Questions tagged [translation]
This tag is for question about determining English equivalents for words or phrases in other languages.
354
questions
0
votes
1answer
19 views
What is out there in the sentence what is it like out there where they glow?
This is a quote from a song in the animated movie Tangled. I find translating this kind of sentence especially difficult:
(A) What is it like out there where they glow?
She is looking through the ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Why is it 'Alexei' but 'Sergey'?
Why is it 'Alexei' but 'Sergey' (at least, according to Wikipedia)? Shouldn't there be uniform rules on how to transliterate Russian names? How do I render the endings '-ей'?
1
vote
1answer
24 views
How do you say something equivalent to French expression “public facile”?
In French, there is an expression that says "public facile" ... means somebody who will easily approve/enjoy pieces music or other arts if they are asked their opinion.
I would tend to translate it ...
-3
votes
1answer
30 views
Is the sentence “Time to take don't walk” correct? What is it mean? [closed]
A friend saw the following sentence in a notebook with travel theme, but we couldn't get what it means. It is actually like a journal to write out your trip experiences, but it brings some ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
What does “In front of a dirty double-mirror they found me” mean?
In the song "I" by "Kendrick Lamar"i hear this :
As I look around me ,
So many wanna down me ,
But an enemigo never drown me,
In front of a dirty double-mirror they found me ,
And I love ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
The meaning of the sentence “We don't all have to go down the line here”
“We don't all have to go down the line here! I'm not playing around!“
The context of a cartoon situation is: a guy waving a fake gun (but everyone thinks tis real) yells at his hostage the following ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
How to avoid the use of the word “exceedance”?
From my translation from Russian:
The following safety information that may suggest changes in the benefit-risk ratio of the drug product is subject to expedited reporting to the regulatory bodies ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
What is English equivalent for Russian “я хочу” in the meaning “я хочу посмотреть их сегодня вечером”?
The context is:
Have you looked my links?
я хочу (я хочу посмотреть их сегодня вечером).
Is it possible to use short answer? (i want, i wish)
and also is it possible to say "i will" in some ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
does the phrase “to get all sad” is used anywhere? If so, can you give me an example?
I am translating a short story from Turkish to English and in one of the places where the emotions are supposed to be really intense I cannot achieve the same meaning, at least I think I don't. In the ...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
Meaning of a sentence 'I've got you under my skin'
I'm watching a series in which it is pronounced in English: I've got you under my skin.
The translation to Spanish subtitles was:
Te llevo bajo mi piel
The most normal translation of get is '...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Difference bwtween heavier than and weightier than
It's from this question.
Can "he" and "man" refer to all genders?
The ancient Chinese writer Si Maqian said, "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than ...
23
votes
7answers
8k views
Can “he” and “man” refer to all genders?
In http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1900_mao_speeches.htm
All men must die, but death can vary in its significance. The ancient Chinese writer Si Maqian said, "Though death befalls all ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Usage of 'would'
Consider the following sentence
The program was able to communicate with humans using simple software that would recognize when certain key words were used.
I want to translate this sentence. ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
I wish it to become smth - can I say so?
I am currently translating some materials from Russian to English and I have faced some troubles with translating the written compliment on a photo. It literally says "I wish that this moment becomes ...
2
votes
2answers
59 views
How can “jemand muss funktionieren” be translated to english?
The german term
Jemand muss funktionieren
is often used to express that somebody has to continue doing his stuff (work, house work, ...) because otherwise there are negative consequences (e.g. for ...
3
votes
4answers
588 views
How to translate “cocotte en papier” in English?
I'm surprised how I never been able to found an online translation of "cocotte en papier" (which is the thing pictured below), or people able to answer IRL, other than via less precise terms as "...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
“The me I want to be” phrase decomposition
What is the difference between mentioned phrase and "I want to be the me"? Is it right to use both phrases in the spiritual growth context? I what parts we could deconstruct this phrase? Is the "I ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
How to undestand “to find himself alone”?
I don't undestand how to translate this sentence: "He went out into the street to find himself alone". He wanted to be alone? Or he went out and then there was nobody on the street?
0
votes
2answers
56 views
Is “serves” a verb or noun in this complex sentence? (“…and serves as a tool for communication…“)
Project scheduling provides a detailed plan that represents how and when the project will deliver the products,
services, and results defined in the project scope and serves as a tool for ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Better leave room - how to understand this sentence in context?
Look this sentence:
Better leave room for more important things, like which wild animals to avoid and whether naked snowboarding is a bad idea'
I saw this sentence in a Python book. I know every ...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
What is the equivalent idiom for the German “Existenzberechtigung”?
"Existenzberechtigung" is a German word used to assert something has a reason/justification to exist, but most often used negated to say something has no reason to exist / should not exist because it ...
1
vote
1answer
234 views
How to say it in English “Khana nikalo”?
I am trying to speak English but I am stuck with the following situations that I have to frequently use. I am a Hindi speaking person.
Example,
Khana nikalo
In Indian villages we keep all the food ...
2
votes
2answers
50 views
How to express “Cela comptera moins”? (What are the most important objectives and those that'll count less)
In the French sentence:
Quels sont les objectifs les plus importants et ceux qui compteront moins ?
That I can approximately translate into:
What are the most important objectives and those ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
The meaning of “The use of English is by no means endemic to English-speaking countries.”
To me it has two entirely different meanings and I am not sure which is correct.
1st possible meaning: The use of English is prevalent in not just English-Speaking countries but also in non-English-...
11
votes
3answers
259 views
Why has Marx's “Das Kapital” been translated to “Capital” in English and not “The Capital”
Why has Marx's "Das Kapital" been translated to "Capital" and not to "The Capital"? Actually, the article "Das" in German points out that it is not any capital, but the capital as the process of the ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Can the preposition “toward” follow the verb “ask”?
I searched for the phrase "ask toward" but found nothing. The thing is it is a translated term, and I want to know if it is used or at least accepted in English.
And ask stars and winds, also ask ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
What should I understand “available electronically” in this context?
In the sentence:
I needed a language that would run on the machines in our Linux lab as well as on the Windows and Macintosh platforms most students have at home. I wanted it to be free and ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
Looking for an English equivalent to the following Spanish term [duplicate]
The term "paga fantas" is a person who does whatever it takes to gain a girl's approval, in hope that upon paying for a girl's drinks, doing her favors, carrying her bag/purse/handbag, listening to ...
-1
votes
1answer
360 views
What is “friggen”?
There is a line
Though it may take all friggen day
in a song "My World" by Avril Lavigne, and I can't find any translation/meaning for the word "friggen". Do you know anything about this word?
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Can “people with confusion” refer to people that are confused?
I need to refer to a specific group of people that are feeling confused like me.
According to my research, "with confusion" is used when dealing with confusion as an illness but not a feeling or ...
-5
votes
5answers
166 views
Chinese names in English
In Chinese, the family name comes before the given name.
By English convention, it's the other way around.
In English text, however, I often see Chinese names with the family name before the given ...
0
votes
0answers
51 views
meaning explanation of blanket justification
I want to know what is this. I hope it is correct, but I'm ask you to be sure
so please help me .
The complete sentence is :
network invariably fall back on the blanket justification of giving
...
-1
votes
1answer
72 views
“Forego” and “Forgive” difference
I have wanted to use the common verb forgive until I came across a reliable translation where they have translated the same word to forgo.
When I have looked up the text and situation, it appeared ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Understanding “ear-first” and “crowded room”
what does "enter crowded rooms" and "ear-first" mean in this sentence from the passage:
The paper’s eyes were big and round, whereas mine disappear altogether if
I smile, and my nose is more ...
1
vote
0answers
133 views
Is there a difference between PhD student, doctoral student, doctorand and how to say “CIFRE”?
I was wondering if there was any difference between those three formulations:
PhD student
doctoral student
doctorand
Plus, in France we have 2 types of doctorates:
Doctorat (Doctorate)
CIFRE (??)
...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
How to say “While I smoking … ”
I want to make a funny video where two people are high and dance. And I want to write some strong phrase.
Direct Russian translate is "When smoked weed", But I understand it is not correct.
So how to ...
-1
votes
2answers
80 views
Meaning of “clung to my losses”?
Odean said, “I traded too actively, traded too speculatively and clung to my losses…. I violated all the advice I now give"
I don't understand "clung to my losses" in this sentence.
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What does Trap Queen means?
I'm new in learning English, so I want to know more about idioms and some words that I can't understand.
What is the meaning of trap queen?
And how and when the situation we can say that. If you ...
3
votes
1answer
34 views
What does the meaning of words “jigsaw” and “decay” in this paragraph?
Please tell me meaning of the words "jigsaw" and "decay" in this paragraph.The combination "the crazy, jigsaw geometry of decay" seems strange and vague to me.
Whenever I visit Khartoum I find I am ...
-1
votes
3answers
29 views
What does “one” refer to in “one pushing the other”? Does it refer to the girls or to the cars?
In the sentence below, what does "one" refer to in "one pushing the other"? Does it refer to the girls or to the cars?
On the way into town one day I noticed a couple of young girls working their ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
The meaning of “stuff” in this paragraph
I have problem in understanding the meaning of word "stuff", the first one and the second one:
Jean says that she’s “getting tougher” and learning to detach herself from each teacher’s individual ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
What's the meaning of “throw a pallet at her”?
Please tell me the meaning of "throw a pallet at her" in this context:
Teachers might be using the Unit Organizer and the course map and starting to see kids that normally don’t respond, responding....
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Which part of this Shakespearean sentence translates to: “Thank you”?
This is a quote from The Tempest by Stephano:
Be you quiet, monster.—Mistress line, is not this my
jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line.
And it is translated (according to this source) into:
...
-2
votes
1answer
22 views
How can “take it as you list” mean anything like “go to hell”?
This is a quote from "the Tempest" by Stephano:
If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness. If
thou beest a devil, take ’t as thou list.
And it was translated to:
If you’re a man who's ...
-1
votes
2answers
32 views
What is the meaning of “lay it on” in this sentence?
I read a sentence in "The Tempest" which was:
Lead, monster; we’ll follow. I would I could see this
taborer. He lays it on.
And it is translated to:
Lead on, monster. We’ll follow. I wish I ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Which word would be a good replacement for “office” in this text?
This is a literal transcription of a text in Portuguese:
The judge understood that the sergeant could not be found guilty of things that he was obliged to do in the exercise of his office.
Is the ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Informally asking a rider/driver to accelerate
Are any of these constructions legitimate when talking to a person driving a car or riding a motorcycle? If no, which ones can be used?
"Add (some) gas!"
"Push the gas!" (This one for the car, ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
A better way to say “masters of translation”
What is the best and native way to use words master and translators to denote a "group of highly skilled translators"?
I am stuck with initial "M" letter, as it is used in the brand name and logo, so ...
2
votes
3answers
240 views
How to find proper phrasal verbs or idioms for the sentence you're translating?
Let's assume you're translating a sentence. You can translate everything in English but sometimes there are idioms and phrasal verbs that you can use to make your sentnce more clear and compact. e.g., ...
1
vote
2answers
11 views
Friends reunited?
I used to see my Phd Supervisor regularly every fortnight. I have not seen him for a while after my graduation. I would like now to drop him a line to say I would like to... (suggest an expression):
...
