Translate this word: 塞外

[Socks]

Who can give me a short, precise translation for 塞外?

I know that this word translates to something like "beyond the great wall", and my husband thinks that the word connotes not having a lot of people there, being far away, and a big place.

Is there an English equivalent of this word? Is there an English equivalent for a word with a positive connotation meaning far away, not a lot of people and big (I think immediately of the word "remote", but I don't really think that has a very positive connotation).

My husband is looking for an English word (or a couple of them) that can be used to translate 塞外 to promote Xinjiang...He says that when a Chinese person were to see an image of deserts and Hami melon with 塞外, they would immediately think of Xinjiang... I can't think of a word that would make most western people outside of China think of Xinjiang with (except for the word Xinjiang)...

Thanks in advance...

[skylee]

I think 塞外 does not refer to Xinjiang only. To me it means (generally) places to the west and north which are beyond the old borders of central China.

Would "Out West" or "Out North" do?

[redApple]

“塞外” ,this word' meaning is related with the history of china.

And it used less now.

Long time ago ,China was divided into several part.

The first part is the main-part of China ruled by 汉族人，and it is continued several dynasty such as tang(唐朝) song宋朝.The area is approximately the south and north-east of china now.

One of the another par is ruled by another 少数民族(such as 满族、女真族...). The area is approximately the north-west of china.That seemed like the England and Scotland(I think...)

And the two main part often hold wars for domain.So the first-part built contravallations along the border then(thousands years ago~~).And experience so many years,the Great wall was gradually came into been even there were not border any more.And the important garrison called “要塞”,"要"means important here."塞"means garrison.

So,the south of china is "in" the Great Wall or "in the protect of Great Wall".And the secend part is "out of the Great Wall".

"out of" is “外” .

So “塞外” actually means the land where those “少数民族”used live then ,the north ,north-west of china,and explain as"north of the Great Wall" for briefness."塞外" in fact include several province,include xinjiang qinghai,ningxia,part of neimenggu,and so on.But XinJiang province is seemed to be more famous and special,so it also means XinJiang sometimes...

May it would be help.

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[semantic nuance]

What about 'outback'?

[HashiriKata]

Would this be positive enough: "The Great Boundless Heaven Beyond" ?

[Ian_Lee]

I think here is the best answer:

塞外指河北、山西北部,长城以外,承德为重点。

“塞”指长城要塞,塞外指今内蒙古中部和西部一带。

塞外指的是长城以北的地区

塞外 don't refer to Xinjiang. It refers to the northern parts of Hebei and Shanxi (the region outside of the Great Wall) and the central and western parts of Inner Mongolia. However, the three Northeastern provinces and eastern part of Inner Mongolia are traditionally referrred to as 关外.

[anonymoose]

The hinterlands

?

[djwebb2004]

"塞外” ,this word' meaning is related with the history of china.

And it used less now.

yes... because most Hans nowadays refuse to accept that there has ever been a minute in history when those territories were not part of China. So why mention words that contradict this narrative?

[Socks]

I really like "The Great Boundless Heaven Beyond"! Thanks a lot HashiriKata!! I think it really describes Xinjiang!

Thanks for all of your help!

[redApple]

yes... because most Hans nowadays refuse to accept that there has ever been a minute in history when those territories were not part of China. So why mention words that contradict this narrative?

I think you are misunderstanding of my words.There is not "part of" from then to now. The people include of hans and non--hans are all the master of China.The land their ancestor used live in are all China from then to now.

I think that just like American. The north-Amarican fought against south-Amarican hundreds years ago,but they formed a whole Amarican today.Can you say the south part of Amarican was not part of Amarican? of couse, you can't.

I am not hans,but I am Chinese. Just as somebody is England-descendant,but he is American.

[pandaxiongmao]

Actually, the southern part of the US was partially acquired from the French, won in wars with Mexico, etc. It is a complete and utter lie to say it has always been part of the USA.

I am sure many Americans would be glad to see Texas go back to Mexico or be its own country, since that would mean that people like Bush wouldn't get enough votes to be elected.

redApple, you furthermore are assuming what it means to be American and what it means to be Chinese are the same logic.

To be Chinese, it usually depends on ancestry. I know ethnically Chinese people born in the UK, in the USA, etc, but in China, even if they want to be considered British/American/etc, people will still treat them as Chinese because of their ethnicity. Similarly, since I have European ancestry, I would never be considered Chinese, no matter how much I would like to try.

To be American, it means one has American citizenship. There is no such thing as an American race, at least other than Native Americans. Many Chinese people will ask Americans where their ancestors came from in the course of conversation, since the ancestry part is more important to them.

[djwebb2004]

think you are misunderstanding of my words.There is not "part of" from then to now. The people include of hans and non--hans are all the master of China.The land their ancestor used live in are all China from then to now.

I think that just like American. The north-Amarican fought against south-Amarican hundreds years ago,but they formed a whole Amarican today.Can you say the south part of Amarican was not part of Amarican? of couse, you can't.

I am not hans,but I am Chinese. Just as somebody is England-descendant,but he is American.

I love it! Comment is superfluous!

[lokki]

How about "the boondocks", "the boonies" or "the sticks" ?

[Lu]

"off the beaten path"? Ok, not exactly the same meaning, but maybe you can use it.

[liyuheng]

塞外 refers to "north of the Great Wall".

塞 means the frontier fortress, which also refers to the Great Wall in ancient China. 外 means outside of something. The whole word refers the place out of the Great Wall.