Question What kind of English insults would you use to replace "姓x的"?

Discussion in 'Translator's Corner' started by Eishun, Jun 19, 2021.

  1. Eishun

    Eishun Well-Known Member

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    You get this often in Chinese novels. It's a way of scolding somebody.

    You say "姓陆的" or "姓陈的" or "姓白的“ or whatever when you want to scold somebody.

    But it would sound weird in English, right? Like am I supposed to translate it as "You! The one whose surname is Chen!" or "You Chen!"?

    So I was thinking of just translating it as "You little shit!" or "You bastard!"

    What do you think?
     
  2. animanaicT

    animanaicT Nobody Important

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    I personally would rather prefer the literal translation with a editor's note at the bottom explaining the term. Buts thats with me understanding the term.
     
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  3. emiliers

    emiliers Well-Known Member

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    Honestly, when I'm phoning it in, I just translate it as, "That surnamed [so-and-so]." It's not a good translation, but people usually get it, and I'm a lazy-ass.

    I've seen people use like "That so-called [so-and-so]" / "That [so-and-so] what's-[his/her]-name" instead too. Or maybe, like you said, adding bastard or little shit but also preserving the surname bits? Ex: "That bastard [so-and-so]!" / "That shitty [so-and-so]!"
     
  4. kamikazedrew

    kamikazedrew Well-Known Member

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    I agree with animanaicT number it and put the explanation at the bottom. Most people don't like editor's or translator's notes in the middle of the chapter.
     
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  5. asriu

    asriu fu~ fu~ fu~

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    so it culture stuff? yeah kinda make sense~
    hmmm maybe something like
    "oi dickhead" or " "oi dipshit"~ it nice to see but imo isn't it also depend on how the story flow? it will feel weird if someone call fakku out of nowhere no?
     
  6. UnGrave

    UnGrave ななひ~^^

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    If you told me what the insult means, I'm sure I could come up with a suitable insult that matches its structure in English. I consider myself highly proficient when it comes to insulting people.
     
  7. Eishun

    Eishun Well-Known Member

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    It's not an insult per se? It's just a rude way of addressing someone. Like in Japanese culture, you shouldn't address a stranger by his/her first name?

    This phrase literally just refers to someone by his family name. Without honorifics. Like you don't even bother adding a mister or miss.

    Like, "Hey you there! Person from the Gambino family!"

    Does my explanation make sense?
     
  8. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    In English, it's unusual enough to just refer to someone by just their surname that something like "Hey, Gambino!" would work just about the same as the Chinese version. It's enough to show a bit of disrespect without going too far, and it does compactly.
     
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  9. kkgoh

    kkgoh Well-Known Member

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    I think translators got it wrong.

    Referring to someone by their surname/last name is curt and somewhat rude, but I don't believe it's cursing or swearing by any means.

    In the military, superior officers refer to their men by their last name. Partly as a method to erase individuality, and partly to enforce subordination. It can vary from anger to respect.

    In mid-century UK, I believe it was pretty common to refer to last names as well. Sometimes it's a jest between friends, sometimes it's an expression of frustration, sometimes it's a jibe at someone they dislike.

    In all these cases, the distinction is on intonation.

    If you think about it, the Chinese typically speak 姓X的 in a haughty/angry/stern voice as a means to express their dissatisfaction with the other person, and not to scold vulgarities.
    I agree with @ToastedRossi, there's no need to translate the sentence into a different colloquialism. If done properly, the context and delivery of the translation should suffice.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2021
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