Translating 尊敬的各位領導

[Kenny同志]

I am just a bit curious. How would you say this when you deliver an address to a bunch of government officials? 

[anonymoose]

Usually one just says "Dear Ladies and Gentlemen". It would be very odd, in the UK at least, to open by saying "Dear Leaders".

 

The thing is, that in theory, the leaders of democracies such as the UK, are the servants of the people. By addressing them as "Dear Leaders", it is bestowing unwarranted respect - in other words, putting them at a higher position than everyone else - even though the reality of the situation is like this in many places.

[Kenny同志]

Thanks Anonymoose. I also find 'Dear leaders' rather odd.

[oceancalligraphy]

Are the government officials all members of a certain group? "Dear members of <group name>" or "Dear <group name> members" also works.

[陳德聰]

Does 尊敬的 translate as "dear"? I have heard and used openers like "esteemed members of the board" etc, and I think esteemed would fit nicely here.

[anonymoose]

删了。

[Kenny同志]

Thanks very much everybody.

[Lu]

I've heard, and used, 'Minister Zhang, director Li, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen', just calling out the main leaders/main guests by title and name. Of course that only works if you have no more than 2-3 leaders you need to mention, and the 'distinguished guests' only works if they are in fact guests.

 

As you already noticed, 'Dear leaders' doesn't work, because 1) 'Dear Leader' is rather North-Korean and 2) in English the leaders are not addressed as leaders.

[Kenny同志]

That's a good idea. 謝謝領導.

[yueni]

I've also used "distinguished guests" when interpreting 尊敬的各位领导.

 

Honestly, the beginning section of a speech happens so often, and is so formulaic in terms of openers that you can just lift out an equally formulaic English opener and fit it in.