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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

明不正，言不顺

English translation: The main reason lies in the name itself.

18:02 Nov 22, 2007
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Chinese term or phrase: 明不正，言不顺
根本原因就在于明不正，言不顺。
Denyce Seow
Singapore
Local time: 08:58
English translation:The main reason lies in the name itself.
Explanation:
http://wenhousecrafts.com/culture/2006/name.htm
名不正，则言不顺
"If the name does not reflect the essence, then what is addressed will not be what is defined; if what is addressed is not what is defined, then what is said will not be what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what is doing will not be accomplished."

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Note added at 55 mins (2007-11-22 18:57:37 GMT)
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In light of the new context, I'd suggest: The main issue is the term.

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-11-22 19:03:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thought, this might sound better: The main issue (here) is the terminology.
Selected response from:

peiling
Germany
Local time: 02:58
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2The main reason lies in the name itself.
peiling
5“ reason is illegitimate, action is unjustified”
lhcm
4 +1ill reputation always lands unwilling ears
Philip Tang
3 +1does not come with one's jurisdiction, not be pefectly justifiable
franksf
3 +1unjustifiable
karcsy
4Words will not be reached if the identity not be justified.
Anyamok
4not calling things by their right names
Malcolm Mayfield
4X unjustified, Y unconvincing.
David Shen


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
根本原因就在于名不正，言不顺。
The main reason lies in the name itself.


Explanation:
http://wenhousecrafts.com/culture/2006/name.htm
名不正，则言不顺
"If the name does not reflect the essence, then what is addressed will not be what is defined; if what is addressed is not what is defined, then what is said will not be what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what is doing will not be accomplished."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2007-11-22 18:57:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In light of the new context, I'd suggest: The main issue is the term.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-11-22 19:03:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thought, this might sound better: The main issue (here) is the terminology.

peiling
Germany
Local time: 02:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in MalayMalay
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  LoyalTrans: I like this one.
3 days 8 hrs
agree  David Shen
23 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
does not come with one's jurisdiction, not be pefectly justifiable


Explanation:
The antonym of 名不正，言不顺 is 名正言顺

Dictionary entry of 名正言顺: come with one's jurisdiction, be pefectly justifiable


franksf
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jason Ma
5 hrs
  -> 谢谢您并祝周末愉快。
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
名不正，言不順
unjustifiable


Explanation:
「名不正，則言不順；言不順，則事不成。」

這句話詮釋為：

「如果一個人不清楚自己所使用的概念，他/她就不能建立一個說得通的論述(或理論、政策...)，如果一個人沒有一個說得通的論述(或理論、政策...)，他/她就不可能發展一個運動，或提出一套解決問題的方案。」
baseless, unfounded hence...

*********************
unjustified/unsupported/unwarranted/unfounded

*******************
The main reason is its being unjustifiable.


豪华办公楼与先富，更应该治理谁？
中国的腐败问题是一个路线问题，想要证明这个结论是很简单很轻松的。
I think this deals with activities of the government, probably officials with plush offices or those who get rich through graft and corruption.


e.g.
美攻伊， 名不正則言不順。 US war on Irag is unjustifiable.

karcsy
Local time: 08:58
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Haiyang Ai (X)
9 hrs
  -> 感恩！
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Words will not be reached if the identity not be justified.


Explanation:
应该是名不正,言不顺.
先秦·孔子《论语·子路》：“名不正，则言不顺；言不顺，则事不成。” 先秦·孔子《论语·子路》：“名不正，则言不顺；言不顺，则事不成。”
名不正:指名分不正或名实不符

Anyamok
Local time: 08:58
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
not calling things by their right names


Explanation:
The root cause lies in not calling things by their right names.
c.f. "The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names."


    Reference: http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1695445.html?fr=qrl3
Malcolm Mayfield
United States
Local time: 19:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 day 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
名不正，言不顺
“ reason is illegitimate, action is unjustified”


Explanation:
名正言顺
1.名义正当，道理也就说得通。
2.作事理由正当而充分，含有理直气壮的意思

问题涉及的语境，是第一个意思。也就是说“名义不正当，道理也就说不通/道义上讲不过去。”

***********************
根本原因就在于名不正，言不顺。

The root cause （of that ) is : “ reason/cause is illegitimate, action is unjustified”



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Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2007-11-23 20:55:30 GMT)
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或者
illegitimate reason, unjustified action

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Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2007-11-23 21:05:18 GMT)
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或者
the illegitimate reason cannot justify the action

lhcm
Local time: 08:58
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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1 day 15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ill reputation always lands unwilling ears


Explanation:
Yes! It should be 『名不正，言不順』
Literally it means “if you do not have a good reputation, no one will take your word seriously”

In view of the “中国的腐败问题”, it could mean
1. A corrupted or immoral officer will have difficulty promoting an anticorruption policy.
2. If one is not properly authorized or deputized, no one will take his word seriously.
3. Or simply “ill reputation always lands unwilling ears”.


Philip Tang
China
Local time: 08:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Shen
21 days
  -> Thank you very much!
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23 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
X unjustified, Y unconvincing.


Explanation:
Any of the following would work:

Action unjustified, words unconvincing.
Lacking qualification, nobody would listen.
Bad reputation, no admiration.
By the way,
next year in the US, new election!

David Shen
United States
Local time: 17:58
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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