Discussion on Appropriate English Versions of Chinese Medicine Terms Based on “Faithfulness, Expressiveness and Elegance”—The Case of “Tanyin” MA Liangyu, LIU Jianghua

doi:10.12339/j.issn.1673-8578.2023.02.012

Abstract

Abstract:

English versions of Chinese medicine terms should be standardized for Chinese medicine culture’s better transmission, into which scholars such as LI Zhaoguo and ZHU Jianping have put efforts. However, some translators still use words at will in English medicine translation. As a result, some Chinese medicine terms have improper English versions as “Hundred Flowers”, which is not helpful for the standardization in a way. By using literature analysis, we describe the connotation of the translation principle “faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance”, and take this principle as the criteria for evaluating English versions of terminology based on related articles. Taking “tanyin”“tan”“yin” as examples and analyzing their English versions to find out corresponding versions, we summarized the pattern for selecting appropriate English versions of Chinese medicine terms.

Key words: English translation of phlegm-fluid retention, English translation of Chinese medicine terms, translation principle of faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance

CLC Number: (翻译)

Figures/Tables 3

References 16

[1]	林璋. 解读严复“信达雅”[J]. 中国科技翻译, 2000 (4):1-4.
[2]	樊永前. 翻译技能与技巧[M]. 北京: 气象出版社, 2009:24.
[3]	张洁怡. 试论中医术语翻译之“信、达、雅”[J]. 上海中医药大学学报, 2013, 27(6):13-15.
[4]	罗海燕, 邓海静. 浅谈中药说明书英译中的“信达雅”[J]. 英语广场, 2018(7):3-5.
[5]	姜德友, 陈强. 痰饮病源流考[J]. 浙江中医药大学报, 2009, 33(2):149-151.
[6]	刘仕利. 从痰论治血脉病[D]. 沈阳: 辽宁中医药大学, 2010.
[7]	庞大承, 张硕, 潘彦舒. 痰饮理论的沿革及代表方的演变[J]. 环球中医药, 2021, 14(10):1777-1780.
[8]	张仲景. 金匮要略[M]. 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2005:43-44.
[9]	李经纬, 余瀛鳌, 蔡景峰, 等. 中医大辞典[M]. 2版. 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2005.
[10]	World Health Organization. WHO international standard terminologies on traditional medicine in the Western Pacific Region[M]. Manila: WHO, 2007:17.
[11]	李振吉. International standard Chinese-English basic nomenclature of Chinese medicine[M]. 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2008:47.
[12]	全国科学技术名词审定委员会. 中医药学名词[M]. 北京: 科学出版社, 2005.
[13]	WISEMAN N. 英汉汉英中医词典[M]. 长沙: 湖南科学技术出版社, 1995:35,11,14,800.
[14]	霍恩比. 牛津高阶英汉双解词典(第7版)[M].3版.王玉章,赵翠莲,邹晓玲,等译. 北京: 商务印书馆, 2009.
[15]	李曦明, 张庆荣. 中医术语“津液”的英译浅析[J]. 现代中西医结合杂志, 2010, 19(29):3817-3818.
[16]	柯林斯COBUILD英语词典(新版)[M]. 上海: 上海外语教育出版社, 2000.

中医术语	《WHO西太平洋地区传统医学名词术语国际标准》^[10]	《中医基本名词术语中英对照国际标准》^[11]	《中医药学名词》^[12]	《英汉汉英中医词典》^[13]
痰饮	phlegm-retained fluid/ phlegm fluid retention	phlegm fluid retention	phlegm and fluid retention	phlegm-rheum
痰	phlegm	Phlegm	phlegm	Phlegm
饮	retained fluid/fluid retention	fluid retention	fluid retention	Rheum

中医术语	《WHO西太平洋地区传统医学名词术语国际标准》^[10]	《中医基本名词术语中英对照国际标准》^[11]	《中医药学名词》^[12]	《英汉汉英中医词典》^[13]
痰饮	phlegm-retained fluid/ phlegm fluid retention	phlegm fluid retention	phlegm and fluid retention	phlegm-rheum
痰	phlegm	Phlegm	phlegm	Phlegm
饮	retained fluid/fluid retention	fluid retention	fluid retention	Rheum

中医术语	中文内涵	合理英译名第一选择	合理英译名第二选择
痰饮	为多种饮证痰证之总称	phlegm-fluid retention/ phlegm-retained fluid	phlegm fluid retention/ phlegm and fluid retention/ phlegm and retained fluid
痰饮	饮证之一	phlegm retention
痰	呼吸道分泌的病理产物,如热痰、寒痰等; 指病因病证,如顽痰、宿痰等	phlegm	sputum
饮	饮证的总称	fluid retention/retained fluid

中医术语	中文内涵	合理英译名第一选择	合理英译名第二选择
痰饮	为多种饮证痰证之总称	phlegm-fluid retention/ phlegm-retained fluid	phlegm fluid retention/ phlegm and fluid retention/ phlegm and retained fluid
痰饮	饮证之一	phlegm retention
痰	呼吸道分泌的病理产物,如热痰、寒痰等; 指病因病证,如顽痰、宿痰等	phlegm	sputum
饮	饮证的总称	fluid retention/retained fluid