\nSomething I wrote in Clarity. I doubt it would fly very high with established Chinese translators but, for some reason, it makes sense to me.\n<\/p>\n
\nNow, I find that er4 is a great word to debate semantically. Here is something interesting:<\/p>\n
English Senses For: er4 (\u8cb3<\/span>)
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in ancient China – a deputy \/ to serve as a deputy \/ to suspect \/ to doubt \/ to distrust \/ changeable \/ an elaborate form of ” two “used in writing checks etc. to prevent forgery – \/ to repeat \/ double ness \/ a Chinese family name.<\/p>\n29.4 (from Steve Marshall’s Zhouyi transcription)<\/p>\n
\u516d\u56db<\/span> \u6a3d\u9152\u7c0b\u8cb3\u3002\u7528\u7f36\u3002\u7d0d\u7d04\u81ea\u7256\u3002\u7d42\u65e0\u548e\u3002<\/p>\n
<\/span>Now, look at the parsing above; if we take this as the correct parsing, then we have a four distinct verses here. Thus, er4 is part of the first verse…<\/p>\n
The meaning I like most above is: [U]” an elaborate form of ” two “used in writing checks etc. to prevent forgery – \/ to repeat \/ double ness \/”.[\/U] From this, I depart from both Brad’s (number two, meaning a numeral) and Ewald’s (distrust) interpretations. If I was translating this on my own, I would see er4 as a way to “make sure; be assured of; doble-check something is accomplished –i.e. check door locks more than once, etc.–; surely; in a sure manner; with assurance; without doubt; etc.” An off-the-wall interpretation for “er4” could be as part of explaining “compulsive behaviour” by repeatedly doing something. Now, notice that my interpretation is, somewhat, a combination of “two”, as numeral, and “distrust”. It is derived from both.<\/p>\n
I have other unorthodox semantic interpretations for the characters of the first verse.<\/p>\n
One of the meanings for \u6a3d<\/span> is “lush, luxuriant.” I like that. A lot. From there I can derive a meaning of “fine, luxurious”. This interpretation fits, IMVHO, like a glove with the next character, \u9152<\/span>, which is translated as wine or liquor. Thus, I would interpret “\u6a3d<\/span> \u9152<\/span>” as “fine wine”, “precious wine”, meaning a wine that is only used for especial occasions or purposes (i.e. “holy wine”, etc.)<\/p>\n
The next character, “\u7c0b<\/span>,” is very interesting, contextually so. Its meaning being a “basket of bamboo” (bowl, if you want to stretch the meaning to other “hollow container”). But not just any “bamboo basket” (or bowl) it is a special basket used in sacrifices, offerings and\/or special occasions, like in a feast. Its use something akin to the bronze “ding”, but in a wooden version.<\/p>\n
Again, if this parsing is correct –and thus its contextual meaning–, “er4” I would translate “\u6a3d\u9152\u7c0b\u8cb3\u3002<\/span>” as:<\/p>\n
“Making certain (<\/em><\/strong>\u8cb3<\/span>) the finest (<\/em><\/strong>\u6a3d<\/span>) {or proper\/correct} wine\/liquor (<\/em><\/strong>\u9152<\/span>) goes in the sacrificial basket {vessel} (<\/em><\/strong>\u7c0b<\/span>)”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Of course, I know that above I transposed characters, etc., but it is a totally “right-brained” translation of the verse….<\/p>\n
Luis\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Something I wrote in Clarity. I doubt it would fly very high with established Chinese translators but, for some reason, it makes sense to me. Now, I find that er4 is a great word to debate semantically. Here is something interesting: English Senses For: er4 (\u8cb3) in ancient China –… Continue reading