Jun 13, 2023 10:46
1 yr ago
36 viewers *
Chinese汉语 term
如何翻译“大妈二娘” How to translate the old family Titles in Chinese to English
Chinese汉语译成English英语
艺术/文学
诗词与文学
本人最近参与的一个翻译项目,是电视剧的,描述中国古代那种三妻四妾的家庭关系(这种关系在现代的穆斯林国家也非常普遍),一般这类家庭的男主人社会地位比较高(赚钱多,所以经济好才能妻妾成群),所以家里的头衔是“老爷”(lord),他娶的大老婆应是正室,对应的英文为“wife”吧,然而,他娶的第二个老婆第三个老婆或者第N个老婆,都应该是小老婆们,对应的英文是“concubine"吧,那问题来了, 假设第三个老婆生的孩子,一般称谓上叫前面的大老婆是“大妈”,可以理解吧,辈分上最大,那第二个老婆叫“二娘”,也可以理解,问题就是这些词,对应的英文如何翻译的好呢,aunts可以么,因为从第三个老婆孩子嘴里叫这几个长辈的话,英文很难有对应的词啊。本人的译文都是抛砖引玉,欢迎专业同行指点,不甚感激!
Proposed translations
(English英语)
2 | Mom (名字) / Mother (名字) | Kiet Bach |
5 | many | jyuan_us |
4 | (Chinese title +) Mama | fishinwater |
3 | principal wife and secondary wife | Yuemin Chen |
Proposed translations
6小时
Selected
Mom (名字) / Mother (名字)
例:
Mom Helen / Mother Helen / Mom Julia / Mother Julia
美国人喜欢用名字来分别是哪个人,如 uncle Joe, aunt Sarah, ... , 而中国人会叫:大舅舅,三阿姨,... 。
美国人不是很注重大小,中国人会说:我有一个妹妹,而美国人会说:I have a sister, 很少会说:I have a younger sister.
Mom Helen / Mother Helen / Mom Julia / Mother Julia
美国人喜欢用名字来分别是哪个人,如 uncle Joe, aunt Sarah, ... , 而中国人会叫:大舅舅,三阿姨,... 。
美国人不是很注重大小,中国人会说:我有一个妹妹,而美国人会说:I have a sister, 很少会说:I have a younger sister.
Note from asker:
对,有理!加个名字清晰。 |
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
9小时
(Chinese title +) Mama
In western culture these second/third wives are referred as aunties and mostly called by first names, while in Chinese culture it's inappropriate to call first name directly, especially from the next generations. it is also very difficult to reflect the order/family status if calling by aunt/auntie+name, and the order is a big deal in Chinese family culture.
Mama is universal and easily understood. In this specific context it's important to be creative and include some special reference to reflect the Chinese culture. I would suggest using "Da mama" (大妈) "Er mama" (二娘)"San/Si/Wu mama"(三/四/五姨) ...etc. to address the first/second wives, while using Mom/mother only to refer the biological mother. Da/Er can be regarded as titles which also reflects the order and a short explanation on the Chinese meaning can be annotated. The use of Mama also embeds a sense of formality and respect so I believe this is a great creative solution.
in a family where people have close relationships who get along very well, the greetings can use casual names as (casual name)+ mama, for example, 如果名字叫 翠花 可以叫 Hua mama, 玉兰叫 Lan mama, 以此类推.
Note from asker:
Great information! Thanks! |
14小时
many
如果是提及某个小妈,翻译为 my father's second/third wife.
如果是在人物与这些妈的对话中,需要address她们,这里有一个网页可以参考一下:
https://dadfixeseverything.com/nicknames-for-stepmom/#:~:tex...
71 Lovely Nicknames to Call Your Stepmom
这里是针对继母,而不是二妈,三妈的,但是总有一两个可以借用的。
Offshoots of ‘Mom’ and ‘Mommy’ that you could use for your stepmom include:
Ma
Mama
Mumsy
Mammy
Momzie
Mother Hen
Mamadukes
Big Momma
Mummers
Mothership
Moo Moo
Momster
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2023-06-14 01:07:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
为每一个小妈/大娘安排一个这样的称谓,在全书中固定下来一致地使用。
如果是在人物与这些妈的对话中,需要address她们,这里有一个网页可以参考一下:
https://dadfixeseverything.com/nicknames-for-stepmom/#:~:tex...
71 Lovely Nicknames to Call Your Stepmom
这里是针对继母,而不是二妈,三妈的,但是总有一两个可以借用的。
Offshoots of ‘Mom’ and ‘Mommy’ that you could use for your stepmom include:
Ma
Mama
Mumsy
Mammy
Momzie
Mother Hen
Mamadukes
Big Momma
Mummers
Mothership
Moo Moo
Momster
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2023-06-14 01:07:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
为每一个小妈/大娘安排一个这样的称谓,在全书中固定下来一致地使用。
Note from asker:
多谢回复!确实很给力实用! |
1天 12小时
principal wife and secondary wife
正室(大妈): principal wife, chief wife
二娘: secondary wife
A man could have a chief wife, lesser wives, and concubines in ancient times. For your reference only.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concubinage
二娘: secondary wife
A man could have a chief wife, lesser wives, and concubines in ancient times. For your reference only.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concubinage
Note from asker:
GREAT INFO, HELPFUL!THANKS! |
Discussion
求同存异吧!
不過提及穆斯林國家的多妻是"second wife," "third wife"等等,跟concubine是有差別的。
這就要看電視劇內容了,中國古代大多是一妻多妾。
我也想知道合適稱謂😅