ProZ.com global directory of translation services
 The translation workplace
Ideas
KudoZ home » Chinese to English » Poetry & Literature

艾思及先生述

English translation: Described by Mister (Giulio) Aleni


Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:艾思及先生述
English translation:Described by Mister (Giulio) Aleni
Entered by: blavatsky
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

04:19 Oct 2, 2011
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / from Title page of Wushi Yanyu of G. Aleni (1645)
Chinese term or phrase: 艾思及先生述
Title..... Wushi Yanyu (1645)

五十言餘

my translation...
50 Proverbs & Relatives...

Any help is appreciated...

Not sure how word number/quota limit on PROZ applies for Chinese text.
blavatsky
told by Mister Aleni
Explanation:
艾思及 is the transcription for Aleni
先生 mister
述 to tell
Selected response from:

Lucien van Valen, PhD
Local time: 22:50
Grading comment
I found your breakdown and explanation most helpful
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4Written by Sir Giulio Aleni
Jun Ng
4Dictated by Aleni
Echo Wu
4told by Mister Aleni
Lucien van Valen, PhD
Summary of reference entries provided
three meanings of 述 in classical Chinese
Jun Ng

Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
先生艾思及述
told by Mister Aleni


Explanation:
艾思及 is the transcription for Aleni
先生 mister
述 to tell

Lucien van Valen, PhD
Local time: 22:50
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
I found your breakdown and explanation most helpful
Notes to answerer
Asker: I like "by Aleni" contribution, however, Echo Wu's, "Dictated," is more relevant.

Asker: I like "by Mister Aleni" contribution, however, Echo Wu's, "Dictated," is more relevant.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Dictated by Aleni


Explanation:
Wushi Yanyu = Collection of 50 sentences from pious authors

述 following someone's name, appearing on the cover of book, usually means the book is dictated by this person (and transcribed by someone else).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7小时 (2011-10-02 11:43:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Taking the target audience into consideration, you may want to use the Italian Jesuit missionary's full name Jules Aleni.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2天8小时 (2011-10-04 12:40:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I tried searching Chinese websites for information about the book but failed to find any details. Then I tried and found this (http://www.centroaleni.it/pubblicazioni.htm) where both the title of book shown as *** Wǔshí yán yú (五十言余) - Cinquanta frasi famosein *** The Italian words are translated as "Fifty famous quotes" by Google Translator.
I am not a fan of Google Translator but I believe it on this one.

I should have clarifed that I found the existing translation (**which is not necessarily correct**) by using "Jules Aleni 50" as keywords of a Google search.

Echo Wu
China
Local time: 04:50
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thankyou for "Dictated".. Would you agree with.. Wushi Yanyu = Collection of 50 Proverbs from pious authors..? How did you derive "pious" ?

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Written by Sir Giulio Aleni


Explanation:
According to the biography from Wikipedia (2nd link), this missionary stayed in China for a very long time and was one of the biggest contributors to the introduction of Chritianity to China. He was the author of many religious and science related books and and an excellent master of classical Chinese. Therefore, I think it is fair to speculate that “述” means "written by" in this context. Keep in mind that the same word in different contexts can have very different things in Chinese, and more so in classical Chinese. The first link below gives you three meanings of this word in classical Chinese, two of which had already been mentioned by Echo Wu & Lucien van Valen. (see reference for details)

I also prefer "Sir" as opposed to "Mister". In classical Chinese, "Sir" is not a title and can be used to address a well respected person and can be applied to both men and women.

Example sentence(s):
  • 《岳阳楼记》:“此则岳阳楼之大观也。前人之*述*备矣。”

    Reference: http://hao.vg/wenyanwen/html/2010472296463.html
    Reference: http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%89%BE%E5%84%92%E7%95%A5
Jun Ng
Local time: 13:50
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


2 days11 hrs
Reference: three meanings of 述 in classical Chinese

Reference information:
①<动>传述(dictate);遵循前人的说法或继续前人的事业。《〈黄花冈七十二烈士事略〉序》:“否则不能继~先烈遗志且光大之。”
②<动>记述(write/describe/account for)。(《岳阳楼记》:“此则岳阳楼之大观也。前人之~备矣。”
③<动>讲述(tell/narrate)。《左忠毅公逸事》:“后常流涕~其事以语人。”


    Reference: http://hao.vg/wenyanwen/html/2010472296463.html
Jun Ng
United States
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thanks for help.. I used "described"

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Return to KudoZ list


Changes made by editors
Oct 12, 2011 - Changes made by blavatsky:
Created KOG entryKudoZ term => KOG term


KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.



See also: