At my workplace my taiwanese colleagues love writing emails to each other asking questions, if the recipient is sitting right next to them. Because I get many of these emails that are of no interest to me, today when i asked somebody to send the something, I wrote THANKS in big letters, about font size 72, to make sure that they would action my request.
Its looked something like this:
Hi guys
We had a case study of a wind power application on the website that has been taken down.
Could you please email this to me as my customer is asking for a copy.
Thanks!
I got an email back straight away that said:
不客氣~^^~
Does this mean "that's impolite"? I apologized straight away, but can anyone give me an accurate translation of what this chinese means? Thanks!
Translated text: Is this impolite?
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- crimpster
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by Buttercup » 19 Jan 2009, 19:54
Don't worry, it just means 'No problem!'
'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof'
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by crimpster » 19 Jan 2009, 19:59
Thanks!!
I am worried now though, I wonder how many other internal chinese emails have been lost in translation thanks to worldlingo.com
I am worried now though, I wonder how many other internal chinese emails have been lost in translation thanks to worldlingo.com
- crimpster
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by Buttercup » 19 Jan 2009, 20:04
Well, it's a good example of not taking Chinese too literally! I have no Chinese input on this computer, but the first character is a negative particle and the others mean 'polite'. It sort of means 'Don't (there's no need to) be polite' or in English 'Don't mention it!'.
Your workmate is just responding to your big 'Thanks'.
Your workmate is just responding to your big 'Thanks'.
'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof'
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
- Buttercup
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by funkymonkey » 19 Jan 2009, 21:06
crimpster wrote:不客氣
It means "You're welcome".
Buttercup wrote:Don't worry, it just means 'No problem!'
No problem = 沒問題
Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important.
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funkymonkey - Bird Walker (liù niǎo de rén)
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by Buttercup » 19 Jan 2009, 21:36
funkymonkey wrote:No problem = 沒問題
Functionally, in English, in that context, 'no problem' and 'you're welcome' are the same. I think I conveyed that I was explaining that, not the literal translation. Don't be so silly.But thank you for the Week 2 Chinese lesson...
'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof'
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
- Buttercup
- Maitreya Bhuddha (Mílèfó)
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by funkymonkey » 19 Jan 2009, 21:42
Buttercup wrote:funkymonkey wrote:No problem = 沒問題
I thought the op asked for an accurate translation of what the Chinese meant.
Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important.
- Eugene McCarthy
- Eugene McCarthy
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funkymonkey - Bird Walker (liù niǎo de rén)
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by Buttercup » 19 Jan 2009, 21:45
Apologies, 'silly' was rude. I bad. Excuse me.
'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof'
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
Before you lovingly craft your PM, make like any writer and consider your audience. With all the information at your disposal, is there any possibility that the recipient will open it? Would your time be better employed?
- Buttercup
- Maitreya Bhuddha (Mílèfó)
- Posts: 11883
- Joined: 12 Jul 2006, 23:04
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by lemur » 19 Jan 2009, 21:46
funkymonkey wrote:No problem = 沒問題
English:
Alice: Thanks!
Bob: No problem!
Mandarin:
王先生: 謝謝！
陳老師: 不客氣！
See the relation?
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Re: Translated text: Is this impolite?
by funkymonkey » 19 Jan 2009, 21:55
lemur wrote:funkymonkey wrote:No problem = 沒問題
English:
Alice: Thanks!
Bob: No problem!
Mandarin:
王先生: 謝謝！
陳老師: 不客氣！
See the relation?
I understand perfectly. I just don't want the op using 不客氣 thinking it means "No problem". "You're welcome" is a much better translation and won't lead to future misunderstandings.
Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important.
- Eugene McCarthy
- Eugene McCarthy
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funkymonkey - Bird Walker (liù niǎo de rén)
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