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I am needing help with the translation on this old signboard. I Don't have a photo close enough to show anything other than the four middle characters but even this would be a great help. Thank you and kindest regards.

Do you own this board? If you do, please take close up pictures of those small Chinese characters on its right and left side, it would really help translate the Cheng yu (four-character Chinese proverb) in the middle of the sign. Otherwise, the chance of it being translated is probably not good. It would be helpful if you can provide some of its history, like where you got it from or where it was hung.

I have never heard of:

常珍並屆

even though I do know a lot of Chinese cheng yu 成語. May be some others can help?

Thanks for your help. I finally made it home yesterday and was able to take additional pictures. Hopefully this will help. Thanks Again

Wow, this was indeed a very tough one to translate and without those small characters in the extra pictures that were posted by you, I am not sure I could have translated them. This shows how important it is for anybody who want any of their stuff to be translated, they MUST post pictures of the whole thing. I would not translate anything without detailed pictures because it would not be fair to the translator. Thanks for posting the extra pictures. Can you tell us when and where you obtained this sign? Thanks in advance.

All those small characters written at the right-hand side of your sign listed all of the previous titles of a Qing dynasty official (to show off) and he addressed himself as the humble nephew (some time to show respect, many younger Chinese men would address themselves 愚侄 (the humble nephew) in order to show respect to the older person(s) to whom they addressed. In this case, he called himself 烟愚侄 and I believe that meant he was really a nephew (by blood or marriage, not sure which one) related to the person(s) to whom he was addressing.

The writings at the left says this sign is to celebrate the double 80th year birthdays 八旬(80th)双(double)壽 (birthdays) of both his uncle and his wife. The date of this sign was made in(last sentence at the far left):

民國壬子元年 First Year of the Republic of China (1912)
孟冬月 October (Chinese lunar calendar)
中浣 (middle of the month; between the 11th day and the 20th day)

The four BIG Chinese characters in the middle of the sign are:

常 - often, always;

珍 - using as a verb; to treasure.

並屆 - these two are very tough to translate; usually it means to hold hands together or reaching certain points in life together(their 80th birthday), therefore in this case, since the sign is to celebrate the 80th birthdays of a Chinese couple, the uncle and aunt of the person who gifted this sign, therefore I took the liberty in translating them as:

Always treasure the time spending together.

(or treasure the arrival at this point of life together)

Now of course, I can be wrong, but.....

I hope this helps.

Super

I cannot thank you enough Super for your effort in helping me translate this sign. It was found in the basement of a local studio that had closed down recently and was liquidating the assets. I did not go there with the intention of bringing back such a large item but after seeing the careless way it was shoved in a corner I had to bring it home and try to explain to my wife the importance of having to "rescue" it. She was sympathetic to my plight under the condition that I find the translation. When I find the time, I will probably end up seeking out and donating it to a Chinese cultural center or a college (If they will have it) It really should go where it can be truly appreciated and looked after. I will, however, be keeping the small bronze "face" plaque that I found in a cloth bag tied to the back of the sign. I truly love it and it doesn't take up too much space. :)

I should have said to celebrate the 80th birthdays of his uncle and his uncle's wife (I do not know why he did not call her aunt on the sign).

I've not heard the saying before, but 常珍並屆 (Chang zhen bing jie) seems to be saying "Often something of great avail to us will arrive just in the nick of time". Agree with Super, that the writing at the sides may help establish a better context for the translation.

Best regards,

Bill H.

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