Discussion Reaping twice the benefit with only half the effort

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by Zerak, Jan 16, 2018.

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  1. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    so in lot of Chinese novels the phrase "Reaping twice the benefit with only half the effort" is used a lot to indicate that the thing is twice as fast or twice as good. But doesn't Reaping twice the benefit with only half the effort mean that it's 4x the efficiency not 2x??

    Or is it something lost in the translation?

    What are your thoughts?
     
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  2. 0000000

    0000000 I B SMILING!

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    事半功倍 literally translates to half the work and multiply the benefit. How much was multiplied is up to people's debate.

    It means to gain more benefits while doing less work. Kinda difficult to actually quantity the amount properly.

    In your case; I would say yes. It is like playing a game at beginner with the bonus of double EXP and half of AP needed. Eg) in actual you need to 4AP to gain 4 EXP, so now you can spend 2AP but gain 8 EXP. In total you can spend 4AP and get 16 EXP.
     
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  3. The Observer

    The Observer Well-Known Member

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    I feel like instead of literally being "twice the benefit with only half the effort" it instead means doing something at a specific moment that results in you doing less work and gaining more out of it than normal. Ergo half the effort = easier and twice the benefit = more rewards.
     
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  4. AtratusImperator

    AtratusImperator Well-Known Member

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    It's a phrase not meant to be an exact measurement.
     
  5. Riff

    Riff Squirt Like a Turtle!

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    It is an idiom, not to be taken literally. Meaning to do the right way that saves effort and leads to better results.
     
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  6. Viator

    Viator [Cult of Pyoo: Pyoo's Oak Tree]

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    so literal.... it doesn't flow as well if you are that stringent on meanings.
     
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  7. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    I am not it was just bothering me. I wanted to know if it's an idiom for less work and more befit or if all Chinese translators collectively decided to fuck with us.
     
  8. Viator

    Viator [Cult of Pyoo: Pyoo's Oak Tree]

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    That would be a good joke...
     
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  9. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    Well I mean it's been bugging since I wasn't sure if I understood it wrong or it was just an idiom. I was 90% sure it was an idiom but just had to make sure for that OCD.
     
  10. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    This reminds me of all the times people complain about 10,000 mile long mountains and such. But "10000" in Chinese means either 10,000 or "a whole lot." Measurements are not always literal!
     
  11. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    Oh I thought that they were actually that big since sometimes in Chinese novels the world has insanely big proportions
     
  12. Wick

    Wick Black van owner

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  13. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    It just seems that way since the language is prone to hyperbole when it is translated. It's understood by native speakers that when someone says 万人 (wàn rén) it means either:

    • ten thousand people
    • all the people
    • everyman

    Likewise, 万丈 (wàn zhàng) means either:

    • lit. ten thousand fathoms
    • fig. extremely high or deep
    • lofty
    • bottomless

    ... and you have to tell from the context which one is the actual meaning.
     
  14. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    What I mean is that sometimes the world is just so massive like desolate era that you become unsure if it starts for a lot or it's actually that big.

    Share some popcorn.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 17, 2018
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  15. Wick

    Wick Black van owner

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    *sneers* No, it was all mine.:blobowoevil_horns:
     
  16. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    So that's how it is *spits in popcorn* see now it's mine.
     
  17. Wick

    Wick Black van owner

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    Oops *dropped* sorry looks like it really yours. *sneers* hohoho *walk away*
     
  18. Zerak

    Zerak Well-Known Member

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    *looks left* *looks right* *no one is there* *picks up popcorn*. Nice popcorn just what I needed.
     
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