I read an article yesterday in Apples Daily written by a very famous Chinese author Chua Lam 蔡瀾. That article titled “才女” is a good one that I wanna share on my blog. As I believe that some readers of my blog don’t read Chinese. So, I was thinking about translating that article in English. Naturally, I went for one of the most popular online translation tool – Babelfish for this job. I’ve read news from some experts saying that the online translation tools have been improved over the years and they are actually quite good now. Well, the quality below speaks itself. Underneath the original text in Chinese, I put the Babelfish translation below in brown, and put my own translation in dark green.
I guess it is an interesting post that I make this time. First of all, you can see the original Chinese text. Secondly, you can see how good the quality of online translation tool currently is (certainly, there must be some better translators in the net, judgment on the current quality of online translation is purely subjective in this case). Thirdly, people can feel free to comment on my translation. I hope I did a decent translation and would welcome constructive criticism for any mistake I had made or improvement suggestions.
才女
The contemporary talented woman
《蘋果》2010.10.27
http://www.bobofanclub.com
當代的才女，必須受過大都會的浸淫：上海、倫敦、巴黎等。用中文的，更非在香港住過一個時期不可，這裏是中國頂尖人物的集中地。
The contemporary talented woman, must receive oversized can gradually: Shanghai, London, Paris and so on. With Chinese, must lives in a time in Hong Kong not to be possible, here is the Chinese apex character's intently.
To be considered as a talented woman in contemporary time, she must spend some times indulging in metropolitan like Shanghai, London, Paris , etc. For those prolific in Chinese, they must live in Hong Kong for a period of time if possible, where the best among Chinese gather.
眼界開了，接觸到比她們更聰明的男女，才懂得什麼叫謙虛，氣質又提高到另一層次，這是物質上不能擁有的。
The field of vision has opened, contacts compared to they more intelligent men and women, only then understood that anything calls modestly, the makings enhance to another level, this is on the material cannot have.
That would be eye-opening experience for giving themselves the chances to mingle with people who are smarter than them. As a result, they will truly understand what modesty is, and their temperament will be raised to a higher level. This is not something that can be attained through material possession.
去美國也行，但只限於紐約。當然，紐約不應該屬於美國，她和歐洲才能搭配。既使不住紐約，最少也得生活在東部，像波士頓和英格蘭等，說起英語來，才不難聽。
Goes to the US to be also good, but is only restricted in New York. Certainly, New York should not belong to US, she can match with Europe. Since does not live in New York, the least also lives in the eastern part, look like Boston and England and so on, mentions English to come, is not only then coarse.
The above can be achieved by going to the U.S., but that would only confine to New York. Certainly, New York actually matches Europe more; it should not belong to the U.S. Even if not living in New York, she should at least live on the eastern coast, in places like Boston and New England region, etc, where the English accent are more comprehensible.
最忌加州，那邊的腔調都是美國大兵式的，而且每一句話的結尾，全變成一個問號，聽起來刺耳，非常討厭，即刻下降一格。
Most envies California, that side tune is the American main strength type, moreover each few words' ending, all turns a question mark, sounds gratingly, is repugnant, instantly drops a standard.
Don’t reside in California, where people speak like American G.I. with every sentence ended as a question. That sounds gratingly and repugnant, and would instantly lower the score for picking up such accent.
除了這些大都會，印度、尼泊爾、非洲、中東、東南亞，甚至南北極，都得走走，學習人家是怎麼活的，懂得什麼叫精采。
Except these metropolises, India, Nepal, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, even Nabeiji, must walk, how studies others is to live, understood that anything calls brilliantly.
Besides those metropolises, she should still visit places like India, Nepal, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, even the North and South Poles. By learning how others live, then one would understand what brilliance is.
才女必須熱愛生命，充滿好奇心，在背包旅行年代，享受苦與樂。如果是由父母帶去，只住五星酒店，也不夠級數。
The talented woman must deeply love the life, curious, in the knapsack travel age, enjoys suffers hardships happily with. If takes away by the parents, only lives in the five-star hotel, also not 夠 progression.
A talented woman must love life deeply and be full of curiosity. During her age of travelling with knapsack, she should enjoys both hardship and pleasure. If her trips are tagging along her parents, and only living in the five-star hotel, those trips are actually not fulfilling enough.
基礎應該打得好，不管是繪畫、文學、電影和音樂，都得從古典開始着手，根基才穩。一下子乘直升機，先會抽象、意識流、新浪潮和 Rap，以為那是最好的，就走入了歧途，永不超生。
The foundation should hit well, no matter is the drawing, the literature, the movie and music, must from start to begin classically, the foundation is only then steady. Rides in the helicopter all of a sudden, will be first abstract, the stream of consciousness, the new tide and Rap, thought that will be best, has gone astray, will never be reincarnated.
She should set her foundation well by starting learning in classical form, no matter in drawing, literature, movies or music. Her foundation will only then be steady. Otherwise, if she begins her learning as an analogy of riding in an helicopter all of a sudden, i.e. start learning abstractionism, stream of consciousness, new tide and rap, and thinks that they are the best. She has gone astray indeed, and there will never be way back for good.
時裝雖說庸俗，但也得學習。盡看當代名家，不知道古希臘人鞋子之美，也屬膚淺。首飾亦然，有時一件便宜貨，已顯品味。
Although the fashionable clothing is vulgar, but also study. Looks at the contemporary famous expert, does not know beauty the ancient Greece person shoe, is also superficial. The jewelry however, sometimes bargain-priced goods, obviously have also savored.
Although fashion is vulgar, it should still be studied. However, in spite of going through the works of most of the contemporary famous experts, she would still be deemed as superficial for her ignorance of the beauty of ancient Greek footwear. The same applies to jewelry, personal taste can sometimes be expressed through wearing a piece of bargain-priced accessory.
愛吃東西，更屬必然，這是生活最原始的部份，不得不多嚐。試盡天下美味，方知什麼叫最好，因為有了比較。這麼多條件，一定要有大把金錢灑？那也不一定，有了勇氣，在任何環境下都能生存，從中學習。
Likes eating the thing, is inevitably, this is lives the most primitive part, can not but many 嚐. Tries the completely world delicacy, only then knows anything to call well, because had the comparison. These many conditions, must certainly have the great money 灑? That was uncertain, had the courage, could survive under any environment, studied.
Affection in foods is a must. Eating, for being one of the most primitive activity of human beings, should be done as much as possible. Having try out all delicacies in the world, she would then tell what is the best through comparison. While these many conditions have been mentioned above, must that certainly involve lots of money? That’s not necessary, one can learn a lot through living in any environment as long as with courage within.
說到尾，最重要的還是了解男性。從書本上當然可以吸取，但現實生活中，多交些異性朋友，不是壞事。濫交一詞，那是數百幾千年前的事，不必理會。有了這種豁達和開朗的個性和思想，才能談得上才女。不然，最多只是一個沒有品味的女強人而已。
Speaks of the tail, what is most important is the understanding male. May certainly absorb from the books, but in the real life, a multi-junction opposite sex friend, is not a misdemeanor. Indiscriminates in making friends and finding sexual partners a word, that is several hundred several thousand year ago matters, does not need to pay attention. Had this kind open-minded and the open and bright individuality and the thought that can discuss the talented woman. Otherwise, most is only the capable woman who has not savored.
Last but not the least, the most important thing for a talented woman is her understanding of male. She can certainly pick up a lot from readings, but making all sorts of friend of,opposite sex in real life is by no mean a misdemeanor. Doing that and being accused of promiscuous would only be applied hundreds if not a thousand year ago, that should thus be ignored. Having this kind of open-minded and bright individuality and characters, then she can then worth being considered as a talented woman. Otherwise, she will most likely be viewed as a successful career woman without taste.
I guess it is an interesting post that I make this time. First of all, you can see the original Chinese text. Secondly, you can see how good the quality of online translation tool currently is (certainly, there must be some better translators in the net, judgment on the current quality of online translation is purely subjective in this case). Thirdly, people can feel free to comment on my translation. I hope I did a decent translation and would welcome constructive criticism for any mistake I had made or improvement suggestions.
才女
The contemporary talented woman
《蘋果》2010.10.27
http://www.bobofanclub.com
當代的才女，必須受過大都會的浸淫：上海、倫敦、巴黎等。用中文的，更非在香港住過一個時期不可，這裏是中國頂尖人物的集中地。
The contemporary talented woman, must receive oversized can gradually: Shanghai, London, Paris and so on. With Chinese, must lives in a time in Hong Kong not to be possible, here is the Chinese apex character's intently.
To be considered as a talented woman in contemporary time, she must spend some times indulging in metropolitan like Shanghai, London, Paris , etc. For those prolific in Chinese, they must live in Hong Kong for a period of time if possible, where the best among Chinese gather.
眼界開了，接觸到比她們更聰明的男女，才懂得什麼叫謙虛，氣質又提高到另一層次，這是物質上不能擁有的。
The field of vision has opened, contacts compared to they more intelligent men and women, only then understood that anything calls modestly, the makings enhance to another level, this is on the material cannot have.
That would be eye-opening experience for giving themselves the chances to mingle with people who are smarter than them. As a result, they will truly understand what modesty is, and their temperament will be raised to a higher level. This is not something that can be attained through material possession.
去美國也行，但只限於紐約。當然，紐約不應該屬於美國，她和歐洲才能搭配。既使不住紐約，最少也得生活在東部，像波士頓和英格蘭等，說起英語來，才不難聽。
Goes to the US to be also good, but is only restricted in New York. Certainly, New York should not belong to US, she can match with Europe. Since does not live in New York, the least also lives in the eastern part, look like Boston and England and so on, mentions English to come, is not only then coarse.
The above can be achieved by going to the U.S., but that would only confine to New York. Certainly, New York actually matches Europe more; it should not belong to the U.S. Even if not living in New York, she should at least live on the eastern coast, in places like Boston and New England region, etc, where the English accent are more comprehensible.
最忌加州，那邊的腔調都是美國大兵式的，而且每一句話的結尾，全變成一個問號，聽起來刺耳，非常討厭，即刻下降一格。
Most envies California, that side tune is the American main strength type, moreover each few words' ending, all turns a question mark, sounds gratingly, is repugnant, instantly drops a standard.
Don’t reside in California, where people speak like American G.I. with every sentence ended as a question. That sounds gratingly and repugnant, and would instantly lower the score for picking up such accent.
除了這些大都會，印度、尼泊爾、非洲、中東、東南亞，甚至南北極，都得走走，學習人家是怎麼活的，懂得什麼叫精采。
Except these metropolises, India, Nepal, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, even Nabeiji, must walk, how studies others is to live, understood that anything calls brilliantly.
Besides those metropolises, she should still visit places like India, Nepal, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, even the North and South Poles. By learning how others live, then one would understand what brilliance is.
才女必須熱愛生命，充滿好奇心，在背包旅行年代，享受苦與樂。如果是由父母帶去，只住五星酒店，也不夠級數。
The talented woman must deeply love the life, curious, in the knapsack travel age, enjoys suffers hardships happily with. If takes away by the parents, only lives in the five-star hotel, also not 夠 progression.
A talented woman must love life deeply and be full of curiosity. During her age of travelling with knapsack, she should enjoys both hardship and pleasure. If her trips are tagging along her parents, and only living in the five-star hotel, those trips are actually not fulfilling enough.
基礎應該打得好，不管是繪畫、文學、電影和音樂，都得從古典開始着手，根基才穩。一下子乘直升機，先會抽象、意識流、新浪潮和 Rap，以為那是最好的，就走入了歧途，永不超生。
The foundation should hit well, no matter is the drawing, the literature, the movie and music, must from start to begin classically, the foundation is only then steady. Rides in the helicopter all of a sudden, will be first abstract, the stream of consciousness, the new tide and Rap, thought that will be best, has gone astray, will never be reincarnated.
She should set her foundation well by starting learning in classical form, no matter in drawing, literature, movies or music. Her foundation will only then be steady. Otherwise, if she begins her learning as an analogy of riding in an helicopter all of a sudden, i.e. start learning abstractionism, stream of consciousness, new tide and rap, and thinks that they are the best. She has gone astray indeed, and there will never be way back for good.
時裝雖說庸俗，但也得學習。盡看當代名家，不知道古希臘人鞋子之美，也屬膚淺。首飾亦然，有時一件便宜貨，已顯品味。
Although the fashionable clothing is vulgar, but also study. Looks at the contemporary famous expert, does not know beauty the ancient Greece person shoe, is also superficial. The jewelry however, sometimes bargain-priced goods, obviously have also savored.
Although fashion is vulgar, it should still be studied. However, in spite of going through the works of most of the contemporary famous experts, she would still be deemed as superficial for her ignorance of the beauty of ancient Greek footwear. The same applies to jewelry, personal taste can sometimes be expressed through wearing a piece of bargain-priced accessory.
愛吃東西，更屬必然，這是生活最原始的部份，不得不多嚐。試盡天下美味，方知什麼叫最好，因為有了比較。這麼多條件，一定要有大把金錢灑？那也不一定，有了勇氣，在任何環境下都能生存，從中學習。
Likes eating the thing, is inevitably, this is lives the most primitive part, can not but many 嚐. Tries the completely world delicacy, only then knows anything to call well, because had the comparison. These many conditions, must certainly have the great money 灑? That was uncertain, had the courage, could survive under any environment, studied.
Affection in foods is a must. Eating, for being one of the most primitive activity of human beings, should be done as much as possible. Having try out all delicacies in the world, she would then tell what is the best through comparison. While these many conditions have been mentioned above, must that certainly involve lots of money? That’s not necessary, one can learn a lot through living in any environment as long as with courage within.
說到尾，最重要的還是了解男性。從書本上當然可以吸取，但現實生活中，多交些異性朋友，不是壞事。濫交一詞，那是數百幾千年前的事，不必理會。有了這種豁達和開朗的個性和思想，才能談得上才女。不然，最多只是一個沒有品味的女強人而已。
Speaks of the tail, what is most important is the understanding male. May certainly absorb from the books, but in the real life, a multi-junction opposite sex friend, is not a misdemeanor. Indiscriminates in making friends and finding sexual partners a word, that is several hundred several thousand year ago matters, does not need to pay attention. Had this kind open-minded and the open and bright individuality and the thought that can discuss the talented woman. Otherwise, most is only the capable woman who has not savored.
Last but not the least, the most important thing for a talented woman is her understanding of male. She can certainly pick up a lot from readings, but making all sorts of friend of,opposite sex in real life is by no mean a misdemeanor. Doing that and being accused of promiscuous would only be applied hundreds if not a thousand year ago, that should thus be ignored. Having this kind of open-minded and bright individuality and characters, then she can then worth being considered as a talented woman. Otherwise, she will most likely be viewed as a successful career woman without taste.
By the way, the term '才女' should not be simply translated in English as 'a talented woman' without a subtext to explain what exactly a '才女' is. Cuz, my interpretation of '才女' is a woman who is educated, with independent thought, has her own personal taste in whatever she selects and can explain her rationale behind every decision she made. So, it is much more than just having talent.
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