笔者注意到,时常关注《万维读者网》的还有学中文的美国读者。他们经常为中国不断出现的流行政治术语(特别是习氏哩语)所困惑,翻遍中文词典也往往不得要领。
有鉴于此,笔者将陆续发表「中国流行政治术语」的英译文,供《万维》读者参考和批评。
大撒币
Money Giveaway Spree(意译) /
Big Moron(音译)
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. (戏谑)
定为一尊
settle a given question on a single authority /
the absolute authority
一锤定音
have the ultimate say /
take as gospel
妄议中央
vilify the Party authority /
Mess with the Party boss (戏谑)
一带一路
The Belt and Road initiative (官方译法) /
the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road (官方注解) /
The road to hell is paved with evil silk (戏谑)
基础不牢,地动山摇.
If the foundation is not solid, the earth will tremble and the mountains will sway. (直译) /
It will be an earth-shattering fiasco if Taiwan crosses the redline. (意译,即习近平引用此俗语的寓意)