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

三天打鱼，两天晒网

English translation: three steps forward two steps back


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:三天打鱼，两天晒网
English translation:three steps forward two steps back
Entered by: Bin Tiede
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

18:04 Oct 1, 2007
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Slang
Chinese term or phrase: 三天打鱼，两天晒网
贵有恒何必三更起五更睡，
最无益只怕三天打鱼两天晒网。

Your proposals are highly appreciated!
Bin Tiede
Germany
Local time: 13:35
three steps forward two steps back
Explanation:
It's not the same meaning but close enough I hope
Selected response from:

Jarosław Zawadzki
Poland
Local time: 13:35
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4three steps forward two steps back
Jarosław Zawadzki
3 +2lack perseverance
Denyce Seow
4though three days fishing ,but two days rapairing net
tomu6526
3 +1not Insistent, Persistent and Consistent
pkchan
4 -1not follow throughCaroline Moreno
3Jack of all trades
franksf


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
not follow through


Explanation:
To not follow through is to break one's word; to perhaps do part of something, or do something for awhile but not actually complete it. A couple more suggestions are "just give up," or "not take [something] seriously."

Caroline Moreno
United States
Local time: 04:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Chunbiao: not exactly.
20 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
three steps forward two steps back


Explanation:
It's not the same meaning but close enough I hope

Jarosław Zawadzki
Poland
Local time: 13:35
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Donglai Lou: I like this one
10 hrs
agree  happyzane
16 hrs
agree  Tinghsuan Huang: I prefer this one
19 hrs
agree  Yang Min
20 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
not Insistent, Persistent and Consistent


Explanation:
大家说话：“三天打鱼，两天晒网”有无道理？- 繁 - [ 转为简体网页 - Translate this page ]“三天打鱼，两天晒网”这个成语，本义非常明确，就是比喻学习或做事缺乏恒心，时常中断，不能坚持。如果要用打鱼、晒网加以说明，仅指该打鱼时不打鱼，借口晒网而偷懒， ...
www.pladaily.com.cn/big5/pladaily/2001/01/23/20010123001107... - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

【三天打鱼，两天晒网】-成语大全|成语词典-IT学习者- [ Translate this page ]成语[三天打鱼，两天晒网]的详细解释，来源：IT学习者_成语大全。更新时间:2007-9-26 6:23:02.
union.itlearner.com/chengyu/cy8/8387.asp - 15k - Cached - Similar pages



pkchan
United States
Local time: 07:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chunbiao
19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
lack perseverance


Explanation:
Since '贵有恒' refers to 'determination, how about using 'perseverance' for '三天打鱼，两天晒网'?

Denyce Seow
Singapore
Local time: 19:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chunbiao: This is exactly right.
19 hrs
agree  Maki Ahn: exactly the moral of this proverb
1 day9 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Jack of all trades


Explanation:
Most valuable is working steadily toward a goal rather than killing (overworking) oneself one day and being a Jack of all trades the other days (being mercury doing things here and there without focus and consistency).

franksf
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jason Ma: 打鱼 and 晒网are two aspects of the same trade.
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, Martin.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
though three days fishing ,but two days rapairing net


Explanation:
a try.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2007-10-02 03:07:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

though only three days fishing ,but two days rapairing net



tomu6526
China
Local time: 19:35
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese, Native in JapaneseJapanese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Return to KudoZ list


Changes made by editors
Oct 2, 2007 - Changes made by Jason Ma:
Language pairEnglish to Chinese => Chinese to English
Oct 2, 2007 - Changes made by tomu6526:
Language pairChinese to English => English to Chinese


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:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations

Terminology | Jobs and directories | Member activities | Education | Tools
About ProZ.com | ProZ.com basics | Advertising | Support | FAQ | Terms of use
ProZ.com social network linksFacebookLinkedInTwitterDiggStumbleUpondel.icio.us
Print page
Copyright © 1999-2012 ProZ.com - All rights reserved. Privacy