思考题 Posted January 12, 2011 at 08:31 AM Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 at 08:31 AM Over the past 6 months I've taken an avid interest in Chinese language songs as a productive means of studying and supplementing my Mandarin. With friends' encouragement, I have undertaken the posting of English translations of both widespread classics and some of my personal favorites. My interest does not lie in literal, word for word translation. Certain words and phrases, though poignant in their native Mandarin context, sound ambiguous or halting in English. Rather I aim to express the feeling of each song -- as if the lyrics were as natural to sing in translated English as they were in the original Chinese. I am not avoiding literal interpretation, so much not allowing it to interfere with the tone or underlying concepts of each song. While I encourage any questions, 'quires and qualms, my hope is that rather than simple criticism, we instead make constructive suggestions with specific examples. My initial words are not the end all, but rather the instigation of further creation. ===================================================================================================================================================== Every man, woman and child in China knows it, so you might just as well: The Chinese National Anthem 《中华人民共和国国歌》 For a online recording of the song, &cat=0&gate=1&ct=134217728&tn=baidumt,%D6%D0%BB%AA%C8%CB%C3%F1%B9%B2%BA%CD%B9%FA%B9%FA%B8%E8++&si=%D6%D0%BB%AA%C8%CB%C3%F1%B9%B2%BA%CD%B9%FA%B9%FA%B8%E8;;%D6%D0%BB%AA%C8%CB%C3%F1%B9%B2%BA%CD%B9%FA%B9%FA%B8%E8;;215432;;0&lm=-1&mtid=1&d=8&size=3145728&attr=0,0&titlekey=1737791297,1410244573&mtype=1"]CLICK HERE 起来!......................... Arise! 不愿做奴隶的人们!................To all who wish no longer to be enslaved, 把我们的血肉,...................With our flesh and blood, 筑成我们新的长城!................We can create new miracles! 中华民族到了....................The new China has arrived 最危险的时候,...................In the darkest of hours, 每个人被迫着 ...................There is but no choice, 发出最后的吼声!..................To scream out with our last breath! 起来!.........................Arise! 起来! ........................Arise! 起来! ........................Arise! 我们万众一心,...................Together we act as one, 冒着敌人的炮火..................Braving the grave, 前进,.........................Onward march, 冒着敌人的炮火 .................Braving the grave 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!进!! .....................Onward march! And on! The Chinese National Anthem is a military march, that aims to provoke nationalism into actions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanglu Posted January 12, 2011 at 08:42 AM Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 at 08:42 AM 中华民族到了....................The new China has arrived最危险的时候,...................In the darkest of hours, You should read this as one sentence, not two - The Chinese nation faces its darkest hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
思考题 Posted January 13, 2011 at 11:54 PM Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 at 11:54 PM Fanglu, thank you for your comments, I have amended the translation as follows: 起来!......................... Arise! 不愿做奴隶的人们!................To all who wish no longer to be enslaved, 把我们的血肉,...................With our flesh and blood, 筑成我们新的长城!................We can create new miracles! 中华民族到了最危险的时候,.........The Chinese nation faces its darkest hour, 每个人被迫着 ...................There is but no choice, 发出最后的吼声!..................To scream out with our last breath! 起来!.........................Arise! 起来! ........................Arise! 起来! ........................Arise! 我们万众一心,...................Together we act as one, 冒着敌人的炮火..................Braving the grave, 前进,.........................Onward march, 冒着敌人的炮火 .................Braving the grave 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!进!! .....................Onward march! And on! Any more suggestions out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
内森 Posted January 16, 2011 at 01:35 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 at 01:35 AM 不愿做奴隶的人们!................To all who wish no longer to be enslaved Those who would not be shackled 中华民族到了最危险的时候,.........The Chinese nation faces its darkest hour, 每个人被迫着 ...................There is but no choice, 发出最后的吼声!..................To scream out with our last breath! I'm also concerned about this bit of translation. First off, it's not really dark times for China. If any darkness exists, they assert themselves to be (ever) emerging from it. Rather the danger arises from uncertainty. And yet, in the face of the unknown, rather than cower, the unified masses chose to bellow. Not so much with their last breath, as with the last -- thus most influential? -- voice to be sounded; to be heard. Thus I propose: 中华民族到了.....................The Chinese Nation HAS ASCENDED 最危险的时候.....................TO FACE AN UNCERTAIN AGE, 每个人被迫着 ....................YET THE DUTY OF ALL, 发出最后的吼声!.................IS TO LEAD PROGRESSION'S CHARGE! I'm still troubled by the last two lines. I've played with phrases such as "rage against" or "to be seen, heard, felt" ... tricky stuff. 冒着敌人的炮火 .................Braving the grave 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!进!! .....................Onward march! And on! Love this, especially the first line. However, then final line I would change to 前进!进!! ..................... WE MARCH ON! And on! As 1) "marching on and on" is a more unified phrase in English and; 2) the additional of the final "we" emphasizes the collectivity this song is designed to epitomize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
思考题 Posted January 18, 2011 at 07:05 AM Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 at 07:05 AM Thank you Yeodda3 (agian) for your comments, keep them coming. I've amended the translation, tell me what you think. 起来!......................... Arise! 不愿做奴隶的人们!................Those who would not be shackled, 把我们的血肉,...................With our flesh and blood, 筑成我们新的长城!................We can create new miracles! 中华民族到了................... The Chinese Nation has ascended, 最危险的时候,.................. In the face of uncertainty, 每个人被迫着 ...................There is but no choice, 发出最后的吼声!.................To stand true to our word! 起来!.........................Arise! 起来! ........................Arise! 起来! ........................Arise! 我们万众一心,...................Together we act as one, 冒着敌人的炮火..................Braving the grave, 前进,.........................Onward march, 冒着敌人的炮火 .................Braving the grave 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!.........................Onward march! 前进!进!! .....................We march on! And on! In regards to your comment: 发出最后的吼声!.................IS TO LEAD PROGRESSION'S CHARGE! My take is that the figurative meaning is resolution, that even with ones last breath one does not waiver from the cause. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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