Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
挖主墳
English translation:
desecrating their ancestor's graves
Added to glossary by
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Jul 26, 2008 21:07
16 yrs ago
Chinese term
挖主墳
Chinese to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
slang/colloquial expressions
Should the term be translated literally or does it have a figurative meaning? It is used in the following sentence.
好象朝鮮搞的核試驗是在挖這些人的主墳
好象朝鮮搞的核試驗是在挖這些人的主墳
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +4 | digging up their (the critics') ancesters' graves |
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
|
| 4 | digging their own grave |
KM KM
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Change log
Aug 2, 2008 02:19: Wenjer Leuschel (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
1 hr
Selected
digging up their (the critics') ancesters' graves
http://www.warchina.com/n26581c21.aspx
With "這些人" it is meant obviously those critics who have being bashing the North Korean nuclear tests vehemently.
"... as if the North Koreans had been digging up their ancesters' graves with the nuclear tests."
I wonder if this sentence could be understood by Westerners. :D
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-07-26 22:15:37 GMT)
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By the way, 主墳 should be 祖墳 in standard Chinese.
With "這些人" it is meant obviously those critics who have being bashing the North Korean nuclear tests vehemently.
"... as if the North Koreans had been digging up their ancesters' graves with the nuclear tests."
I wonder if this sentence could be understood by Westerners. :D
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-07-26 22:15:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
By the way, 主墳 should be 祖墳 in standard Chinese.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
orientalhorizon
2 hrs
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Thanks.
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| agree |
Michael Lickorish
: "... desecrating their ancestor's graves" also works.
6 hrs
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Thanks. Desecrating is a better word for this case, something like that which is described in http://baike.baidu.com/view/533418.htm
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| agree |
QUOI
: 祖宗的坟墓
1 day 8 hrs
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Yep, thanks. That's what should be meant.
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| agree |
Ritchest
1 day 10 hrs
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Thanks.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, Wenjer and Kevin, for your help. I really appreciate it. "
40 mins
digging their own grave
I assume the ”这些人“ is referring to the North Koreans? If so I think this can be pretty much directly translated into English and, of course, maintain its figurative meaning.
"It was as if by conducting nuclear tests the North Koreans were digging their own grave"
"It was as if by conducting nuclear tests the North Koreans were digging their own grave"
Discussion