Murray Posted June 20, 2012 at 06:04 PM Report Posted June 20, 2012 at 06:04 PM 触手 (chùshǒu), 触须 (chùxū) = Tentacle Out of curiosity, I ran these through Google image search: 触手 results were all hentai while 触须 got pictures of actual tentacles. Quote
skylee Posted June 24, 2012 at 04:34 AM Report Posted June 24, 2012 at 04:34 AM 僭建 (jian4 jian4) - unapproved/illegal structures (or having/building one or more) This seems to me to be the key word to understanding today's politics in Hong Kong (that is if anyone is interested, of course). Such structures are common and widespread. But for a political figure to have them, and /or deny having them, it is intolerable. And it appears to be the sure-win tactic for attacking/undermining one's opponents. 1 Quote
skylee Posted June 25, 2012 at 11:43 AM Report Posted June 25, 2012 at 11:43 AM After I posted #1242, someone sent me this kuso photo with the term 僭建, which I found very funny. Quote
Murray Posted June 27, 2012 at 10:05 PM Report Posted June 27, 2012 at 10:05 PM 不死鸟 (bùsǐ niǎo) = Phoenix Quote
skylee Posted June 28, 2012 at 07:01 AM Report Posted June 28, 2012 at 07:01 AM 閏秒 (run4 miao3) - leap second 1 Quote
skylee Posted June 30, 2012 at 05:33 PM Report Posted June 30, 2012 at 05:33 PM 巴律師 - barrister I had never seen or heard this Chinese term before tonight. I was watching The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 2, and the term Queen's Counsel appeared. The good people who provided the Chinese subtitles have also given an explanation of the term, saying that it is an honorary title of 巴律師. In Hong Kong, a barrister is simply called 大律師 (at one point the term 訟務律師 was proposed), and a Queen's Counsel is 御用大律師. This latter title has now been replaced by Senior Counsel (資深大律師) here for obvious reasons. A solicitor is simply called 律師 (at one point the term 事務律師 was proposed). I think 巴律師 sounds cute. PS - and 沙律師 for solicitor in the subtitle explanations. How cute. Quote
Glenn Posted June 30, 2012 at 05:48 PM Report Posted June 30, 2012 at 05:48 PM They English terms were also random new words of the day for me. I had heard "barrister" before, but never knew what it was exactly (still don't exactly understand it), and this use of "solicitor" was new to me too, although I do recall having heard of a Solicitor General as a position in government. I'm not really familiar with law terms in general, probably because I (thankfully) haven't had those types of experiences. Oh, and I'm not that interested. Quote
Murray Posted July 3, 2012 at 04:56 AM Report Posted July 3, 2012 at 04:56 AM 灭种 (miè zhǒng) = extinction of a race, to commit genocide Quote
Glenn Posted July 5, 2012 at 06:15 PM Report Posted July 5, 2012 at 06:15 PM 殘疾人奧林匹克運動會 (cánjírén àolínpǐkè yùndònghuì) or 帕拉林匹克運動會 (pàlālínpǐkè yùndònghuì) = Paralympic Games The second one is also shortened to 帕運會. I figure this is somewhat topical. Quote
skylee Posted July 5, 2012 at 11:44 PM Report Posted July 5, 2012 at 11:44 PM It is usually shortened to 殘奧(會) over here. Not a very nice way to put it. 帕運會 seems nicer, but it is not very commonly used. Quote
skylee Posted July 6, 2012 at 12:20 PM Report Posted July 6, 2012 at 12:20 PM 選帝侯 - Elector (as in German history) I saw this term in the subtitle of the Aussie TV programme Classical Destinations. It is Australian, right? Splendid programme. Makes me want to visit Germany instead of the Netherlands. Oh then it moves on to Amsterdam. Great. Quote
Murray Posted July 7, 2012 at 12:52 AM Report Posted July 7, 2012 at 12:52 AM 静电 (jìngdiàn) = static electricity Quote
Glenn Posted July 13, 2012 at 04:38 PM Report Posted July 13, 2012 at 04:38 PM 機會主義者 -- opportunist (or I guess pragmatist also, at least according to MDBG: http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?wdqchs=%E6%A9%9F%E6%9C%83%E4%B8%BB%E7%BE%A9) Quote
Murray Posted July 14, 2012 at 02:12 PM Report Posted July 14, 2012 at 02:12 PM 隆胸 lóngxiōng = breast implants/enlargement Quote
skylee Posted July 15, 2012 at 04:36 PM Report Posted July 15, 2012 at 04:36 PM 大力士高速列車 = Thalys (the high speed train) Quote
tooironic Posted July 17, 2012 at 12:34 AM Report Posted July 17, 2012 at 12:34 AM 性工作者: sex worker. I came across the English during interpreting training and translated it as *性工. My trainer burst out laughing. Well, I thought it made sense seeing as social worker is 社工 and all... :-P Quote
heifeng Posted July 17, 2012 at 06:47 AM Report Posted July 17, 2012 at 06:47 AM Learned about something new in English & Chinese today while flipping through this report 振动性白指 = VWF Vibration White Finger Quote
Glenn Posted July 22, 2012 at 07:05 AM Report Posted July 22, 2012 at 07:05 AM Well, I guess somebody had to do it: 虹膜異色癥 -- heterochromia Quote
anonymoose Posted July 22, 2012 at 09:13 PM Report Posted July 22, 2012 at 09:13 PM 耨 nòu A tool like a hoe (cannot say exactly what the difference is) Quote
heifeng Posted July 23, 2012 at 06:36 AM Report Posted July 23, 2012 at 06:36 AM Came up in conversation...usage 2 that is: 【原译】 天方夜谭（tiān fāng yè tán ) 【解释】 （1）书籍：即《一千零一夜》，阿拉伯民间故事。(The Arabian Nights) （2）词语：比喻虚诞夸饰的议论，荒诞不经*的说法 【用法】 联合式；作宾语；比喻虚诞离奇的议论 *Don't you love a definition w/ another word or chengyu that should be looked up too? well here you go: 荒诞不经=absurd / preposterous / ridiculous Quote
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