May 6, 2008 09:41
16 yrs ago
Chinese term

折腾

Chinese to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
在人们的眼里,孙笑笑属于那种最能“折腾”的人。她在社交场合里永远穿最抢眼的衣服;在party的游戏里最活跃,6对人抢椅子,她就是音乐声停下时,坐在那仅有的一张椅子上的人;1992年她参加了中国大陆首届古董拍卖活动”92—北京国际拍卖会“,以18万美元的价格击败对手,竞标到毛主席曾用过的专车——红旗轿车,一度成为传媒的焦点。
Change log

May 6, 2008 10:13: Denyce Seow changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Proposed translations

16 hrs
Selected

attention seeking

能“折腾”的人 给人的印象是大张旗鼓地开展活动的人, 不仅要做,还要在周围人的关注下做这件事。在这个语境应该可以翻译成 attention seeker.
Example sentence:

For an attention seeker, it's not enough to do good things: one must also be seen to do good things - not for them the low-key way of the UnsungHero.

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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I have a tough choice to make here because this is a vague term. I am most comfortable with Monica's interpretation, so I am going with it. I will leave a footnote in the text. Thanks, everyone!"
23 mins

zheteng

折腾implies determination, initiative and perhaps even some successful outcome, I’m not going to suggest a word in English (because someone would probably dictionary whatever I suggest and use it as a weapon lol) but sure there are phrases you can use. Being around for only a few days I do find some of the crowd here are people that do not appreciate languages are just tools and dictionaries like maps mean nothing except what was said on paper. No wonder C-E translation has been bad ever since 嚴復 started it all. Maybe it applies to all languages. I am wondering…… But surely even among my own friends there are lots nice and learned people, so shame on me (for being vain in comparing myself against some of the people here) and all the best to everyone else. I'm bored and coutning seconds to get off work! 88
Peer comment(s):

neutral Wing Ho : You might want to step off your pedestal every so often, and not insult your colleagues so. These folks are just trying to be helpful.
6 hrs
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39 mins

style herself

"折腾"是非常口语的一个词,在中国北方(或东北)用得较多,比较难找到一个非常精确的英文词与之对应,而且不同的语言环境下,表示的也不一样。但是这里可以理解为“style herself or pamper herself”, she is very good at styling herself, showing herself off
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+3
2 hrs

never settles for mediocrity

in general (not necessarily fit for this context):
the restless type
never settles for mediocrity
ever the overachiever
the nonconforming type
always on the move (on her feet)
the type that is always working on something
Peer comment(s):

agree pastoral taylor
12 hrs
agree MinnieHuyang : restless/ nonconforming 也说得通, 而且下文也已对其具体的含义进行说明,不会有歧义。
14 hrs
agree Jason Young : exactly
5 days
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4 hrs
Chinese term (edited): 能“折腾”的人

man about town/someone catching up on fashion

能“折腾”的人在这里的意思应该是追求时髦,经常出入社交场合的人
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6 hrs

extravagant/spendthrift

I would opt for either.
Spendthrift is more negative, and Extravagant has a more positive connotation.

Spendthrift:
One who spends money profusely or improvidently; a prodigal; one who lavishes or wastes his estate. Also used figuratively.

Extravagant:
Given to lavish or imprudent expenditure: extravagant members of the imperial court.
Example sentence:

A woman who was a generous spendthrift of life. --Mrs. R. H. Davis.

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4 days

(She is) fond of showing off

(She is) fond of showing off

折腾 意即 炫耀、卖弄
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