Wednesday, February 16, 2011

你这人真有意思 You really mean something!

某老外苦学汉语十年,到中国参加汉语考试。其中一道汉译英试题如下:

阿呆给领导送红包,两人的对话颇有意思——
领导:你这是什么意思?
阿呆:没什么意思,意思意思;
领导:你这就不够意思了;
阿呆:小意思小意思;
领导:你这人真有意思;
阿呆:其实也没有别的意思;
领导:那我就不好意思了;
阿呆:是我不好意思!

老外流泪满面,交白卷回国……
未几,一位在美国的学长提供了以下译文:

The above text can be translated into a number of ways as follows:
.
Version 1:
Mr. Dull is handing over a hongbao (gift) to his boss. The following conversation between Mr. Dull and his boss has good meaning:

B: What do you mean by this?
D: Meaningless,but this is meant for you。
B: Then you are mean.
D: Reasonable means!
B: You really mean something!
D: By no means!
B: Then I am mean.
D: Actually I am mean!

Version 2:
Silly Boy hands a red envelope to his boss. They have a fairly interesting dialogue.

B: What is this thing?
S: It’s nothing. Just something. Uh, something.
B: Well, it doesn’t seem to be a right thing for me to take…
S: Don’t mention it. It is just a little thing, a little thing, really.
B: You are really something!
S: Actually, it’s nothing.
B: And then, it will be my honor to take this thing.
S: No. No. The honor is mine that you take this thing.
.

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