Comments on Inside-Out China: The "Beefiest" Translation

Hi Xujun Eberlein, Regina here, for ExpatWomen.co...

2010-01-22T02:46:08.244-05:00

Hi Xujun Eberlein,

Regina here, for ExpatWomen.com.

I would like to personally invite you to list your blog on our Expat Women Blog Directory (www.expatwomen.com/expatblog/) so that other women can read about and learn from your expat experiences.

Many thanks in advance for your contribution and keep up your great blog!

Regina

Anon, "ballsy-est" is a good one! I like it.

2009-11-18T21:28:17.859-05:00

Anon, "ballsy-est" is a good one! I like it.

B. Cheng, you lost me. How does "awesome" solve th...

2009-11-18T21:26:17.788-05:00

B. Cheng, you lost me. How does "awesome" solve the root problem you mentioned?

Damjan, as far as I can tell, this expression (without "bi") has already become socially acceptable in China. Do you know any similar examples in English? It would be interesting to make comparisons.

The oft-heard colloquialism "zui niu bi" is the fi...

2009-11-18T13:50:13.202-05:00

The oft-heard colloquialism "zui niu bi" is the first thing I thought of when reading your article - have you explored the possibility that this vulgar expression has been coopted into a more socially acceptable form due to its popularity with Chinese youth?

Referring to mouseneb's comment above, "ballsiest"...

2009-11-18T02:16:15.157-05:00

Referring to mouseneb's comment above, "ballsiest" (or is that "ballsy-est") seems suitable as well, though it's not an actual word.

what about "most hardcore" or "extreme", as in Dor...

2009-11-18T01:12:53.759-05:00

what about "most hardcore" or "extreme", as in Doritos or heliskiing?

but using "beefiest" faces the issue that it ignor...

2009-11-18T00:13:59.163-05:00

but using "beefiest" faces the issue that it ignores the actual root of the term, as 最牛 is a shortening of 最牛逼 meant to be more "easier on the ears", especially for a wider audience, therefore I think awesomest probably works best.

Hi Roland, nice to see you here! Your translation ...

2009-11-17T20:00:47.570-05:00

Hi Roland, nice to see you here! Your translation is certainly a logical one the way you explain it. My only hesitation is that "awesome" is usually a praising word in modern English, as such it might not be the best choice when used with negative connotations. By the way, thanks for your great effort in updating ESWN daily. We can't live without it!

Anon, I guess by "symbol" you mean the Chinese characters I used in this post? You'll need Chinese language options in your browser to see the characters properly. Inputting is a bit trickier. I'm sure your Chinese students can help you on that.

how do you make the symbol??? read this on my stud...

2009-11-17T17:18:49.783-05:00

how do you make the symbol??? read this on my students blog... in St. Paul MN
wow - beefiest... how does one use it?

I have been translating the term as "the most awes...

2009-11-17T16:21:18.645-05:00

I have been translating the term as "the most awesome." I am not sure that is the most ideal translation.

I was thinking about the behaviors as being so extreme and far-gone that people are over-awed (as in jaw-dropping).

But I do think that "awesome" does not have that folksy flavor.

Hi Matthew and Jocelyn, your reactions to the word...

2009-11-17T12:15:26.138-05:00

Hi Matthew and Jocelyn, your reactions to the word '牛' are very interesting. I enjoy your anecdotes very much. When I hear this word applying to a personality, the impression it gives me often is "stubborn." So Matthew, I guess you might be as stubborn as I am? :-)

"Niuest" does sound good, however I worry it also sounds too much like "newest."

Great post. I always perceived 最牛 as being "bullis...

2009-11-17T01:46:22.795-05:00

Great post. I always perceived 最牛 as being "bullish" (but not in the stock market sense) -- but even that doesn't really capture it, because 牛 isn't necessarily a bull.

I also think the expression 牛脾气 is interesting -- my husband brought it up this summer as we were hiking through the mountains and suddenly came upon some free-range cattle in a national forest. I suddenly got nervous, and then my husband described the moodiness of the cattle as 牛脾气. And I felt the meaning exactly...and walked as fast as I could from the cattle!

I can still remember the thoughts that ran through...

2009-11-16T22:53:01.373-05:00

I can still remember the thoughts that ran through my head when my mother-in-law said I was "very cow." It was just as confusing as the first time I was told I was "very stick."

I think we could make this into an English-Chinese hybrid word. Let's call it "Niuiest." I just like the sound of it.

Hey, that's pretty good. Thanks. But what about in...

2009-11-16T09:25:04.196-05:00

Hey, that's pretty good. Thanks. But what about inanimate objects?

What about "with the most balls" instead?

2009-11-15T22:32:14.483-05:00

What about "with the most balls" instead?