for want of a better term

Chinese translation: 找不到更好的说法,只能说...

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:for want of a better term
Chinese translation:找不到更好的说法,只能说...
Entered by: Wenjer Leuschel (X)

08:44 May 28, 2004
English to Chinese translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History
English term or phrase: for want of a better term
"About four years ago we spent a total of $66.4 million for the entire federal effort in the drug abuse area. . . .This year we have spent $796.3 million and the budget estimates that have been submitted indicate that we will exceed the $1 billion mark. When we do so, we become, for want of a better term, a drug abuse industrial complex.
试译:
“大约四年前,我们在反对吸毒滥用方面的联邦计划总共花了6640万美元……今年,我们已经花了近8亿美元,已经呈递上去的预算估计表明将会突破10亿美元大关。怎么说呢?(???)这样一来,我们简直成了毒品滥用大工业中心。”
有没有比较生动的说法?
clearwater
China
Local time: 12:50
找不到更好的说法,只能说...
Explanation:
“大约四年前,我们联邦在反毒品滥用的工作上总共花了6640万美元……今年,我们花了将近8亿美元,而呈上去的预算估计显示将会突破10亿美元大关。如果真是这样,我找不到更好的说法,只能说我们简直变成毒品滥用共犯结构里的一员了。”
Selected response from:

Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Taiwan
Local time: 12:50
Grading comment
谢谢!
这个版本比较紧捉原文。
不过,译成“毒品滥用共犯结构”实在不敢恭维。还是译成“滥用毒品的大工业中心”吧,这样形象一点:)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3TRY-说得难听一点
SHbreeze
3 +3找不到更好的说法,只能说...
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
4講得貼切一點
jjy
3可惜/恐怕没更好的说法;不好意思说;为难说的;只好说是...
chica nueva
3说得好听一点
Denyce Seow


  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
TRY-说得难听一点


Explanation:
这样一来,说得难听一点,我们简直成了滥用毒品的大工业中心。
仅供参考。

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Note added at 24 mins (2004-05-28 09:08:50 GMT)
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“简直”可改成“反倒”。

SHbreeze
Local time: 12:50
Native speaker of: Chinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marc Van Gastel: very nice suggestion , better than 换句话说,
10 mins
  -> Thanks a lot!

agree  isahuang
2 hrs
  -> thank you

agree  Shang
7 hrs
  -> thank you
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
可惜/恐怕没更好的说法;不好意思说;为难说的;只好说是...


Explanation:
for/from want of = because of a lack or absence of something wanted or needed 由于缺乏(某物) eg The plants died for want of water. 植物因缺水而枯死.We watched television for want of anything better to do. 因为没有更好的事情可做,我们便看电视.


    ���Ľ��״ʵ�
chica nueva
Local time: 17:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
找不到更好的说法,只能说...


Explanation:
“大约四年前,我们联邦在反毒品滥用的工作上总共花了6640万美元……今年,我们花了将近8亿美元,而呈上去的预算估计显示将会突破10亿美元大关。如果真是这样,我找不到更好的说法,只能说我们简直变成毒品滥用共犯结构里的一员了。”

Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Taiwan
Local time: 12:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 30
Grading comment
谢谢!
这个版本比较紧捉原文。
不过,译成“毒品滥用共犯结构”实在不敢恭维。还是译成“滥用毒品的大工业中心”吧,这样形象一点:)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marc Van Gastel: this is the exact meaning of de term
8 hrs
  -> Thank you. Sorry for late expression of appreciation.

agree  Xiaoping Fu
9 hrs
  -> Thank you. Sorry for late expression of appreciation.

agree  isahuang
3 days 3 hrs
  -> Thank you. Sorry for late expression of appreciation.
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
说得好听一点


Explanation:
Hmm... I think "for want of a BETTER term" should be 说得好听一点... Correct me if I am wrong... :p

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs 10 mins (2004-05-28 16:54:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here are more examples with \"for want of a better term\":

\"The article was, in fact, the first in a series De Volkskrant intends to publish on the expected disastrous effects on this country of what for want of a better term I\'ll give the ame \'gerontofication\' of society.\"

\"I\'ve also written a number of shorter stories which, for want of a better term, I call fairy tales.\"



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Note added at 8 hrs 11 mins (2004-05-28 16:55:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note \"drug abuse area\" vs. \"drug industrial complex\"

Denyce Seow
Singapore
Local time: 12:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 37
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2 days 17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
講得貼切一點


Explanation:
term有術語、命名之意,用better來形容,應該不是道德上的好或不好,而是這個術語能否確切表達出它所要表達的事物。因此a better term譯為講得貼切一點。如果是壞事,講得雖然難聽一點但卻貼切,這裡若譯為講好聽一點,則意思連不起來,毒品濫用工業中心怎麼會好聽呢?

complex一詞有綜合體、複合體之意,譯為大工業中心似乎是馬虎掉了,共犯結構意思稍近,但嫌太過。試譯為:
這樣一來,講得貼切一點,我們其實就成了藥物濫用綜合產業中的一環了。

jjy
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