<ol>
<li><p>The translation for 'minority' is straightforward: <code>少數派</code>. Note: not <code>小數派</code> (<code>少</code> refers to little in quantity, <code>小</code> refers to little in (physical) size). To be concise, you may say <code>少數</code>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>For 'vocal', <code>敢言的</code> or <code>直言不諱的</code> (see <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zhs/%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD-%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E7%B9%81%E4%BD%93/vocal" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>) are translations that give it a fairly positive light. Tang Ho's answer <code>積極的</code> is neutral, somewhat positive.</p>
</li>
<li><p><code>發聲的</code> is a literal translation but understandable (I for one think it is understandable, given that you're not translating the term alone but with a wider context). A neutral alternative, albeit slightly weak, is to say <code>不沈默的少數</code> which makes deliberate reference to its antonym 'silent majority' (<code>沈默的大多數</code>). I also found a third neutral translation, <code>說話大聲的少數族群</code>, in a book on journalism published in Taiwan<sup>1</sup>, where vocal minority is contrasted to the disadvantaged minority. <strong>Finally, I find the neutral translation <code>喊叫的少數</code> made by the Taiwanese politician James Soong in one of his works<sup>2</sup> the most idiomatic of them all.</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p>If you want to be outright negative (considering the fact that vocal minority can be euphemistic), you may consider the idiomatic saying <code>一小撮人的意見</code> (lit. the opinion of a handful of people), but this is not a direct translation and is quite dismissive. <strong>A Japanese political publication<sup>3</sup> gave the translation <code>うるさい少数派</code> (a possible Chinese translation: <code>嘈吵的少數</code> 'noisy minority') which I think is best in delivering the negative nuance.</strong></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><sup>1</sup> <code>何日生（2007）《建構式新聞》。台灣：五南，頁175。</code></p>
<p><sup>2</sup> <code>宋楚瑜（1978）《美國政治與民意：兼論中美關係》。台灣：黎明文化，頁51。</code></p>
<p><sup>3</sup> <code>信田智人（1996）『官邸の権力』筑摩書房 pp. 230</code></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T23:08:46.453Z
2021-04-06T23:08:46.453Z
L Parker
<p>The literal translation of vocal minority is '有聲音的少數民族/ 有聲音的小數派'</p>
<ul>
<li><p>'Minority' in  'vocal minority' doesn't mean '少數民族'. It means '少數派' as in '少數派意見' (minority opinion)</p>
</li>
<li><p>'Vocal' here doesn't simply mean '有聲音的' (that have a voice) or 發出聲音的 (that makes sound). The deeper implication is 'being active' (in express opinions/ voicing demands or objections)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Translate 'vocal minority' as '積極少數派' (active minority) would express the meaning of the term more clearly in Chinese</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T17:06:12.247Z
2021-04-06T17:06:12.247Z
Tang Ho
<p>I like: 人数不多但敢于直言 = a vocal minority</p>
<p>抗议者人数不多但敢于直言。<br />
The protesters are a small but vocal minority.</p>
<p>Found another interesting translation:</p>
<p>他们人数不多但在反对时他们嗓门很大！</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-07T05:18:14.293Z
2021-04-07T22:12:39.183Z
2021-04-07T22:12:39.183Z
Pedroski
<p>There are a few ways to say &quot;vocal minority&quot; in Chinese, largely depends on the type of group/event one wants to describe/depict.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>呱噪少數</p>
</li>
<li><p>激進少數</p>
</li>
<li><p>活躍少數</p>
</li>
<li><p>積極少數</p>
</li>
<li><p>不干沉默的少數</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-07T14:15:06.393Z
2021-04-08T02:52:58.017Z
2021-04-08T02:52:58.017Z
r13
<p>How do you say &quot;vocal minority&quot; in Chinese? Specifially, in Mandarin?</p>

<translation><mandarin>
Phrase or idiom for "vocal minority"
# Phrase or idiom for "vocal minority"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-06)

How do you say "vocal minority" in Chinese? Specifially, in Mandarin?

**Tags:** translation, mandarin


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-06. Score: 1

1. The translation for 'minority' is straightforward: `少數派`. Note: not `小數派` (`少` refers to little in quantity, `小` refers to little in (physical) size). To be concise, you may say `少數`.
2. For 'vocal', `敢言的` or `直言不諱的` (see [here](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zhs/%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD-%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E7%B9%81%E4%BD%93/vocal)) are translations that give it a fairly positive light. username_2's answer `積極的` is neutral, somewhat positive.
3. `發聲的` is a literal translation but understandable (I for one think it is understandable, given that you're not translating the term alone but with a wider context). A neutral alternative, albeit slightly weak, is to say `不沈默的少數` which makes deliberate reference to its antonym 'silent majority' (`沈默的大多數`). I also found a third neutral translation, `說話大聲的少數族群`, in a book on journalism published in Taiwan1, where vocal minority is contrasted to the disadvantaged minority. **Finally, I find the neutral translation `喊叫的少數` made by the Taiwanese politician James Soong in one of his works2 the most idiomatic of them all.**
4. If you want to be outright negative (considering the fact that vocal minority can be euphemistic), you may consider the idiomatic saying `一小撮人的意見` (lit. the opinion of a handful of people), but this is not a direct translation and is quite dismissive. **A Japanese political publication3 gave the translation `うるさい少数派` (a possible Chinese translation: `嘈吵的少數` 'noisy minority') which I think is best in delivering the negative nuance.**

1 `何日生（2007）《建構式新聞》。台灣：五南，頁175。`

2 `宋楚瑜（1978）《美國政治與民意：兼論中美關係》。台灣：黎明文化，頁51。`

3 `信田智人（1996）『官邸の権力』筑摩書房 pp. 230`


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-06. Score: 0

The literal translation of vocal minority is '有聲音的少數民族/ 有聲音的小數派'

* 'Minority' in 'vocal minority' doesn't mean '少數民族'. It means '少數派' as in '少數派意見' (minority opinion)
* 'Vocal' here doesn't simply mean '有聲音的' (that have a voice) or 發出聲音的 (that makes sound). The deeper implication is 'being active' (in express opinions/ voicing demands or objections)

Translate 'vocal minority' as '積極少數派' (active minority) would express the meaning of the term more clearly in Chinese


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-04-07. Score: 0

I like: 人数不多但敢于直言 = a vocal minority

抗议者人数不多但敢于直言。  
The protesters are a small but vocal minority.

Found another interesting translation:

他们人数不多但在反对时他们嗓门很大！


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-04-07. Score: 0

There are a few ways to say "vocal minority" in Chinese, largely depends on the type of group/event one wants to describe/depict.

* 呱噪少數
* 激進少數
* 活躍少數
* 積極少數
* 不干沉默的少數


---

