This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Understanding of sentence
something missing
Jun 25, 2008 15:07
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

Middle/Central Kingdom?

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature literary name for China
I'm translating an article from Polish into English. We have a literary name for China which is 'Middle Country' (literally). I've found names such as Middle Country, Central Country, Middle Kingdom and Central Kingdom.

I'm wondering if any of these is used to refer to China so that everybody know what you mean. And I don't mean any historical regions. Just China.

Maybe there is some other phrase? Or maybe I should just use 'China'?

I'd be grateful for any hints.
Responses
4 +8 Middle Kingdom
4 +1 China
4 +1 it depends
4 China,the porcelain empire
3 just use China

Discussion

Agnieszka_PL (asker) Jun 25, 2008:
Thank you all! I'd like to thank you all, I've learnt a lot!
For this specific case, however, the answer Middle Kingdom seems to be the most helpful.
Thanks again!

Responses

+8
9 mins
Selected

Middle Kingdom

I wrote an article recently using this term. And Wikipedia agrees with me that it commonly refers to China:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Kingdom



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2008-06-25 15:18:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

From Wikipedia:

China is called 'Zhongguo' (中國 or 中国) in Chinese. The character zhōng means "middle" or central; the latter, guo, means land, or kingdom.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2008-06-25 15:20:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And from another enyclopedia

http://www.bartleby.com/65/mi/MiddleKi.html

Peer comment(s):
agree jccantrell : This is what I would know from here in the USA. China is the "Middle Kingdom" if you want to use a synonym.
8 mins
agree Marek Daroszewski (MrMarDar) : this was asked in the Polish-English pair some time ago http://www.proz.com/kudoz/polish_to_english/art_literary/847...
11 mins
agree Jim Tucker (X) : Indeed, a literal translation of zhongguo. Wouldn't use it exclusively or repetitively in an article, but as long as the context establishes that it's abt. China (and not Egypt, for ex.), this is the appropriate version that the asker wants.
11 mins
agree Jack Doughty
20 mins
agree Will Matter
21 mins
agree BrigitteHilgner : This corresponds to the German "Königreich der Mitte".
26 mins
agree Denyce Seow
21 hrs
agree Alp Berker
21 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
6 mins

just use China

Granted, I'm no expert on China or Asia in general, but I'm an avid reader in general, and if I read any of the above options I really wouldn't be sure as to what they're referring to.

I'm afraid that most English readers wouldn't either; in a case like this I'd suggest the safer approach.
Peer comment(s):
disagree savaria (X) : I think any person who is intelligent enough will immediately think of China hearing the expression the Red Dragon.And those who are not intelligent enough,well those people won't be interested in any books like that,so they won't read it anyway.
8 mins
agree Jim Tucker (X) : Have to agree with this as well. Specifically, I wouldn't use "Middle Kingdom" repeatedly in a translation, but only sparingly, once it is clear that the subject is China. Otherwise, to use M.K. too much would be an affectation.
1 hr
Something went wrong...
7 mins
English term (edited): China,the porcelain empire

China,the porcelain empire

Well,I think this is the first and the most multicultural thing that comes to the mind of a European or an American(so to say,Western),civilised person.

And maybe another possible solution is: China,the coutry of the Red Dragon.See the 2nd link.

I hope I could help.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 perc (2008-06-25 15:16:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And maybe another possible solution is: China,the coutry of the Red Dragon.See the 2nd link.

Corrected:
And maybe another possible solution is: China,the COUNTRY of the Red Dragon.See the 2nd link.

I am sorry!

Reference:

http://www.worldblurb.com/2008/03/18/china-the-porcelain-empire/

http://www.peaceunity.org/Bible3/1_5_RedDragon_2ndBoy.htm

Something went wrong...
+1
11 mins

China

"China" is Chinese is made up of two characters: zhong + guo, meaning middle/central + country, respectively.

For general purposes, use simply China. In historical or journalist style, "Middle Kingdom" is often used to refer to China.

(Similarly, "the country of the rising sun" is simply Japan, as the two characters that make up the name of the country actually mean "sun" and "rising")
Peer comment(s):
agree Will Matter : The second character in Japan (Nihon or Nippon) actually means "origin" but your answer is close enough to be useful.
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
22 mins

it depends

The expression exists in English (and in Italian, for that matter) and stems from the literal translation from chinese Chung Guo (once Kuo; remember Kuo Ming-tang, Chang Kai Shek's Nationalist party?), meaning "the land standing in between". But much depends on the rest of your text. Take also in consideration that there was a "Middle Kingdom" in ancient Egypt too and for particularly ignorant people that would make no difference. I would use "Middle Kingdom" only if you are giving a historical slant to your text AND it is clear that you are talking about China. Otherwise, don't be misleading firing a shot in the dark! Maurizio
Reference:

http://sixty4-middle-kingdom.blogspot.com/

Peer comment(s):
agree juvera : Indeed, it depends on your or your language's familiarity with the expression, or for example, may have studied some aspects of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom (like architecture) therefore you think of Egypt, and China becomes second run.
1 hr
Thank you. :-)
neutral Csaba Ban : with Chinese economic advance, "Middle Kingdom" nowadays is much more likely to be used in a Chinese context rather than an ancient Egyptian one
1 hr
You're right, but I only meant to post an additional reminder (help) for Agnieszka.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search