This question was closed without grading. Reason: Errant question
Mar 6 12:43
2 mos ago
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Spanish term
Argentina
Multilingual Experts
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US, Canadian) 
Works in: English, Spanish to English, English to Spanish, and 12 more.
mandarín
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
This is a text about a contemporary Argentine painter. "Mandarín " here does not seem to refer to Mandarin Chinese:
El mandarín escondido que suele poner una línea divisoria entre lo abstracto y lo concreto se pone a pensar si vale la pena el intento.
El mandarín escondido que suele poner una línea divisoria entre lo abstracto y lo concreto se pone a pensar si vale la pena el intento.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | grey eminence |
neilmac
|
| 2 | [The hidden] traditionalist [in her] / [...] reactionary |
Andrzej Ziomek
|
Proposed translations
+1
6 hrs
grey eminence
You might try this if you're not keen on "inner bureaucrat", which I quite like.
A grey eminence is a powerful decision-maker or adviser who operates "behind the scenes", or in a non-public or unofficial capacity. Like a civil service Mandarin (such as Sir Humphrey from the BBC series Yes Minister).
Note: If you use this, you don't need to worry about translating "escondido", as that is implied in the term (behind-the-scenes).
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Note added at 6 hrs (2024-03-06 18:48:48 GMT)
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"The grey eminence who often draws a line between the abstract and the concrete ponders whether it/the attempt is worth the effort."
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Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2024-03-08 08:21:48 GMT)
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On the other hand, if slothm's take is correct, you can just translate it literally and I've been wasting my time here. Ho-hum.
A grey eminence is a powerful decision-maker or adviser who operates "behind the scenes", or in a non-public or unofficial capacity. Like a civil service Mandarin (such as Sir Humphrey from the BBC series Yes Minister).
Note: If you use this, you don't need to worry about translating "escondido", as that is implied in the term (behind-the-scenes).
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Note added at 6 hrs (2024-03-06 18:48:48 GMT)
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"The grey eminence who often draws a line between the abstract and the concrete ponders whether it/the attempt is worth the effort."
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Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2024-03-08 08:21:48 GMT)
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On the other hand, if slothm's take is correct, you can just translate it literally and I've been wasting my time here. Ho-hum.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
O G V
: Escondido aquí apunta más a inconsciente o no manifiesto que a alguien que maneja los hilos desde la sombra/oculto.
1 day 22 hrs
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Puede ser... al menos he intentado ofrecer una solución, aunque la Wendy nunca me hace caso :)
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| agree |
Remo Fugnit
13 days
|
4 days
Andrzej Ziomek
Poland
Poland
Specializes in field
Poland
Jack of all trades Master of translation
Native in: Polish 
Works in: English to Polish, Polish to English
[The hidden] traditionalist [in her] / [...] reactionary
.
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Note added at 4 days (2024-03-10 21:52:02 GMT)
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https://www.bellanaija.com/2009/12/whose-wedding-is-it-anywa...
Weddings involve a lot of traditions and in most cases bring out the hidden traditionalist in most of us.
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Note added at 4 days (2024-03-10 21:57:25 GMT)
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandarin
mandarin
[...]
c
: a person of position and influence often in intellectual or literary circles
especially : an elder and often traditionalist or reactionary member of such a circle
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Note added at 4 days (2024-03-10 21:52:02 GMT)
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https://www.bellanaija.com/2009/12/whose-wedding-is-it-anywa...
Weddings involve a lot of traditions and in most cases bring out the hidden traditionalist in most of us.
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Note added at 4 days (2024-03-10 21:57:25 GMT)
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandarin
mandarin
[...]
c
: a person of position and influence often in intellectual or literary circles
especially : an elder and often traditionalist or reactionary member of such a circle
Discussion
a person who has a very important job in the government, and who is sometimes considered to be too powerful
5. m. irón. Persona influyente en los ambientes políticos, artísticos, literarios, sociales, etc. U. m. en pl.
Lo de irónico no me parece preciso o no en todos los casos, es uso hiperbólico, que exagera la posición.
Se suele aludir a cargos no oficiales o reconocidos pero no es obligado.
En este caso, si se refiere al cuadro no hay duda de que es "mandarin". Y si se habla de alguien que manda y no tiene el cargo oficial o de una autoridad o poderoso que decide o considera cómo es la obra diría que también...
Escondido aquí apunta más a inconsciente o no manifiesto que a alguien que maneja los hilos desde la sombra/oculto.
En este caso le da vida a la tela llamádola "mandarín", no sabemos si lo asocia a un gran cuadro clásico de "Pirilidiano Pueyrredón" en el cual domina el espacio un Mandarín con un gran sable. La autora debe atacar la tela con sus líneas y bloques de color, pero ahí está el Mandarín esperando. Está hablando figurativamente por supus.
Traduce la expresión literalmente y no le vas a errar.
But it's easier and quicker just to push everything onto ProZ
I like 'inner bureaucrat' - you should post it as an answer.
La Embajada de Argentina en China invitó al público a recorrer la muestra de la artista Fernanda Laguna, una figura destacada en el ámbito artístico argentino contemporáneo y que da sus primeros pasos en el gigante asiático con una muestra de sus dibujos y un libro de poemas traducidos al mandarín.