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an inescapable harbinger of a very different future

Chinese translation: 预示着未来必然发生翻天覆地的变化


12:42 Oct 1, 2009Login or register (free) for more options.
English to Chinese translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: an inescapable harbinger of a very different future
Whole sentence:
"Sometimes a bulldozer making a racket flattening the woods to the left of the house to make way for a new road, an inescapable harbinger of a very different future."

Suggestions are welcome. Thank you.
FourSeasons
Netherlands
Local time: 06:41
Chinese translation:预示着未来必然发生翻天覆地的变化
Explanation:
The core word in this phrase is obviously "harbinger". If we rigidly convert the two modifiers "inescapable" and " of a very different future" into exactly the same functions, the Chinese sentence would have too many “的” and sound awkward.
I am just giving another suggestion with the thought that any translation has to take context into consideration and any single word or phrase should be beautifully integrated with the context. Therefore, the complete sentence reads:

"Sometimes a bulldozer making a racket flattening the woods to the left of the house to make way for a new road, an inescapable harbinger of a very different future."

有时为了开辟新路,铲倒房子左侧那片树林的推土机发出轰轰隆隆的声响,似乎预示着未来必然发生翻天覆地的变化。

Note:
翻天覆地:making great changes
Selected response from:

Grace Liu
Canada
Local time: 21:41
Grading comment
I agree with you -- this phrase doesn't need to be translated literally. Thank you very much.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1预示着未来必然发生翻天覆地的变化
Grace Liu
4预示着一场改头换面的变化即将发生Bingoloo
3一个不可避免的预兆,宣告着一个完全不同的未来mr guo
3非同凡响未来之免不了的预示
karcsy
Summary of reference entries provided
harbinger = 先兆; 先驱者lai an

  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
非同凡响未来之免不了的预示


Explanation:
my try...

Sometimes a bulldozer making a racket flattening the woods to the left of the house to make way for a new road, an inescapable harbinger of a very different future."
有时候吵闹的推土机铲平着房屋左边的树林以开凿新路是非同凡响未来之免不了的预示

harbinger ==> sign or omen

karcsy
Philippines
Local time: 13:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 16
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
一个不可避免的预兆,宣告着一个完全不同的未来


Explanation:
adjusted it a little bit, but it sounds nice to me. FYR

mr guo
Italy
Local time: 06:41
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
预示着未来必然发生翻天覆地的变化


Explanation:
The core word in this phrase is obviously "harbinger". If we rigidly convert the two modifiers "inescapable" and " of a very different future" into exactly the same functions, the Chinese sentence would have too many “的” and sound awkward.
I am just giving another suggestion with the thought that any translation has to take context into consideration and any single word or phrase should be beautifully integrated with the context. Therefore, the complete sentence reads:

"Sometimes a bulldozer making a racket flattening the woods to the left of the house to make way for a new road, an inescapable harbinger of a very different future."

有时为了开辟新路,铲倒房子左侧那片树林的推土机发出轰轰隆隆的声响,似乎预示着未来必然发生翻天覆地的变化。

Note:
翻天覆地:making great changes

Grace Liu
Canada
Local time: 21:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
I agree with you -- this phrase doesn't need to be translated literally. Thank you very much.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bin Tiede
1 day13 hrs
  -> Thank you, Bin!
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1 day4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
预示着一场改头换面的变化即将发生


Explanation:
有时,轰鸣的推土机铲倒房子左侧的林子,一条新路昭然若揭,预示着一场改头换面的变化即将发生。

昭然若揭:【汉语大詞典】昭然:明显、显着的样子;揭:原意为高举,现也指揭开。形容真相全部暴露,一切都明明白白。

改头换面:often used to refer to a very different appearance of a person or a place.

Bingoloo
Canada
Local time: 21:41
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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Reference comments


6 days
Reference: harbinger = 先兆; 先驱者

Reference information:
http://www.iciba.com/harbinger-of-spring/
http://www.iciba.com/harbinger/
http://www.cibo.cn/search.php?dictkeyword=harbinger

The cuckoo is the harbinger of spring. 布穀鳥的歌聲預示春天的到來.
The cuckoo is a harbinger of spring.布谷鸟预告春天的来临.

lai an
New Zealand
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
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