ben_gb Posted August 4, 2009 at 08:50 AM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 08:50 AM Does anyone know if there is an equivalent to the word "touché" in Mandarin? By this I mean if you are having an argument about something, and one person makes a partciularly good or pointed response, then the other person (or an observer) might say: "oh, touché!". Ben Quote
HashiriKata Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:01 AM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:01 AM Perhaps something like this? 言之有理! Quote
Kenny同志 Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:14 AM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:14 AM touche can be translated into different words according to the actual context, such as 言之有理 / 说得好 / 一针见血 / 确实如此 etc Quote
adrianlondon Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:40 AM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:40 AM But they all mean "good point" or "very sensible" or some such, whereas touché, to me, implies something more like great come-back or counter-point. Quote
Kenny同志 Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:53 AM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 09:53 AM Adrian, how about your providing an actual context so that the translation is more closer in meaning with touche? Quote
adrianlondon Posted August 4, 2009 at 10:46 AM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 10:46 AM Touché! ;) It's hard to provide it in context without inventing an entire dialogue showing an argument/discussion (usually light hearted) between two people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touche will help explain its origin (from the sport of fencing). Quote
Kenny同志 Posted August 4, 2009 at 12:13 PM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 12:13 PM I know its origin, and the Chinese translations i listed above can also be used as a come - back! But if these words are used in an argument a but - line will usually follow to introduce another rebuttal. Quote
leeyah Posted August 4, 2009 at 02:24 PM Report Posted August 4, 2009 at 02:24 PM It reminds me of two plain & simple Chinese interjections: 猜中了!or 打中了! (in the sense of 打中目标/要害/关键之处>>一句话点到要害。Touché, right to the point! & touché in fencing is translated as : 有了! & touche passée as 刺滑了 'stab+slip>>miss a stab by slipping' Quote
chenpv Posted August 5, 2009 at 02:50 AM Report Posted August 5, 2009 at 02:50 AM I'd say 9 out of 10 Chinese will just respond '诶' in a situation the op described, however, another short phrase/sentence might follow that exclamation, such as '我还真没那样想过' etc. Quote
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