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Translation - Chinese simplified-English - 八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œä¸€å±è¿‡æ±Ÿæ¥ã€‚Current status Translation
Category Poetry  This translation request is "Meaning only". | 八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œä¸€å±è¿‡æ±Ÿæ¥ã€‚ | | Source language: Chinese simplified
八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œä¸€å±è¿‡æ±Ÿæ¥ã€‚ | Remarks about the translation | This is a fragment from a poem by Su Dong Po.
There is a story behind it, originally was 八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œç«¯åç´«é‡‘å° but his Buddhist friend made a joke or something like that and it became 八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œä¸€å±è¿‡æ±Ÿæ¥ã€‚ |
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| If you don't care what others think... | TranslationEnglish
Translated by  cacue23 | Target language: English
If you don't care what others think,
why do you object the above statement? | Remarks about the translation | I checked the story, thanks for making me gain this piece of knowledge. It is really amazing how sharp the irony is since the situation is quite common.
The story says that Su Dongpo was quite sure that his mind is so much at peace that none of what others think would influence it, so he wrote 八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œç«¯å紫金å°, expressing this idea to his buddist friend. The friend frankly told him to "f-off", and Su Dongpo was enraged and rushed to the other side of the river to ask what was wrong with the statement, thus showing that his mind was, in fact, not totally free from the opinion of others. His friend pratically satirized him by saying 八风å¹ä¸åŠ¨ï¼Œä¸€å±è¿‡æ±Ÿæ¥: well, didn't you say that you wouldn't care what others think?
The translation can't really be done word for word because 1.it is some fragment of a poem, 2.it will be hard to explain in a few words what the "eight winds" means, and this is the best I can do.
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(Ian's notes)
Here is a more literal translation:
You claimed to not be moved by the winds from the eight directions,
but my little fart blew you clear across the river!
Here is Pluiepoco's interpretive translation, of the meaning of the friend's comment:
One is moved only by the desires within oneself. |
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Last messages | | | | |
8 February 2011 17:37 | | | Hi cacue,
This is a bit confusing. Are you translating the request or explaining it in different words?
Pluiepoco, can you help us here? CC: cacue23 pluiepoco | | |
11 February 2011 22:57 | | | It is pretty much impossible to translate it word for word and make English speakers understand what it means. It has stories and culture attached to it. The only thing I can do is to rephrase it so that the meaning comes out. | | |
13 February 2011 05:43 | | | In the light of the story (which I didn't know: thank you, Cacue!  ), I guess it wouldn't be "I" in the first line, if this was said to Su Dongpo by his teacher. It would have to be:
If you are so "imperturbable", why are you so troubled by what I said to you?
On the other hand, if it is Su Dongpo himself (reflecting on his foolishness) who is saying this, it would have to be something like:
I claimed I was "imperturbable", but a single comment made me rush across a river!
At any rate, I think we should also include the literal translation here, in the notes under the translation. (And keep Cacue's wonderful explanation, of course!) 
("You claimed to not be moved by any of the winds from the eight directions, but my little fart blew you across the river!" ) | | |
13 February 2011 21:23 | | | Hi Master,
Could you take care of this evaluation, please?
Thanks in advance.  | | |
14 February 2011 06:54 | | | Sure Lilly!
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Hi Cacue,
After having given it some thought, I think if we include your story about the background, we could attempt a near-literal / semi-interpretive translation, like:
You (or "I" ) claimed to be so imperturbable, but my (or "his" ) little comment made you (or "me" ) rush across the river!
or
I (or "You" ) thought I was (or "you were" ) "immovable", but his (or "my" ) little comment drove me (or "you" ) clear across the river!
I think this would still be understandable by English native speakers, especially in light of your very good explanation!
What do you think, guys? 
CC: cacue23 pluiepoco | | |
17 February 2011 18:01 | | | Thank you everyone!
I really wanted to know the meaning of that poem.
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20 February 2011 07:24 | | | I am late, Happy New Year!
I read the story again and again, and I would translate like this:
One can be moved by nothing than its inside desire. | | |
20 February 2011 01:37 | | | |
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