The "how do you say ...?" thread

[jbradfor]

Thought it would be useful to have a thread for quick "how do you say ...?" questions, things that don't deserve their own thread, but one wants to know. To keep this reasonable, please do a basic search first (e.g. check http://de.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php first, if it's not there, post here).

I'd like to start by asking how one says "cubicle". As in a movable partial wall in office buildings: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=cubicle&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

I asked a co-working in China, and he said 座位 or 工位. However, searching google images for confirmation doesn't seem to agree. Or, at least, those words are more commonly used for other things.

Thanks!

[roddy]

Try 隔间， 小隔间。

This thread might be a useful idea, been pondering recently how to deal with the fairly large number of 'how do I say' topics. This might work . . .

[jbradfor]

Well, so far it's not working, as no one else is posting

I searched google images for (小)隔间, and didn't see many pictures of cubicles. Maybe it's just not common enough in China.

New request: how do you say "birth mother" and "adoptive mother"?

[skylee]

生母、親生母親。養母。

[msittig]

http://sealcave.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F0C97BF511C588BD!1662.entry?wa=wsignin1.0&sa=714416946

Cubicle的翻译

最近公司搬到了新的大楼。我开始怀念以前对窗而且宽大的cubicle。

然后就在琢磨cubicle的中文是什么？

问了几个华人同事，有人说是可比克，有人说是工作间，有人说是办公小隔间。。。总觉得缺点什么。

想了又想，还是叫“办公间”，比较贴切。

直接音译不够中文。

工作间则比较像workshop。

工作室则是studio。

办公室是office，是有门的房间，和开放式的cubicle又不尽相同。

“办公小隔间”的形容比较贴切，但又太长了。

办公有比较文书的感觉；工作有点偏体力活。

间：房子内隔成的部分。有隔间的意思；和室区分。

所以把cubicle翻成“办公间”是最贴切的。

没错，我最近上班很闲。。。

So the lesson is, if you want to sound 白领 you just say/write "cubicle"

[jbradfor]

Thanks msittig, I guess that explains why I can't find a good translations. Although of the possibilities, "可比克" seems like the worst, as according to google images it's a brand of potato chips!