Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law
Chinese translation:
最起码是盼望能够超越律法约束的虔诚理想主义者
Added to glossary by
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Jul 27, 2004 09:37
20 yrs ago
English term
at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law
English to Chinese
Social Sciences
History
Intellectual History
...Many of the rules were prohibitions, of the kind most of us are nowadays familiar with under the name of taboos, such, for instance, as the law forbidding the Jew to eat pork; others, like the law of circumcision, enjoin positive acts. The prophets were rebels against the strict letter of the Law; they were at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law, and did in fact widen and deepen the religious life of their people.
这一段说的是什么？用中国话应该怎说呢？
这一段说的是什么？用中国话应该怎说呢？
Proposed translations
(Chinese)
| 3 +1 | 最起码是盼望越过法律约束的虔诚理想主义者 |
Vera Baras
|
| 4 +1 | 他们是最不虔诚的宗教理想主义者，总追求着超越律法的约束 |
Ying HUANG
|
| 4 +1 | 是不是可以这样解读？ |
Shaun Yeo
|
| 3 | (they were) at the very least = 最少(可以说他们是) |
chica nueva
|
Proposed translations
+1
14 mins
Vera Baras
俄文/英文/匈牙利文/中文翻译
Native in: Russian 
Works in: Chinese to Russian, Chinese to English, Hungarian to Russian, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
最起码是盼望越过法律约束的虔诚理想主义者
something like
最起码是盼望越过法律（也就是说宗教规定）约束的虔诚理想主义者
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Note added at 31 mins (2004-07-27 10:08:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I guess here it\'s more likely to mean \"at least\", \"minimum\"
perhaps, other pros could express their openion :)
最起码是盼望越过法律（也就是说宗教规定）约束的虔诚理想主义者
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 31 mins (2004-07-27 10:08:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I guess here it\'s more likely to mean \"at least\", \"minimum\"
perhaps, other pros could express their openion :)
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks to all of you.
Lesley confirmed Vera's understanding of "at the very least.""
+1
4 hrs
Ying HUANG
Native in Chinese
Works in field
Accurate and serious
Native in: Chinese
Works in: French to Chinese, English to Chinese, French to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
他们是最不虔诚的宗教理想主义者，总追求着超越律法的约束
yes, "at the very least" means "not at all"
+1
3 hrs
是不是可以这样解读？
The prophets were rebels against the strict letter of the Law; they were at the very least religious idealists who sought to go beyond the Law,
先知都是反叛者，反对信徒拘泥死守教规的字面意义，（就算他们够不上当反叛者）他们至少是宗教上的理想主义者，努力地要超然于教规的束缚。
还请不吝赐教。
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Note added at 14 hrs 13 mins (2004-07-27 23:50:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"not at all\"的确。受教了。
试改译如下：
先知都是反叛者，反对信徒拘泥死守教规的字面意义，但他们绝不是追求超脱于教规的宗教理想主义者。
（即，他们反对固守字面意义，但并不要求超脱教义之外）
先知都是反叛者，反对信徒拘泥死守教规的字面意义，（就算他们够不上当反叛者）他们至少是宗教上的理想主义者，努力地要超然于教规的束缚。
还请不吝赐教。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs 13 mins (2004-07-27 23:50:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"not at all\"的确。受教了。
试改译如下：
先知都是反叛者，反对信徒拘泥死守教规的字面意义，但他们绝不是追求超脱于教规的宗教理想主义者。
（即，他们反对固守字面意义，但并不要求超脱教义之外）
14 hrs
chica nueva
Native in English
Specializes in field
http://youtube/iraVWQu3Zf8
Native in: English (Variants: British, New Zealand)
Works in: Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
24
(they were) at the very least = 最少(可以说他们是)
at the very least = 最少(可以说是)(带有一定语气) => 最少必须承认,不能否认.... (= it cannot be denied that...)
注意: not in the least = not at all
注意: not in the least = not at all
Discussion
I have been considering this for quite a while, but the phrasing must be tuned.
Or else, there might be a backfire within the translated text.
I need some more time to think about it.
"At the very least" could mean "down to the earth" or "thoroughly" in this context.
But I suspect that "at the very least" might mean "not at all."