This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Chinese to English
  3. Slang

不降龍

English translation: insurmountable

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:不降龍
English translation:insurmountable
Entered by: Caroline Moreno

19:50 May 11, 2011
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Slang / Possible Typo
Chinese term or phrase: 不降龍
Hello,

I'm not sure if this is a typo of some kind, or if it's slang, or something else.

It's a comment from a customer on a survey. Here's the context:

產品還是有問題，產品不降龍

Any insight would be appreciated. TIA!
Caroline Moreno
United States
Local time: 18:38
there are insurmountable problems
Explanation:
A literary reference or a literal meaning is probably a bit too far-fetched, but in case no one else has any ideas and you have not considered these before, perhaps these could be suggestions that might lead us somewhere (but likely not).

The literal meaning of 降龍 is “to defeat dragons”. There is an idiom that you can find at http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/ (I can’t give an exact link, since that dictionary has a strange interface that makes it impossible to provide links to individual words) that alludes to surmounting problems. There is also a well-known novel with this term in its title.

If we follow any of these lines of thought, then 不降龍 would literally mean something to the effect of “there are dragons that can’t be defeated”; if this is in the right direction, it might mean something in the lines of “there are insurmountable problems”.

But as I’ve indicated in my confidence level, this is nothing but a wild guess.
Selected response from:

Ambrose Li
Canada
Local time: 21:38
Grading comment
I think this is an excellent guess. The word, "insurmountable" conveys the meaning of 不降龍 very well. Thanks to everyone for your contributions!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4without superiority/at a disadvantage
lincaiwan
1there are insurmountable problems
Ambrose Li
1compatibility issues
Phil Hand


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
there are insurmountable problems


Explanation:
A literary reference or a literal meaning is probably a bit too far-fetched, but in case no one else has any ideas and you have not considered these before, perhaps these could be suggestions that might lead us somewhere (but likely not).

The literal meaning of 降龍 is “to defeat dragons”. There is an idiom that you can find at http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/ (I can’t give an exact link, since that dictionary has a strange interface that makes it impossible to provide links to individual words) that alludes to surmounting problems. There is also a well-known novel with this term in its title.

If we follow any of these lines of thought, then 不降龍 would literally mean something to the effect of “there are dragons that can’t be defeated”; if this is in the right direction, it might mean something in the lines of “there are insurmountable problems”.

But as I’ve indicated in my confidence level, this is nothing but a wild guess.

Ambrose Li
Canada
Local time: 21:38
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I think this is an excellent guess. The word, "insurmountable" conveys the meaning of 不降龍 very well. Thanks to everyone for your contributions!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Ambrose. I do follow your logic and your insights are very helpful.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
compatibility issues


Explanation:
You suggested it might be a typo - if the respondent is from Taiwan and doesn't always distinguish fully between -n/ng, l-/r-, then it could at a stretch be a typo for 兼容

Phil Hand
China
Local time: 09:38
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your help, Phil. That could be a possibility.

Asker: On second thought, I think even if the respondent didn't always distinguish between these sounds/spellings, the person should still recognize the characters, as long as they looked at what they typed. So, the respondent would know that those weren't the right characters. This is a hard one though, and I do appreciate your response.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
without superiority/at a disadvantage


Explanation:
“降龙”means one gets help from god or others with power. “不降龙” is the negative tone of “降龙”.

lincaiwan
Local time: 09:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Chinese
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, lincaiwan! I appreciate your response!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search