Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
making the rules up as they go
Chinese translation:
自订规则，自行其是
Added to glossary by
Julia Zou
Jan 27, 2008 02:35
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
making the rules up as they go
English to Chinese
Other
Psychology
Originators may appear undisciplined and unconventional.Their desks may appear cluttered and chaotic. Sometimes they seem to be ***making the rules up as they go***. However, this outward appearance of disorganization does not necessarily indicate that the originator is actually disorganized.Within a cluttered office the originator may be able to immediately locate an article or file.
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!
Proposed translations
(Chinese)
| 5 +1 | 自行一套 |
lhcm
|
| 4 +1 | 见机行事 |
Milton Guo
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| 5 | 放到哪儿（就）是哪儿 |
Wei Liu
|
| 3 +1 | 一路走来，自订规则 |
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
|
| 4 | 自以为是 |
Lucy Liang
|
| 3 | 制度尚未健全 |
franksf
|
Proposed translations
+1
2 days 12 hrs
Selected
自行一套
making the rules up
作出一套规矩/办事条例等
这句话前面提到的那些人，他们不守纪律，违反常规，他们的办公桌是乱七八糟。给人的感觉是：似乎他们是自行一套。
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Note added at 2 days12 hrs (2008-01-29 15:21:04 GMT)
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或 “自定一套”
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Note added at 2 days13 hrs (2008-01-29 16:01:33 GMT)
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或“一路自行（自定）一套”, 用“一路”来强调“as they go"也可以。
作出一套规矩/办事条例等
这句话前面提到的那些人，他们不守纪律，违反常规，他们的办公桌是乱七八糟。给人的感觉是：似乎他们是自行一套。
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Note added at 2 days12 hrs (2008-01-29 15:21:04 GMT)
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或 “自定一套”
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Note added at 2 days13 hrs (2008-01-29 16:01:33 GMT)
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或“一路自行（自定）一套”, 用“一路”来强调“as they go"也可以。
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
: 自行其是？/ 简单说，自创倾向性格的人一面做一面订自己的规则，那就是他们自己认为“是”，所以我才说他们“自行其是”，可能真的有好的结果，但也有可能给他们自己和别人带来灾害。
21 hrs
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原文中的“make up rules"跟中文里的“一套规矩/规则”相关，因此，我倾向于用“一套”来反映这种联系。“自行其是”的“其是“是指“他自己认为正确的”。这种表达比“自行一套”意思更广，“自行一套（按照他认为正确的那套规矩去做）”属于“自行其是”范围中的一种，然而，“自行其是“不都是“自行一套”。谢谢您的建议。
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much!"
+1
32 mins
一路走来，自订规则
表面上看来，自创倾向性格的人缺乏纪律，不按牌理出牌。他们的工作桌上可能看起来杂乱无章。有时候，他们像是不遵守一套定则，而是一面进行事务，一面自订规则。...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
lhcm
: 有时候，他们像是不遵守一套定则，而是一面进行事务，一面自订规则--- agree with you on this understanding。突然想到用“一路”来突出“as they go”，然后才有注意到您也用了“一路”. So I agree with you on this expression as well.Not on "走来" though.
2 days 12 hrs
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Thanks.
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+1
1 hr
Milton Guo
China
China
Native in Chinese
China
28 years in translation
Native in: Chinese (Variants: Mandarin, Sichuanese , Simplified)
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English
2 hrs
制度尚未健全
making the rules up as they go - 两件相同的事情，因为尚无规矩遵循，处理得不一样。给出一个印象，即one rule for one thing and one rule for another -- making the rules up as they go -- inconsistent。
16 hrs
放到哪儿（就）是哪儿
感觉这里的意思要结合段落变通下。因为我也是这样一个人，东西摆的很乱，但却能准确快速找出来。自己也许之前订下了布置方案，这边放词典，那边放书本杂志，可到时候总是放哪儿就是哪儿，可能就变成了“这边放文学类的，那边放理科类的”或者“这边放近期要用的，那边放近期不会用到的”。
18 hrs
自以为是
英语的意思有些贬义，特别合适出现在'however'前面，as to show a contrast.
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Note added at 20 hrs (2008-01-27 22:59:06 GMT)
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或者‘随遇而安’
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Note added at 20 hrs (2008-01-27 22:59:06 GMT)
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或者‘随遇而安’
Discussion
再次对各位的帮助表示感谢！