汉语新词的翻译与英文解释.doc

汉语新词A型城市 (A xing2 cheng2 shi4)type-A metropolisThe term refers to boom cities where many people live at a fast pace and work under great pressure. The term is derived from the theory that tends to divide personalities into type A and B. Type A people are said to be arrogant and irritable, eager for quick success.拗断 (ao2 duan4)Separate/break awayIt can refer to either the breakdown of good relations between a couple, or good friends, or the breakup of a showbiz artist from his or her broker.AB制 (AB zh)AB treatIn China, people tend to call going Dutch an AA treat, meaning dividing the bill equally among all the diners. But now AB treat has become a fad among young people as some males now choose to pay a bigger slice of the bill, say 70 percent, while female friends dining with them pay the rest.拗造型 (ao3zao4xing2)poseurThe Chinese term derives from Shanghai dialect and has become very popular among young people. It describes someone who attempts to achieve a status, look or appeal which they do not have the traits to possess. The Chinese term may also be used as verb to mean someones acting that way.安全岛 (an1quan2dao3)safety islandShanghai police are trying to improve traffic facilities to ensure road safety. Safety islands have been built in the middle of some wide roads around the city to offer pedestrians a temporary haven from rushing traffic.阿木林(a1mu4lin3)moronThe expression in Shanghai dialect is a transliteration from the English word. It came into use after foreign powers set up concession areas in the city in the mid-19th century.奥特曼 (ao4te4man4)out manThe expression is a transliteration from Ultraman, a hero in an animated TV series. But these days, many people use it as a transliteration for the English words out man to describe out-dated rubes.肮三(ang1san1)indecent, wicked, problematicOriginally, this was Pidgin English meaning on sale in Shanghai dialect. Then it was used to depict substandard or bad quality products. Now, it is often used to describe a person or his/her behavior that is immoral or highly offensive and obnoxious. It may also be used to talk about a bad situation.安瓶 (an1 ping2)ampouleAn ampoule, also ampule, originally was a small bottle containing injection liquid. Nowadays beauty ampoulesare popular among brides as they contain a concentrated essence to keep their face in good condition.阿姨 (a1yi2)IE or Internet ExplorerThe Chinese term, which means literallyauntie, has a similar pronunciation with IE Internet Explorer and is widely used among Chinese netizens, especially in headlinesof BBS posts, to attract peoples attention, because ayi sometimes refers to a caring female.i-世代 (ai shi4dai4)i-generationThis term, translated from English, refers to people who have grown up with Internet and digital technology, and for whom online plays a pivotal role in shaping their opinions and aspirations, and how they approach their personal relationships and professional lives.阿尔法女孩(a1er2fa3nv3hai2)alpha womanAlpha women can always outperform men in study, work and sports. So, where there are alpha women, there are beta men.拗分族 (ao3fen1zu2)young extorterIt refers to juvenile delinquents or school bullies who extort money or possessions from young students, usually on their way home.A货 (A huo4)top-grade fakesQuality matters even in the case of bogus goods. If a counterfeit can challenge the professional eye, it is a top-grade fake.奥运新人(ao4yun4 xin1ren2)Olympic coupleIt refers to Chinese couples who want to get married on August 8 this year, when the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games begin.奥布 (o b)dirty trickThe term originates from the dialect of southern Fujian Province and means cunning thoughts or methods that are used to reach a certain goal. It was extensively used during the election of local leaders in Taiwan as some candidates were discovered employing unfair or unlawful methods to collect votes in support of particular candidates.奥运婚 (ao4yun4hun1)Olympic marriageThe 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are not just a party for sports fans but also for many brides and grooms. The number of wedding registrations in Shanghai hit a record on August 8, the opening day of the Games, as many young couples wanted the memorable day as their wedding anniversary.A咖 (A ka1)lead castIt means a leading actor in a movie or drama and “咖” is the transliteration of the English word cast. It also refers to frontline showbiz pop stars.凹地效应 (ao1 di4 xiao4 ying4)land depression effectWhen a person has an open mind, listening ears rather than a talking mouth, and tolerance, he or she tends to attract a good number of followers or friends. This is similar to a land depression that gathers water.挨踢人士 (ai1 ti1 ren2 shi4)IT workersThe expression is a transliteration of IT, the shortened form for information technology.阿拉佛 (a1 la1 fo2)arafoThe term, derived from Japanese, is a borrowed word which means around 40. It refers to well-educated single females aged around 40 who are financially independent and spend lavishly. It has become popular from its use in the namesake Japanese TV series starring Amami Yuki last year.爱老虎油 (ai4 lao3 hu3 you2)I love youThe Chinese word which literally means love tiger oil is pronounced similarly to I love you in English. The saying comes from a Hong Kong kung fu movie in which the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) heroine is tricked by a Western-educated lover to say the words.阿飘 (a1 piao1)ghostThe word, literally meaning float in Chinese, is a nickname for ghosts or phantoms because they are always described to be floating in air and drifting from place to place.阿拉 (a1 la1)I (me), we (us)Most out-of-towners believe this is the most obvious term of the Shanghai dialect. It is perhaps partly because of the resonant pronunciation of a la, which makes the Shanghai language sound noisy, and partly because of a widespread egotistic image of arrogant and snobbish Shanghainese.However, many linguists insist that this term did not originate from Shanghai. Instead, it was imported from Ningbo, a port city in neighboring Zhejiang Province. The native farmers and fishermen living in todays Songjiang District area used, and still use, 我伲 (u ni) to mean we or us.The a la sound came from the typically loud Ningbo merchants in the Shanghai markets. At one time, people from Ningbo formed the largest regional group of business people in the city. Gradually, people in Shanghai began to use a la to mean I (me) and we (us). Today, if you use the aboriginal 我伲 (u ni) to mean we, people would immediately say you are a bumpkin. City people all use 阿拉 (a la) instead.肮三 (ang1 sei1) Tricky, thorny, disappointing, disgraceful, shoddyThe first character means literally dirty or filthy, and the second means three. In Shanghai parlance, the number three often implies a very low level or poor quality.So, by derivation, the term describes something of low quality or extremely disappointing.It also suggests something tricky or thorny or someone whos stingy, disgraceful or acting in an underhanded way.People usually list two English expressions as the origin of this Shanghai colloquial term. One is out side, the other is on sale. Both sound onomatopoeically genuine.The first term out side comes from ball games such as tennis when a referee calls an off-side ball no score.On sale brings with it the connotation of something cheap or of lower and substandard quality.More often used as an adjective, the noun is 肮三货 (ang sei hu), meaning anything or anyone that can be called 肮三 (ang sei).傍名牌(bang4 ming2 pai2)imitated brandsSome businesses name their products or retail outlets similarly to well-known brands to attract customers, misleading them in thinking the copycat is selling the real thing. It is also a phenomenon of the shanzhai culture.波鞋 (bo1 xie2)sneakersThe expression literally means ball shoes, as 波 is Cantonese slang for ball. The expression is very popular in Hong Kong and has come into use on the Chinese mainland.白菜价 (bai2 cai4 jia4)dirt cheapIn China, if someone says that a product is being sold at the cabbage price, he means it is as cheap as dirt. Cabbage is usually regarded as one of the cheapest vegetables in the market.白领炮灰团（bai2 ling3 pao4 hui1 tuan2）white-collar cannon fodderThe term refers to office workers who struggle for a better life by sacrificing their free time and jeopardizing health through often working overtime to keep their jobs.败犬女(bai4 quan3 nv3)loser dogDerived from the Japanese word make inu, this phrase means literally a loser dog and is used to describe women who have passed the age of 30 and remain unmarried.崩溃 (beng1 kui4)breakdownA colloquial expression that is used by young people frequently these days to mean you can not hold on to emotional stress or heavy work any more.玻璃屋 (bo1 li wu1)glass roomIt refers to transparency in corporate governance, especially with regard to executive compensation.败家女 (bai4 jia1 n)shopaholic womanA woman who is so addicted to shopping that she is living on the brink of bankruptcy. The phrase is coined from a Chinese term which means a prodigal son or daughter.百搭简历 (bai3 da1 jian3 li4)all-fitting resumeIt is a kind of resume that job seekers prepare in such an ambiguous way that it apparently meets the requirements of many kinds of job.爆场 (bao4 chang3)Raise the roofMore often than not, promotions that offer deep discounts for well-established brands will attract a huge crowd that raises the roof.不折腾 (bu4 zhe1 ten2)dont stir up turmoilThe term is colloquial and widely used to discourage someone from getting restless due to illness, worry or from just messing around. But when it was quoted by Chinese President Hu Jintao in his recent report, it referred to acts that would disturb societys normal life. So, dont stir up (political or social) turmoil reflects peoples desire for peace and harmony.保质期 (bao3zhi4qi1)shelf life or best-before dateShanghai health authorities have employed a team of volunteer food inspectors to check whether food or medicines are sold after the expiry dates or for other quality problems as part of nationwide efforts to ensure safe food and drugs.80后 (ba1shi2hou4)80s generationThe word refers to those who were born in 1980s. They are considered to be a self-centered generation who care more about themselves compared with older generations. They are also more willing to try new things, heavily influenced by the Internet and more open to foreign cultures.保鲜膜 (bao3xian1mo2)cling filmChinas health authority recently conducted a spot check on cling film wrapping after receiving reports that a chemical linked to cancer is in the widely used product.保持共产党员先进性 (bao3chi2 gong4chan3dang3yuan2 xian1jin4xing4)keep the Party in the vanguardThe Chinese Communist Party has launched an educational program to ensure its members retain good Party traditions and keep pace with the times in order to lead the nation to successfully build a well-off society.版主(斑竹) (ban1zhu2)BBS moderatorThis term is frequently used among netizens. The Chinese term in the brackets is actually a rib tickler applied here mainly because it shares a similar pronunciation to the official term. Originally, it is the name of the Mottled Bamboo.包机 (bao1ji1)charter flightThe flights are specially arranged for travelers. Both sides across the Taiwan Strait have designed six carriers to make 36 roundtrip charter flights for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on January 29.八卦 (ba1gua4)gossip, gossipyOriginally the name of an eight-side diagram derived from the famous Chinese classic 1 Ching(Book of Changes), it is now often used to describe gossip or gossipy people. Some believe this term first came into use in Hong Kong where the ying-yang diagram was frequently used to cover the crucial points of nude models on gossip or porn magazine covers.八角茴香 (ba1jiao3 hui2xiang1)star aniseStar anise is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine or flavoring, which is also known as eight-cornered fennel. Recently there is a buying spree for star anise in some parts of China as media reported that it is an important ingredient of Roches Tamiflu, a medicine believed to be able to prevent bird flu.爆料 (bao4liao4)tip off, blow the whistleMany news media nowadays rely heavily on tip-offs from their stringers or street tipsters to scoop some exclusive news. They usually offer the tipsters a handsome reward in cash. Seeing this trend, some laid-off workers and migrants have turned tipping into a business to eke out a living.蹦迪 (beng4di2)disco dancingDancing discos in nightclubs or bars is a popular entertainment among young people who want to get some exercise and find a way of catharsis. But many nightclubs are often involved in complaints by nearby residents for the noise created by them, such as loud music and blaring car horns.本命年 (ben3ming4nian2)year of fateIn ancient China, people believed that a persons fate was a determined at birth, so the zodiac year of ones birth would be ones year of fate. To fend off the default bad luck in such a year, people tend to wear red underwear, read waistbands and red bracelets. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, this year is the year of fate for people who were born in the Year of the Dog.不感冒 (bu4gan3mao4)uninterested, peevedHaving no flu (bu ganmao)? Thats good. But dont take the Chinese term verbatim. In colloquial conservations, this term means that one is uninterested in or even peeved by something others said or did. So dont talk about Tamiflu when theres no flu threat in sight.播客 (bo1ke4)podcasterThe word, a hybrid of Ipod and broadcast, refers to those who combine a group of technologies to distribute audio and video files over the Internet. Readers may receive podcasts of this buzzword column online or download them to an MP3 player from .暴利税 (bao4li4shui4)windfall profit taxChina has started levying tax on outrageous profits oil businesses reap in the hope that it can make up for the losses these monopolies cause to disadvantaged groups and public welfare services.爆棚 (bao4peng2)packed; a box-office hitThe word is believed to have made its way into Mandarin from Hong Kong via the Guangdong dialect. Bao literally means burst and peng, a shed or shack.背包游 (bei1bao1you2)backpacker tourAboout 3.9 million tourists are expected to flock to Shanghai during the Labor Day holiday this year. The backpacker trend is also on the rise.白骨精(bai2gu3jing1)office eliteThis is the name of a siren in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West. But, today it is also used as a new title for white-collar office workers who excel in their career. Instead of theWhite-Bone Demon, the three Chinese characters in this term refers to white-collar, backbone and elite, respectively, in its new usage.布波族(bu4bo1zu2)/波波族(bo1bo1zu2)bo-bosThe word is a shorthand for Bourgeois-Bohemians, which refers to the young who have the hybrid characteristics of the 1960s hippies and 1980s yuppies. They are well-educated and barely bound by tradition, prefer fashionable clothes and modern appliances, but are always moving their home between cities and the countryside to avoid a stereotyped life.败家子(bai4jia1zi3)black sheepThe Chinese term has a narrower meaning than the English one. The Chinese term only refers to a member of a family who is undesirable.飙车 (biao1che1)drag racingLiving a better life than before, some Chinese youngsters are infatuated with drag racing. Recently the Chinese media reported that some people drove their Coach Builder Cars at a dangerous speed racing around Beijings ring roads. The police have arrested two youngsters in their 20s this year for driving at nearly 150kilometers an hour in downtown streets.八荣八耻 (ba1rong2ba1chi3)Eight Dos and DontsChinese President Hu Jintao recently called on the whole nation and particularly young people to adopt the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, also known as Eight Dos and Donts. The list reads: Love, do not harm the motherland; Serve, dont disserve the people; Uphold science; dont be ignorant and unenlightened; Work hard; dont be lazy and hate work; Be united and help each other; dont gain benefits at the expense of others; Be honest and trustworthy, not profit-mongering at the expense of your values; Be disciplined and law-abiding instead of unruly and lawless; Respect plain living and hard struggle, do not wallow in luxuries and pleasures.避风头(bi4feng1tou2)dodge the brunt, lie lowThe Chinese term translates literally to dodge the brunt of the wind. One way to stay out of the trouble and avoid being caught is to avoid the hot track and lie low.帮帮忙(bang1bang1mang2)come on, give me a breakThe colloquial expression serves as a mild request for help in Mandarin, but in Shanghai dialect, it is an admonition before arguing against a remark someone has made.别苗头 (bie2miao2tou2)vie, compete for favorThe phrase comes from Shanghai dialect and is translated into mandarin phonetically. Its an informal way of saying competition and usually indicates some sly moves on both sides.编外 (bian1wai3)outside the staff establishmentUnder the planned economy, the government assigned to every work unit in China an authorized staff establishment or manning scale. Some still do. But often such work units or government departments need to hire people outside the fixed e