面子

English translation: sake

12:52 Jun 25, 2016
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Chinese term or phrase: 面子
因为你的面子, 我才帮他。

请问这列的“面子”如何翻译。

我是这样翻译的;

Because of my relationship with you, I then decided to assist him.

or

Because I would like to ensure you have had very good respect among all of our shared friends and as the result of my relationship with you, I then decided to assist him.

Is it OK?

What do you think?
Yi Cao
New Zealand
Local time: 04:13
English translation:sake
Explanation:
因为你的面子, 我才帮他。> I only helped him for your sake.

"Sake" has a broader meaning than 面子 (meaning not just "for your reputation" but "for your benefit in general"), but it serves the same function in this sentence.

And there is this translation of sake 看在...面上, which is very similar.

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Note added at 55 mins (2016-06-25 13:48:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That's true, but sometimes I think this is unavoidable. If you want to be more specific you could use "I only helped him to save your face/reputation", but then the sentence is getting a bit long and unwieldy imo.
Selected response from:

Michael Lickorish
Australia
Local time: 01:43
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5sake
Michael Lickorish
4Prestige
albertdeng
3 +1"mianzi"/"face"
MY Lim
3out of the consideration of/for someone
tanglsus


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
sake


Explanation:
因为你的面子, 我才帮他。> I only helped him for your sake.

"Sake" has a broader meaning than 面子 (meaning not just "for your reputation" but "for your benefit in general"), but it serves the same function in this sentence.

And there is this translation of sake 看在...面上, which is very similar.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2016-06-25 13:48:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That's true, but sometimes I think this is unavoidable. If you want to be more specific you could use "I only helped him to save your face/reputation", but then the sentence is getting a bit long and unwieldy imo.

Example sentence(s):
  • I will help you for your sister 's sake .
  • 看在你姐姐面上,我来帮你。

    Reference: http://www.ichacha.net/sake.html
    Reference: http://211.75.39.208/adv/grammar/data/NNPS08.htm
Michael Lickorish
Australia
Local time: 01:43
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Because of the fact that sake covers a larger concept than "面子“, as mentioned by you, I, then, believe they are not similar.

Asker: From the point of recipients, you would pass a larger concept through than the original intention.

Asker: I am a translator who is trying to give precise rendition as much as I can. The problem that of unwieldy sentence is the problem which should be solved by the founder of the English Language. I am not the founder of the English Language. This is not something which I have to worry.

Asker: The problem of unwieldy sentence should be solved by the founder of the English Language. I am not the founder and I am only a user.

Asker: “面子” is more complicated than reputation. It is based on the relationship between two people. Because of the fact that you are my friend or you have done a favor for me, I then have to consider your “面子”。 Reputation does not have this meaning. They are not the same.

Asker: Different word has different connotation. In this particular instance, sake and reputation and ‘面子“ are three different words with important minute nuance. It is wrong to fail to appreciate the difference.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Intotheworld: Accuracy doesn't always mean word to word.
5 hrs

agree  Robert Hopkins
3 days 14 hrs

agree  Bruce Guo: this shall be the most appropriate answer, the meaning of "mianzi" is contained, invisible but feelable.
4 days

agree  Sharon Toh, MITI MCIL: Agree with the answer and every peer comment under this answer.
9 days

agree  Rita Pang
10 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Prestige


Explanation:
This is an alternative translation. It means this person is believed to be a respectable person, whose words carry weight. If the speaker does not do as he does, this person's prestige will be undermined.

albertdeng
New Zealand
Local time: 04:13
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 11
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
out of the consideration of/for someone


Explanation:
因为你的面子, 我才帮他
I helped him only out of the consideration of/for you.

供参考




tanglsus
United States
Local time: 11:13
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 8
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
"mianzi"/"face"


Explanation:
"Mianzi" is a very layered and multi-faceted concept that cannot be condensed into a single English word. However, for the sake of clarity and brevity, I agree that "sake" (as suggested by Michael) would serve its purpose.

However, if the concept of "mianzi" appears often in the source text and seems to be an overarching theme of the text, then it would be possible to just translate it literally/transliterate it (with a footnote/explanation to accompany its initial occurrence) and use the literal translation/pinyin rendition for subsequent occurrences of the term. I like how Adeline Yen Mah did it for "yuan fen" (another Chinese concept that cannot be explained with a single English word):

“People with yuan fen are destined to like one another;
Friendship develops even if a thousand miles apart.
But should yuan fen be absent between two individuals,
They will remain strangers despite sitting face-to-face”
― Adeline Yen Mah, Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society


MY Lim
Malaysia
Local time: 23:13
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Lin
10 days
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