Jul 23, 2014 07:50
9 yrs ago
Chinese term
United Kingdom
随形的皮子
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Fiction novel
电视对面没有沙发，三堆随形的皮子，皮子里面是填充物，人倒在上面，这堆皮子就自动形成人形。柳青说，别倒在上面，否则你自己爬不起来的，我也没力气拉你起来了。
I'm kind of imagining a beanbag chair here, but the phrasing used is a little different, and I don't want to make any incorrect assumptions.
Can I say "beanbags covered in fur?" Do you have any ideas? Or if you have a link to a picture that is a good example that would be extremely helpful as well.
I'm kind of imagining a beanbag chair here, but the phrasing used is a little different, and I don't want to make any incorrect assumptions.
Can I say "beanbags covered in fur?" Do you have any ideas? Or if you have a link to a picture that is a good example that would be extremely helpful as well.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | (Makeshift) beanbag (chairs) |
Holger Nahm
|
| 3 | cushions |
Phil Hand
|
| 2 | flex-form cushion |
tanglsus
|
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
Holger Nahm
New Zealand
New Zealand
Native in English
Specializes in field
New Zealand
Freelance Translator and Author
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: Chinese to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
2
Selected
(Makeshift) beanbag (chairs)
I would go with "makeshift beanbag chair".
I could also imagine that the observing character is not familiar with beanbag chairs and this is just the authors way of describing three worn-out beanbag chairs. This reading is of course highly context (particularly time-period) dependent.
I could also imagine that the observing character is not familiar with beanbag chairs and this is just the authors way of describing three worn-out beanbag chairs. This reading is of course highly context (particularly time-period) dependent.
Note from asker:
| You make a good point, Holger. The book is set in 1990s Beijing, and the main character is relatively poor while Liu Qing is rich and has her own car. If you're interested in more context you can find the chapter here: http://www.fengtang.com/novels/beijing/1234775834.shtml |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
jarv95888
: I am sure that the author was talking about the same thing. Beanbag chairs were common (as imported furiture) in China during the 90's. The description was a literary decorum to show something new beyond the main character's ability to know them.
6 hrs
|
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
7 hrs
flex-form cushion
随形， 随人体而成形？
three piles of (body-hugging) flex-form (leather) cushions
供参考
three piles of (body-hugging) flex-form (leather) cushions
供参考
1 day 1 hr
cushions
I would avoid the word beanbag. I've never seen a beanbag in this country, and it's quite hard to find them on taobao. The concept of filling a bag with expanded polystyrene balls just doesn't seem to have caught on. So I'd imagine something more like a cushion filling to these things.
I mean, they do sound just like a beanbag, but seeing as there's reason to be unsure and he doesn't say it, I'd avoid the word.
I mean, they do sound just like a beanbag, but seeing as there's reason to be unsure and he doesn't say it, I'd avoid the word.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Holger Nahm
: They seem to be in shops. Online, Amazon.cn has an equivalent in the top 10 sofas (I have no idea about the 90's). Sorry for the edit response: I must say I do not think that is still true, plenty of foam (&kapok) filled versions being sold as "bean bags"
1 hr
|
|
yeah, "near equivalent". In order to be a beanbag it has to have those polystyrene beans in it. I haven't been able to buy those. What you see on Amazon is stuffed with other stuff - synthetic wool, kapok, whatever. Not beanbags.
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Discussion
Also, it didn't mention the beanbags were worn out, just a description of how this kind chair changes form when people sitting on it.
"皮子“ doesn't have to be leather or fur -could be plastic, just a smooth, skin-like thing. I would literally translate as the original says, but leave translator's notes that actually they are beanbags.
(They are beanbags, but they are new to the main character due to his background.)