This paper strongly rejects the notion that the use of biomedical terms to represent traditional Chinese medical concepts is helpful to the internationalization of Chinese medicine. It further argues that this practice destroys the integrity and independence of Chinese medical concepts. Taking the term fēng huo yan as an example, it shows that the biomedical term "acute conjunctivitis" often suggested as the translation for this term is unsatisfactory, because (1) the clinical reference is not identical, (2) it introduces the concepts of "conjunctiva" and "inflammation" , which are not Chinese medical concepts, and (3) destroys the Chinese medical concepts "wind" and "fire" expressed in the Chinese, which reflect the way the disease is traditionally diagnosed and treated. While for English readers not familiar with Chinese medicine, "acute conjunctivitis" may be immediately intelligible, for those seeking a deep understanding of the subject, the literal translation (loan translation) "wind-fire eye" is much more helpful. This paper supports these arguments with numerous other examples.
Humans ; Language ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Terminology as Topic ; Translating ; Western World

This paper offers criticism of "English Translation of Common Terms in Chinese Medicine" (2004) by Professor XIE Zhu-fan. Criticisms of specific term choices are listed under the following headings: (1)Poor Term Choices;(2) Poor Grammar and Style; (3) One Term with Multiple Translations (Inconsistency); (4) Multiple Terms with one Translation; (5) Overuse of Pinyin; (6) Overuse of Modern Medical Terms.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Periodicals as Topic ; standards ; Terminology as Topic ; Translations

This paper rejects the Professor Xie's argument that the use of biomedical terms to represent traditional Chinese medical concepts is helpful to the internationalization of Chinese medicine [(Chin J Integr Tradit West Med 2005; 25(11):1046-1049]. It further argues that this practice destroys the integrity and independence of Chinese medical concepts, taking the term fĕng huo yan as an example. This paper supports the viewpoint with numerous other examples that for those seeking a deep understanding of TCM, the literal translation (loan translation) is much more helpful.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Terminology as Topic ; Translations