Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
学问
English translation:
a science; an art,; a learnng process;
Added to glossary by
Denyce Seow
Jan 31, 2004 18:02
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Chinese term
Singapore
Business & Legal Translator
Native in: English (Variants: Singaporean, UK, US) 
Works in: Chinese to English
学问
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
做人是一门学问。
What will be a good word for 学问 here?? Please don't tell me it is knowledge or skill. I am looking for another word.... it is somewhere in my head but playing hide-and-seek right now.... Can someone hit me with some inspirations???
What will be a good word for 学问 here?? Please don't tell me it is knowledge or skill. I am looking for another word.... it is somewhere in my head but playing hide-and-seek right now.... Can someone hit me with some inspirations???
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
4 hrs
Kevin Yang
Native in Chinese
Translation, Graphic Design, Copywriting
Native in: Chinese
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English, English to Korean, and 12 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
343
Chinese term (edited):
ѧ��
Selected
a science; an art,; a leaning process;
以前听说过这句话，但是从来没有想过怎么翻译成英文。上网查了一下，居然发现于光远先生还写了文章作了论述：
“第二，知识这个词的出现也比科学要早。“科学”一词在我国
古时是没有的，不只是没有这个词，而且没有近代意义下的科学这
个东西。在中国古代只有学问这个词。学问一词当然不等于知识，
但也还不是近代意义下的科学。“科学”这个词是从欧洲文字翻译
过来的。不是我们中国人先翻译的，而是日本人翻译的。我国学者
认为翻译得好，便采用了这个译名。科学这个词在欧洲的原文是什
么呢？五四时代不是说“赛先生”吗？“赛先生”在英文中就是science。
法文同英文一模一样。西班牙文、意大利文也是一样，只是这两个
国家拼写这个字的字母有些区别。欧洲这几个国家的科学一词之所
以相同，是因为它们都是同一个拉丁文的来源。欧洲这儿个国家中
这个字的本来的含义就是“知识”。至今英语中science有一义就是
knowledge的同义语。德语中科学这个词从结构上看同英语中的knowledge
可以说完全一样，只是德语中的知识用另外一个词wissen罢了。可以
这样来分析问题，自从欧洲近代意义下的科学发展起来后，没有另
造新词，就利用原来当作知识解的老词：science。而日文和中文的翻
译才在字面上使科学和知识区分开来了。”
的确这句话不容易翻译。要想翻译得让人明白，我同意Yueyin Sun，lai'an和Xiaoping Fu的建议，我认为可以把这里的“学问”翻译成a science,an art, a leaning process：
做人是一门学问。
试译：To behave tactfully in society is a science (an art/a leaning process).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs 11 mins (2004-02-01 01:14:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
我又想了一想，我本人更喜欢把“学问”翻译成learniing process, 因为其中的学是指learning和studying, 其中的“问”字，我认为是指asking和inquirying。这其实就是一个学习或求知的过程。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs 49 mins (2004-02-01 04:52:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry for the typos! I meant \"learning process\".
“第二，知识这个词的出现也比科学要早。“科学”一词在我国
古时是没有的，不只是没有这个词，而且没有近代意义下的科学这
个东西。在中国古代只有学问这个词。学问一词当然不等于知识，
但也还不是近代意义下的科学。“科学”这个词是从欧洲文字翻译
过来的。不是我们中国人先翻译的，而是日本人翻译的。我国学者
认为翻译得好，便采用了这个译名。科学这个词在欧洲的原文是什
么呢？五四时代不是说“赛先生”吗？“赛先生”在英文中就是science。
法文同英文一模一样。西班牙文、意大利文也是一样，只是这两个
国家拼写这个字的字母有些区别。欧洲这几个国家的科学一词之所
以相同，是因为它们都是同一个拉丁文的来源。欧洲这儿个国家中
这个字的本来的含义就是“知识”。至今英语中science有一义就是
knowledge的同义语。德语中科学这个词从结构上看同英语中的knowledge
可以说完全一样，只是德语中的知识用另外一个词wissen罢了。可以
这样来分析问题，自从欧洲近代意义下的科学发展起来后，没有另
造新词，就利用原来当作知识解的老词：science。而日文和中文的翻
译才在字面上使科学和知识区分开来了。”
的确这句话不容易翻译。要想翻译得让人明白，我同意Yueyin Sun，lai'an和Xiaoping Fu的建议，我认为可以把这里的“学问”翻译成a science,an art, a leaning process：
做人是一门学问。
试译：To behave tactfully in society is a science (an art/a leaning process).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs 11 mins (2004-02-01 01:14:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
我又想了一想，我本人更喜欢把“学问”翻译成learniing process, 因为其中的学是指learning和studying, 其中的“问”字，我认为是指asking和inquirying。这其实就是一个学习或求知的过程。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs 49 mins (2004-02-01 04:52:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry for the typos! I meant \"learning process\".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Xiaoping Fu
55 mins
|
|
谢谢！我认为“学问” 其实就是一个学习或求知的过程。
|
|
| agree |
Twinpens (X)
1 hr
|
|
谢谢！
|
|
| agree |
HymnLau
5 hrs
|
| agree |
ysun
: Excellent!
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Lu Zou
: Prefer "Art"
23 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I am sure everyone would agree with me that Kevin has provided a very detailed analysis and explanation here.
I am going for "science". I would use "art" if the sentence is 做人是一门艺术"
16 mins
What about "Science"?
although I know you hate science!
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Note added at 2004-02-02 17:40:41 (GMT)
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做人 - 为人处世 To deal with the people and the world.
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Note added at 2004-02-02 17:40:41 (GMT)
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做人 - 为人处世 To deal with the people and the world.
+1
45 mins
Xiaoping Fu
Canada
Canada
Native in Chinese
Canada
Professional Translating with Enthusiasm
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: Chinese to English, English, English to Chinese, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
418
learning
scholarship
or even accomplishment?
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Note added at 2004-02-01 10:20:24 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
如果根据上下文把“做人”理解为“to live”，那么，“Living is a sciece”是可以接受的译法。
在中国文化中，“做人”二字包含太丰富复杂的内涵。我们经常在抱怨，做人苦，做人难，做人累。因此，人们都试图寻求不苦、不难、不累的“诀窍”和“艺术”，由此产生了大量《增广贤文》之类的“智慧”。结果是越做越累，越做越难。其实，真正幸福的人，是那些心地单纯质朴的人。不要“诀窍”和“艺术”，只要善意和诚恳。不过这些又是题外话了。:)
or even accomplishment?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-01 10:20:24 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
如果根据上下文把“做人”理解为“to live”，那么，“Living is a sciece”是可以接受的译法。
在中国文化中，“做人”二字包含太丰富复杂的内涵。我们经常在抱怨，做人苦，做人难，做人累。因此，人们都试图寻求不苦、不难、不累的“诀窍”和“艺术”，由此产生了大量《增广贤文》之类的“智慧”。结果是越做越累，越做越难。其实，真正幸福的人，是那些心地单纯质朴的人。不要“诀窍”和“艺术”，只要善意和诚恳。不过这些又是题外话了。:)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Beth Dennison
: Scholarship sounds good to me.
39 mins
|
|
Thanks!
|
|
| agree |
Kevin Yang
: a learning process
3 hrs
|
|
Thanks!
|
|
| disagree |
Twinpens (X)
: That is different.
4 hrs
|
|
是的，“做人”可以有很多种不同的理解。譬如说，“他可真会做人”，未必是赞扬他的人生智慧，很可能是讥讽他处世八面玲珑，等等。:)
|
+1
52 mins
Chinese term (edited):
Ñ��ÎÊ
intellegence, wisdom, brains
做人requires some intellegence/wisdom.
hehe, I dont know how to explain. I just feel it.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Twinpens (X)
: "wisdom" is more accurate.
4 hrs
|
+1
2 hrs
tact and discernment
WVUS Jobs - Position Description for Donor Correspondent
Possibly, in this context.
... Use tact and discernment in responding to a variety of issues affecting different
peoples/cultures around the world without jeopardizing the global reputation ...
www.worldvision.org/worldvision/wvusjobs.nsf/0/5eb803aa6a4f... - 11k - Cached
Possibly, in this context.
... Use tact and discernment in responding to a variety of issues affecting different
peoples/cultures around the world without jeopardizing the global reputation ...
www.worldvision.org/worldvision/wvusjobs.nsf/0/5eb803aa6a4f... - 11k - Cached
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Xiaoping Fu
: 在有些情况下，“做人”的“学问”是指处世的机巧。
5 hrs
|
|
I suppose this is a bit superficial, but tact is a part of it, I think.
|
+3
3 hrs
chica nueva
Native in English
http://youtube/iraVWQu3Zf8
Native in: English (Variants: British, New Zealand)
Works in: Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
1039
Chinese term (edited):
ѧ��
一门学问 = a (moral,social) discipline, a virtue, an art
一门学问 = a (moral,social) discipline, a virtue, an art
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
isahuang
: an art sounds good
17 mins
|
| agree |
Kevin Yang
: an art
23 mins
|
| agree |
ysun
: I like "Art", too.
6 hrs
|
+1
5 hrs
Wisdom
I think wisdom is the most accurate anwser.
Wisdom: the quality of being wise, power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, ect.
Wisdom: the quality of being wise, power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, ect.
Reference:
8 hrs
Chinese term (edited):
ѧ��
换一下表达方式
Know how to be a man also can make you a scholar.
谢谢Mr. Yang 的总评, 我在这里只是提一下另一个思路.
谢谢Mr. Yang 的总评, 我在这里只是提一下另一个思路.
1 day 12 hrs
Yakov Tomara
Over 14 years in international trade
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, French to Russian, Italian to Russian, and 3 more.
Chinese term (edited):
ѧ��
the search for perfection
I understand that it isn't literal but maybe your context allows some "deviation" :-)
1 day 14 hrs
Jianming Sun
Native in Chinese
Accurate -- Reliable -- Fast
Native in: Chinese
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English, German to Chinese, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
854
How to behave in the society is an art.
I think here the 学问 does not mean knowledge, wisdom or science. It means an art or method to deal various people in the society. So the “ art” reads more smooth here. Other words seem a little awkward.
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Note added at 2004-02-02 08:18:52 (GMT)
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How to behave properly in the society is an art.
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Note added at 2004-02-02 08:46:56 (GMT)
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How to behave properly in the society is an art.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-02 10:58:45 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
CODING: GB2312
“做人”实际是指处事态度。一般人常说某人“会做人”，是说这个人待人接物很圆滑，八面玲珑，谁也不得罪，是个薛宝钗式的人物。阮玲玉在遗书中说的“难做人，做人难”，也是这个意思。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-02 08:18:52 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
How to behave properly in the society is an art.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-02 08:46:56 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
How to behave properly in the society is an art.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-02 10:58:45 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
CODING: GB2312
“做人”实际是指处事态度。一般人常说某人“会做人”，是说这个人待人接物很圆滑，八面玲珑，谁也不得罪，是个薛宝钗式的人物。阮玲玉在遗书中说的“难做人，做人难”，也是这个意思。
1 day 21 hrs
Living is learning
My answer is merely a summary of your all contributions.
It is very interesting to read through the postings. :-)
It is very interesting to read through the postings. :-)
Discussion
"Living is an art"; "Living is a science".
I like the suggestions "art" and "science". I don't think the latter is wrong, as per suggested by Chunbiao. Don't think of this "science" as in biology, physics or chemistry. In English, you do have sayings that go, "Making love is a science (an art)", "Doing business with the XX is a science (an art)", etc.
I have my reservations about using "wisdom" because "wisdom" is innate while ѧ�� is more of something you acquire in a learning process. Well, at least that's how I interpreted it. :)