How to say 好為人師 in English
How to say 好為人師 in English
As title. I wonder how to use a concise phrase or sentence to express the behavior of 好為人師 in English. Anybody can help?
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
Firstly, it's a negative term. It's not supposed to be "I love being a teacher". (Not for me, at least.)
I guess there is no perfect translation for "好為人師" because of the culture difference. Being a teacher seems not a big deal in the west; they don't worship any teachers. (Why do we deify Confucius, anyway?) The best word I can think of is "patronize".
But, maybe Kooper would think I'm patronizing him because he already knows this word?
I guess there is no perfect translation for "好為人師" because of the culture difference. Being a teacher seems not a big deal in the west; they don't worship any teachers. (Why do we deify Confucius, anyway?) The best word I can think of is "patronize".
But, maybe Kooper would think I'm patronizing him because he already knows this word?
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
According to one of my resources:
好為人師:
1. be fond of teaching others
2. have a tendency to sermonize people
3. like to be a master to others
4. like to lecture other people
5. presumptuously to lecture people
好為人師:
1. be fond of teaching others
2. have a tendency to sermonize people
3. like to be a master to others
4. like to lecture other people
5. presumptuously to lecture people
Knowledge is power -- when shared.
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
To be frankly, I didn't know what it means (I mean in Chinese...) when I saw this "idiom(?)'"~~ Hahaha....
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
Amazing! Generation gap is real!Tina Sun 寫:To be frankly, I didn't know what it means (I mean in Chinese...) when I saw this "idiom(?)'"~~ Hahaha....
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
Hi Wayne,Wayne 寫:According to one of my resources:
好為人師:
1. be fond of teaching others
2. have a tendency to sermonize people
3. like to be a master to others
4. like to lecture other people
5. presumptuously to lecture people
Welcome back! While I had been wondering for a while where you and Claire had gone, It's great to hear from you again.
Thank you for answering my question with varied answers. To me, 好為人師 seems to be a negative term in most cases, unless I use it sarcastically to refer to someone who is a good teacher and enjoys teaching. Of course I need to keep a right tone in such case so that people don't get confused.
I think Rock is right about the translation - there is possibly no perfect translation of the term in English. My feeling of this Chinese phrase, when it has a negative connotation, is a combination of both #4 and #3 .
An alternative to #3 that I have in mind is "like to play masters to others." Does it sound good to you?
最後由 Kooper 於 週六 10月 18, 2014 10:08 am 編輯,總共編輯了 2 次。
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
Hi Kooper,
I have been extremely busy at my work and that's why.
" 好為人師 seems to be a negative term in most cases" Indeed. Therefore, there's no way that you use it sarcastically .
"Rock is right about the translation - there is possibly no perfect translation of the term in English." -- You bet.
"like to play masters to others" I don't think such collocation exists.
I like #2: "have a tendency to sermonize people".
I have another alternative expression of my own: someone "often wants to coach others how to do someting." Can we say he is "很八婆"? (Sort of?)
I have been extremely busy at my work and that's why.
" 好為人師 seems to be a negative term in most cases" Indeed. Therefore, there's no way that you use it sarcastically .
"Rock is right about the translation - there is possibly no perfect translation of the term in English." -- You bet.
"like to play masters to others" I don't think such collocation exists.
I like #2: "have a tendency to sermonize people".
I have another alternative expression of my own: someone "often wants to coach others how to do someting." Can we say he is "很八婆"? (Sort of?)
Knowledge is power -- when shared.
Re: How to say 好為人師 in English
Not at all, Rock. You made me look up the definition of the word again and improve my English!Rock 寫:Firstly, it's a negative term. It's not supposed to be "I love being a teacher". (Not for me, at least.)
I guess there is no perfect translation for "好為人師" because of the culture difference. Being a teacher seems not a big deal in the west; they don't worship any teachers. (Why do we deify Confucius, anyway?) The best word I can think of is "patronize".
But, maybe Kooper would think I'm patronizing him because he already knows this word?