Gig poster translation for Beijing

[RossSewage]

Hi

 

I was asked to do a gig poster for an American band playing in Beijing. Instead of doing the poster entirely in English, I would like to include Chinese characters in the design. I need some help. 

 

Finding information online to write the date and location is easy enough. I'm looking into the band's name. They are called "Swans." The most common word I found was 天鹅. Is this word also plural or only singular? 

 

I also found some other Chinese words online for "swan" that have two meanings. I would love to use one of these. I love puns and word play, but I'm not sure if the definitions are actually correct or if audience members in Beijing would understand the double meanings. 

歌手 - this word is listed as meaning "swan" and "singer" on several sites. I think this would connect the name to the music nicely. Would this work? And is it also plural? 

鸿鹄 - one site said this meant "swan" and "person with noble aspirations" which would definitely describe the members of the band. Same questions, does this work to mean both things and is it also plural? 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Kamille]

I only knew the word 天鹅 until now. That's the one used in the translation for Tchaikovski's Swan Lake.

Now, as I've just learnt from the dictionary, 鸿鹄 might be the perfect translation for your band, as it both means "swan" and metaphorically "person with noble aspirations", just as you said.

[liuzhou]

 

Is this word also plural or only singular? 

 

Chinese generally doesn't have plurals as such. So it is both singular and plural. One swan - Two swan etc.

 

I've never known 歌手 to mean swan.

 

鸿鹄 is a swan goose, I believe, rather than a true swan. But I'm no ornithologist.

[Will_TW]

Though 鸿鹄 is a swan or goose,when  talk about birds we seldom use it.

"person with noble aspirations" is the common meaning for 鸿鹄,which we  say 鸿鹄之志.

The band is called "Swans." So  use 天鹅 is much more better than 鸿鹄.

 

And the word 歌手 is a singer ,put this word on your poster will be a little strange.

If you just want a name for the band,the word 天鹅 is wonderful.

[Kamille]

It's not that I disagree with using the word 天鵝, which is a very beautiful word, Will_TW, nor that I want to disagree with a native speaker on such a question, but I would truly find 鴻鵠 more appropriate in this case. The meaning "swan" might not be the first that comes to mind but the word still has that meaning and the whole point here is that there is a pun with the noble aspirations. Plus the people who know that 鴻鵠 also means "swan" will be proud to know it and feel smart (my girlfriend tells me that most people know that 鴻鵠 is a big bird but don't know clearly which one, which confirms that most people will get the meaning "person with noble aspirations" first, but still, there is 鳥 in both characters, they are completely connected with birds from every point of view, you just can't miss the original root of the word).

 

It's not about a rigourous translation of the meaning "swan" here, otherwise 天鵝 would be much more appropriate, there's no arguing about it. It's a name for a band that we are looking for, and given that, 鴻鵠 sounds much better, I think. Besides, it's not only my opinion but also this of my girlfriend whom I've just asked (and who is a native speaker, from Kaohsiung).

 

Truly I think that the pun offered here is worth using. 天鵝 sounds plain and lacking in creativity in comparison.

 

I don't want you to think the same as me, Will_TW. You can have your own opinion on this matter. I only wanted to list the reasons why I think 鴻鵠 sounds more creative, just to give food for thought to the OP.

[RossSewage]

As far as the art goes, I think I will be able to convey the double meaning in the art. I will be using the Chinese word as part of the art as well as including the band name in English for people in America who want to buy copies of the poster.

 

Thank you so much for your replies! This helps me immensely! 

[Will_TW]

Hi Kamile,

 

After read your opinion,I think about it again.What you said is logically correct.

At the first time,when I saw this topic is  looking for a name of a band,what i imange is a pop-music band.

That's why I thought  "天鵝樂團" is better than "鴻鵠樂團".Because 天鵝樂團 sounds modern.

But after read your explanation,I think maybe 鴻鵠 will be good too,especially if the band is play classical music.

Thanks for your opinion,it makes me think about it again.

 

[RossSewage]

Hi again and thanks for all the help! 

 

Just a little more help is needed if you please...

 

I'm trying to write the final text, which consists of the band name, club, city, and the date. Pretty essential stuff for a gig poster. 

 

What I have is:

SWANS

愚公移山 (this is the name of the club)

北京市东城区

2015年2月4日

 

I guess mainly I need to know if I have written the city and district correctly, or if this is even a way it would be written on a flyer or address. 

Thanks! My poster is coming along nicely with the help I've received here. 

[Demonic_Duck]

If they're playing in Beijing, it'd probably be more helpful to include the other gig info in Chinese, rather than their name (even Chinese bands sometimes only have English names, or use their English name much more commonly).

 

That said, “天鹅乐队” (swans band) would be fine.

[Demonic_Duck]

Looks good (did you actually post that chronoligically before my post or is it a forum anomaly that's making it appear before it? Weird...) I'd suggest you put a time too, though!

 

You also might want to put prices:

 

票价 - ticket prices

预售 - advance

现场 - on the door

 

Also, 地点 is location, though I think most Beijing-based music lovers will already know 愚公移山 is a venue rather than a band.

[imron]

did you actually post that chronoligically before my post or is it a forum anomaly that's making it appear before it?

Yes. To both.

 

Posts by new users go in a moderation queue until they are approved by an admin.  In the queue, posts are invisible to other posters but still maintain their chronological order.

 

RossSewage posted before you chronologically, but it wasn't approved until later, so the post was made before your post #9 but it wasn't visible until after you had already posted.

[renzhe]

I'll go against the current here and say that translating a band name for this one gig makes little sense.

Chinese bands typically have both a Chinese and an English name, but if and American band name is "Swans", then the band name is "Swans". I'd translate everything except it -- exactly the way you did in your last post.

It's a fun idea and an interesting discussion, just not something I think would make sense on a poster.

[RossSewage]

Renzhe

 

The band name will be in English. I've used the translation of their name as part of the artwork.

 

I won't be including prices or door times. This is more of a commemorative poster of the show rather than a flyer used to advertise it, so it will only be on sale by the band at the gig.  

 

I'll post a pic when I'm done. Thanks for all your help!

[Lu]

But if it's just a commemorative poster, you can leave out the exact address and just say 北京 - 愚公移山 - 2015年2月4日. No need to include the district.

I disagree with Renzhe on the name. Non-Chinese bands who reach some fame in China always aquire a Chinese name at some point. Not sure at which point, or who picks the name, but there's no harm in picking that name yourself, especially if you want some thought to be put into it. A Chinese manager or cd-maker would be in a hurry and just pick 天鹅 and be done with it.

[Demonic_Duck]

...but 天鹅 is pretty much the best choice here, anyway. Unless you want to go for an amusing transliteration, a-la Beatles -> 披头士.

 

Anyway, just because a band acquires a Chinese name (official or unofficial), doesn't mean they'd necessarily put that name on their merchandise or promotional materials.

 

Edit: also, how many free gig tickets are we getting for helping translate this stuff?

[Kamille]

...but 天鹅 is pretty much the best choice here, anyway. 

 

I don't agree. I won't insist because no one else seems to be on my side but I like 鴻鵠 much more.

[RossSewage]

Again, thanks for all the help I received on this forum. Here's the final poster that will be for sale at the show.

 

 

Cheers!