Straw Dog

[Ian_Lee]

Has anyone ever translated the term "Straw Dog"?

Is 芻狗 approptiate?

[nipponman]

I've never heard the term in english.

[roddy]

See here. However, I've never heard it used in conversation either, and its only familar to me as the title of the film Straw Dogs

[Mugi]

I think the more common term is "straw man", although it's usage is possibly much broader than "straw dog". As for a translation, I think you would need to actually explain it. FYI, I've seen "straw man fallacy" rendered as 稻草人的逻辑谬误.

[Ninja]

This is a quote from John Gray's excellent book 'Straw Dogs' which gets it's title from the included Laozi quote:

In ancient Chinese rituals, straw dogs were used as offerings to the gods. During the ritual they were treated with the utmost reverence. When it was over and they were no longer needed they were trampled on and tossed aside: 'Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs.'

No idea what the chinese would be but it is clearly a term that is used in China.

[skylee]

No idea what the chinese would be but it is clearly a term that is used in China。

天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗。。。

[Ian_Lee]

Isn't Pinata kind of like 芻狗 since they are both stuffed and cast aside finally?

What should be the Chinese term for Pinata?

[zhwj]

There's a bit of a discussion on languagehat about this (and the linked Language Log post as well).