請將下面這段話翻譯成英文:
筷子
筷子(chopsticks )是中國古人發(fā)明的一種具有鮮明民族特色的進食工具(tableware),是反映中國飲食文化特色的重要組成部分。中國人使用筷子的歷史可追溯到商代,距今已有三千多年。筷子可謂是中國國粹,既輕巧又靈活,在世界各國餐具中獨樹一幟,被西方人譽為“東方的文明”。凡是使用過筷子的人,不論中國人或是外國人,都因其使用方便、物美價廉而贊嘆不絕。
參考翻譯:
The Chopsticks
Chopsticks, invented by ancient Chinese people, are a kind of tableware with distinct national features, being an important component that reflects the characteristics of Chinese diet culture. The history of using chopsticks in China dates back to the Shang Dynasty, more than 3,000 years ago. Chopsticks, the quintessence of Chinese culture, whose lightness and flexibility develop a school of its own among various tableware all over the world, are praised as “Eastern Civilization” by the westerners. All those people who have ever used chopsticks, no matter Chinese or foreigners, marvel at their convenience, excellent quality and reasonable price.
1.追溯到:應譯為date back to...要注意在使用這一短語時,通常使用一般現(xiàn)在時,并且要用主動語態(tài),而非被動語態(tài)。
2.中國國粹:應譯為the quintessence of Chinese culture。“國粹”,即某一國家文化的精髓,所以使用quintessence—詞表達最為恰當。
3.輕巧又靈活:“輕巧”指的是筷子本身重量較輕,便于使用,所以用lightness來表達;“靈活”翻譯為flexibility。在翻譯此類短語時要注意根據(jù)語境把握詞語的準確含義,進而尋找最恰當?shù)脑~語來表達。
4.獨樹一幟:可譯為develop a school of its own, “發(fā)展一個屬于自己的流派”,就是“獨樹一幟”,這種非常地道的表達方式應該注意多積累。
5.物美價廉:該詞可以有很多種翻譯方式,可譯為excellent quality and reasonable price,或者簡單地譯為 cheap and fine。