嘴馋in English

[Kenny同志]

请教诸君

一个人嘴馋用英文应该怎么说呢？

gluttonous 的意思好像与“嘴馋”不合。

[anonymoose]

gluttonous 是对的，但是这个词不常用，有点文学性的感觉。最常说的是 greedy ，不过要看上下文，因为greedy还可以指贪婪的意思。

[Kenny同志]

Thanks, Anonymoose. But The Free Dictionary online says the word “gluttonous” means

1. Given to or marked by gluttony.

2. Indulging in something, such as an activity, to excess; voracious.

It seems that one is regarded gluttonous or greedy when he eats to excess but in my opinion if Kenny 嘴馋, he doesn’t necessarily eat too much, instead he is simply too eager to eat whatever seem tasty.

The difference between the two words (嘴馋 and greedy （or gluttonous）) appears subtle.

[anonymoose]

It seems that one is regarded gluttonous or greedy when he eats to excess but in my opinion if Kenny 嘴馋, he doesn’t necessarily eat too much, instead he is simply too eager to eat whatever seem tasty.

我觉得这两个意思差不多，看到什么好吃的就想吃，结果不就是吃得很多吗？反正，greedy就是很爱吃的意思，所以我觉得greedy都适用于这两种情况。

[Kenny同志]

呵呵，好，还是听你这位专业人士的。

[HashiriKata]

Both words mean "to feel the desire for", but "greedy" often implies "to an excessive degree" and is therefore more judgemental than 嘴馋. I think it'd be better not to equate the two, because in many contexts, 嘴馋 would be better translated just as "tempting", "inviting", "making one's mouth water", etc.

[Kenny同志]

OK, I've got a sentence.

我这人嘴馋。

How dou you say this in English?

Edited upon Imron's suggestion, thanks, Imron

Edited December 13, 2009 at 10:44 AM by kenny2006woo

[imron]

I can't help with the original question, but while we're talking about how to say things in English, this question:

How to say this in English?

is better asked as: "How do you say this in English?"

[anonymoose]

我这人嘴馋。

How to say this in English?

直接翻译就是I'm greedy，但是greedy带有贬义，所以一般地，我们很少这么说。可以说I'm a greedy-guts，这是非正式的口语(算是俚语吧)，因为有诙谐的语气，所以更适合用来形容自己。当然还有别的说法。

还可以说 "I'm on a sea-food diet - when I see food, I eat it"

(这是个笑话，看得懂吗？)

Edited December 13, 2009 at 11:26 AM by anonymoose
改正错字

[Kenny同志]

I've noticed "sea food" and "see food" sound the same, but I can't see why it is funny. any hint?

这是非正是的口语]

It should have been 这是非正式的口语

[anonymoose]

It should have been 这是非正式的口语

哦，打错了。

I've noticed "sea food" and "see food" sound the same, but I can't see why it is funny. any hint?

其实这个笑话不是很搞笑。意思就是，人先说“我有海鲜饮食习惯”，后来解释下去说“我看到菜就吃它”，当然要用英文说才有意义。

[Kenny同志]

got it, lol!

[roddy]

Oh look, it appears some people are forgetting to add English translations to their all-Chinese posts again, thus making the forum less accessible to people who can't read Chinese yet.

T&C's.

/admin off.

[anonymoose]

不好意思。

Sorry.

[roddy]

No major issue, your enthusiasm is admirable, but the frustration of non-Chinese readers is . . . I don't know, palpable or something.

And remind me, Mr 2006woo, is this the first time I have brought this trifling matter to your attention?

[Kenny同志]

I am terribly sorry, Roddy.

[zhxlier]

Maybe "I have a weakness for food"?

I'm a Chinese speaker, not English speaker though.

我这人嘴馋。

[Daan]

How about "I'm quite a gourmand"? I have no idea whether the Chinese would convey this nuance, but I'll leave that for you to judge.

[Kenny同志]

Thank you both, Zhelier and Daan. I think both versions convey the very meaning of 嘴馋.

[buanryoh]

How about something like I have a large appetite or an insatiable appetite?