說說那些起源于漢語的英語詞匯

English words from Chinese words are often denoted as being “l(fā)oanwords”. A loanword is one that does not share a literal translation of the word. Quite simply， the word is borrowed and then used into the new language.

在英語中，那些來自于漢語的詞匯通常都被稱為“外來詞匯”。一個外來詞。并不是按照字面意思翻譯過來的。簡單來說，就是這個詞匯是從別處借過來，然后被用到一種新的語言當(dāng)中。

1. Gung Ho

工合

The literal translation is “work together”. The English use was popularized by Marines fighting in the Pacific in World War II. The phrase came to mean： “whole heartedly enthusiastic， and loyal， eager， and zealous”.

字面意思是“合作、同心協(xié)力”。它在英語中被廣泛使用是在二戰(zhàn)中美國海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊在太平洋作戰(zhàn)的時期。當(dāng)時這個短語的意思是：“竭誠熱情、忠誠、愿望、熱心”。

2. Typhoon

臺風(fēng)

The literal translation is “strong wind”. Experts say the term， typhoon from the Greek and Arabic， was strengthened with the Chinese translation.

字面意思是“強風(fēng)”。有專家表示這個詞匯源自于希臘語和阿拉伯語，中文翻譯過來后意思被加強了。

3. China

中國

In Chinese， it literally means “the middle country”. The name was first used by the Italian explorer， Marco Polo.

在中文里的字面意思是“中間的國家”。最早使用這個名字的人是意大利探險家馬可·波羅。

4. Silk

絲綢

The word was first introduced to Western culture by smugglers who took silk worms and mulberry leaves out of China in 552 Common Era （CE）.

這個詞語第一次被引入到西方是在公元552年走私者將蠶和桑葉從中國偷運到西方的時候。

5. Feng Shui

風(fēng)水

The literall translation is “wind and water”. It is the Chinese belief in creating a spiritual balance in one’s home and workplace. The word was first introduced to Westerners in 1757.

字面意思是“風(fēng)和水”。風(fēng)水是中國人在家和工作場所創(chuàng)造精神平衡的一種信仰。這個詞最開始進入西方是在1757年。

6. Kowtow

磕頭

Literally means “knock head”. In China the word is a way of bowing and touching the forehead to the ground to indicate respect. In English the word means to “be servile： to behave in an extremely submissive way in order to please somebody in a position of authority”.

字面意思就是“叩頭”。在漢語中，它指鞠躬并把前額碰到地上以示尊重。在英語中的意思是“奴化：為了取悅權(quán)威，表現(xiàn)得非常順從”。

7. Lose Face

丟面子

The literal translation is “humiliation”. The word is said to have been introduced to English speakers in 1876.

字面的意思是“丟臉、恥辱”。據(jù)說這個詞匯是在1876年引入西方的。

8. Tai Chi

太極

In Chinese， the word is literally translated to the “supreme ultimate”. It is now used in American lingo to describe the martial art of tai chi. Some emphasize the slow movements as a form of exercise， while others practice it as a martial art.

按照中文直譯過來就是“太極（最高極限）”。這也是現(xiàn)在美國武術(shù)館中所描述的太極。一些人將其看作是一種慢動作的練習(xí)方式，但是另一些人將其當(dāng)作武術(shù)來練。

9. Oolong

烏龍茶

Literally means“black dragon”. First introduced to the English language in 1852 as a dark， black tea.

字面意思是“黑龍”。首次是在1852年作為紅茶引入的。