English Chinese translation on Chinese Online Catchwords

As one of the many netizens in China, I am quite familiar with the Chinese catchwords on the internet. While, to be an English Chinese translator, I am wondering whether the non-native Chinese speakers can understand these online catchwords with Chinese characteristics. In translating English to Chinese, or vice versa, it is quite important to take full account of the target language and its culture, to seek for counterparts in the target language.



Translate English to Chinese - Chinese Online Catchword - Diaosi

  
Today, I’d like to talk something about the Chinese online catchword –屌丝(diǎo sī).

This catchword is originated in a top Chinese BBS for Chinese soccer player Li yi, whose fans called “yisi” complained about their jobs and lives from time to time, gradually they are given the name – “屌丝”. Soon after, this word prevails over both internet and real life.

“diaosi” refers to the single, young men who have plain looks without enough earnings, who have slim hopes for working promotion, for they don’t have good family background. Nowadays in China, more and more young people are proud of the label of “diaosi” to self-mock.

In the meantime, this Chinese catchword reminds me of an American movie named Underdog released in 2007. In English, the underdog in a competition or situation is the person who seems least likely to succeed or win, to some degree, which echoes with the Chinese word “屌丝”.




English Chinese translation Services-Knaller Frauen

 

Besides, some people might be familiar with the German sitcom Knaller Frauen, or Crazy Lady. To translate it into Chinese, it is “疯狂女郎”. However, as the popularity of “屌丝”, it was successfully translated into “屌丝女郎(diǎo sī nǚ láng)”. This German sitcom soon swept China and gained more and more fans among Chinese young men – diaosi. The beautiful heroine is played by German actress Martina Hill. Martina plays various female characters: a white-collar worker, a housewife, a single mom, a bride in a wedding, and more. She acts with exaggerated facial expressions and almost crazy motions, however, Chinese young men still love watching, somewhat because these situations can be encountered in our actual daily life. Instead of suppressing the existing pressures either from work or life, the Crazy Lady tends to release them through her crazy but reasonable actions. This might be what most Chinese “diaosi” dream of.

Similarly, out of Chinese mainland, we have other corresponding words. “宅男(zhái nán)” is originated from Taiwan, referring to the young men who keep staying at home and barely going out. “毒男(dú nán)” is from Japan, meaning the single and lonely men.

Despite of the different words, they reflect the similar culture. As the economy grow rapidly and social structure changes dramatically, quite a lot of people feel a sense of loss, which calls for the birth of above mentioned catchwords.