Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Japanese term or phrase:
西高東低
English translation:
higher in the west, lower in the east
Added to glossary by
sigmalanguage
Jun 21, 2006 04:14
18 yrs ago
Japanese term
西高東低
Japanese to English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
I've checked that this term is often used for weather and it literally means "high in the west, low in the east". But what does it mean in this context?
現状、社内業績が西高東低となっており、完全に温度差がある
現状、社内業績が西高東低となっており、完全に温度差がある
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | Higher in the west, lower in the east |
sigmalanguage
|
| 2 +3 | uneven / spotty |
Kurt Hammond
|
| 3 | The East-West Split |
Roddy Stegemann
|
| 2 | performance patter of western high and eastern low |
cinefil
|
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
sigmalanguage
Japan
Japan
Native in Japanese
Specializes in field
Japan
Broad knowledge base
Native in: Japanese 
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese to English, German to Japanese
Related KudoZ points
:
40
Selected
Higher in the west, lower in the east
Currently we have recorded higher performances in the west than in the east. There is an undeniable difference between the two areas.
Even in a figurative meaning, this phrase usually retains its original meaning that something is higher in the west and lower in the east.
Other interpretations should be considered only when the context clearly does not allow this interpretation.
Even in a figurative meaning, this phrase usually retains its original meaning that something is higher in the west and lower in the east.
Other interpretations should be considered only when the context clearly does not allow this interpretation.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
+3
6 mins
Kurt Hammond
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Related KudoZ points
:
116
uneven / spotty
Of course this a metaphor and is not something that can be literally translated. Need to come up with equivalent meaning.
"Currently internal performance is spotty, with complete differences in performance depending on area. "
"Currently internal performance is spotty, with complete differences in performance depending on area. "
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
casey
: or "performance varies"
1 min
|
| agree |
Can Altinbay
: uneven -- all over the map...
8 mins
|
| agree |
V N Ganesh
38 mins
|
| neutral |
humbird
: Original sentence uses allusion to meterological term "Atomospheric high pressure vs. low pressure". For English native readers this is the best so far suggested. However, words West-East need to be implemented somehow.
16 hrs
|
29 mins
Roddy Stegemann
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Search HKLNA!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
The East-West Split
Might this be referring to differences in work performance between employees who have been hired into the firm under incentive programs that follow the Western model, and those who have been hired into the firm under the more traditional Japanese incentive system.
Under the Western model employees receive higher pay and are rewarded according to individual performance (西高). Nevertheless, the firm offers no retirement pay and the employee is free to enter and leave the firm at will.
Under the traditional system employees receive lower pay, but much better long term benefits (東低). Employees are expected to remain with the firm and are penalized for leaving it before reaching retirment. Incentives are seniority based.
As these two incentive systems can exist side-by-side in the same firm one could speak of a performance gap (温度差) between them.
I have been away from Japan for the past five years, but this is the way things were headed just before I left. A recent paper that I just translated from German into English about Japan suggests that things have moved forward in this direction.
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Note added at 35 mins (2006-06-21 04:50:30 GMT)
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If I might offer some addition information with regard to the weather analogy. Warm air (西高) rises and cool air (東低) settles. When warm and cool air fronts (温度差) meet there is often climatic disturbance (社内問題).
Under the Western model employees receive higher pay and are rewarded according to individual performance (西高). Nevertheless, the firm offers no retirement pay and the employee is free to enter and leave the firm at will.
Under the traditional system employees receive lower pay, but much better long term benefits (東低). Employees are expected to remain with the firm and are penalized for leaving it before reaching retirment. Incentives are seniority based.
As these two incentive systems can exist side-by-side in the same firm one could speak of a performance gap (温度差) between them.
I have been away from Japan for the past five years, but this is the way things were headed just before I left. A recent paper that I just translated from German into English about Japan suggests that things have moved forward in this direction.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2006-06-21 04:50:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
If I might offer some addition information with regard to the weather analogy. Warm air (西高) rises and cool air (東低) settles. When warm and cool air fronts (温度差) meet there is often climatic disturbance (社内問題).
3 days 2 hrs
performance patter of western high and eastern low
an alternative
西高東低型 atmospheric pattern of western high and eastern low
西高東低型 atmospheric pattern of western high and eastern low
Reference:
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/features/archive/news/2006/01/20060116p2g00m0fe004000c.html
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