Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
西裝
English translation:
suit (usually male, but also female)
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
Jun 26, 2006 07:41
18 yrs ago
Chinese term
United States
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Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
裝
Non-PRO
Chinese to English
Science
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 黃先生的西裝很多，三件行李都裝不下。
1st Attempt: Mr.Wong has a sizeable Western wardrobe; three suitcases cannot contain it.
Question One: The key character in the sentence appears to be 裝. I have translated 西裝 as Western wardrobe and 裝下 as contain. Does this character have other uses that are related to clothing? Have I even gotten the uses correct, as they appear in this sentence?
Question Two: By the way, is the dual use of 裝 here another case of bad writing style?
As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the sentence, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Warning: In order to provide ProZ.com users with the best glossary entries possible, more than one question for the same entry will be asked from time to time. Please keep in mind when responding that you will be graded on your responses to ALL questions asked.
1st Attempt: Mr.Wong has a sizeable Western wardrobe; three suitcases cannot contain it.
Question One: The key character in the sentence appears to be 裝. I have translated 西裝 as Western wardrobe and 裝下 as contain. Does this character have other uses that are related to clothing? Have I even gotten the uses correct, as they appear in this sentence?
Question Two: By the way, is the dual use of 裝 here another case of bad writing style?
As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the sentence, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Warning: In order to provide ProZ.com users with the best glossary entries possible, more than one question for the same entry will be asked from time to time. Please keep in mind when responding that you will be graded on your responses to ALL questions asked.
Proposed translations
+4
8 hrs
Chinese term (edited):
西裝
Selected
suits
西裝 mostly refer to men's suits, and sometimes women's Western-style business wear, for instance those worn by an airline female flight attendant(but not really in the sense of uniform).
Sometimes 西裝 could also refer to Western wardrobe in general like you've interpreted, but in that case it would really be an abbreviation for 西式服装
I would suggest translating 西裝 into plain "suits" in this sentence.
>>> I have translated 西裝 as Western wardrobe and 裝下 as contain. Does this character have other uses that are related to clothing?
Yes, your translation of both terms are correct.
Other uses that are related to clothing for example could be:
男装 mens (clothes)
童装 childrens (clothes)
军装 military outfit
服 is equivalent to 装 in this sense:
女服 womens (clothes)
军服 military outfit
制服 uniform
中山服 the type of coat that was worn by 孙中山，and later Mao
BTW, 服装 as a term means clothing
>>> is the dual use of 裝 here another case of bad writing style?
No, it is not. The two usages of 裝 here have different meanings. So there is no style issues to speak of no matter how close they get in a sentence.
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Note added at 8 hrs (2006-06-26 15:51:04 GMT)
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p.s. plus the two 装's are spaced out enough
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Note added at 8 hrs (2006-06-26 15:56:31 GMT)
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p.p.s 西服 is also a common term for "suits", its meaning of course is the same as 西装. 他真是穿得西服革履 means that "he's meticulously all dressed up"
Sometimes 西裝 could also refer to Western wardrobe in general like you've interpreted, but in that case it would really be an abbreviation for 西式服装
I would suggest translating 西裝 into plain "suits" in this sentence.
>>> I have translated 西裝 as Western wardrobe and 裝下 as contain. Does this character have other uses that are related to clothing?
Yes, your translation of both terms are correct.
Other uses that are related to clothing for example could be:
男装 mens (clothes)
童装 childrens (clothes)
军装 military outfit
服 is equivalent to 装 in this sense:
女服 womens (clothes)
军服 military outfit
制服 uniform
中山服 the type of coat that was worn by 孙中山，and later Mao
BTW, 服装 as a term means clothing
>>> is the dual use of 裝 here another case of bad writing style?
No, it is not. The two usages of 裝 here have different meanings. So there is no style issues to speak of no matter how close they get in a sentence.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2006-06-26 15:51:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
p.s. plus the two 装's are spaced out enough
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2006-06-26 15:56:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
p.p.s 西服 is also a common term for "suits", its meaning of course is the same as 西装. 他真是穿得西服革履 means that "he's meticulously all dressed up"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Chinoise
2 hrs
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thanks, Betty
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| agree |
billychang
2 hrs
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thanks, Billy
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| agree |
Chen Star
: 如果较真起来，是中间省略西（式服）装；因为西方人的特点穿套装，把男式西方套装，代指西装
6 hrs
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Thanks
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| agree |
anastasia t (X)
11 hrs
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Thanks
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Final rendering: Mr.Wong has many suits; they do not fit into three suitcases.
Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-9b-g.html#s14 for further discussion.
Acknowledgement: Special thanks to both wherestip and Chen Star for their very useful input. Chinese abbreviate in the same way that Japanese do -- namely, in a variety of ways. Once again, wherestip's examples were extremely helpful and made for a very nice note for other users of the Tsong Kit website.
Thanks to Chinoise (Betty?), billychang (Billly?) and anastasia for their confirmatory support! There is a problem, however. I am not always sure what they are confirming! Perhaps, wherestip's terrific energy and contributive spirit.
Best wishes from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides."
Discussion