.
They’re probably not your favorites when you’re trying to translate them into English though.[/quote]
I taught a one-off translation seminar where we focused on the word qizhi as an example of contextual translation. I came up with 20+ English words that can be used to convey the meaning. If I manage to find the old PowerPoint file, I’ll post them here.
They’re probably not your favorites when you’re trying to translate them into English though.[/quote]
I taught a one-off translation seminar where we focused on the word qizhi as an example of contextual translation. I came up with 20+ English words that can be used to convey the meaning. If I manage to find the old PowerPoint file, I’ll post them here.[/quote]
That sounds about right. I’ve probably used at least a dozen in different contexts for 氣質, but none of them is ever quite right. I always feel like I’m heading into 19th century novel territory talking about bearing, poise, etc. Same for 撒嬌…coquettish is so Jane Austen…
They’re probably not your favorites when you’re trying to translate them into English though.[/quote]
Why translate words when you could translate ideas, feelings, and intent?
For example, the whoever who came up with “my cat is needing” should get an extra point for creativity.
Curb
No Chinese word for it. You can say something like 路邊, but that’s just the side of the road, not an actual term for the curb.
I remember trying to describe an accident that I saw to my wife in which a biker got pinched between a car pulling over and the curb. When I got to the word “curb,” I tried to describe it (The concrete that sticks up at the side of the road) and asked her how to say that. She was like “We don’t have a word for that.” I thought that was so strange.
You beat me to it…
Since most Chinese men can’t grow much facial hair, 鬍子 often serves as a catchall for beard, mustache, goatee, stubble, and five o’clock shadow. Hmmm, maybe someone can coin a Chinese expression like “midnight shadow” which is more application for Chinese men. 
[quote=“Taiwanguy”]Curb
No Chinese word for it. You can say something like 路邊, but that’s just the side of the road, not an actual term for the curb.
I remember trying to describe an accident that I saw to my wife in which a biker got pinched between a car pulling over and the curve. When I got to the word “curb,” I tried to describe it (The concrete that sticks up at the side of the road) and asked her how to say that. She was like “We don’t have a word for that.” I thought that was so strange.[/quote]
Good catch! I think a lot of urban planning terms are non-existent in Chinese. What does that say about the state of Taiwan’s cities? On that note, “suburb” is very, very difficult to get across. I always want to tell people I’m from an LA suburb, but words like 郊區 or 市郊 conjures images of Wulai rather than Tamsui.
Well, there are Chinese terms for all of those except for maybe five o’clock shadow. No Chinese for “questionable facial hair” though. And there should be a specific term for the revolting “long hair that grows out of moles.”
Well, it is called 毛痣…
So maybe 痣毛? But there’s the danger that if someone just heard it without seeing the characters that it would be interpreted as “hair that grows out of hemorrhoids.”
Also on the urban planning theme is “cul-de-sac.” Then again, we had to borrow it from the French. 死路wouldn’t look too good on a real estate brochure.
Sounds like reliable information. You see, in Japan we don’t need words so much - we go more for mind reading.[/quote]
Hmmm… ugh.