<p>航 can be translated in a number of various ways, and its meaning commonly involves transport by air or space in the right context or word (consider 航空, 航天, 民航, etc).  In some cases the same word can even apply to both sea and air transport (航班, 航线, 航模)  But in this case I agree that "aircraft" is just a bad translation.  It was probably produced by a computer or a non-English speaker.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T08:58:49.973Z
2013-12-28T08:58:49.973Z
user238264
<p>This is a typical example of Chinese English. 「四航」is the company or institution who built the ship. It has nothing to do with the ship's structure. I read 「四」 in 「四航」 as fourth. There might or might not be 「一航」 or 「二航」. <a href="http://www.gzpcc.com/web/default.biz" rel="nofollow">Here</a>'s the official website for 「四航」.  「四航」 is short for 「第四航务工程局」， it's a company mainly engaged in construction of a variety of infrastructures like ports, bridges, hydraulic works and etc. according to the <a href="http://en.gzpcc.com/en/showmypage.aspx?id=4&amp;menuname=About%20Us&amp;imgsrc=/userfiles/image/pic/pic1.jpg" rel="nofollow">about page</a>. They call themselves Fourth Harbour Engineering in English.</p>

<p>"Four Aircraft Endeavour" is a confusing translation. Literally, 「四航」 is "Fourth Harbour" and「奋进」 is Endeavour in this context, although I'm not sure whether Endeavour is a good translation. I would probably translate 「奋进」 as striving forward but it doesn't sound like a name.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T10:18:18.513Z
Yes, 「四航」 is "Fourth Harbour" in this context. 「奋进」 is Endeavour, although I'm not sure whether Endeavour is a good translation. I would probably translate 「奋进」 as striving forward but it doesn't sound like a name.
hrzhu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T12:18:47.227Z
Done. And I find that **bold** in my post would be rendered as bold texts enclosed with an extra pair of asterisks, although it was rendered well in preview.
hrzhu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T23:39:48.223Z
As for the translation of "endeavour", the [space shuttle Endeavour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour) is "奋进" in Chinese, whilst the [HMS Endeavour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Endeavour) is "努力".
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T08:58:31.347Z
2013-12-28T12:28:12.070Z
2013-12-28T12:28:12.070Z
hrzhu
<p>The name of the ship below is given as: 四航奋进</p>

<p>I've seen it previously*** <a href="http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/vessel--%28four-aircraft-endeavour%29-vid685.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">translated as "Four Aircraft Endeavour"</a>, which seems peculiar, as it's not an aircraft.</p>

<p>The 四 I can understand: it has two pairs of two cranes, so four cranes in total. Are those the four endeavours? Isn't 航 boat? So I can see how the component syllables could conceivably form "Four Endeavours Boat" - but is that a valid translation? Are there implications, idioms, or subtexts in the name 四航奋进?</p>

<p>I'll also note that in English, some speakers get quite passionate about distinguishing between "boat", "ship" and "vessel", though I don't really understand the nuances, but if there are nuances in this name, I'd appreciate pointers to them</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MEgka.png" alt="enter image description here"> <a href="http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/vessel--%28four-aircraft-endeavour%29-vid685.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a></p>

<p>***(note: subsequent to this post, the linked page at the top has updated the translated name to "Fourth Harbour Endeavour", thanks to the answers here)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T14:51:09.400Z
I personally think that 【四航】 means 【第四航空航天局】 or something similar to that.
【奋进】means endeavour
user3732
<meaning><meaning-in-context><names>
四航奋进: This ship's name is translated as "Four Aircraft Endeavour", but is it?
# 四航奋进: This ship's name is translated as "Four Aircraft Endeavour", but is it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-28)

The name of the ship below is given as: 四航奋进

I've seen it previously\*\*\* [translated as "Four Aircraft Endeavour"](http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/vessel--%28four-aircraft-endeavour%29-vid685.html), which seems peculiar, as it's not an aircraft.

The 四 I can understand: it has two pairs of two cranes, so four cranes in total. Are those the four endeavours? Isn't 航 boat? So I can see how the component syllables could conceivably form "Four Endeavours Boat" - but is that a valid translation? Are there implications, idioms, or subtexts in the name 四航奋进?

I'll also note that in English, some speakers get quite passionate about distinguishing between "boat", "ship" and "vessel", though I don't really understand the nuances, but if there are nuances in this name, I'd appreciate pointers to them

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/MEgka.png) [source](http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/vessel--%28four-aircraft-endeavour%29-vid685.html)

\*\*\*(note: subsequent to this post, the linked page at the top has updated the translated name to "Fourth Harbour Endeavour", thanks to the answers here)

**Tags:** meaning, meaning-in-context, names

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I personally think that 【四航】 means 【第四航空航天局】 or something similar to that. 【奋进】means endeavour  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-12-28. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

This is a typical example of Chinese English. 「四航」is the company or institution who built the ship. It has nothing to do with the ship's structure. I read 「四」 in 「四航」 as fourth. There might or might not be 「一航」 or 「二航」. [Here](http://www.gzpcc.com/web/default.biz)'s the official website for 「四航」. 「四航」 is short for 「第四航务工程局」， it's a company mainly engaged in construction of a variety of infrastructures like ports, bridges, hydraulic works and etc. according to the [about page](http://en.gzpcc.com/en/showmypage.aspx?id=4&menuname=About%20Us&imgsrc=/userfiles/image/pic/pic1.jpg). They call themselves Fourth Harbour Engineering in English.

"Four Aircraft Endeavour" is a confusing translation. Literally, 「四航」 is "Fourth Harbour" and「奋进」 is Endeavour in this context, although I'm not sure whether Endeavour is a good translation. I would probably translate 「奋进」 as striving forward but it doesn't sound like a name.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Yes, 「四航」 is "Fourth Harbour" in this context. 「奋进」 is Endeavour, although I'm not sure whether Endeavour is a good translation. I would probably translate 「奋进」 as striving forward but it doesn't sound like a name.  
> **username_3**: Done. And I find that **bold** in my post would be rendered as bold texts enclosed with an extra pair of asterisks, although it was rendered well in preview.  
> **username_4**: As for the translation of "endeavour", the [space shuttle Endeavour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour) is "奋进" in Chinese, whilst the [HMS Endeavour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Endeavour) is "努力".  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2013-12-28. Score: 1

航 can be translated in a number of various ways, and its meaning commonly involves transport by air or space in the right context or word (consider 航空, 航天, 民航, etc). In some cases the same word can even apply to both sea and air transport (航班, 航线, 航模) But in this case I agree that "aircraft" is just a bad translation. It was probably produced by a computer or a non-English speaker.


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