A Chinese Riddle

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:41 am

A foaf's missus had a children's book break loose its covers and someone had left a message inside of the covers. Now they are intrigued as to what is the message in the book?

(it is a bit small)

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Zeroth · Post by **Zeroth** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:38 am

Like many languages, the meaning is lost in translation. The words in the beginning are hard to see, but overall is just some funny poem making fun of Chinese religions (Taoism/Buddism) that rhymes, and in the end insults whoever reads it. It is good nature joke about you will be crazy and become a monk/nun. Last three words on the bottom: Ha! Ha! Ha!
It's sounds quite stupid in English, but actually kinda funny in Chinese.

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:25 pm

Zeroth

"May you live in interesting times!", an ancient Chinese curse ?

http://www.answers.com/topic/may-you-li ... ting-times

Any comments ?

Zeroth · Post by **Zeroth** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:47 pm

I tried to think really hard what those proverbs could be in Chinese, but nothing is coming to my mind. Usually if you see the original context, you would go "ahhh", but no matter how well it's translated, always sounds so stupid in English. Proverbs, poems etc lose its meaning quite easily, because they almost always use symbolic language, and a lot of meaning is from ancient Chinese culture.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:19 am

They got one translation as

Shaoling is good at Damo Yijing Jing
Chuanzheng is good at Jiuying Zheng Jing
Wudang is good at Jiuyang Zheng Jing
E’mei is good at Yunv xin Jing
Every where is full of roguery
You looks a little bit abnormal
To be a nun, to be a monk, patter all your lifetime!
Ha! Ha! Ha!

So I guess someone has seen too many Kung Fu movies

mx2106 · Post by **mx2106** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:45 pm

Zeroth wrote:I tried to think really hard what those proverbs could be in Chinese, but nothing is coming to my mind. Usually if you see the original context, you would go "ahhh", but no matter how well it's translated, always sounds so stupid in English. Proverbs, poems etc lose its meaning quite easily, because they almost always use symbolic language, and a lot of meaning is from ancient Chinese culture.

"...what is most noteworthy about the expression is that it is not Chinese. There is no such expression, "May you live in interesting times," in Chinese. It is a non-Chinese creation, most probably American, that has been around for at least 30 or 40 years."
-- Dr. Ho Yong

btw: i know this guy. He now works at UN in New York.

mx2106 · Post by **mx2106** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:46 pm

this is the link
http://www.chinasprout.com/html/column15.html

Zeroth · Post by **Zeroth** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:51 pm

Cool thanks, I learn something new too!

mx2106 · Post by **mx2106** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:36 pm

Zeroth wrote:Cool thanks, I learn something new too!

welcome!:)

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