There is something interesting about the pop and music culture -
10 English band names in Chinese language. Let's read it:
Speak Authentic Chinese – 10 English Band Names and their Chinese equivalents
Posted By Nathan ~ 25th March 2011
1.
Radiohead |
电台司令乐队Notes: This is an interesting translation as at first glance it seems to alter the meaning completely. 电台 means broadcasting station and 司令 means commander. But later I realised that maybe 司令 can be translated as ‘head’, in the sense of leader, and 电台 as radio station. Still, ‘Radio Station Head’ just doesn’t have the same ring. Though maybe a literal translation from Radiohead to 收音机头 is equally bizarre.
2.
U2 |
U2Notes: Well that’s simple enough and easily translated into Chinese. There does however seem to be a number of bands that don’t have a Chinese name equivalent. I couldn’t find ‘The Strokes’ anywhere.
3.
Arcade Fire |
拱廊之火Notes: Another interesting though relatively direct translation using a word didn’t know before. 拱 means arch and 廊 means corridor, according to Wenlin the two words together mean ‘cloister’, but ‘arcade’ seems to be a more colloquial translation.
4.
R.E.M | R.E.M 或‘
快转眼球乐队’
Notes: As Chinese people are au fait with romanised letters there is no need to use another name for this band. Though some websites indicated that 快转眼球乐队 is sometimes used, which literally means ‘Rapid Eye Movement Band’. Definitely not as pithy though.
5.
The Killers |
杀手乐团Notes: Nice and literal. Though this time using 乐团 instead of 乐队. Both words mean ‘band’. Though 乐团 seems to be slightly more formal and better translated as ‘group’.
6.
Arctic Monkeys |
北极猴子Notes: Simple and direct again, 北极 meaning North Pole or Arctic.
7.
Oasis |
绿洲乐队Notes: Literally ‘Oasis Band’, a lot of Western band names in Chinese seem to include the word ‘band’.
8.
Coldplay |
酷玩Notes: A likeable translation. At first I wondered whether 冷玩 may have been used, which admittedly would have sounded a little odd. 酷玩 translates as ‘Cool Play’ which is slightly cuter (typical here) but ironically less cool!
9.
Blur |
模糊Notes: Another direct translation.
10.
Muse |
缪斯Notes: The only transliteration of the list and the word used for ‘Muse’ in Greek mythology, although 女神 is also used. ‘To muse’ seems to be acceptably translated as ‘沉思‘, i.e. to think over or ponder. ‘A muse’ as in ‘she is my muse’ could be translated as 启发, however 启发 is more of a verb than a noun. So you could say ‘她给我启发‘ to mean ‘She is my muse’(or inspiration).
http://proofreadchina.com/archives/548
Topic: Learning Chinese (Read 22705 times)