《新闻联播》难倒美国翻译官 How to translate "a mouth running trains" in English?

The most watched daily news program in China "Xinwen Lianbo" has taken over the Chinese blogosphere after it broadcast a series of short commentary programs – but they have proven to be bad news for translators.

On Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, the newscast, broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV), was trending because of the vivid and humorous language of its segments sent audience ratings 26 percent up – the highest increase in nearly two decades.

The format of the segments has attracted a younger audience, who are now binge-watching them online like dramas. International media outlets have also taken note of the phenomenon.

The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the BBC, CNN, Fox and others have quoted content from Xinwen Lianbo.

Kang Hui, one of the anchors of "Xinwen Lianbo." [Photo: CGTN]

However, some things have been lost in translation when the content is adapted for an English-speaking audience. Some translators are reportedly scratching their heads over certain phrases that are expressive in Mandarin but not so much in English.

For example, how to translate "a mouth running trains" in English? In fact, it is a Chinese phrase that means "You're full of crap."

To help translators and those looking to understand the Chinese culture, we've tried our hand at translating a few buzzwords from Xinwen Lianbo.

喷饭

Pen fan (something makes you spit out your rice) means "Laughable" or "Choke with laughter."

满嘴跑火车

Man zui pao huo che (your mouth is a runaway train) means "You're full of crap."

扎轮胎

Zha lun tai (slashing tires) – take revenge.

怨妇心态

Yuan fu xin tai (a female who is full of complaints) – green-eyed monster.

遮羞布

Zhe xiu bu (loin cloth) – fig leaf.

Gang Qiang, one of the anchors of "Xinwen Lianbo." [Photo: CGTN]

裸奔

Luo ben (streaking) – showing your true colors.

满地找牙

Man di zhao ya – beat the living daylights out of you.

合则两利，斗则俱伤

He ze liang li, dou ze ju shang – benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation.

躲得过初一，躲不了十五

Duo de liao chu yi, duo bu liao shi wu – you can run but you can never hide.

天若欲其亡，必先令其狂

Tian ruo yu qi wang, bi xian ling qi kuang – those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.

Hai Xia, an anchor of "Xinwen Lianbo." [Photo: CGTN]

脚底抹油

Jiao di mo you – sneak away.

青山遮不住，毕竟东流去

Qing shan zhe bu zhu, bi jing dong liu qu – nature will always take its course.