<p>I don't know the nuance carried the English word "tool". But according to your description, I don't think there's such nuance in Wang's article. It is just a normal euphemism, with no added meaning to the original word (penis).</p>

<p>Basically, 傢伙 would carry a similar connotation as "manhood" or "member" (maybe without the informality associated with "member").</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-21T02:21:15.880Z
2012-01-22T05:33:23.490Z
2012-01-22T05:33:23.490Z
fefe
<p>傢伙 (an example of a Chinese lexeme that does not map bijectively between simplified and traditional characters, the simplified word being 家伙) is translated, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wang-Love-Bondage-Xiaobo/dp/0791470652" rel="noreferrer">in the only translation Wang Xiaobo's work has received to date</a>, as 'tool.' Which would indicate that the word is a euphemism (委婉语) for penis in the following.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>从派出所到居委会，都认为他是个好贼，舍不得送他进监狱，只可惜他偷得太多，最后只好把他枪毙掉，这使派出所的警察和居委会的老大妈一齐掉眼泪。这个贼临死还留下遗嘱，把尸体捐给医院了。我有个同学考上了医科大学，常在福尔马林槽里看到他。他说，那位贼兄的家伙特别大，躺在水槽里仪表堂堂，丝毫也看不出是个贼，虽然后脑勺上挨了一枪，但不翻身也看不出来。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>— <em>2015</em> by 王小波.</p>
<p>But how euphemistic?</p>
<p>Because the English word 'tool', while euphemistic, is also a bit cheeky. It's even an insult. It's not detached, scientific-sounding, or fantastical, like other euphemisms for things.</p>
<p>Does 傢伙 carry those nuances? (I have to admit, it sounds just a bit scientific-sounding and detached to me. But obviously I'm not a native speaker.)</p>
<p>In other words, has the pair of translators captured something of a nuance here? Or has meaning been added, or lost?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-21T00:31:14.433Z
At first I thought your question was all in Chinese, considering the preview... :D
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-21T06:32:44.567Z
You might want to move your first paragraph above the quote to make the preview more informative, even for Chinese speakers.
Don Kirkby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-21T11:00:53.637Z
Or add an extra introducing sentence like "Consider this paragraph/excerpt/etc...", something like that.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-22T02:53:45.340Z
@DonKirkby & Alenanno, if you think this makes it a better question, you can always edit it!  I've done so for this post.
brc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-22T05:51:05.333Z
I like to be a gentle moderator, @brc.
Don Kirkby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-22T11:28:32.580Z
@brc寇百强 I chose to ask so he would provide the best intro for his question. :)
Alenanno
<usage><nuance><euphemism>
How euphemistic is 傢伙?
# How euphemistic is 傢伙?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-20)

傢伙 (an example of a Chinese lexeme that does not map bijectively between simplified and traditional characters, the simplified word being 家伙) is translated, [in the only translation Wang Xiaobo's work has received to date](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wang-Love-Bondage-Xiaobo/dp/0791470652), as 'tool.' Which would indicate that the word is a euphemism (委婉语) for penis in the following.

> 从派出所到居委会，都认为他是个好贼，舍不得送他进监狱，只可惜他偷得太多，最后只好把他枪毙掉，这使派出所的警察和居委会的老大妈一齐掉眼泪。这个贼临死还留下遗嘱，把尸体捐给医院了。我有个同学考上了医科大学，常在福尔马林槽里看到他。他说，那位贼兄的家伙特别大，躺在水槽里仪表堂堂，丝毫也看不出是个贼，虽然后脑勺上挨了一枪，但不翻身也看不出来。

— *2015* by 王小波.

But how euphemistic?

Because the English word 'tool', while euphemistic, is also a bit cheeky. It's even an insult. It's not detached, scientific-sounding, or fantastical, like other euphemisms for things.

Does 傢伙 carry those nuances? (I have to admit, it sounds just a bit scientific-sounding and detached to me. But obviously I'm not a native speaker.)

In other words, has the pair of translators captured something of a nuance here? Or has meaning been added, or lost?

**Tags:** usage, nuance, euphemism

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: At first I thought your question was all in Chinese, considering the preview... :D  
> **username_2**: You might want to move your first paragraph above the quote to make the preview more informative, even for Chinese speakers.  
> **username_1**: Or add an extra introducing sentence like "Consider this paragraph/excerpt/etc...", something like that.  
> **username_3**: @DonKirkby & username_1, if you think this makes it a better question, you can always edit it!  I've done so for this post.  
> **username_2**: I like to be a gentle moderator, @username_3.  
> **username_1**: @username_3寇百强 I chose to ask so he would provide the best intro for his question. :)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-01-21. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

I don't know the nuance carried the English word "tool". But according to your description, I don't think there's such nuance in Wang's article. It is just a normal euphemism, with no added meaning to the original word (penis).

Basically, 傢伙 would carry a similar connotation as "manhood" or "member" (maybe without the informality associated with "member").


---

