Fred0 Posted January 6, 2017 at 05:49 PM Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 at 05:49 PM A poem starts out like this: 我穿着一件破衣衫出门, 这么丑,我看着都觉得好笑, My translation is: I put on an old, worn out robe to go out/How disgusting, I feel entirely ridiculous. Can someone help me do better than this? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WenLei-William Posted January 7, 2017 at 12:43 AM Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 at 12:43 AM Wearing a worn-out robe, So ugly, so crude, I step out the door, Parting from my abode Oh, How ridiculous I feel! I just rearranged some of the order of the original and tried to write it in a more poetic fashion (which I'm not good at). Your translation actually preserves the style of the original a lot better than mine. Poetic and literary translation has a lot more leeway than other forms of translation, but you did better than me to preserve the original style. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred0 Posted January 7, 2017 at 01:19 AM Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 at 01:19 AM Thank you. What is 看着都 saying? Is it like saying "seeing it all, I feel ridiculous?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted January 7, 2017 at 01:31 AM Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 at 01:31 AM Take a look. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members Wayen Posted January 7, 2017 at 03:00 PM New Members Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 at 03:00 PM 我看着 means "when I look at myself,"so you can translate it as :when I look at myself ,I feel entirely ridiculous" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouse Posted January 7, 2017 at 11:56 PM Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 at 11:56 PM Skylee has the right answer. There is an implied 連 before the 我. See here for more usage examples. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lips Posted January 8, 2017 at 12:31 AM Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 at 12:31 AM Kinda like, "it's ridiculous even from looking at it.." One can say that “连” is implied, but not "连我“. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred0 Posted January 8, 2017 at 12:56 AM Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 at 12:56 AM ...so I would translate: 我穿着一件破衣衫出门, 这么丑,我看着都觉得好笑,as "I put on an old, worn out robe to go out/How disgusting! Even I, seeing myself, feel ridiculous. " Any comments? Thanks to all, especially Mouse, for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted January 8, 2017 at 06:57 AM Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 at 06:57 AM I think 都 refers to the action 看着. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lips Posted January 8, 2017 at 02:54 PM Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 at 02:54 PM I think 都 refers to the action 看着. Agree. Key word is 看,not 我。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Yongjiang Posted January 9, 2017 at 12:30 AM Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 at 12:30 AM Fred0, 你好, “都(dou1)” 在这里,口语中,有“也”的意思。 这句话的潜在含义是:这么丑,(不光其他人/除了其他人觉得丑),(连)我都(/也)觉得好笑。 “都”在这里也表达了一种递进情感,可以理解为“甚至”,作强化语气。 我只是从一个普通中国人的感觉去解释的,并不一定专业哦。 Dear Fred0, “都”here, in speaking, has a meaning of "and", "as well", "too". So the potential meaning of this sentence is: so ugly, (beside others), I feel myself ridiculous too. “都” delivers a stronger emotion, which you can view it as "even", to strengthen the tone. However, I just try to explain it from an ordinary Chinese's sense, which maybe not professional and academic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred0 Posted January 9, 2017 at 04:28 AM Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 at 04:28 AM Yongjiang, 非常感谢你的缜密的解释,虽然你可能不是一个专业,你肯定是一个好教师。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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