Jul 27, 2012 06:05
12 yrs ago
Chinese term
虛實相間，半真半假
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Chinese performing arts
The expression comes from a dissertation about xiangsheng (相聲）. It's not really literature. I think it's entertainment, but I don't see entertainment in the list of fields. "Literature" is the closest field I could find.
The context is as follows:
而相聲為曲藝形式之一，相聲中的「我」可以像曲藝一樣，但在應用上更為靈活。「我」可以是說書人，可以是演員本人，可以是各色人物，虛實相間，半真半假，而趣味、滋味兒也蘊藏其中。
I'm not sure how to translate the expression-虛實相間. As for 半真半假, I guess I can translate it as "half real, and half false", but I think it sounds quite stupid. Are there similar ways to express the same ideas in English? Millions of thanks.
The context is as follows:
而相聲為曲藝形式之一，相聲中的「我」可以像曲藝一樣，但在應用上更為靈活。「我」可以是說書人，可以是演員本人，可以是各色人物，虛實相間，半真半假，而趣味、滋味兒也蘊藏其中。
I'm not sure how to translate the expression-虛實相間. As for 半真半假, I guess I can translate it as "half real, and half false", but I think it sounds quite stupid. Are there similar ways to express the same ideas in English? Millions of thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | half in-character, half out |
Phil Hand
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| 3 +2 | threading the fine line between real life and fiction |
Lau Wei Tsinn
|
| 4 | 同义 |
Shang
|
Proposed translations
19 hrs
Selected
half in-character, half out
both the 真 and the 假 refer to different aspects of xiangsheng performance. There's no "real life" here, just the way a xiangsheng performer moves between playing in character and making asides to the audience.
or
sometimes part of the action, sometimes standing outside it
part performer, part commentator, partly faking it, partly engaged
neither completely in the world of the sketch nor completely separate from it
or
sometimes part of the action, sometimes standing outside it
part performer, part commentator, partly faking it, partly engaged
neither completely in the world of the sketch nor completely separate from it
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I agree with your point. Thank you! ^^"
9 mins
同义
虛實相間也就是半真半假，换个说法而已：partly true, partly false
+2
2 hrs
Lau Wei Tsinn
Singapore
Singapore
Native in Chinese
&
English
Works in field
Singapore
6 yrs' Advertising/Marketing background
Native in: English (Variant: Singaporean) 
, Chinese (Variants: Mandarin, Cantonese)
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese
threading the fine line between real life and fiction
In essense, 虛實相間 and 半真半假 are actually saying the thing and hence, it may not be necessary to translate them into separate phrases.
「我」可以是說書人，可以是演員本人，可以是各色人物，虛實相間，半真半假，而趣味、滋味兒也蘊藏其中。- "I" can play the role of the narrator, the lead actor or various other characters, threading the fine line between real life and fiction and bringing out the pleasure and delight that comes with it.
「我」可以是說書人，可以是演員本人，可以是各色人物，虛實相間，半真半假，而趣味、滋味兒也蘊藏其中。- "I" can play the role of the narrator, the lead actor or various other characters, threading the fine line between real life and fiction and bringing out the pleasure and delight that comes with it.
Note from asker:
| Your translation is beautiful. I liked it very much and almost selected yours as the best answer, but I had to wait until 24 hours later. Then Phil Hand offered his answer. I agree with him on the point he made. So, too bad I can't select yours. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
qianyong xie
33 mins
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thanks
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| agree |
Dariush Robertson
: That's a nice translation; you've managed to translate both sections without sounding redundant. But you could consider using 'treading' instead of 'threading'. As 'treading the fine line between A and B' is more idiomatic.
8 hrs
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thanks
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| neutral |
Phil Hand
: It sounds nice, but there's no "real life" in xiangsheng. It's all performance
17 hrs
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yep... that makes sense.... thanks, Phil
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