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Change log entry 38310
Processed by: richwarm (2011-11-15 11:06:58 UTC)
Comment: << review queue entry 37136 - submitted by 'alanwatson' >>
I have had some correspondence with mmmoore who, it seems, does not
agree with these change. I would still like the other editors to consider them. I
am reading in every day's Taiwanese newspapers that 義大利公債殖利率創新
高 and it seems odd to translate 殖利 as 'to make a profit' in this context.

Editor: Ok, here goes. This is what I think.

I would say it is important to recognize that 殖利 is, *fundamentally* a "v.o." (verb+object compound) which can
be thought of as "make a profit" or "generate a profit". 殖 is a verb which only occurs in compound forms (such
as 殖利 and 殖民) and it means "to propagate; to breed"; and 利, of course, means "profit."

However, even if 殖利 is *defined* as "make a profit", one doesn't have to *translate* 殖利 with those words in
every context. It's common for a v.o. to be defined in terms of a verb in the dictionary, yet it may be quite natural
to *translate* it as a noun in a particular context. That's not necessarily a deficiency of the dictionary definition.
It's just an example of the way one needs to apply human intelligence in interpreting a sentence, given the
definition of each word in it.

For example, 摆阔 is another v.o. It is defined as "to parade one's wealth" -- i.e. matching the format of the
Chinese: verb (flaunt) + object ([one's] wealth).

If one reads 暴发户庸俗的摆阔, one need not be stumped by the fact that there is no "noun definition" for 摆阔
in one's dictionary. One simply substitutes a noun like "ostentation" or "pretentiousness" which suits the context.
Likewise, if 殖利 = "make a profit", then 殖利率 can be understood as "rate of profit-making" and 義大利公債殖
利率創新高 can then be translated accordingly (not necessarily using those exact words "rate of profit-making",
of course)

So 殖利 is not, in essence, a noun; and moreover it is more natural to consider it a v.o. than a noun ("investment
return") in examples such as the following:

1) 金屬可以保值但是不能殖利。
2) 投資係指將金錢用於購買有殖利能力的資產,以換取未來的財富。
3) 如此,权自然弱,权弱不能殖利,...

It does no harm, though, to add a noun sense or two; and "profit" and "yield" fit well enough, I think.

With "yield" in the definition of 殖利, it is probably not necessary to define 殖利率.
Diff:
- 殖利 殖利 [zhi2 li4] /to make a profit/
# + 殖利 殖利 [zhi2 li4] /investment return/
# Editor: It may make the definition a bit clearer to revise it as follows ~
+ 殖利 殖利 [zhi2 li4] /to generate a profit/profit/yield/
# MoE has 營利、謀利。明史˙卷一三○˙華高傳:「初,有言高殖利者,故歲祿獨薄。」but if anyone can find an example post classical Chinese of it being used as a verb or in a context other than investment, then I would be interested to see it.
# + 殖利率 殖利率 [zhi2 li4 lu:4] /yield (finance)/
# For one of many examples in the news see http://news.chinatimes.com/realtime/110104/112011111100658.htmlhttp://news.chinatimes.com/realtime/110104/112011111100658.html
# Or for a technical definition see http://www.masterhsiao.com.tw/BondYield/BondYield.htm
# Or for a dictionary see http://tw.dictionary.yahoo.com/dictionary?fr2=sg-gac&p=%E6%AE%96%E5%88%A9%E7%8E%87
By MDBG 2025
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