User:Nanshu/Translation
Reconstruction of non-Chinese terms from Chinese sources[edit]
Chinese characters are, undoubtedly, the worst writing system to transcript foreign words. The reading of each character depends on time and place. We often find it difficult to reconstruct non-Chinese terms from Chinese sources, especially if the languages are dead, but Mandarin readings are different beyond recognition from those of old Chinese. In Wikipedia I try to use original spellings at least for Mongolian and Manchu, but adopt Pinyin for other languages.
Disclaimer: My adoption of Pinyin does not mean my support for PRC's policies.
Translation of Chinese names and titles[edit]
- 都尉 du1 yu4 - Defender
- 都元帥 du1 yuan2 shuai4 - Commander-in-Chief
- 監軍 jian1 jun1 - Army-inspecting Censor (Ming)
- 經略 jing1 lüe4 - Military Commissioner
- 郡 jun4 - Commandery
- 太守 tai4 shou3 - Governor
- 衛 wei4 - Guard (Ming)
- 游擊 you1 ji2 - Mobile Corps Commander
- 總兵官 zong3 bing1 guan1 - Regional Commander
The titles of the Manchu imperial family and Mongol (and some Muslim) princes[edit]
need translation
| Rank | Manchu | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | hošoi cin wang | 和碩親王 |
| 2 | šidzi | 世子 |
| 3 | doroi giyūn wang | 多羅郡王 |
| 4 | jangdzi | 長子 |
| 5 | doroi beile | 多羅貝勒 |
| 6 | gūsai beise | 固山貝子 |
| 7 | kesi be tuwakiyara gurun be dalire gung | 奉恩鎮國公 |
| 8 | kesi be tuwakiyara gurun de aisilara gung | 奉恩輔國公 |
| 9 | jakūn ubu de dosimbuhakū gurun be dalire gung | 不入八分鎮國公 |
| 10 | jakūn ubu de dosimbuhakū gurun de aisilara gung | 不入八分輔國公 |
| 11 | gurun be dalire janggin | 鎮國將軍 |
| 12 | gurun de aisilara janggin | 輔國將軍 |
| 13 | gurun be tuwakiyara janggin | 奉國將軍 |
| 14 | kesi be tuwakiyara janggin | 奉恩將軍 |
Notes on Mongolian Romanization[edit]
I apply the Cyrillic script to Mongolian names related to Outer Mongolia after the Mongolian Revolution.
Transcription of the traditional Mongolian script[edit]
| trans. | variants |
|---|---|
| kh | q |
| gh | ɢ, γ |
| sh | š |
| ch | č |
| j | ǰ |
- romanize vowel + gh + vowel or vowel + g + vowel to vowel + vowel if pronounced as a long vowel today.
- romanize round vowels except on a first syllable to u if male, ü if female.
- respect original spellings of foreign origin words (esp. Tibetan).
The above rules are not applied to the Todo script.
Exceptions for popular words
- Khan (spelling: Khaghan, my romanization: Khaan)
- Hothot (Köke Khota)
Romanization differences between the Classical and Cyrillic scripts[edit]
| Classical | Cyrillic |
|---|---|
| kh (M), k (F) | h |
| gh (M), g (F) | g |
| n, ng | n |
| ch | ch, ts |
| b | b, v |
Romanization of Cyrillic script[edit]
| Аа | a | Ёё | yo | Лл | l | Рр | r | Хх | h | Ыы | ï |
| Бб | b | Жж | j | Мм | m | Сс | s | Цц | ts | Ьь | ĭ |
| Вв | v | Зз | z | Нн | n | Тт | t | Чч | ch | Ээ | e |
| Гг | g | Ии | i | Оо | o | Уу | u | Шш | sh | Юю | yu, yü |
| Дд | d | Йй | y | Өө | ö | Үү | ü | Щщ | shch | Яя | ya |
| Ее | yö | Кк | k | Пп | p | Фф | f | Ъъ | ' | ||