Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dec 12, 2006 13:09
17 yrs ago
Chinese term
Singapore
Business & Legal Translator
Native in: English (Variants: Singaporean, UK, US) 
Works in: Chinese to English
东风
Chinese to English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
F1上海战的比赛将于明天开始，在场外商家们也一点也没闲着,从酒店、旅行社到F1商品，甚至到汽车业，都在借F1的东风大发其财。
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | "Advantage" or "opportunity" in the context |
franksf
|
| 4 +1 | bandwagon |
Lu Wang
|
| 3 +1 | favorable climate 或 favorable wind conditions |
wherestip
|
| 3 | (借)东风 = (make hay) while the sun shines |
chica nueva
|
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
"Advantage" or "opportunity" in the context
场外商家们 ... 都在借F1的东风大发其财 The merchants off of the racing field ... take the advantage (opportunity) of the race to help themselves make a fortune.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I choose Frank's answer before I think it fits my context. However, wherestip's explanation is helpful. I appreciate all the help. Thanks!"
+1
22 mins
favorable climate 或 favorable wind conditions
只欠东风 is used to portray the situation where everything is ready and in order except for a favorable natural weather condition that humans have no control over
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Note added at 25 mins (2006-12-12 13:35:22 GMT)
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in other words, it refers to an outside favorable influence or condition, in this case, the favorable business climate caused by the F1 event.
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Note added at 40 mins (2006-12-12 13:49:38 GMT)
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典故:
http://www.pep.com.cn/200406/ca465269.htm
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Note added at 41 mins (2006-12-12 13:50:42 GMT)
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or "favorable important event"
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-12-12 19:31:51 GMT)
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I actually mostly agree with Frank's translation. It is indeed a situation of vendors trying to take advantage of the business opportunities that the F1 event brings about to make a fortune for themselves.
How one gets from point A to point B in understanding the term 借东风 could have used a bit more explanation though, IMHO.
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Note added at 25 mins (2006-12-12 13:35:22 GMT)
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in other words, it refers to an outside favorable influence or condition, in this case, the favorable business climate caused by the F1 event.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 mins (2006-12-12 13:49:38 GMT)
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典故:
http://www.pep.com.cn/200406/ca465269.htm
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Note added at 41 mins (2006-12-12 13:50:42 GMT)
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or "favorable important event"
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Note added at 6 hrs (2006-12-12 19:31:51 GMT)
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I actually mostly agree with Frank's translation. It is indeed a situation of vendors trying to take advantage of the business opportunities that the F1 event brings about to make a fortune for themselves.
How one gets from point A to point B in understanding the term 借东风 could have used a bit more explanation though, IMHO.
Note from asker:
| makes sense... :) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
franksf
: I wish I had read your post more at a leisure pace, then I would have just appended mine as an addition like this. Thanks again, wherestip, for such a scholarly treatment of the East Wind. If 东风 had a mind she would appreciate your account.
7 hrs
|
|
Thank you for the nice words, Frank :-)
|
|
| neutral |
chinesetrans
: Faithful, but not expressive. better with franksf.
11 hrs
|
10 hrs
chica nueva
Native in English
Works in field
http://youtube/iraVWQu3Zf8
Native in: English (Variants: British, New Zealand)
Works in: Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
60
(借)东风 = (make hay) while the sun shines
诸葛亮巧借东风(三国演义)
借 = make use of; take advantage of (an opportunity, etc.) eg 借这次大会的东风 make the most of the favourable situation brought about by the congress (外研社:汉英词典)
借 = make use of; take advantage of (an opportunity, etc.) eg 借这次大会的东风 make the most of the favourable situation brought about by the congress (外研社:汉英词典)
+1
12 hrs
bandwagon
all of them are riding the F1 bandwagon and making exuberant profits
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Malcolm Mayfield
: Good one, Lu. I was thinking "hitching their wagons", but to the F1 what?
4 hrs
|
|
to the tail of F1, probably
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