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Urdu to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics / general sentences | | Urdu term or phrase: سفیدپوشی | | English translation? |
| userone2345Not a translatorKudoZ activityQuestions: 55 ( 4 open) ( 10 closed without grading) Answers: 1
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| | maintaining respectability; hiding one's needs for sake of respectability | Explanation:
The dictionaries usually give the translation of سفید پوش as "white collared" but the term "white collar" does not have the same nuance in my opinion...at least not in American culture. The term "white collar" is used quite simply for office jobs or management jobs as opposed to jobs in the general labor sector.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-collar_worker
In America, a white collar job is associated with higher education and better pay and perhaps with relatively more comfortable lifestyle. General labor is not seen as something shameful in the U.S., whereas in countries like Pakistan and India such jobs are looked down upon as being menial and lowly.
The term سفید پوشی implies that one maintains appearances of middle class respectability and does not expose one's needs to others even when economically strained. It has to do with one's sense of honor and respect by living within one's means and not asking for handouts while still participating in the social gestures of giving to others, so no one finds out the financial burden one is under.
Because of the culture-specific implication of the term سفید پوش, I would not simply call it "white collared" because no American would ever understand the actual meaning behind it. The term سفید پوشی is even more complex and describes a behavior and mentality.
http://oud.crulp.org/oud/viewword.aspx?refid=49877
Example:
محلے میں بہت تقریبات ہوتیں مگر ہمارے پاس اتنا روپیہ نہ تھا کہ دوسروں کی طرح ہر تقریب پر نت نئے جوڑے بنواتے۔ ہماری اماں اپنی سفید پوشی کا بھرم رکھنے کے لیے کوئی نہ کوئی بہانہ کرکے اکثر دعوتیں ٹال دیتیں۔ |
| Selected response from:
 Qudsia Lone
Local time: 02:30
| Grading comment | 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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| Changes made by editors |
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| Jul 12, 2011 - Changes made by Qudsia Lone: | | Created KOG entry | KudoZ term => KOG term |
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