细数外国地名的美翻译

细数外国地名的美翻译

说起汉语的博大精深，有时会体现在对外国名称的翻译上。老一辈中国人，对国外一些著名的人名、地名、品牌名，都有不少经典的翻译，可谓“信达雅”的典范。

比如朱自清将法国的Fontainebleau宫翻译成“枫丹白露”，一股优雅之气跃然纸上。徐志摩将它翻译成“芳丹薄罗”，发音虽然更接近，但和枫丹白露相比，却还是逊色了，最终没能流行开。

另外说起最经典的名称翻译，非“可口可乐”莫属。据说1927年，可口可乐刚开始在上海销售的时候，品牌被翻译成了“蝌蝌啃蜡”，这还有人敢喝吗？！后来美国人发现了这个问题，就举办了一场公开征名活动，登报悬赏求译名。一位上海教授蒋彝，便以“可口可乐”四个字击败其他对手，轻松拿走了奖金。到现

在为止，这个词流行了近百年，其“信达雅”自不必多说。

今天呢，CD君就带你盘点那些被翻译的美得不像话的国外旅游胜地名。

The Chinese names of seven top world tourism destinations

1. Buckingham Palace (UK)

Origin: Buckingham Palace was created by the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. He built the Buckingham House for himself as his grand London home. Chinese Translation: 白金汉宫（Bai Jin Han Gong）. A transliteration from its English pronunciation to Chinese characteristics, "Bucking" sounds like the "Bai Jin" in Chinese. "Bai Jin" means platinum.

2. Fontainebleau (France)

Origin: The Palace of Fontainebleau is located in commune of Fontainebleau, 55 kilometers southeast of the center of Paris. The name "Fontainebleau" evolves from the concept of "fontaine belle eau", which means "beautiful fountain".

Chinese Translation: 枫丹白露（Feng Dan Bai Lu）. The name, transliterated by Zhu Ziqing, refers to two images: red maple and white dew, outlining fascinating autumnal scenery.

3. Champs Elysees Avenue (France)Origin: The Avenue des Champs-

Élysées is a boulevard in Paris. It is known for its theatres, cafés, luxury shops, and for the annual military parade that celebrates French National Day. In English, "Champs-Élysées" means the Elysian Fields, the paradise for dead heroes in Greek mythology.

Chinese Translation: 香榭丽舍（Xiang Xie Li She）. The literal translation is “Fragrant Pavilion and Beautiful House”.

4. Yosemite National Park (US)

Origin: The name "Yosemite" (meaning "killer" in Miwok), originally refers to the name of an Indian tribe who lived in the central eastern portion of the US state of California.

Chinese Translation: 优山美地（You Shan Mei Di）or 优诗美地（You Shi Mei Di）. The literal translation is "Beautiful Mountain and Land" or "Beautiful poem and land".

5. Aegean Sea (Europe)

Origin: The sea was traditionally known as Archipelago (in Greek, Αρχιπέλαγος, meaning "chief sea"), but in English the meaning of the word has changed to better represent the Aegean Islands.

Chinese Translation: 爱琴海（Ai Qin Hai）. "Ai Qin" can be associated in Chinese with love and music. Because it sounds like 爱情(Aiqing) which means love and affection, it has become a very romantic place and wedding destination for Chinese people.

6. Honolulu (US)

Origin: Honolulu, which means "sheltered harbor" or "calm port", is the capital of the US state of Hawaii.

Chinese Translation: 檀香山（Tan Xiang Shan）means "Mountains of fragrant sandalwood". It's believed that the Chinese people brought by the sandalwood trade in Hawaii since the 18th century gave Honolulu its Chinese name.

7. San Francisco (US)

Origin: San Francisco was founded on June 29, 1776. The city by the bay was once a Mexican village named Yerba Buena (Good Grass). In 1846, during the Mexican War, Commodore John Sloat renamed the settlement for its "San Francisco de Asís" mission (better known as Mission Dolores). Chinese Translation: 旧金山（Jiu Jin Shan）means "Old Gold Mountain". The name "Gold Mountain" was given by Chinese immigrants during the California Gold Rush (1848-55).

Later, Australia's Melbourne would have a gold rush of its own. That was called "New Gold Mountain", and San Francisco became the "Old Gold Mountain".