Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law

Chinese translation:

最起码是盼望能够超越律法约束的虔诚理想主义者

Added to glossary by Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Jul 27, 2004 09:37
20 yrs ago
English term

at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law

English to Chinese Social Sciences History Intellectual History
...Many of the rules were prohibitions, of the kind most of us are nowadays familiar with under the name of taboos, such, for instance, as the law forbidding the Jew to eat pork; others, like the law of circumcision, enjoin positive acts. The prophets were rebels against the strict letter of the Law; they were at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law, and did in fact widen and deepen the religious life of their people.

这一段说的是什么?用中国话应该怎说呢?

Discussion

Non-ProZ.com Jul 27, 2004:
Thanks, Georget.
I have been considering this for quite a while, but the phrasing must be tuned.
Or else, there might be a backfire within the translated text.
I need some more time to think about it.
Non-ProZ.com Jul 27, 2004:
Thank you, Shaun. Your interpretation is quite to the point. I will rephrase it later.
Non-ProZ.com Jul 27, 2004:
I guess, I know what you mean, Bepa.
"At the very least" could mean "down to the earth" or "thoroughly" in this context.
Non-ProZ.com Jul 27, 2004:
����֧ߧ� �������, Vera.
But I suspect that "at the very least" might mean "not at all."

Proposed translations

+1
14 mins
Selected

最起码是盼望越过法律约束的虔诚理想主义者

something like
最起码是盼望越过法律(也就是说宗教规定)约束的虔诚理想主义者

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Note added at 31 mins (2004-07-27 10:08:08 GMT)
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I guess here it\'s more likely to mean \"at least\", \"minimum\"
perhaps, other pros could express their openion :)
Peer comment(s):

agree Chinoise
3 hrs
thanks!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks to all of you. Lesley confirmed Vera's understanding of "at the very least.""
+1
4 hrs

他们是最不虔诚的宗教理想主义者,总追求着超越律法的约束

yes, "at the very least" means "not at all"
Peer comment(s):

agree Chinoise
12 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
3 hrs

是不是可以这样解读?

The prophets were rebels against the strict letter of the Law; they were at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law,
先知都是反叛者,反对信徒拘泥死守教规的字面意义,(就算他们够不上当反叛者)他们至少是宗教上的理想主义者,努力地要超然于教规的束缚。

还请不吝赐教。

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Note added at 14 hrs 13 mins (2004-07-27 23:50:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"not at all\"的确。受教了。

试改译如下:
先知都是反叛者,反对信徒拘泥死守教规的字面意义,但他们绝不是追求超脱于教规的宗教理想主义者。
(即,他们反对固守字面意义,但并不要求超脱教义之外)
Peer comment(s):

agree Chinoise
36 mins
Something went wrong...
14 hrs

(they were) at the very least = 最少(可以说他们是)

at the very least = 最少(可以说是)(带有一定语气) => 最少必须承认,不能否认.... (= it cannot be denied that...)

注意: not in the least = not at all

Something went wrong...
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