Research on Domestic and Overseas translation of Chinese Word“jiayou”

Wang Yuchao Yang?Xi

【Abstract】This paper explores the translation of Chinese word “jiayou” about overseas and domestic scholars，and aims at use comparative study to analyze and summarize the practical expressions of Chinese word “jiayou”. Meanwhile， examine how English and Chinese are different in their methods of translation. To probe into causes for those differences，and to provide some implications for English teaching.

【Key word】jiayou; comparison; translation

【作者簡介】Wang Yuchao， Yang Xi， Kunming Health Vocational College.

1. A Brief Introduction to Chinese Word “jiayou”

Due to 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing， the word “jiayou” was known by the foreigner broadly. As we all know today， the explanation of “jiayou” is to fill more gasoline to the car. However， the original meaning of “jiayou” is a work slogan likes Zhuwei .Now“jiayou” is often used in the race course. The original meaning of “jiayou” is a slogan from oil worker in China.

2. Domestic and Overseas Researches

2.1 Domestic Researches

Many domestic scholars focus their studies on English expression of the Chinese word “jiayou”. Li Yan （2008） thinks the Chinese word “jiayou” could hardly be translated into native English， but he also gives a translation of “jiayou” and that is “Add oil”. He finds that “Add oil” is shouted out as powerful and rhymed as Chinese word “jiayou”， and it sounds like “jiayou”. Maybe we can say that “Add oil” is combined with Chinese cultural words or Chinese style like kungfu and silk. Liu Hongni （2013） discusses the origin， evolution and development of “jiayou” in China; she studies it from the following three aspects： original meanings， semantic grammaticalization and the semantic “jiayou” overlapped “zhuwei”. Wang Hongjun （2008） discusses the incorrect translations versions of “jiayou” and corrects translation， he thinks the word “jiayou” can be translated as “Go， China， Go， Go， Go”. In China daily （2008）， translation of “jiayou” is “Go， China” and “jiayou”.

2.2 Overseas Researches

The New York Times reporter Simon （2008） translated Chinese word “jiayou” as “Go， China” and “jiayou”. The Associated Press （2008） states translation of Chinese word “jiayou” in their Newspapers is “jiayou， Brazil”. The Times （2008） is “Go， Go， Go” and “jiayou”. BBS（2008）thinks that it can be translated literally as “To fill more gasoline in the car”. Facebook（2008）states that When people say “Zhōngguó， jiāyoú，” it can be loosely translated as “Go， China， go”， It is used during sporting events， games， competitions， or just to encourage someone， or sometimes “jiayou” is used to express his or her slight dissatisfaction and disappointment. Wikipedia（2008）describes that “jiayou” is a Chinese figure of speech or idiom. “jia” means “to add” and “you” mean “oil or fuel”. So it literally means add oil or add fuel that can be loosely translated as “Go， China， Go”. It is used during sporting events， games， competitions. For example， “Sichuan joyous！” is used to encourage those victims after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. It has the meaning of “be stronger！” or “be more strong-minded！” When it is used for sports， it encourages the athletes to do better.

3. Comparison and summary

From the above， we can see that the translation of Chinese word “jiayou” in academia is an open field. Yet， several important dimensions are missing; one should realize that absolute equivalence is impossible in translation. There are always shifts of meaning or other elements of a text in translation.

various translation shifts can be explained effectively from the perspective of the translators subjectivity. The translators role in translation is related to various factors， most shifts are made by the translator for certain purposes or personal tastes. It is valuable to study translation shift from the translators subjectivity.So this paper suggest that proper translation of Chinese word “jiayou” use Chinese spelling of “jiayou”directly.In translation， we cannot ignore the rich cultural connotation of words. To any kind of cultural phenomenon which has its local custom or peculiarity. Different ethnic culture can be transplanted and fused each other， so the social cultural word “jiayou” is formed. Undoubtedly， “jiayou” is a cultural word that contains strong Chinese cultural characteristics.

References：

[1]A S Hornby， Z. Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary： Oxford University press，2019.

[2]Goatly， A. The Language of Metaphors[J]. Lond：Routledge，1997.

[3]Wikipedia， E. Jiayou. Wiktionary[OL]. Retrieved June 6，2013from http：//en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jiayou，2013.