筆者注意到,時常關注《萬維讀者網》的還有學中文的美國讀者。他們經常為中國不斷出現的流行政治術語(特別是習氏哩語)所困惑,翻遍中文詞典也往往不得要領。
有鑑於此,筆者將陸續發表「中國流行政治術語」的英譯文,供《萬維》讀者參考和批評。
大撒幣
Money Giveaway Spree(意譯) /
Big Moron(音譯)
上梁不正下梁歪
A bad role model above inspires evil deeds below. /
As above, so below.
上有所好,下必甚焉
What the superior loves, his inferiors will infatuate. /
What's good for the geese is also good for the ganders. (戲謔)
定為一尊
settle a given question on a single authority /
the absolute authority
一錘定音
have the ultimate say /
take as gospel
妄議中央
vilify the Party authority /
Mess with the Party boss (戲謔)
一帶一路
The Belt and Road initiative (官方譯法) /
the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road (官方註解) /
The road to hell is paved with evil silk (戲謔)
基礎不牢,地動山搖.
If the foundation is not solid, the earth will tremble and the mountains will sway. (直譯) /
It will be an earth-shattering fiasco if Taiwan crosses the redline. (意譯,即習近平引用此俗語的寓意)