汉语新词新译系列-P

拼盘演唱会 (pin1 pan2 yan3 chang4 hui4) mixed concert<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The term “pin pan” means combo platter in Chinese and stands for a concert starring more than one (often a dozen) singer or band. Each will perform a couple of songs in what is usually a commercial or sponsored event.

普适计算 (pu3 shi4 ji4 suan4) ubicomp

It means a computing model in which information technology is pervasively and seamlessly integrated into the objects and activities that people use in their daily lives.

乒乓效应 (ping1 pang1 xiao4 ying4) ping-pong effect

A mobile phone owner may find the signal goes bad when standing at the cross-over area of two cellular base stations. That’s because the phone is covered by both stations and the wireless connection constantly switches between the two, giving a “ping-pong effect.”

漂绿 (piao3 lv4) greenwash

This term, a portmanteau of green and whitewash, is often deemed as the unjustified appropriation of environmental virtue by companies, governments, other organizations or politicians to spin their products or policies as environment-friendly.

票房毒药 (piao4 fang2 du2 yao4) box office flop

The term refers to a famous actor or actress who demands high payment but more often than not their movies would be a disaster in box office. Hollywood film star Nicole Kidman was once identified as a box office flop by Forbes magazine.

爬梯 (pa2 ti1) party

Chinese Netizens these days use this term, which literally means “ladder-climbing,” as a substitute expression for “party” as the Chinese expression sounds just like the English word.

л型人才 (л xing2 ren2 cai2) л-type talent

It is a kind of person that has good command of two fields of professional skills as well as having expertise in management and administration. The two professional skills are the two vertical strokes while the administrative expertise is the horizontal one.

泡菜 (pao4cai4) kimchi

A possible origin of kimchi or Korean spicy traditional pickled vegetables was in ancient China. Recently, however, China’s state food authorities have banned imports of kimchi from South Korea after finding parasite eggs in the imported side dish.

拼车 (pin1che1) carpool

While carpooling is encouraged in many big cities around the world to tackle rush hour traffic jams and reduce pollution, some Shanghai city government departments recently drew criticism for banning the practice because it disrupted the taxi service market.

漂书 (piao1shu1) bookcrossing

The practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise, has appeared in some districts in the city.

飘一族 (piao1yi4zu2) drifting generation

Those who give up their decent jobs to pursue their career dreams are called the drifting generation. They will move to wherever hope of dream come true is beckoning them. They live on odd jobs, mostly freelance, and live in rented houses, varying from a shabby shed way to a serviced apartment.

劈腿 (pi1tui3) two-timing

This term is frequently used by young people to describe someone who’s not faithful to his/her spouse or lover. But a more popular Chinese saying, jiaota liangtiao chuan, portrays a two-minded person as riding on two boats simultaneously with each foot on one boat. The latter is often used in a broader sense.

跑龙套 (pao3long2tao4) walk-on

The term originally means a minor role in a theatrical production which usually has no speaking lines. But in daily conversations, it refers to anyone who only plays a bit role such as a utility man or a general handyman in any event, project or business.

票友 (piao4you3) amateur-pros

In old days, traditional Chinese opera performers were placed on the lower rungs of the social ladder. Some high-class people good at the art only performed as a hobby, rather than a way of eking out a living like professional opera singers. These days, any amateur performers who can beat pros are also referred to as a piaoyou.

屏蔽门 (ping2bi4men2) metro barrier door

The city plans to install the barrier doors at 12major stations along the Metro Line 1 by the end of this year to save energy and protect the safety of passengers, particularly during the rush hours.