Question CN 姓X的 你不得好死

Discussion in 'Translator's Corner' started by nonononononono, Jan 26, 2020.

  1. nonononononono

    nonononononono NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO

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    How do you guys translate 姓X的。
    Like 姓X的 you are an asshole...
     
  2. Mai

    Mai Active Member

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    (The one) surnamed X ...

    There isn't really an equivalent in english that carries the same nuances, at least I haven't come across one as of yet.
     
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  3. Eishun

    Eishun Well-Known Member

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    "Chen, you asshole!"

    "You asshole of the Chen family!"
     
  4. Astaroth

    Astaroth empty

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    I've been shouted/called at by teacher by my last name back in school, isn't it kind of like that? (It's just in chinese they might add "surnamed" to make it more explicit, or at least that's what I thought.)

    And in a professional setting you'd say mr/ms/mrs (family name) as well, no?

    Though I don't really know chinese so I don't know if it's the same


    Edit: To clarify what I mean, I'm just guessing, but isn't it just that given names and family names are harder to tell apart in chinese? You wouldn't think that someone's first name is Larsson or Smith, etc. but in chinese there seems to be more of an overlap, plus the characters might sound similar to each other even if they're different.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2020
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  5. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    It's very unusual to address someone in English by just their surname, so that should work well enough.
     
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  6. xiazixin

    xiazixin Well-Known Member

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    性nono的,你不得好死。
    mister nono, I curse you to your death
     
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  7. xiazixin

    xiazixin Well-Known Member

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    Nothing really difficult
     
  8. ludagad

    ludagad Addicted to escapist novels

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    Just go the route other translators have gone: "Surnamed XYZ, I curse your nine generations!" :blobowoevil_horns: Or if you think it's not English enough, you can go with a curse word.