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Lost in Translation

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  1. #1

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    Lost in Translation

    Given the myriad of languages spoken by GXP'ers, I thought this article would be of interest.

    Among my favorite untranslatable words/terms is the 應該 (phonetically ing kai) which I've come across in the Taiwanese dialect. It means something like, "deserved or self-inflicted troubles." Essentially an own-goal. For example if you are too lazy to take a step to the right and open a drawer three feet from you to get a proper pot holder and instead use the kitchen towel in front of you to pull something hot out of the oven and you (predictably) burn yourself, someone would say to you "Ing Kai!"

    What are you favorite untranslatable words/phrases? I would think the native German speakers have many, many long words to offer.

    https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/11623...-nE8Lru6OzqnEs


  2. #2

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    Schadenfreude has to be a top contender.

    Also verschlimmbessern... well known to me as owner of a very old German car which always needs tinkering with. It means to make something worse when trying to mend it.

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  3. #3

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    Loooolololol 😁😁

    From https://geoexpat.com/forum/82/thread...ml#post3903838
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    Si (french) is one for me cuz of 2 separate events coinciding. 1. Your coffee table post and 2. I sometimes see someone with the username i-am-si?

    When I saw the No reply, I was like that's like si! but the opposite equivalent!

    Quote Originally Posted by huja:
    Today I learned (again) that the wife is the boss. Actual text thread from about an hour ago.
    Attachment 88107

  4. #4

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    “The polite particles ครับ kráp and ค่ะ /คะ kâ / ká are amongst the most commonly used words in the Thai language, but they are virtually untranslatable in English. “

    https://www.into-asia.com/thai_langu...mar/krapka.php

    Also in Chinese there is no equivalent,
    even though there are many similarities between those two languages

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  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peaky:

    Also verschlimmbessern... well known to me as owner of a very old German car which always needs tinkering with. It means to make something worse when trying to mend it.
    Fantastic! I know many executives who do this to the companies they run.

  6. #6

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    “Si” exists in various Roman languages, and the meaning varies

    Last edited by Morrison; 15-03-2023 at 09:42 PM.

  7. #7

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    I know where I can use Schadenfreude. It describes a look..

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    kráp / kâ / ká seems like it encapsulates body language? Hmm does it still have the same effect if you use it when speaking to an immigration officer but body language doesn't match up to the words, eg

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  8. #8

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    Auf Nimmerwiedersehen!


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    deleted


  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom007:
    Auf Nimmerwiedersehen!
    abgefahren
    chingleutsch likes this.

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