Comments on: Pirate This: Music of the Laowai http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm Tips and Strategies for Learning to Speak Mandarin Chinese Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:26:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8625 Albert Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:40:56 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8625 Ma Ya, It's great to have the stamp of approval from a native speaker. There's a new song up on the site now (<a href="http://music.laowaichinese.net/lovers-lane-piano-version.htm" rel="nofollow">Lovers' Lane</a>) but it's in English. I'm hoping to finish up 暧昧的关系 soon though. Ma Ya,

It’s great to have the stamp of approval from a native speaker. There’s a new song up on the site now (Lovers’ Lane) but it’s in English. I’m hoping to finish up 暧昧的关系 soon though.

]]> By: Ma Ya http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8623 Ma Ya Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:29:18 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8623 The translation you did was perfect! As a native speaker of Chinese, I can't think of any better translation. If there any thing that can improve in your future songs, I felt that if you can put some effort in trying to match the tone of music to the tone of the character, that would really help beginners. E.g. put note C for dong, and note B for xi,...I'm no musician, I hope I explain myself well. The translation you did was perfect! As a native speaker of Chinese, I can’t think of any better translation. If there any thing that can improve in your future songs, I felt that if you can put some effort in trying to match the tone of music to the tone of the character, that would really help beginners. E.g. put note C for dong, and note B for xi,…I’m no musician, I hope I explain myself well.

]]> By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8620 Albert Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:06:37 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8620 Greg, How exciting that there's now someone who will listen to the next song! That really lights a little motivation fire under me. There are currently 2 new Mandarin songs already written (waiting to be recorded) and at least 3 other Blue Panda songs (one in process right now) that will be going up on the website within the next 8 years. Stay tuned! Greg,

How exciting that there’s now someone who will listen to the next song! That really lights a little motivation fire under me. There are currently 2 new Mandarin songs already written (waiting to be recorded) and at least 3 other Blue Panda songs (one in process right now) that will be going up on the website within the next 8 years. Stay tuned!

]]> By: Greg http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8612 Greg Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:41:00 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8612 Very helpful, thanks. I look forward to the next song :-) Very helpful, thanks. I look forward to the next song :-)

]]> By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8609 Albert Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:15:59 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8609 Ah yes, that explains it. As one final thought, many students have come up to me saying, "If you want to say 'I'm nothing' you should say 'Wo shenme dou bu shi'" or something like that. I then explain to them that we wrote the lyrics in Chinese, finished the whole song, and then tried to think of an English translation. So it's not that we set out to say "I'm nothing" and came up with "wo bu shi dongxi." Rather, we tweaked an already well-known idiom "ni bu shi dongxi" for our own (evil) purposes. Ah yes, that explains it. As one final thought, many students have come up to me saying, “If you want to say ‘I’m nothing’ you should say ‘Wo shenme dou bu shi’” or something like that. I then explain to them that we wrote the lyrics in Chinese, finished the whole song, and then tried to think of an English translation. So it’s not that we set out to say “I’m nothing” and came up with “wo bu shi dongxi.” Rather, we tweaked an already well-known idiom “ni bu shi dongxi” for our own (evil) purposes.

]]> By: Greg http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8608 Greg Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:33:08 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8608 Albert, thanks for your reply. Firstly, I misspelled "dongxi" - I didn't mean "dongzi". Sorry if that distracted you. Secondly, I was thinking of this in the context of ... i know everything: wo zhi dao shen me dou i know nothing: wo bu zhi dao shen me dou However, in English the second would be translated as "I do not know everything" which is very different to "I know nothing". I thought that perhaps that is the direction you were going with that statement. Albert, thanks for your reply.

Firstly, I misspelled “dongxi” – I didn’t mean “dongzi”. Sorry if that distracted you.

Secondly, I was thinking of this in the context of …

i know everything: wo zhi dao shen me dou
i know nothing: wo bu zhi dao shen me dou

However, in English the second would be translated as “I do not know everything” which is very different to “I know nothing”. I thought that perhaps that is the direction you were going with that statement.

]]> By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8607 Albert Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:22:05 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8607 Greg, I'm shocked to hear you're spending so much time with that silly little song :) As compensation, I'll try to answer your question. First of all, I'm not convinced that "I'm nothing" is the only correct translation for "wo bu shi dongxi." I chose that because "ni bu shi dongxi" is an insult and by directing it at myself I'm insulting/criticizing myself. "I'm nothing" sounded more harsh and critical than "I'm not a thing." I also don't claim to know exactly how the song sounds to a native speaker of Chinese (that's one of the exciting and sometimes baffling things about composing music in a foreign language). I've had native speakers hear the song and say, "Dui! Ni bu shi dongxi, ni shi ren," with a twinkle in their eye. I've never heard of "dongzi" meaning object (nciku lists dòngzi 洞子 as "cave" but no others), but if you had a Chinese person corroborating that theory than I guess it does. I hope that helps. Greg,
I’m shocked to hear you’re spending so much time with that silly little song :) As compensation, I’ll try to answer your question. First of all, I’m not convinced that “I’m nothing” is the only correct translation for “wo bu shi dongxi.” I chose that because “ni bu shi dongxi” is an insult and by directing it at myself I’m insulting/criticizing myself. “I’m nothing” sounded more harsh and critical than “I’m not a thing.”

I also don’t claim to know exactly how the song sounds to a native speaker of Chinese (that’s one of the exciting and sometimes baffling things about composing music in a foreign language). I’ve had native speakers hear the song and say, “Dui! Ni bu shi dongxi, ni shi ren,” with a twinkle in their eye. I’ve never heard of “dongzi” meaning object (nciku lists dòngzi 洞子 as “cave” but no others), but if you had a Chinese person corroborating that theory than I guess it does. I hope that helps.

]]> By: Greg http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8605 Greg Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:43:12 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-8605 Albert I was listening to this song (yes, again :-) , and paying careful attention to the lyrics. I had a Chinese person with me - and the one line (the main line) got our attention ... wǒ bú shì dōngxi 我不是东西 I’m nothing Before we looked at the lyrics, we heard "wo bu shi dong zi" - and both took it as "I am not an object" or "I'm not just a thing". In other words, I'm a person - not something to be objectified. I hope you're getting me here. Anyway, when we looked at the official lyrics, it was translated as "I am nothing". That's fine - and I can see what that might be true. However, I would be interested if you have any comments to help me understand why your translation is the 'right' one? Much appreciated. Albert

I was listening to this song (yes, again :-) , and paying careful attention to the lyrics. I had a Chinese person with me – and the one line (the main line) got our attention …

wǒ bú shì dōngxi
我不是东西
I’m nothing

Before we looked at the lyrics, we heard “wo bu shi dong zi” – and both took it as “I am not an object” or “I’m not just a thing”. In other words, I’m a person – not something to be objectified.

I hope you’re getting me here.

Anyway, when we looked at the official lyrics, it was translated as “I am nothing”.

That’s fine – and I can see what that might be true. However, I would be interested if you have any comments to help me understand why your translation is the ‘right’ one?

Much appreciated.

]]> By: Nick http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7441 Nick Sun, 24 May 2009 12:01:03 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-7441 This song is very hǎo! Nice. This song is very hǎo! Nice.

]]> By: magnus http://laowaichinese.net/pirate-this-music-of-the-laowai.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7427 magnus Sat, 23 May 2009 05:02:16 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=961#comment-7427 What part betrays your "laowai-ness"? Let's see... 1. your face. 2. the fact that you wrote your own song and were able to perform it on a guitar with out a tape. and yes, 3. the whole time you are singing! But again nice job. They call it Mandopop for a reason, it's popular! What part betrays your “laowai-ness”?

Let’s see…

1. your face.
2. the fact that you wrote your own song and were able to perform it on a guitar with out a tape.

and yes, 3. the whole time you are singing!

But again nice job. They call it Mandopop for a reason, it’s popular!

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