<p>I would argue that it is wisest to simply transliterate (with Pinyin) with the Chinese characters included. As both these are specific terms with no equivalent in Western culture, transliteration with some explanation is best. For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>erliu</em> (二六, a medium tempo <em>xipi</em> tune)</p>
  
  <p><em>daoban</em> (倒板, literally "lead-in meter")</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, academic studies have provided standard translations:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>二六 = <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_WJ8CwAAQBAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;dq=%22erliu%22&amp;pg=PA14#v=onepage&amp;q=%22erliu%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">two-six meter</a></p>
  
  <p>倒板 = <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=7Ok0dxV9K10C&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PA68&amp;dq=%22daoban%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">lead-in meter</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T07:46:31.097Z
2019-06-12T07:46:31.097Z
Michaelyus
<p>There are two Chinese operatic terms that I'm looking at at the moment:</p>

<ul>
<li>二流</li>
<li>倒板</li>
</ul>

<p>Neither of these terms show up in any dictionary that I have gone through.</p>

<p>I have seen both translated just phonetically:</p>

<ul>
<li><em>erliu</em></li>
<li><em>daoban</em></li>
</ul>

<p>I'm not sure if there are better English equivalents for these terms though?</p>

<p>Any ideas?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T06:15:28.727Z
Normal Chinese people would not know what they mean only by seeing the words, even with context. So I think phonetic translation might be good enough.
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T07:52:24.940Z
>https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%80%92%E6%9D%BF/31285


倒板，是一种戏曲板式，也写作“导板” (lead-in meter)。多用以表达愤怒、激昂、悲痛的感情。
Tang Ho
<translation>
English translations for the operatic terms 二流 and 倒板?
# English translations for the operatic terms 二流 and 倒板?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-12)

There are two Chinese operatic terms that I'm looking at at the moment:

* 二流
* 倒板

Neither of these terms show up in any dictionary that I have gone through.

I have seen both translated just phonetically:

* *erliu*
* *daoban*

I'm not sure if there are better English equivalents for these terms though?

Any ideas?

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Normal Chinese people would not know what they mean only by seeing the words, even with context. So I think phonetic translation might be good enough.  
> **username_2**: >https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%80%92%E6%9D%BF/31285   倒板，是一种戏曲板式，也写作“导板” (lead-in meter)。多用以表达愤怒、激昂、悲痛的感情。  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-06-12. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I would argue that it is wisest to simply transliterate (with Pinyin) with the Chinese characters included. As both these are specific terms with no equivalent in Western culture, transliteration with some explanation is best. For example:

> *erliu* (二六, a medium tempo *xipi* tune)
>
> *daoban* (倒板, literally "lead-in meter")

However, academic studies have provided standard translations:

> 二六 = [two-six meter](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_WJ8CwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22erliu%22&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q=%22erliu%22)
>
> 倒板 = [lead-in meter](https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7Ok0dxV9K10C&oi=fnd&pg=PA68&dq=%22daoban%22)


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