Joel Martinsen
@jdmartinsen.bsky.social
Joel is a Beijing-based translator. zhwj on Douban and Tumblr · @jdmartinsen@mastodon.social · he/him · joelmartinsen.com
閣老. From The Encyclopaedia Sinica, by Samuel Couling, 1917 www.google.com/books/editio...
November 20, 2025 at 8:39 AM
閣老. From The Encyclopaedia Sinica, by Samuel Couling, 1917 www.google.com/books/editio...
I tend to use 1.6:1 (字数 inclusive of punctuation:words), but the actual number varies. The bigger ratios in this chart (all harder SF titles) are probably due to tech jargon and foreign names. But I’m positive that if I took another look at that 1.5:1 outlier, I’d find a pretty baggy translation.
September 5, 2025 at 6:22 AM
I tend to use 1.6:1 (字数 inclusive of punctuation:words), but the actual number varies. The bigger ratios in this chart (all harder SF titles) are probably due to tech jargon and foreign names. But I’m positive that if I took another look at that 1.5:1 outlier, I’d find a pretty baggy translation.
Old Arthur’s really having a moment. Just this week he shows up as quotesperation alongside Epictetus and Aristotle in a new Gin Lee video, 隨時隨地 www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2NC...
August 6, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Old Arthur’s really having a moment. Just this week he shows up as quotesperation alongside Epictetus and Aristotle in a new Gin Lee video, 隨時隨地 www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2NC...
Entirely off-topic, but while pulling up the 三百亿兮 citation, I got this garbage as my first search result—and it’s Baidu-hosted garbage to boot! Incorrect source, plus a gloss for 胡 (胡：指无节制地贪婪、贪心) that’s like a ’60s Analects commentary, only illiterate. (On-topic: 亿 is a bushel, 万 is a peck.)
June 10, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Entirely off-topic, but while pulling up the 三百亿兮 citation, I got this garbage as my first search result—and it’s Baidu-hosted garbage to boot! Incorrect source, plus a gloss for 胡 (胡：指无节制地贪婪、贪心) that’s like a ’60s Analects commentary, only illiterate. (On-topic: 亿 is a bushel, 万 is a peck.)
Here’s a slightly more regular version reproduced by 王岫庐 in 《译路偶拾 | Jabberwocky到底是什么？》. I’m not sure about the original source, but maybe it’s from an edition of Chao’s Looking Glass translation? mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UcpQIIedo2...
April 29, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Here’s a slightly more regular version reproduced by 王岫庐 in 《译路偶拾 | Jabberwocky到底是什么？》. I’m not sure about the original source, but maybe it’s from an edition of Chao’s Looking Glass translation? mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UcpQIIedo2...
This has got to be the worst index I’ve ever seen. Let’s start with Z because the first English entry is “account”=zhànghào. Then C, because the next entry on the English list that doesn’t start with z in pinyin is ”Actions menu“=cāozuò càidān. Then G, because “ad”=guǎnggào.
March 18, 2025 at 3:39 AM
This has got to be the worst index I’ve ever seen. Let’s start with Z because the first English entry is “account”=zhànghào. Then C, because the next entry on the English list that doesn’t start with z in pinyin is ”Actions menu“=cāozuò càidān. Then G, because “ad”=guǎnggào.
Taking Beijing Subway’s spiffy new Line 12, I was reminded (by its absence) of the DC Metro’s characteristic hum. Not on VPN, I asked Bing, and both morning and evening summaries are garbage: irrelevant, incorrect, and incoherent—and presumably contradicted by the TripAdvisor link that IP blocks me.
![cn.bing.com search for Other subways sound like dc metro:
AI results summary:
The Washington, D.C. subway system is more comprehensive than the New York City subway (Metro)[1]. The D.C. subway has more lines, intersects in more places, and runs 24/7/365[1]. However, some lines in D.C. are more like underground light rale compared to the Lexington line in New York[3].
Learn more:
[1] Washington DC Metro vs. New York Subway...
tripadvisor.com
[2] Download Unlimited Royalty-Free
storyblocks.com](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4qudh27dtgn5e746zx27otkd/bafkreiem7pgwah6x53idgvaqarxads5t3e2pzrzyb36i2vrhllyzfui2te@jpeg)
![cn.bing.com search results summary:
The Washington, D.C. subway system (Metro) has some differences from other subways [1] [2] [3]:
· It is more comprehensive with more lines and more intersections.
· It runs 24/7/365, unlike the Metro.
· Some lines are more like underground light rail compared to other subways.
· The technology used in DC subway is ahead of MTA (New York City subway)[5].
See more >
Learn more:
[1] Washington DC Metro vs. New York Subway...
tripadvisor.com
[2] Download Unlimited Royalty-Free
storyblocks.com
Tripadvisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com
Washington DC Metro vs. New York City Subways - Tripadvisor
The subway is much more comprehensive than the metro - there are many more lines, they](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4qudh27dtgn5e746zx27otkd/bafkreiesxgtakb4i2en7vb3fpc5dn3tqx5n5vabpl6u7kjttwehmxchw3i@jpeg)
March 3, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Taking Beijing Subway’s spiffy new Line 12, I was reminded (by its absence) of the DC Metro’s characteristic hum. Not on VPN, I asked Bing, and both morning and evening summaries are garbage: irrelevant, incorrect, and incoherent—and presumably contradicted by the TripAdvisor link that IP blocks me.
New year, new museum. Gates for a Tank Garden 坦克公园 and Tank Museum 战车博物馆 have sprung up along an unopened stretch of road next to Beijing Chateau Laffitte. Nothing to see so far—I think there’s just one lonely tank way back among the trees.
January 28, 2025 at 1:30 AM
New year, new museum. Gates for a Tank Garden 坦克公园 and Tank Museum 战车博物馆 have sprung up along an unopened stretch of road next to Beijing Chateau Laffitte. Nothing to see so far—I think there’s just one lonely tank way back among the trees.
Imagine finding a Mingkwai typewriter while clearing out a basement! Detailed photos at this writeup of Nelson Felix‘s post to the “What’s My Typewriter Worth?” Facebook group. www.ithome.com/0/827/089.htm @tsmullaney.bsky.social
January 25, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Imagine finding a Mingkwai typewriter while clearing out a basement! Detailed photos at this writeup of Nelson Felix‘s post to the “What’s My Typewriter Worth?” Facebook group. www.ithome.com/0/827/089.htm @tsmullaney.bsky.social
When I stay with my parents, I get to play bagatelle, the tabletop game my great-uncle brought back from England well before I was born. We only played it with company—I guess visiting them counts now. This time I satisfied my curiosity about the endorsement: Walter Lindrum, billiard champion.
![The brand plate from the bagatelle board, bearing a headshot of a man and the following text:
Patent No. 358713/1930
"CORINTHIAN"
Regd. Trade Mark
Corinthian is the only board I play on.
Walter Lindrum [signature facsimile]
Guaranteed Finland Base](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4qudh27dtgn5e746zx27otkd/bafkreiecodzgu5tyyu7q47vc722j7u2mgnzqw73pcrfvurq3uoi32cjc7m@jpeg)
January 14, 2025 at 12:20 AM
When I stay with my parents, I get to play bagatelle, the tabletop game my great-uncle brought back from England well before I was born. We only played it with company—I guess visiting them counts now. This time I satisfied my curiosity about the endorsement: Walter Lindrum, billiard champion.
Me greeting the arrival of 2025. (時務報第九册)
December 30, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Me greeting the arrival of 2025. (時務報第九册)
Learned about the graphic artist Godkidlla 廖小子 from his work on Sorry Youth albums. I love the bricolage typography he did for The Wizard of Oz, via his Behance: www.behance.net/gallery/5569... Also check out work inspired by gold paper and gossip mags: www.instagram.com/p/C55aFiOv4KY/
June 20, 2024 at 4:53 AM
Learned about the graphic artist Godkidlla 廖小子 from his work on Sorry Youth albums. I love the bricolage typography he did for The Wizard of Oz, via his Behance: www.behance.net/gallery/5569... Also check out work inspired by gold paper and gossip mags: www.instagram.com/p/C55aFiOv4KY/
一口浓醇回到小时候*
“The rich taste takes you back to childhood*”
In a footnote, the dairy clarifies: their milk doesn’t actually grant the ability to travel through time:
一口浓醇回到小时候是指一口浓醇回到小时候的味道、场景、情感等回忆
“[] means the rich taste takes you back to memories of the flavors, scenes and emotions of childhood.”
“The rich taste takes you back to childhood*”
In a footnote, the dairy clarifies: their milk doesn’t actually grant the ability to travel through time:
一口浓醇回到小时候是指一口浓醇回到小时候的味道、场景、情感等回忆
“[] means the rich taste takes you back to memories of the flavors, scenes and emotions of childhood.”
June 7, 2024 at 3:41 AM
一口浓醇回到小时候*
“The rich taste takes you back to childhood*”
In a footnote, the dairy clarifies: their milk doesn’t actually grant the ability to travel through time:
一口浓醇回到小时候是指一口浓醇回到小时候的味道、场景、情感等回忆
“[] means the rich taste takes you back to memories of the flavors, scenes and emotions of childhood.”
“The rich taste takes you back to childhood*”
In a footnote, the dairy clarifies: their milk doesn’t actually grant the ability to travel through time:
一口浓醇回到小时候是指一口浓醇回到小时候的味道、场景、情感等回忆
“[] means the rich taste takes you back to memories of the flavors, scenes and emotions of childhood.”
Love how AI is making search a less useful tool for identifying malformed chengyu. Here, 冷俊不禁 returns a bogus AI definition, rather than a paucity of results (which would hint that the searcher has misremembered 忍俊不禁). Source: www.douban.com/people/92058... Poe results link: poe.com/s/ojTIPDNuG9...
June 6, 2024 at 9:25 AM
Love how AI is making search a less useful tool for identifying malformed chengyu. Here, 冷俊不禁 returns a bogus AI definition, rather than a paucity of results (which would hint that the searcher has misremembered 忍俊不禁). Source: www.douban.com/people/92058... Poe results link: poe.com/s/ojTIPDNuG9...
My Bluesky timeline’s lining up nicely this morning. @frankconniff.bsky.social
May 28, 2024 at 1:10 AM
My Bluesky timeline’s lining up nicely this morning. @frankconniff.bsky.social
Who’s the intended audience of 中国近代各地小报汇刊续编（第一辑） (朝华出版社 2019), facsimile editions of hard-to-find Republican-era newspapers, if articles are deleted for vulgarity (and damaged source documents blamed)? ishare.ifeng.com/c/s/v006ab-_... Also: “一出版社影印的近代佛教期刊里，目录上的某些政治性文章，在正文里面一概没有，相应的位置也被贴上了广告”
May 25, 2024 at 1:54 PM
Who’s the intended audience of 中国近代各地小报汇刊续编（第一辑） (朝华出版社 2019), facsimile editions of hard-to-find Republican-era newspapers, if articles are deleted for vulgarity (and damaged source documents blamed)? ishare.ifeng.com/c/s/v006ab-_... Also: “一出版社影印的近代佛教期刊里，目录上的某些政治性文章，在正文里面一概没有，相应的位置也被贴上了广告”
Currently shopping for blackout curtains to keep my balcony from overheating in the midday sun. Not sure how a partial quote from a 2016 NYT piece on the Hiroshima bombing and a Collins example sentence for ”contrive” are supposed to win me over.
May 23, 2024 at 5:47 AM
Currently shopping for blackout curtains to keep my balcony from overheating in the midday sun. Not sure how a partial quote from a 2016 NYT piece on the Hiroshima bombing and a Collins example sentence for ”contrive” are supposed to win me over.
The three genders of Beijing’s public restrooms: Male, Female, and Keeper
May 23, 2024 at 3:10 AM
The three genders of Beijing’s public restrooms: Male, Female, and Keeper
I have absolutely no idea how old this Italian film is or what’s on it — only a vague sense that it may have been extracted from an instant camera to save on storage space. Hoping there’s some interesting degradation going on.
May 23, 2024 at 1:41 AM
I have absolutely no idea how old this Italian film is or what’s on it — only a vague sense that it may have been extracted from an instant camera to save on storage space. Hoping there’s some interesting degradation going on.
Model sounds like 毛豆 máodòu “edamame,” so Tesla talk online tends to be full of beans. You occasionally see replacement badges like 毛豆山 máodòu shān “edamame mountain” and 毛豆歪 máodòu wāi “edamame askew.” A neighbor’s vehicle extends that to a cute visual pun:
May 1, 2024 at 1:32 AM
Model sounds like 毛豆 máodòu “edamame,” so Tesla talk online tends to be full of beans. You occasionally see replacement badges like 毛豆山 máodòu shān “edamame mountain” and 毛豆歪 máodòu wāi “edamame askew.” A neighbor’s vehicle extends that to a cute visual pun:
妙靜貍 looks like a furrier copy of a painting of a cat and dragonfly 貍奴蜻蜓圖 purportedly done by Li Di 李迪 in 1193, currently held in Osaka.
April 7, 2024 at 2:39 AM
妙靜貍 looks like a furrier copy of a painting of a cat and dragonfly 貍奴蜻蜓圖 purportedly done by Li Di 李迪 in 1193, currently held in Osaka.
My daily life hacks calendar informs me I don’t have to watch my back this afternoon:
On this day people play practical jokes. Victims only realize they’ve been pranked when they’re told it’s April Fools’ Day, so there’s lots of fun to be had. However, a strict rule stops the joking at 12 noon.
On this day people play practical jokes. Victims only realize they’ve been pranked when they’re told it’s April Fools’ Day, so there’s lots of fun to be had. However, a strict rule stops the joking at 12 noon.
April 1, 2024 at 6:27 AM
My daily life hacks calendar informs me I don’t have to watch my back this afternoon:
On this day people play practical jokes. Victims only realize they’ve been pranked when they’re told it’s April Fools’ Day, so there’s lots of fun to be had. However, a strict rule stops the joking at 12 noon.
On this day people play practical jokes. Victims only realize they’ve been pranked when they’re told it’s April Fools’ Day, so there’s lots of fun to be had. However, a strict rule stops the joking at 12 noon.
Pretty sure this is PKU’s 汉語教科書 Modern Chinese Reader, the granddaddy of grammar-based textbooks, published in 1958. 工人 is introduced in L43 (see image below); I’m guessing your text is from L53, 起来/下去/出来的引申用法. A photo-reprint was issued in 2020—V2 TOC: book.kongfz.com/181694/62073...
February 15, 2024 at 2:59 AM
Pretty sure this is PKU’s 汉語教科書 Modern Chinese Reader, the granddaddy of grammar-based textbooks, published in 1958. 工人 is introduced in L43 (see image below); I’m guessing your text is from L53, 起来/下去/出来的引申用法. A photo-reprint was issued in 2020—V2 TOC: book.kongfz.com/181694/62073...