文明

[Pedroski]

What does 文明 mean here:

 

。。。 , 主要讨论春节期间在小区内实行文明燃放烟花爆竹的提议。

 

I think it means something like '方式‘。Or is it 'a cultured (文明的） fireworks display’？？

[fanglu]

You are right, it is referring to the style of the display - 'civilised' would be a good translation.

[陳德聰]

The use of 文明 cracks me up here, just makes me think that people are 野蛮地 setting off fireworks and need to be shown the "proper" way, whatever that would mean. Fireworks are little (sometimes big) explosions, not sure how they can be 文明燃放的 short of not shooting them into your neighbour's face.

[anonymoose]

short of not shooting them into your neighbour's face.

 

I think basically that's exactly what it's trying to discourage.

[MPhillips]

I saw them setting off quite big ones (ones that burst into flowers) in my area, above a church right next to a gas stand on US National Day. I think it was an official church activity--worse than merely uncivilized, this kind of behavior might even be classed as DANGEROUS! On July 4th & New Year's Eve the air reeks of gunpowder--a far greater mania for pyrotechnics here than I saw in China.

[imron]

not sure how they can be 文明燃放的 short of not shooting them into your neighbour's face.

have you even spent Chinese New Year in china? It's a bit of a free for all. Face shootings, fires, and other injuries are not uncommon.

Also regarding the translation, it's not really a fireworks display. That would imply some sort of planning and control. It's just anyone and everyone randomly letting of fireworks at all hours of the day and night.

'Civilised use of fireworks' is what I'd go with. Also be sure not to translate 春节 as 'spring festival'.

[MPhillips]

At least they don't go in their backyards & fire guns to celebrate New Year's like some people do here--seems every year at least one person gets killed by a stray bullet.

[Pedroski]

Also be sure not to translate 春节 as 'spring festival'.

 

 

What should it be please??

[imron]

Chinese New Year.

 

Very few English speakers will have any idea of what 'Spring Festival' means if they haven't spent any time in China.  It's a very Chinglish phrase and if you use 'Spring Festival' your typical native English speaker will understand the individual words but have no idea what time of year or the type of celebration it refers to.

 

If you say 'Chinese New Year' they'll all know exactly what you mean.

[imron]

seems every year at least one person gets killed by a stray bullet.

Deaths and injuries happens every year in China too.  In the town where I used to live, one person accidentally killed themselves with fireworks because he took his cigarette out to light a firework and then in his drunken state, put the firework back in his mouth instead of the cigarette.

 

Another year I was spending the new year with my Taichi instructor, and I was at home by myself while he and his wife were out walking their dog, when suddenly there was a knocking at the door.  I assumed they'd just forgotten their keys so went to open the door, upon which a woman rushes in shouting 着火了，着火了.  Her kid had been setting off fireworks below and one had landed on the balcony and set fire to some boxes there.  If I hadn't been home, it's likely the whole building would have burnt down.

 

In 2009, fireworks were responsible for a fire that burnt down the newly constructed CCTV building.

 

I'm not sure what the China-wide, fireworks related death, injury and property damage statistics are during Chinese New Year, but I'm sure it's no small number.

[陳德聰]

I guess my issue is that I don't think there's really such thing as 文明燃放烟花爆竹 precisely because it is never 文明 when it is done. At least I've yet to see it happen in a 文明 fashion and I have spent enough Chinese New Years of my life in China to tide me over.

[Shelley]

Fireworks all over the world are dangerous. I had a fire stared in my garden next to the kitchen wall and under the kitchen window by 2 stray fireworks landing in my rubbish bin one New Years Eve.

 

It was a very large fire and required the fire brigade to put it out, and we had to have a new kitchen window.

 

Also my cats hate the noise and firework season always finds them hiding behind the sofa or under the bed.

 

I am torn because I really enjoy seeing them in the sky but know the problems they cause so I always watch with mixed feelings.

[anonymoose]

<quote>if you use 'Spring Festival' your typical native English speaker will understand the individual words but have no idea what time of year or the type of celebration it refers to.

If you say 'Chinese New Year' they'll all know exactly what you mean.</quote>

I don't know. I mean not everyone pays enough attention to know what or when "Chinese New Year" is either. I'd say "Spring Festival" gives more of a clue to time of year to the uninitiated.

[MPhillips]

I'd be shocked if they were allowed in London though, they certainly aren't in Boston, Philadelphia or New York (in the hands of non-pros I mean), too many old buildings packed closely together, and London is so much older.

[imron]

I'd say "Spring Festival" gives more of a clue to time of year to the uninitiated

Considering that it occurs in winter, or possibly summer if you live in the southern hemisphere, 'spring' festival is entirely misleading in that regard. People might not know the exact date (or even the rough) date of Chinese New Year, but it will at least be a concept and holiday that they have heard of to some degree.