English to Chinese translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Commentaries / Letters
English term or phrase:intriguing premise
Source text: " I wanted to say how much I enjoyed it, and found it an intriguing premise for a story."
This seems to be a reasonably common expression in English -- is there a good translation for this in Chinese. (By the way, if you know the English meaning, please explain a little -- I don't!)
The expression was apparently intended for general usage (not something invented by the writer). I've been following a similar line of thinking in interpretation as Bill did... the tricky part is "premise" no doubt... Thank you everyone very much for your generous inputs!! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
to icg: "intriguing premise" is actually searchable and gives 99,500 hits! Amazing that I've never heard of it before. I'm sure native people know it...
I think the person meant "For a story [i.e., in terms of aesthetic or whatevr criteria for a story], I found your work an intriguing premise"... The person later explained to me that she just wanted to throw in some compliment in some way...
Ambiguity: I enjoyed the story and found the story an intriguing premise for a story? Doesn't seem to make sense. At least the sender didn't make himself/herself clear.
It's from some business correspondence: "I have received one story from you, which I have now read. I wanted to say how much I enjoyed it, and found it an intriguing premise for a story." -- that's everything in the context.
To Last Hermit: the story has already been written (by a rather famous contermporary Chinese writer). The work is being considered for publication and getting translated into English... The expression "intriguing premise" seems to be used in a set way (as a compliment) in English... I find it hard to figure out a way to fit it into Chinese... thanks everyone. Cheers
Piang Liong Lai Singapore Local time: 12:06 Works in field Native speaker of: Chinese PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Tony. Sometimes a movie is said to be based on a novel (and that novel is described as an intriguing premise)... At least Google gives such junks...:)
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Bill Lao China Local time: 12:06 Native speaker of: Chinese PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
The expression was apparently intended for general usage (not something invented by the writer). I've been following a similar line of thinking in interpretation as Bill did... the tricky part is "premise" no doubt... Thank you everyone very much for your generous inputs!!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 16 hrs (2006-03-21 00:34:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
如果用在完成的文學作品也一樣, 那就變成了"電影"的劇本原型.
The premise of a "film".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 16 hrs (2006-03-21 00:37:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
一種恭維的方式, 就是說該作品值得搬到大螢幕上.
Angus Woo Hong Kong Local time: 12:06 Works in field Native speaker of: Chinese PRO pts in category: 16
Notes to answerer
Asker: 请参看我给Last Hermit的note: 有这样一个前提：the story has already been written (by a rather famous contermporary Chinese writer). The work is being considered for publication and getting translated into English...所以在这个语境中其实是在形容一篇小说的成品
To jyuan_us：您可别不凯歌。这部戏俺没看，但既然大家都说它无聊，那就当它无聊。可是，凯歌就琢磨了。咋让LH这些人也看呢？正发愁之际，吴戈整事了。凯歌窃喜：把事情整大它！这不，这么一闹，连俺这个不问世事的人都知道了，心里不免动摇，想知道凯戈为什么大动肝火。动着动着，手便往腰包里伸……凯戈呢？在一边捂着嘴偷笑！
Last Hermit China Local time: 12:06 Works in field Native speaker of: Chinese PRO pts in category: 20
The translation workplace 
