永远的地址

[Aquatarkus]

Hi folks,

I have a hard time trying to comprehend the meaning of this small story. Could you please help. especially with the phrases marked by (?)

***

永远的地址

The Eternal Address

地址是愈短愈尊贵的。

The shorter the address, the more it's honorific.

美国总统的地址是“白宫”，英国首相的地址是“首相府”。

The address of the US President is "The White House", the address of English Prime-Minister is "The Residency of Prime Minister".

人要很努力向上爬，或者运气好，才有一个简洁的地址。

People work very hard to get on top, since only then they could have short and simple address.

有朋友在搬家之后最开心的是以后的地址只需要写XXX道XXX号

There's a friend who was very happy because after he had moved to another location his address became shorter and consisted only of "road XXX number XXX",

不用再写哪一区哪条街哪栋大厦哪一座哪一室，以后写地址可以快一点，尤其是抽奖的时候。

he needed not to write neither block nor lane nor house nor place nor room anymore; the address could be written faster, especially when ... (抽奖 - ???)

有没有想过，你其实还可以有另外一个地址?

Have you ever thought that you could have another address?

人家问:“你住在哪里?”

The family ask: "Where do you live?"

那个时候，幸福的女人可以微笑着，在心里说: “喔，陈联就是我住的地址。”

“我就住在陈XX。”

At that time, the happy woman could smile and say deep in her heart: "Ah, my address is just a .... (陈联 - ???)"

那么，他的地址呢?

Well, what about his address?

当然也是我的名字。

Of course, it's my name. (?)

我们寻寻觅觅，希望找到一个永久的地址。

We look for the eternal address, trying to find it very hard.

这个地址是简洁的、独一无二的。

This address is unique, one and only.

结婚的那一刻，那个地址就登记在我名下，无论疾病、痛苦，我不会搬出去。

During the marriage that address is registered under my name, and despite all illnesses and sufferings I can't throw it away (???)

所谓 “家”，所谓 “安乐窝”，就是有一个温暖的怀抱在等待着归来的人。

What you call "family" of "cozy home" is just a warm hug of a person waiting for your return.

人在世上，毕竟是旅客。

A man in this world is just a traveller.

离开的那一天，我们的地址更简沽。

The day we leave this world, our address becomes even shorter.

不用我说，你也知道是哪里。

No need to say, you also know where it is. (?)

活着的时候，你曾否好好珍惜那个因为爱而得到的地址?

While you're alive, how well do you value your loved address? (???)

[skylee]

There are a lot of people here who are good at C -> E translation. But since they have not replied you, I list my input below.

人要很努力向上爬，或者运气好，才有一个简洁的地址。

People work very hard to get on top, since only then they could have short and simple address.

The lucky part is missing in the translation. Consider – A person must work very hard, or be very lucky, to have a short and simple address.

the address could be written faster, especially when ... (抽奖 - ???)

Consider – “especially when filling in lottery tickets”.

人家问:“你住在哪里?”

The family ask: "Where do you live?"

人家 is not the same as 家人. Consider “People ask ...”

At that time, the happy woman could smile and say deep in her heart: "Ah, my address is just a .... (陈联 - ???)"

陈联 is the name of the happy woman’s partner/husband. (Supposedly the happy woman is the writer herself, but the way she writes it is a bit weird/incoherent at this point.) Consider “Ah, my address is Chen Lian.” “I live inside Chen Lian.”

结婚的那一刻，那个地址就登记在我名下，无论疾病、痛苦，我不会搬出去。

During the marriage that address is registered under my name, and despite all illnesses and sufferings I can't throw it away (???)

Consider “Ever since our marriage, that address has been under my name .... I will not move out”.

活着的时候，你曾否好好珍惜那个因为爱而得到的地址?

While you're alive, how well do you value your loved address? (???)

Consider, “... have you cherished that address that love brought you?”

PS - IMHO the writing seems promising at the begining but on the whole (ie with the introduction of the analogy of address being someone's heart/love) it seems rather sappy.

[Aquatarkus]

Thank you skylee, your clarifications were very helpful. Now the moral of this story seems quite clear to me

Wish you the best luck!

[陳德聰]

I found this online but it has a part your original doesn't (他的胸怀，便是你的地址) which should have made it pretty clear what was going on. It's by 张小娴 surprisingly... Maybe that's why it's so cheesy.

==

永远的地址

The Forever Address

地址是愈短愈尊贵的。美国总统的地址是“白宫”，英国首相的地址是“首相府”。人要很努力地向上爬，才有一个简洁的地址。

The shorter an address is, the more distinguished it becomes. The address of the President of The United States is just "The White House", the British Prime Minister "Number 10". People must endeavour to great heights, or have great luck, before they can have such a simple and concise address.

有朋友在搬家之后最开心的是以后的地址只需要写××道××号，不用再写哪一区那条街哪幢大厦哪一座哪一室，以后写地址可以快一点，尤其是抽奖的时候。

A friend once told me that the happiest thing about moving to her new house was that she had only to write 'number X, X road', and never again needed to write which block, which lane, which building, which place, which room. It became easier to write her address, especially when playing the lottery.

有没有想过，你其实还可以有另一个地址？

Have you ever thought you could have yet another address?

他的胸怀，便是你的地址。

His heart is also your address.

人家问：“你住在哪里？”

People ask "where do you live?"

那个时候，幸福的女人可以微笑着，在心里说：“喔，陈××就是我住的地址。”

At such times, a happy woman can smile, saying in her heart "I live inside J--- S----"

那么，他的地址呢？

So what about his address?

当然也是我的名字。

Of course it is also my name.

我们寻寻觅觅，希望找到一个永久的地址。这个地址是简洁的、独一无二的。

We search and search, hoping to find a permanent address. This address is simple and concise; it's one of a kind.

结婚的那一刻，那个地址就登记在我的名下。无论疾病和痛苦，我不会搬出去。

Upon marriage, that address will be registered under my name. No matter the hardships, I cannot move out.

所谓“家”，所谓“安乐窝”，是有一个温暖的怀抱在等待着归来的人。

The so-called 'homestead' and 'love nest' are just the warm embrace of the person waiting for your return.

人在世上，毕竟是旅客。离开的那一天，我们的地址更简洁。不用我说，你也知道是哪里。

In the end, we are but guests in this world. The day we leave, our address becomes far simpler. I needn't say; you know the place.

活着的时候，你曾否好好珍惜那个因为爱而得到的地址？

While you're alive, will you be able to really treasure the address you got from love?

[Aquatarkus]

Thanks 陈德聪, your translation is perfect

By the way, 张小娴 is quite famous Hong Kong author, isn't she? (never heard of her)

[skylee]

I didn't realise it was her work. I have only tried to read one of her books and could not finish it. It is quite clear from this piece "eternal address" why I didn't like her writing.

She is famous.

PS - I like 李碧華 much much much better.