“嗲”在英语中该怎么说 ？

 　　与美国人多次讨论，认为coquettish在英语中几乎很少听到人说，像中国人说“嗲”，他们一般会说：clinger，当名词用。例如：她好嗲呀，想让她男朋友帮她买那个包。She is a clinger, trying to persuade her boy friend to buy her that bag.  呵呵，英语学习真的太有趣，由于文化的原因、语言习惯的原因，虽然有的概念两种语言中共存，但是用词的差异很大，并且也无法找到绝对完全对应的翻译。这里的clinger，字面意思是“依靠、依赖、没有主见”等，显然无法传神地解释中文世界里“嗲”的真正含义。

　　能不能说coquettish，我到现在还是没有把握。

　　I was confronted with a big challenge yesterday when a pal¹ asked me for the English equivalent of "嗲".  First I thought of "flirtatious²", then I strongly objected, for the original meaning of "嗲" is not all negative, and it is more than just flirting³. It implies that the woman is lovely or adorable, and it seems to me a woman is quite attractive if she is 嗲 enough.  Don't many men agree?  Therefore I have to explore further about the correct translation.

　　Google.com did not provide me a good clue.  Then I checked it out in PowerWord 2005, and it was even worse. Once again I had to admire my co-worker's wise decision of not even installing this jerk.  At last I turned to the heavy dictionary on my desk - 汉英双语现代汉语词典.  Bingo! 嗲 is right there and here is the definition:

　　嗲:

　　1) 形容撒娇的声音或姿态 (of voice or posture)

　　coquettish   E.g. 嗲声嗲气 speak in the manner of a pampered⁴ child

　　2) 好，优异 good; excellent: 味道嗲! Yummy! Delicious!

　　Therefore, "coquettish" is the very term I am looking for. Immediately I checked it up in my favorite dictionary "朗文当代高级英语词典":

　　Coquette: A woman who tries to attract the admiration⁵ of men without having sincere feelings for them; a woman who flirts⁶ 卖弄风情的女人

　　Coquettish  adj.更多信息请访问：http://www.24en.com/

　　That's brilliant!  And I had a good laugh at the English definition of a coquette.  I believe "coquettish" is the right word to describe a 嗲 woman. Let's make a few sentences:

　　1)她好嗲啊，我骨头都酥了。She is so coquettish that I am melted.

　　2)她总是嗲声嗲气的，有时挺烦的。Her being coquettish all the time is sometimes irritating.

1 pal   

n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友

参考例句：

• He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
• Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。

2 flirtatious   

adj.爱调情的，调情的，卖俏的

参考例句：

• a flirtatious young woman 卖弄风情的年轻女子
• Her flirtatious manners are intended to attract. 她的轻浮举止是想引人注意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 flirting   

v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Don't take her too seriously; she's only flirting with you. 别把她太当真，她只不过是在和你调情罢了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• 'she's always flirting with that new fellow Tseng!" “她还同新来厂里那个姓曾的吊膀子！ 来自子夜部分

4 pampered   

adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The lazy scum deserve worse. What if they ain't fed up and pampered? 他们吃不饱，他们的要求满足不了，这又有什么关系？ 来自飘（部分）
• She petted and pampered him and would let no one discipline him but she, herself. 她爱他，娇养他，而且除了她自己以外，她不允许任何人管教他。 来自辞典例句

5 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

6 flirts   

v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She flirts with every man she meets. 她同她遇到的每个男人调情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She flirts with every handsome man she meets. 她和所遇到的每个美男子调情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》