The surprises I had translating this book have in part resulted from looking more closely than ever before at a single word, looking into the histories and meanings of individual words in both languages. In translating you become very aware of synonyms, because you are always looking at every possible way of saying something. But how far apart most so-called synonyms really are; eventually, what leap out are the differences. Anyway is different from in any case, because a way is different from a case. For instance is different from for example, because an instance is different from an example. No choice is simple, even one that seems obvious.

Then there are the differences between the French and English so-called equivalents. The commonest equivalent of toujourstoujours is “always”—though you can sometimes use “ever” or “forever.” But the differences emerge when you look more closely: toujours is a shortened form of tous les jours, “all the days,” “every day,” whereas always is a shortened form of “all ways,” “in every manner,” or “by every route.” One word refers to time and the other to manner; they came to their meanings by different routes. Toujours also has the constant presence within it of jours, “days,” and since jour can also mean “daylight” and “light,” toujours also has the constant presence of ‘light.” Toujours also has the advantage of its built-in rhyme—it has a pleasing sound. (p.226-227)

The equivalent of toujours and always in Chinese is 总是, which means 全都是“all is,” “altogether is,” or 总归是“after all is.” The French word refers to time, the English word to manner, and the Chinese word to being. Three very different routes that lead to the same, or almost the same meaning.