English words from Chinese words are often denoted as being “l(fā)oanwords”. A loanword is one that does not share a literal translation of the word. Quite simply, the word is borrowed and then used into the new language.
在英語(yǔ)中,那些來(lái)自于漢語(yǔ)的詞匯通常都被稱為“外來(lái)詞匯”。一個(gè)外來(lái)詞。并不是按照字面意思翻譯過(guò)來(lái)的。簡(jiǎn)單來(lái)說(shuō),就是這個(gè)詞匯是從別處借過(guò)來(lái),然后被用到一種新的語(yǔ)言當(dāng)中。
1. Gung Ho
工合
The literal translation is “work together”. The English use was popularized by Marines fighting in the Pacific in World War II. The phrase came to mean: “whole heartedly enthusiastic, and loyal, eager, and zealous”.
字面意思是“合作、同心協(xié)力”。它在英語(yǔ)中被廣泛使用是在二戰(zhàn)中美國(guó)海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)在太平洋作戰(zhàn)的時(shí)期。當(dāng)時(shí)這個(gè)短語(yǔ)的意思是:“竭誠(chéng)熱情、忠誠(chéng)、愿望、熱心”。
2. Typhoon
臺(tái)風(fēng)
The literal translation is “strong wind”. Experts say the term, typhoon from the Greek and Arabic, was strengthened with the Chinese translation.
字面意思是“強(qiáng)風(fēng)”。有專(zhuān)家表示這個(gè)詞匯源自于希臘語(yǔ)和阿拉伯語(yǔ),中文翻譯過(guò)來(lái)后意思被加強(qiáng)了。
3. China
中國(guó)
In Chinese, it literally means “the middle country”. The name was first used by the Italian explorer, Marco Polo.
在中文里的字面意思是“中間的國(guó)家”。最早使用這個(gè)名字的人是意大利探險(xiǎn)家馬可·波羅。
4. Silk
絲綢
The word was first introduced to Western culture by smugglers who took silk worms and mulberry leaves out of China in 552 Common Era (CE).
這個(gè)詞語(yǔ)第一次被引入到西方是在公元552年走私者將蠶和桑葉從中國(guó)偷運(yùn)到西方的時(shí)候。
5. Feng Shui
風(fēng)水
The literall translation is “wind and water”. It is the Chinese belief in creating a spiritual balance in one’s home and workplace. The word was first introduced to Westerners in 1757.
字面意思是“風(fēng)和水”。風(fēng)水是中國(guó)人在家和工作場(chǎng)所創(chuàng)造精神平衡的一種信仰。這個(gè)詞最開(kāi)始進(jìn)入西方是在1757年。
6. Kowtow
磕頭
Literally means “knock head”. In China the word is a way of bowing and touching the forehead to the ground to indicate respect. In English the word means to “be servile: to behave in an extremely submissive way in order to please somebody in a position of authority”.
字面意思就是“叩頭”。在漢語(yǔ)中,它指鞠躬并把前額碰到地上以示尊重。在英語(yǔ)中的意思是“奴化:為了取悅權(quán)威,表現(xiàn)得非常順從”。
7. Lose Face
丟面子
The literal translation is “humiliation”. The word is said to have been introduced to English speakers in 1876.
字面的意思是“丟臉、恥辱”。據(jù)說(shuō)這個(gè)詞匯是在1876年引入西方的。
8. Tai Chi
太極
In Chinese, the word is literally translated to the “supreme ultimate”. It is now used in American lingo to describe the martial art of tai chi. Some emphasize the slow movements as a form of exercise, while others practice it as a martial art.
按照中文直譯過(guò)來(lái)就是“太極(最高極限)”。這也是現(xiàn)在美國(guó)武術(shù)館中所描述的太極。一些人將其看作是一種慢動(dòng)作的練習(xí)方式,但是另一些人將其當(dāng)作武術(shù)來(lái)練。
9. Oolong
烏龍茶
Literally means“black dragon”. First introduced to the English language in 1852 as a dark, black tea.
字面意思是“黑龍”。首次是在1852年作為紅茶引入的。