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中式英語(yǔ)之鑒

所屬教程:筆譯技巧與經(jīng)驗(yàn)

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2017年12月28日

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中式英語(yǔ)之鑒

說(shuō)明:

所謂[正]和[誤],是為便于比較而設(shè)的形式而已,是想借此形式為學(xué)生學(xué)習(xí)鞏固英語(yǔ)常用習(xí)慣用法起助記提醒之作用。所謂[正]、[誤]是個(gè)相對(duì)概念,不是絕對(duì)的,有很多表達(dá)只是得體與不得體、地道與不地道的問題。考慮初學(xué)者接受能力有限,一個(gè)單項(xiàng)不益搞得面面俱到或超出能力范圍,他們讀到的一條只是相對(duì)較為得體的一種表達(dá)法而已,隨著不斷的學(xué)習(xí),想必其知識(shí)自然會(huì)擴(kuò)展和深入的??傊覀儗W(xué)的是英語(yǔ),所以就要盡量按英語(yǔ)的表達(dá)法說(shuō)話、造句,克服中式英語(yǔ)自然是我們努力的目標(biāo)。

The English Learner`s Guide to Chinglish

01.有他這顆掃帚星,什么事情都辦不成。

[誤] With a comet like him, nothing can be accomplished.

[正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished.

注: “掃帚星”是中國(guó)人對(duì)“慧星”(comet)的俗稱,因其后面象拖著的一條像掃帚一樣的長(zhǎng)尾巴而得名。在中國(guó)古代,“掃帚星”被認(rèn)為是災(zāi)難的預(yù)兆,并被用 來(lái)比喻不吉利的人或事;禍根:(person or thing that is thought to bring)bad luck(to sb/sth);curse。英語(yǔ)的 comet 雖然沒有這層含義,但卻有一個(gè)對(duì)應(yīng)的說(shuō)法,即 jinx。 例:There's a jinx on/Someone's put a jinx on this car: it's always giving me trouble. “這輛汽車上有什么妨人的東西,總給我找麻煩”。

02.蘿卜青菜,各有所愛。

[誤] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage.

[正] Tastes differ.

注: Tastes differ/vary 是句英語(yǔ)諺語(yǔ),除此以外,原句還可翻譯成 No dish suits all tastes 或 You can never make everyone happy 等。《新概念英語(yǔ)》第三冊(cè)第23課的標(biāo)題是:One man's meat is another man's poison,表達(dá)的很生動(dòng)。 總之,應(yīng)采取意譯。

03.他一向嘴硬,從不認(rèn)錯(cuò)。

[誤] He has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault.

[正] He never says uncle.

注: say (cry) uncle: to give up or in; to surrender; to admit defeat. Mainly used by boys, as when fighting。主要是男孩們打架時(shí)的用語(yǔ),當(dāng)一方想制服另一方時(shí),就用命令的口氣說(shuō):“Say uncle!”這時(shí),有的孩子為了表示不服輸,就是不說(shuō)。后來(lái),say uncle 就成了“服輸”的代名詞,而 not say uncle 就相當(dāng)于“嘴硬”了。

04.老師很喜歡這個(gè)嘴甜的小姑娘。

[誤] The teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much.

[正] The teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.

注:中國(guó)人喜歡說(shuō)“嘴甜”,但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣。

05.同學(xué)們都很討厭他,因?yàn)樗?jīng)常拍老師的馬屁。

[誤] The student all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's ass.

[正] The students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's boots.

注: 以前在歐洲,臣民見到國(guó)王與王后往往要葡匐到在,親吻他們的靴子。后來(lái),人們將 lick the boots 引申為“為了某種目的而討好某人”,它與漢語(yǔ)的“拍馬屁”含義一樣。在美國(guó)英語(yǔ)中,“拍馬屁”還有另一種說(shuō)法,即 polish the apple,它典出以前的學(xué)生用擦亮的蘋果來(lái)討好老師。

06.你聽說(shuō)了嗎?邁克把他的女朋友給甩了。

[誤] Have you ever heard that Mike broke up with his girlfriend.

[正] Have you ever heard that Mike dumped his girlfriend.

注:break up with sb. 雖然表示“與某人分手了”,但并沒說(shuō)明是誰(shuí)先提出來(lái)的。而 dump 的原意指“傾倒垃圾”,用在這里則表示像倒垃圾一樣地甩掉。

07.我們要把祖國(guó)建設(shè)成為社會(huì)主義的現(xiàn)代化強(qiáng)國(guó)。

[誤] We will build our motherland into a socialist modern powerful country.

[正] We will build our motherland into a modern powerful socialist country.

注: 形容詞作為修飾語(yǔ)在漢語(yǔ)和英語(yǔ)中都很常用,但使用的先后次序卻有所不同。在英語(yǔ)中我們一般遵循“靠近原則”,即越能說(shuō)明本質(zhì)屬性的修飾詞越靠近它所修飾的 名詞,當(dāng)從這一點(diǎn)看不出區(qū)別時(shí),就靠詞的長(zhǎng)短來(lái)決定,短的在前,長(zhǎng)的在后。原文中最能說(shuō)明“國(guó)家”本質(zhì)的定語(yǔ)是“社會(huì)主義的”,所以 socialist 要最靠近它所修飾的中心詞。

08.我想要一點(diǎn)白酒。

[誤] I'd like a little bit of white wine.

[正] I'd like a little bit of liquor.

注: 漢語(yǔ)的“酒”可指任何酒,包括白酒、葡萄酒、啤酒,甚至米酒;但英語(yǔ)中則要分別用 liquor,wine,beer及 rice wine表示。所以要注意,英語(yǔ)的wine與漢語(yǔ)的“酒”是有區(qū)別的,它僅指點(diǎn)葡萄酒。而且 red wine 是紅葡萄酒,white wine 是白葡萄酒。

09.中華人民共和國(guó)主席

[誤] Chairman of the People's Republic of China

[正] President of the People's Republic of China

注: 以前,我們一直將“主席”翻譯為 chairman,例如:great leader Chairman Mao(偉大領(lǐng)袖毛主席)。其實(shí)“主席”與 chairman 并不等義,chairman 在英語(yǔ)中通常指會(huì)議或某一具體組織的負(fù)責(zé)人,它的權(quán)力和重要性不及中文的“主席”。這就是為什么1983年,在我國(guó)《憲法》的英譯單行本中開始使用 President一詞,并沿用至今。另外,國(guó)內(nèi)仍有不少詞典把“班/級(jí)長(zhǎng)(學(xué)校的)”譯為“class monitor”,這是“四人幫”時(shí)代的產(chǎn)物,那時(shí)的“班長(zhǎng)”是專司監(jiān)管學(xué)生的,所以譯作“monitor”。而“班長(zhǎng)”的正確譯文應(yīng)該是“class president”。

10.轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)南北

[誤] fight south and north

[正] fight north and south

注: 在地理方位的表達(dá)習(xí)慣上,中英文有一定的區(qū)別。中國(guó)人習(xí)慣于先“東西”后“南北”,而且在涉及“南北”時(shí),習(xí)慣于先說(shuō)“南”,再說(shuō)“北”,如:“南征北 戰(zhàn)”、“南來(lái)北往”等。而英美人與此正好相反,如“江蘇在中國(guó)的東南部”英文是 Jiangsu is in the south-east of China, 而“新疆在中國(guó)的西北部”應(yīng)譯為 Xinjiang is in the north-west of China。

11.人都是這山望著那山高,對(duì)自己的現(xiàn)狀沒有滿意的時(shí)候。

[誤] Almost all people think that the other mountain is higher than the one he's standing on. They never feel saisfied with what they've already got.

[正] Almost all people think that the grass is greener on the other hill. They never feel saisfied with what they've already got.

注:“這山望著那山高”是指人不滿足于現(xiàn)狀的心理,它在英語(yǔ)中已經(jīng)有了現(xiàn)成的說(shuō)法,即 the grass is greener on the other hill(他山的草更綠),因此我們借用即可,這樣既方便又更有利于與西方人溝通。

12.北京申奧成功的消息令我們熱血沸騰。

[誤] Beijing's winning the bid for the Olympics makes our blood boil.

[正] Beijing's winning the bid for the Olympics makes us excited.

注:make one's blood boil 是指“激怒某人”,而非“使人激動(dòng)”。英語(yǔ)中“使人激動(dòng)”的說(shuō)法除了 make one excited,還有較為口語(yǔ)化的 make one's spine tingle。

13.別聽他們胡說(shuō)八道,根本就沒那回事。

[誤] Don't listen to their babbling. Nothing of the sort.

[正] Don't be fooled by their babbling. Nothing of the sort.

注:原文中的“聽”不能用 listen to 來(lái)表示,因?yàn)?listen to 指“聽”的動(dòng)作,而原文中的“別聽”不是不讓他“聽”,而是勸告他“不要聽信”,因此,用 not be fooled by 才更達(dá)意。

14.我們這兒的人都覺得他有婚外戀。

[誤] Pepple around here all feel that he has affairs outside his own marriage.

[正] Pepple around here all feel that he is leading a double life.

注:affair 本身就指“私通”或“曖昧關(guān)系”,當(dāng)然是“婚外”的事,所以 outside one's own marriage 無(wú)疑是多此一舉了。英語(yǔ)中“有婚外戀”的地道說(shuō)法應(yīng)該是 lead a double life。

15.別看別人不把她當(dāng)回事,在家里她可是父親的掌上明珠。

[誤] Although other people never take her seriousy, she is the pearl on her father's hand at home.

[正] Although other people never take her seriousy, she is the apple of her father's eye at home.

注: 中英文常用不同的喻體表明相同的喻義,“掌上明珠”與 the apple of one's eye 就是一個(gè)很好的例子。這種情況我們一般應(yīng)尊重各國(guó)文化和習(xí)俗,翻譯時(shí)取目的語(yǔ)的固定說(shuō)法,而不必直譯,這有助于將意思更有效地傳達(dá)給讀者。the apple of one's eye 源自圣經(jīng)《舊約》,當(dāng)時(shí)人們用 apple 指人的瞳孔。盡管瞳孔現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)用 pupil 來(lái)表示,不再是 apple 了,但這一用法卻延續(xù)了下來(lái)。

16.都十點(diǎn)鐘了。起床了,懶蟲!

[誤] It's ten o'clock. Get up, lazy worm!

[正] It's ten o'clock. Get up, lazy bones!

注:“懶蟲”并非真是一條蟲,只不過(guò)被用來(lái)形容人很懶惰罷了。英語(yǔ)里與之對(duì)應(yīng)的說(shuō)法是 lazy bones(懶骨頭)。注意,這里的 bone 應(yīng)以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn),也許是因?yàn)椴粫?huì)只有一根骨頭懶吧!

17.我唯一的資本就是勤奮。

[誤] My only capital is diligence.

[正] My only means to success is diligence.

注: 原文的“資本”是借喻,實(shí)際指“可以依靠并取得成功的手段”。而英語(yǔ)的 capital 指 money used to produce more wealth or for starting a business,并沒有中文那樣的引申意思。所以,這里的“資本”不能與 capital 畫等號(hào)。也有人用 advantage 來(lái)翻譯“資本”,雖然不盡意,但至少可以讓讀者理解。

18.這家商店開辟了休息處,受到顧客的稱贊。

[誤] This department store has set up a resting-place, much to the customers' appreciation.

[正] This department store has set up a lounge, much to the customers' appreciation.

注: 英語(yǔ)的 resting-place 雖然有“休息處”的意思,但更經(jīng)常的是用來(lái)指“墳?zāi)?rdquo;,即“最后安息之處”。因此,把公共場(chǎng)所的“休息處”譯為 resting-place 不很合適。也有人將它譯為 rest-room,但那更不妥當(dāng),因?yàn)橛⒄Z(yǔ)中的 rest-room 是“廁所”的委婉說(shuō)法,而“休息處”不是這個(gè)意思。

19.大家都懷疑湯姆是個(gè)間諜。

[誤] Everyone doubts that Tom is a spy.

[正] Everyone suspects that Tom is a spy.

注: doubt 作“懷疑”講,是“不相信”的意思;而 suspect 作“懷疑”講,是指“對(duì)...有所察覺”。第一句譯文犯了兩個(gè)錯(cuò)誤:首先,doubt 不能接 that 從句,只有not doubt that 和 doubt if/whether;其次,它所表達(dá)的意思是“大家對(duì)湯姆是間諜這件事表示懷疑”,即“大家不相信湯姆是間諜”,與原文的意思恰好相反。

20. 我們倆關(guān)系最好,他經(jīng)常來(lái)我這兒蹲飯吃。

[誤] We are best friends. He always comes here to have meals for free.

[正] We are best friends. He always comes here to bum meals off me.

注:第一句只表明“他常到我這兒來(lái)白吃白喝”,但朋友這間那種親密關(guān)系沒有體現(xiàn)出來(lái)。而 bum sth. off sb. 指向非常熟的朋友要一些不起眼的小東西,而朋友也不會(huì)介意還不還。

21. 這個(gè)教授教得很爛。

[誤] The professor teaches badly.

[正] The professor is so terrible.

注:有人認(rèn)為第二句的意思是“這個(gè)教授很可怕”,其實(shí)不然。英語(yǔ)中 terible 意思很靈活,例如:feel terrible 指身體“不舒服”; The food is terrible 則是說(shuō)食物“難吃極了”。而第一句純屬中文式的表達(dá)。

22. 我希望你不要拖我的后腿。

[誤] I hope that you won't pull my leg.

[正] I hope that you won't hold me back.

注:pull one's leg 是“愚弄某人,開某人的玩笑”的意思,相當(dāng)于 make fun of sb.。英語(yǔ)中與“拖后腿”相對(duì)應(yīng)的表達(dá)是 hold sb. back 或 be a drag on sb. 等。

23. 學(xué)校里,那些長(zhǎng)得人高馬大的家伙常來(lái)找我的麻煩。

[誤] At school, those big and strong guys always come to find my trouble.

[正] At school, those big and strong guys always come to pick on me.

注:find my trouble 是“發(fā)現(xiàn)我的難處”的意思,而英語(yǔ)中“找某人的麻煩”用短語(yǔ) pick on sb. 它不僅表示“挑剔某人、找某人的碴”,而且還包含 tease(取笑、戲弄)或 bully(威脅、欺侮)的意思。

24. 原來(lái)如此。一經(jīng)你解釋我就明白了。

[誤] So it is. I understand soon after your explanation.

[正] So that's how it is. I understand soon after your explanation.

注:So it is 的意思是“的確如此”,它是用來(lái)表示對(duì)對(duì)方觀點(diǎn)的贊同的。例如:

A: It is a fine day today!

B: So it is.

而在表達(dá)恍然大悟時(shí),英文要用 So that's how it is 或 So that explains it, 或更簡(jiǎn)單地道的說(shuō)法 Oh, I see.

25. 先生,您是不是迷路了?

[誤] Hello, monsieur, get lost?

[正] Hello, monsieur, got lost?

注:這兩句譯文表面上看只是時(shí)態(tài)上存在差異,其實(shí)它們的含義也截然不同。get lost 是俚語(yǔ):“走開,別搗亂”的意思,got lost才是“迷路”。難怪當(dāng)你友好地問外賓 "Get lost?"時(shí),他并不領(lǐng)情呢!

Please see:

https://www.rainlane.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=8&id=13364&star=1#65796

(1) get lost!: go away

"I wish he'd get lost and stop bothering me. I don't want to talk to him!"

---Dennis Oliver's Idioms:

https://www.eslcafe.com/idioms/id-g.html

(2) Get lost! INFORMAL

used to tell someone forcefully and quite rudely to go away:

Tell him to get lost!

(from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=CALD&key=47316

(3)《英漢大詞典》p.1055:

We got lost in the woods. 我們?cè)谏种忻月妨恕?/p>

(4) 張道真《現(xiàn)代英語(yǔ)用法詞典》p.820-821:

He lost his bearing(迷失方向)in the strange city.

(5) 在...中迷路,迷失在...

We were lost in the forest.

We are lost in the woods.

* lost one'e way 迷路

She had lost her way.

Don't lost your way in the storm.

(6)《漢英大詞典》上海交大版;金山詞霸2005:

均收錄了 get lost 為“迷路”;而“金山詞霸2005”把“get lost”和“got lost”均列為“迷路”。但都沒有例句。

有關(guān)迷路的常見說(shuō)法:

1) to get lost(常用)

I wouldn't have gotten lost, if I had asked for directions.

要是我問過(guò)路,就不至于迷路了。

2) to lost one's way(正式)

The child had lost his way.

那個(gè)小孩迷路了。

3) to take the wrong road(不常用)

Finally we found ourselves having taken the wrong road.

最后,我們發(fā)覺我們迷路了。

4) to go the wrong way(常用)

I am afraid we are going the wrong way.

恐怕我們走錯(cuò)路了。

5) so lose one's bearings(正式)

One might lose his bearings in an unfamiliar place.

一個(gè)人在不熟悉的地方最容易迷路。

6) can't find one's way(常用)

They went on in the desert until at last they couldn't find their way.

他們?cè)谏衬锢^續(xù)走,直到他們最后迷了路。

7) to stray(正式)

They strayed in the woods.

他們?cè)谏种忻月妨恕?/p>

(to go astray:走入迷途,走上歧途)

Today I came across get lost in The Invisible Man ---H. G. Wells:

"I'm not trying to run away, I swear," protested Marvel tearfully. "I don't know these roads and I don't want to get lost."

=================================================================

26. 我沒料到這個(gè)無(wú)恥的女人居然同她好友的丈夫調(diào)情。

[誤] I had not expected that this shameful woman should flirt with her best friend's husband.

[正] I had not expected that this shameless woman should flirt with her best friend's husband.

注: shameful 通常指某事物是“可恥的,丟臉的”,而 shameless 表示 having or showing no feeling of shame; immodest or impudent,它一般用來(lái)指人“不知羞恥的,不要臉的”或“傷風(fēng)敗俗的”。原文也可譯為:It's shameful that the woman should flirt with her best friend's husband.

27. 東施效顰。

[誤] Doingshi imitates Xishi.

[正] The ugly imitates the beautiful in such a distorted way that the ugliness of the ugly becomes worse.

注: 把原文按照字面意思直譯過(guò)來(lái),恐怕只有中國(guó)人能夠理解。要想讓外國(guó)人明白這個(gè)中國(guó)成語(yǔ),就要對(duì)譯文進(jìn)行解釋性加工了。同樣,“情人眼里出西施”不是 Xishi is in the eye of the beholder,而是 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder。

28. 你不好好學(xué)習(xí),還想去牛津上大學(xué)。這可真是個(gè)不切實(shí)際的幻想喲!

[誤] You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an impractical illusion!

[正] You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an illusion!

注:漢語(yǔ)中的修飾語(yǔ)往往用的很多,目的在于加強(qiáng)語(yǔ)氣,但這種表達(dá)習(xí)慣在翻譯時(shí)必須進(jìn)行處理。illusion 本身就有 impractical 的含義,而英語(yǔ)中在表意已經(jīng)很明確的情況下是無(wú)需重復(fù)的。

29. 想讓他答應(yīng)這樣的要求恐怕不大可能。

[誤] I'm afraid it is impossible for him to agree to such a request.

[正] I'm afreaid it is unlikely for him to agree to such a request.

注: impossible 表示“完全不可能”,所以與原文有出入。在英語(yǔ)中,probable 表示的可能性最大,其次是 possible,再次是 likely。而常用的句式為 it is probable/possible/likely for sb. to do sth.,或 sb. be likely to do sth.。

30. 一群螞蟻

[誤] a group of ants

[正] a colony of ants

31. 最近的人口統(tǒng)計(jì)顯示中國(guó)人口已超過(guò)12億。

[誤] The latest census shows that China's population has surpassed 1.2 billion.

[正] The latest census shows that China's population exceeds 1.2 billion.

注:surpass 和 exceed 譯成中文雖然都是“超過(guò),勝過(guò)”的意思,但出現(xiàn)具體數(shù)字時(shí)要用后者。

32. 我每天都要在網(wǎng)吧里呆上10個(gè)小時(shí),是個(gè)不折不扣的網(wǎng)蟲。

[誤] I spend 10 hours in the net bar every day, and I am indeed a net bug.

[正] I spend 10 hours in the net bar every day, and I am indeed a netter.

注:“網(wǎng)蟲”要是直譯成 net bug,很容易使人聯(lián)想到計(jì)算機(jī)病毒,如:the millennium bug(“千年蟲”病毒)。所以,英語(yǔ)中與之相應(yīng)的說(shuō)法是 netter/nettle。在《劍橋國(guó)際英語(yǔ)詞典》里,對(duì) netter/nettle 的解釋是:regular user of Internet, perhaps one who spends too much time in this occupation。nethead 和“網(wǎng)蟲”的意思差不多,它表示“網(wǎng)癡,網(wǎng)迷”;而 netizen 則可以用來(lái)指所有的網(wǎng)民,尤其是互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的用戶,它是由 net(網(wǎng)絡(luò))和 citizen(公民)組合而成的。還有一個(gè)時(shí)髦的詞是 netsurfer,即“網(wǎng)上沖浪者”。

33. 每次考試來(lái)臨的時(shí)候,約翰就變成了一只夜貓子,但這并不是一個(gè)好的學(xué)習(xí)方法。

[誤] John becomes a night cat every time the examination is coming. However, this is not a good way to learn.

[正] John becomes a night owl every time the examination is coming. However, this is not a good way to learn.

注:owl 是“貓頭鷹”的意思,即一種深夜不睡,睜一只眼,閉一只眼,準(zhǔn)備隨時(shí)捕捉田鼠的動(dòng)物。英語(yǔ)中用 night owl 來(lái)比喻經(jīng)常熬夜的人,就像我們習(xí)慣用“夜貓子”一樣。不論叫你“夜貓子”還是 a night owl,“開夜車”(burn the midnight oil)總是免不了的。

34. 現(xiàn)如今,由于出國(guó)深造的人越來(lái)越多,“海龜(歸)派”也不像原來(lái)那樣吃香了。

[誤] Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the overseas students are not so popular as before.

[正] Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the returnees are not so popular as before.

注:“海龜(歸)派”是指那些在國(guó)外留學(xué)以后又回來(lái)的人,是個(gè)非常形象的新名詞。但 overseas student 是指正在國(guó)外學(xué)習(xí)的“留學(xué)生”,意思正好相反,所以要換成 returnee。這個(gè)詞本身就包含在海外學(xué)習(xí)過(guò)的意思。

35. 在皎潔的月光下,那個(gè)花花公子在我耳邊悄悄說(shuō)著情話。

[誤] The playboy whispered love words to my ear with a bright moon in the sky.

[正] The playboy whispered sweet nothings to my ear with a bright moon in the sky.

注: 因?yàn)?ldquo;情書”是 love letter,“情歌”是 love song,所以不少人以為“情話”就應(yīng)該是 love words,其實(shí)并非如此。英語(yǔ)中“情話”常用 lovers'prattle 或 sweet nothings 來(lái)表達(dá)。prattle 有“孩子話,廢話”的意思,所以 lovers' prattle 指“戀人之間孩子氣的廢話”;sweet nothings 更是一目了然,有“甜蜜而不中用”的意思。

36. 比爾.蓋茨平均每天工作15個(gè)小時(shí),他簡(jiǎn)直就是一個(gè)工作狂。

[誤] Bill Gates works 15 hours a day on average, and he is crazy about his work.

[正] Bill Gates works 15 hours a day on average, and he is a workaholic.

注: crazy 雖然可以作“瘋狂的,狂熱的”講,但 be crazy about/on sth. 的意思卻是“熱衷于...,對(duì)...著迷”;be crazy for 也不行,因?yàn)樗硎?ldquo;渴望(某物);迷戀(某人)”??梢?,它們都與“工作狂”有一定區(qū)別。而 workaholic 是從 alcoholic(嗜酒成癖者)派生出來(lái)的,表示像酗酒者離不開酒精一樣地離不開工作。現(xiàn)在人們將 -holic 作為一個(gè)后綴,表示“對(duì)...上癮,嗜好...成癖”,并構(gòu)成了許多新詞。例如:movie-holic(嗜好電影成癖的人),telehokic(看電 視成癖的人)等。

37. 給這們女士來(lái)杯威士忌,記在我的賬上。

[誤] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my bill.

[正] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my tab.

注: 我們可以說(shuō) Could we have the bill, please? (請(qǐng)給我們賬單好嗎?)或 pay the bill(埋單),但“記在某某的賬上”卻不用 bill,而要用 put...on one's tab 表示。tab 是“小紙片”的意思,因?yàn)檫^(guò)去小店的生意都是靠住在附近的老主顧,賒賬時(shí)有發(fā)生,于是老板們通常把每個(gè)人的賒賬情況記在各自的小紙片上,也就是 put...on one's tab,以防遺忘。漸漸地,該詞組就成了一種習(xí)慣用法。

38. 哈羅得揮金如土,沒有一點(diǎn)積蓄。

[誤] Harold spends money like dirt, and has no savings.

[正] Harold spends money like water, and has no savings.

注: 英國(guó)是一個(gè)島國(guó),離不開水;而我們中國(guó)的許多地區(qū)深處內(nèi)陸,人們的生活離不開土地。所以,英語(yǔ)中有許多習(xí)語(yǔ)與“水”有關(guān),而漢語(yǔ)卻常常拿“土”作比。這就 是為什么同樣是比喻花錢浪費(fèi),大手大腳,英語(yǔ)是 spend money like water,而漢語(yǔ)卻是“揮金如土”。此外,英語(yǔ)中還有很多有關(guān)船和水的習(xí)語(yǔ),例如:rest on one's oars(暫時(shí)歇一歇),keep one's head above water(奮力圖存),be all at sea(不知所措)等等。

39. 這只表的價(jià)錢很貴。

[誤] The price of the watch is dear.

[正] The watch is dear. /The price of the watch is high.

注: 以物品為主語(yǔ)時(shí)用 dear 或 cheap,以定價(jià)為主語(yǔ)時(shí)就說(shuō) high 或 low.

40. 昨天晚上我們玩得很愉快。

[誤] We played very pleasantly last night.

[正] We enjoyed ourselves very much last night./ We had a good time last night.

注: 玩牌,打球,演戲之類就用 play,漢語(yǔ)這兒說(shuō)的玩是指度過(guò)一個(gè)愉快的時(shí)候,最好譯成 enjoy oneself 或 have a good time.

41. 她和男朋友吵了一架,冒著大雨跑了出去。

[誤] She quarreled with his boyfriedn and ran out in the big rain.

[正] She quarreled with his boyfriedn and ran out in the heavy rain.

注: 漢語(yǔ)中的“大”可以修飾很多名詞,如“大風(fēng)”、“大浪”、“濕氣大”等,但在英語(yǔ)里卻不能一一對(duì)應(yīng)。例如,“大雨”就不能譯成 big rain,因?yàn)槟菚?huì)被人誤以為是雨點(diǎn)大,而不是雨大。英美人形容雨大習(xí)慣用“重”(heavy),heary rain(大雨),heavy clouds(云霧大),heavy moisture(潮氣大)等,這也許是因?yàn)樗麄冋J(rèn)為有些事物用重量來(lái)衡量比用體積更好吧。

42. 歌迷們沖進(jìn)演員休息室,搶著同凱莉.米納合影。

[誤] The fans rushed into the rest room trying to take photos with Kylie Minogue.

[正] The fans rushed into the greenroom trying to take photos with Kylie Minogue.

注: 倫敦西區(qū)的特魯街劇院是英國(guó)最古老的劇院,據(jù)說(shuō)為了讓演員們長(zhǎng)時(shí)間處于舞臺(tái)強(qiáng)烈燈光照射下的眼睛得到休息,那里的演員休息室被漆成了綠色。后來(lái), greenroom 就逐漸成了“(劇場(chǎng))演員休息室”的代名詞。而 rest room 可不是這個(gè)意義上的“休息室”,它其實(shí)是“廁所”的一種委婉說(shuō)法。

43. 我感到很痛。

[誤] I am painful.

[正] I feel great pain.

注:“我感到高興”是 I am happy,“我感到累了”是 I'm tired,但“我感到很痛”卻不是 I am painful。因?yàn)?painful 表示“使人痛苦的,讓人疼痛或討厭的”,它的主語(yǔ)往往不是人,而是事物或人體的某個(gè)部位,如:The foot is painful(腳痛),The lessons are painful(教訓(xùn)是慘痛的)等。所以沒有 I am painful 這個(gè)說(shuō)法,如果你非要這樣說(shuō),別人會(huì)以為你全身帶電或渾身長(zhǎng)刺,別人碰了你就會(huì)疼,是你讓別人痛苦,而不是你自己痛苦。

44. 亞洲四小龍。

[誤] the Four Little Dragons of Asia

[正] the Four Little Tigers of Asia

注: 在我國(guó)古代傳說(shuō)中,龍是降雨和懲治妖魔鬼怪的神奇動(dòng)物,是吉祥和力挽狂瀾的象征。很多漢語(yǔ)成語(yǔ)與“龍”有關(guān),如“龍飛鳳舞”、“龍鳳呈祥”、“藏龍臥虎” 等,而且多為褒義詞。但如果把“四小龍”直譯成英文卻不行,因?yàn)槲鞣饺藢?duì)“龍”的聯(lián)想和看法與中國(guó)人完全不同。“龍”(dragon)在西方是貶義詞,是 邪惡的免征,西方人不會(huì)理解為什么要把亞洲經(jīng)濟(jì)的四個(gè)強(qiáng)國(guó)說(shuō)成“四個(gè)小魔鬼”,所以要用 tiger 進(jìn)行替換。在西方人眼里,tiger “是朝氣蓬勃、堅(jiān)忍不拔、努力奮斗、充滿希望”的象征,所以用 tiger 才能準(zhǔn)確表達(dá)原文的意思。

45. 百里挑一。

[誤] one in a hundred

[正] one in a thousand

注: “百里挑一”常被用來(lái)形容“很特別,很出眾”或“與眾不同”,one in a thousand 也有相同的含義。但值得注意的是,漢語(yǔ)用“百”,而英語(yǔ)則以十倍于百的 thousand 來(lái)夸張。同樣,漢語(yǔ)的“十分感謝”或“萬(wàn)分感謝”,英語(yǔ)則說(shuō) a thousand thanks(千分感謝)或 thanks a million times(百萬(wàn)次的感謝)。

46. 周末許多人睡得很晚。

[誤] Many people sleep late at weekends.

[正] Many people go to bed very late at weekends.

注: 第一句譯文錯(cuò)在沒弄懂 sleep 的真正含義。英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞有短暫動(dòng)詞和持續(xù)動(dòng)詞之分,它們分別表示短暫動(dòng)作和持續(xù)的動(dòng)作或狀態(tài)。sleep 是典型的持續(xù)動(dòng)詞,表示“在睡覺”。而漢語(yǔ)的“睡”既可表示“上床睡覺”的短暫動(dòng)作,如:我昨天11點(diǎn)才睡;也可以表示“在睡覺”的持續(xù)動(dòng)作和狀態(tài),如: 他睡了整整10個(gè)小時(shí)。原文屬于前一種情況,即表示“上床睡覺”的短暫動(dòng)作,故應(yīng)該使用 go to bed。

47. 干杯!要一飲而盡。

[誤] ---Cheers! Bottom up.

[正] ---Cheers! Bottoms up.

注: bottoms up 雖然只比 bottom up 多一個(gè) s,但是兩個(gè)詞組的意思卻相差十萬(wàn)八千里。bottoms up 里的 bottom 是指“(酒杯的)底部”,那么杯朝天就是“一飲而盡”的意思,而且因?yàn)楦杀瓡r(shí)肯定不止一人一飲而盡,所以要用復(fù)數(shù);而 bottom up 表示“屁股朝天”。

48. 這個(gè)任務(wù)很危險(xiǎn),但總得有人去冒險(xiǎn)。

[誤] The task is really dangerous. But someone has to take the adventure.

[正] The task is really dangerous. But someone has to bell the cat.

注: adventure 指軍事歷險(xiǎn)、探險(xiǎn)旅行等驚險(xiǎn)活動(dòng)或投機(jī)活動(dòng)。而 bell the cat 源自一個(gè)故事:一窩老鼠想在貓脖子上套一個(gè)鈴鐺,這樣貓一來(lái)他們就會(huì)聽到,并及時(shí)逃命。但主意雖好,卻苦于沒人去套這個(gè)鈴鐺(bell the cat)。后來(lái),bell the cat 被人們反復(fù)引用,表示“為大家的事去承擔(dān)風(fēng)險(xiǎn)”,并成了表示原文意思最貼切的英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)。

49. 一輛白色轎車前來(lái)接新郎新娘去教堂。

[誤] A white car turned up to take the groom and the bride to the church.

[正] A white car turned up to take the bride and the groom to the church.

注: 漢英兩種語(yǔ)言均有各自固定的詞序,因此,在翻譯時(shí)要根據(jù)各自的語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣進(jìn)行適當(dāng)?shù)恼{(diào)整,此處就是一個(gè)很好的例子。之所以將新娘放在前面,也許是西方文化中 “女士?jī)?yōu)先”的又一體現(xiàn)吧!又如:“衣食住行”譯成英語(yǔ)是 food, clothing, shelter and transportation; 同樣,“左顧右盼”翻譯成 look right and left。

50. 你去弄些水來(lái)。

[誤] Go and bring some water.

[正] Go and fetch some water.

注: bring 雖然表示“帶來(lái)”,但它是讓某人在來(lái)的時(shí)候?qū)⒛澄飵?lái)(但說(shuō)話時(shí)人還沒來(lái));而 fetch 則是讓身邊的某人“去取某物”,它包括往返的兩段路程。

注:表示群體時(shí),group 通常指人或物,而 colony 才指生物群體。

51. 嘿,小伙子,千萬(wàn)別灰心。

[誤] Hey, lad, don't lose your heart.

[正] Hey, lad, don't lose heart.

注: lose one's heart (to sb.) 是“心被...俘虜去,愛上...”的意思,而 lose heart 才表示“灰心喪氣,喪失勇氣或信心”。

52. IBM公司一直處在電腦行業(yè)的前沿。

[誤] IBM is always in the front line of computer industry.

[正] IBM is always at the cuttting edge of computer insustry.

注: front line 是“前線,第一線”的意思,常指最危險(xiǎn)或最艱苦的地方。例如:Many doctors are in the front line of the fighting against SARS(許多醫(yī)生戰(zhàn)斗在抗擊“非典”的第一線)。at the cutting edge 最早出現(xiàn)在20世紀(jì)50年代,它最初指“銳器的鋒利部位”,現(xiàn)在常隱喻“處在(高科技的)最前沿。

53. 一位有經(jīng)驗(yàn)的教師曾經(jīng)說(shuō),上課之前他覺得如臨大敵,上課時(shí)他是如履薄冰,只有上完課后他才會(huì)如釋重負(fù)。

[誤] An experienced teacher once said that before class he felt as if faced with a formidable enemy, in class he felt like walking on ice, and only after class would he feel relieved.

[正] An experienced teacher once said that before class he felt as if faced with a formidable enemy, in class he felt like walking on eggs, and only after class would he feel relieved.

注: 中文的“如履薄冰”是比喻一個(gè)人“做事十分小心謹(jǐn)慎或戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢”,而英語(yǔ)的類似說(shuō)法卻是 walk on eggs 或 tread on eggs,要注意中英文喻體的不同。

54. 我有一個(gè)舒適的家。

[誤] I have a cozy family.

[正] I have a cozy home.

注: family 和 home 雖然翻譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)都是“家”,但它們?cè)谟⒄Z(yǔ)中卻不是同義詞。family 主要指家庭成員;而 home 主要指居住地,即“住宅”。原文中用“舒適的”來(lái)修飾“家”,顯然是指“舒適的房子”。如果原文是“我有一個(gè)和睦的家”,就應(yīng)該翻譯成 I have a harmonious family 了。

55. 每節(jié)課老師都會(huì)點(diǎn)名。

[誤] The teacher will call our names in every period of class.

[正] The teacher will call the roll in every period of class.

注: 英語(yǔ)的“點(diǎn)名”是 call the roll,而 call one's name(s)的意思是“謾罵某人”。roll 有“名冊(cè)”的意思,又如:remove sb.'s name from the roll(把某人除名)。

56. 我的學(xué)習(xí)很忙。

[誤] My study is very busy.

[正] I am very busy with my study.

注:第一句譯文完全套用漢語(yǔ)的結(jié)構(gòu)和語(yǔ)序,卻犯了英文的句法錯(cuò)誤。因?yàn)樵谟⒄Z(yǔ)中,study(學(xué)習(xí))是一個(gè)行為,并不懂得忙不忙,感到忙的應(yīng)是進(jìn)行這一行 為的人。所以,be busy with sth. 或 be busy (in) doing sth. 才是地道的英語(yǔ)表達(dá)。

57. 給他當(dāng)二把手我看也值得。他太能干了。

[誤] I feel it worth being a second hand to him. He is so capable.

[正] I feel it worth playing second fiddle to him. He is so capable.

注:英語(yǔ)的 second hand 作名詞指“中間人”、“舊貨”或“助手工人”,而漢語(yǔ)的“二把手”是“副手”,即“第二負(fù)責(zé)人”的意思,所以二者不是一回事。play second fiddle 則源于管弦樂隊(duì)中第一提琴手(first violin)不在的時(shí)候由第二提琴手負(fù)責(zé),并被人們引申為“當(dāng)主要領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的副手”,也就是我們所說(shuō)的“當(dāng)?shù)诙咽?rdquo;。由此,不難猜出“當(dāng)一把手”譯成英 語(yǔ)應(yīng)該是 play first fiddle了。

58. 電車上十分擁擠,幾乎沒有立足之地。

[誤] The tram was so crowded that there was hardly sufficient room for you.

[正] The tram was so crowded that there was scarcely sufficient room for you.

注:副詞 hardly 和 scarcely 雖然都含有“幾乎不”等否定含義,有些時(shí)候也可以互換,如:I could hardly/scarcely recognize her(我?guī)缀跽J(rèn)不出她來(lái)了),但仍有細(xì)微的差異。如在強(qiáng)調(diào)數(shù)量“不足”時(shí)只能用 scarcely,這時(shí)它常與 enough、sufficient等詞連用。

59. 他被戴上了綠帽子。

[誤] He is made to wear a green hat.

[正] He is a cuckold.

注:中文的“戴綠帽子”是指某人之妻與他人私通,但直譯成英文西方人只會(huì)按字面意思理解為“某人頭上被戴了頂綠色的帽子”,無(wú)論如何也不會(huì)理解漢語(yǔ)的喻 義。而英語(yǔ)的 cuckold 是指“奸婦的丈夫”(a man whose wife deceives him by having a sexual relationship with another man),所以用 be a cuckold 才能正確表達(dá)原文的意思。

60. 我在新聞片里看到你站在總裁的身旁。

[誤] I saw you stand by the president in the newsreel.

[正] I saw you stand beside the president in the newsreel.

注:stand by someone 的意思是“支持某人”(to support someone);to stand beside someone 才是“立于某人旁邊”(to stand by the side of someone)。但是,如果 stand by 后面的賓語(yǔ)不是人,那倒是可以與 stand beside 互換,表示“在...之旁”,例如:Their house stands by a forest(他們的房子在森林旁邊)。除此之外,stand by 還有“袖手旁觀”之意,例如:How can you stand by and watch while your allies are attacked?(當(dāng)你們的盟友受到攻擊時(shí),你們?cè)跄苄涫峙杂^呢?)

61. 那本書毫無(wú)價(jià)值可言。

[誤] That book is invaluable.

[正] That book is valueless.

注:invaluable 和 valueless 一個(gè)是在形容詞 valuable(有價(jià)值的)之前加上否定形容詞前綴 in-;另一個(gè)是在名詞 value(價(jià)值)的后面加上否定形容詞 -less,但它們的意思卻剛好相反。invaluable 是指“非常貴重的,無(wú)價(jià)的”(highly valuable, precious),其同義詞是 priceless;valueless 的意思卻是“毫無(wú)價(jià)值的”,相當(dāng)于 worthless?,F(xiàn)將這兩個(gè)詞用在同一個(gè)句子中,以便區(qū)別:The book that he considered valueless proved invaluable to us(他認(rèn)為毫無(wú)價(jià)值的那本書對(duì)我們來(lái)說(shuō)卻是無(wú)價(jià)之寶)。

62. 房間里有一張床、兩張桌子和五把椅子。

[誤] There are one bed, two desks and five chairs in the room.

[正] There is one bed, two desks and five chairs in the room.

注:there be 句型中,be 動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于離它最近的那個(gè)詞。原文雖然一共列舉了八件家具,但是根據(jù)英語(yǔ)的謂語(yǔ)就近原則,one bed 決定了應(yīng)該使用 is。

63. 我不想聽他那些空話。

[誤] I don't want to hear his empty words.

[正] I don't want to hear his hollow words.

注:雖然 empty 和 hollow 都有“空洞的”之意,但表達(dá)“空話”時(shí),英語(yǔ)習(xí)慣用 hollow words 或 empty talk。

64. 他是我們的死敵。

[誤] He is our dead enemy.

[正] He is our deadly enemy.

注:dead 作形容詞時(shí)表示“死的,無(wú)感覺的”,而 deadly 才表示“致命的,不共戴天的”。

65. 奧斯本名義上是個(gè)醫(yī)生,但他整天都呆在股票交易所里。

[誤] Osborne is a doctor by name only, but he stays in the stock exchange all day long.

[正] Osborne is a doctor in name only, but he stays in the stock exchange all day long.

注:by name 和 in name 雖然形似,但涵義卻有區(qū)別。by name 相當(dāng)于 by the name of,常放在專有名詞之后,表示所說(shuō)的人或事物的確實(shí)名稱。例如:There was a great poet in China, Qu Yuan by name(中國(guó)有個(gè)偉大的詩(shī)人,名叫屈原)。而 in name 是貶義詞,表示“名義上的”或“徒有虛名”。

66. 我們是不信上帝的。

[誤] We do not believe God.

[正] We do not believe in God.

注:believe 和 believe in 雖然都有“相信”的意思,但表示“信仰”的時(shí)候只能用后者。

67. 你做這樣的事難道不感到羞恥嗎?

[誤] Aren't you ashamed for doing such a thing?

[正] Aren't you ashamed of doing such a thing?

注:be ashamed for 一般是指“對(duì)他人的行為或外在事物感到羞恥”,而 be ashamed of 則是“由于自己的所作所為而感到羞恥”。

68. 車禍發(fā)生在十字路口。

[誤] The accident took place at a crossroad.

[正] The accident took place at a crossroads.

注:crossroad 是“交叉路,橫馬路”的意思,而 crossroads 才是“十字路”或“十字路口”,它前面也可以用 a,但 -s 絕不能丟掉。

69. 要學(xué)好英語(yǔ),大量的練習(xí)是必要的。

[誤] To learn English well, a great deal of practice is necessary.

[正] To learn English well, one needs to have a great deal of practice.

注:英語(yǔ)中非謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的邏輯主語(yǔ)要與句子的主語(yǔ)一致,本例句中不定式 to learn English well 的邏輯主語(yǔ)應(yīng)該是“人”,而句子的主語(yǔ)卻是 practice,兩者不相一致,違背了英語(yǔ)習(xí)慣,所以必須將句子的主語(yǔ)改為 one,并做其它相應(yīng)的調(diào)整。

70. ---謝謝你帶我們到辦公室來(lái)。

---不用謝,這是我們應(yīng)該做的。

[誤] ---Thank you for guiding us to the office.

---Not at all, it's my duty.

[正] ---Thank you for guiding us to the office.

---Not at all, it's a pleasure. /I'm glad to be of help.

注:漢語(yǔ)的回答實(shí)際上是句客套話,如果把它直譯為 It's my duty,就會(huì)讓西方人誤以為你并不想幫他,只是因?yàn)槁氊?zé)才不得已而為之,這與漢語(yǔ)的愿意有很大出入。所以,恰當(dāng)?shù)幕卮饝?yīng)該是 I'm glad to be of help 或 It's a pleasure,其意思是“我很樂意為您效勞”。

71. 車來(lái)了。您先請(qǐng)。

[誤] Here comes the car. You go first, please.

[正] Here comes the car. After you.

注:第一句譯文雖然把“請(qǐng)”翻譯出來(lái)了,但還是帶有命令的口吻。地道的說(shuō)法應(yīng)該是 After you。另外,不少人以為漢語(yǔ)的“請(qǐng)”等同于英語(yǔ)的 please,其實(shí)并非如此。例如,在餐桌上請(qǐng)人吃菜或喝酒就不用 please,地道的說(shuō)法是 Help yourself。

72. 布衣蔬食。

[誤] cotton clothes and vegetables

[正] coarse clothes and simple fare

注:“布衣蔬食”是形容一個(gè)人生活儉樸,但直譯成英文卻會(huì)令人難以理解。因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)在的英、美等國(guó),cotton clothes and vegetables(棉布衣服和青菜)已沒有“生活儉樸”的任何聯(lián)想了,它們?cè)缫殉闪烁晃虃兊淖類郏覂r(jià)格也比其他產(chǎn)品貴,沒錢人還享用不起呢!而第 二句譯文不僅忠實(shí)于原文,而且 fare 一詞作“食物”講還略帶古色,恰好反映出了原文的風(fēng)格。

73. 你真是紅光滿面。

[誤] Your face is all red.

[正] You are in ruddy health.

注:“紅光滿面”是說(shuō)一個(gè)人身體很好,而 You face is all red 則指對(duì)方滿臉通紅,似乎“不好意思”或“牌窘境”,皮膚過(guò)敏也未可知,總之與原句不符。a ruddy complexion 雖然有“面色紅潤(rùn)”的意思,但沒能充分表達(dá)出漢語(yǔ)“身體健康,精力充沛”的意思。當(dāng)然,除了第二句譯文,還可以用 You look so healthy and full of pep 或 You look the very picture of health and energy 來(lái)表達(dá)。

74. 你該吃晚飯了。

[誤] It's time to eat your dinner.

[正] It's time to have your dinner.

注:不是所有的“吃”字都能翻譯為英語(yǔ) eat 的,英語(yǔ)中有許多固定搭配,如:take one's medicines(吃藥);lead an idle life(吃閑飯);be very popular(吃香);I hd some meat for lunch(午餐我吃了些肉)等。

75. 我們一起跟著音樂跳舞吧!

[誤] Let's dance with the music.

[正] Let's dance to the music.

注:英語(yǔ)一般說(shuō) dance with sb.,即“跟某人一起跳舞”,“音樂”是無(wú)生命的東西,怎么能跟它 dance 呢?這里正確的說(shuō)法是用介詞 to。又如:sing to the piano 等。

76. 他的病情好多了。

[誤] His sick condition is much better.

[正] His condition is much better.

注:在英美人看來(lái),sick 只是一種無(wú)意義的重復(fù),因?yàn)槿サ羲院笠馑家挥H清楚,而且還更地道。我們甚至可以更簡(jiǎn)單地翻譯為 He is much better。

77. 經(jīng)常給我寫信。

[誤] Write letters to me often.

[正] Write to me often.

注:中文動(dòng)賓結(jié)構(gòu)的賓語(yǔ)在翻譯成英文時(shí)常常省略,因?yàn)檫@些英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞本身已經(jīng)包含了中文賓語(yǔ)的意思,不言自明,除非需要強(qiáng)調(diào),否則可以省略,不省略反而與英 語(yǔ)習(xí)慣不符。上面的例句就是個(gè)很好的例子。又如:“你會(huì)唱歌嗎”(Can you sing);“我會(huì)付錢給你”(I'll pay you);“他花很多時(shí)間讀書”(He spends a lot of time reading)等。

78. 挑戰(zhàn)者以0比4的比分輸了與冠軍隊(duì)的那場(chǎng)比賽。

[誤] The challengers lost the game by zero to four to the champion.

[正] The challengers lost the game by nil to four to the champion.

注:zero 和 nil 雖然都可以表示“零”,但 zero 多用于電話號(hào)碼或郵政編碼,而 nil 則特指比賽的比分。同樣,0比0就應(yīng)該翻譯成 nil to nil。

79. 在一次具有歷史意義的表決中,北京羸得了申辦奧運(yùn)會(huì)的機(jī)會(huì)。

[誤] In a historical vote, Beijing won the bid for the Olympics.

[正] In a historic vote, Beijing won the bid for the Olympics.

注:historic 表示“歷史上著名的,有歷史意義的”,而 historical 則表示“有關(guān)歷史的,歷史學(xué)的”。

80. 你讀沒讀過(guò)菲爾丁的經(jīng)典長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)《湯姆.瓊斯》?

[誤] Have you ever read Fielding's classical novel Tom Jones?

[正] Have you ever read Fielding's classic novel Tom Jones?

注:classic 即可作形容詞,表示“經(jīng)典的,第一流的”,又可作可數(shù)名詞,表示“經(jīng)典作品”;而 classical 卻是一個(gè)沒有比較級(jí)和最高級(jí)的形容詞,常指“(建筑,文學(xué),音樂等方面)古典的,傳統(tǒng)的”。

81. 未經(jīng)允許,任何人不得入內(nèi)。

[誤] Anybody can not come in without permission.

[正] Nobody can come in without permission.

注:“任何......都不”是漢語(yǔ)中常用字的否定句式,而在英語(yǔ)中,any 構(gòu)成的合成詞及其所修飾的詞語(yǔ)作主語(yǔ)時(shí),謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是不能用否定形式的。因此,any ... not 的用法不符合英語(yǔ)的表達(dá)習(xí)慣,須用“否定形式的主語(yǔ)+肯定形式的謂語(yǔ)”替換。但是,any 構(gòu)成的合成詞及其所修飾的詞語(yǔ)作主語(yǔ)時(shí),如果帶有后置定語(yǔ),那么其謂語(yǔ)也可以用否定形式。如:Anyone who does that isn't honest(干那種事的人都是不誠(chéng)實(shí)的)。

82. 聽到這個(gè)消息,沒有一個(gè)人不感到興奮。

[誤] Having heard the news, nobody did not feel excited.

[正] Having heard the news, everybody felt excited.

注:漢語(yǔ)中把主、謂語(yǔ)同時(shí)否定以表示肯定,但這不符合英語(yǔ)習(xí)慣,所以 nobody...not 的結(jié)構(gòu)在英語(yǔ)中是不正確的。翻譯這類句子時(shí),可像上面正確的譯文那樣,把主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)都改成肯定形式;也可用“there be + 否定的主語(yǔ) + 否定形式的定語(yǔ)從句”來(lái)表達(dá),即:There was nobody who did not feel excited 或者 There was nobody but felt excited.

83. 我是一個(gè)中國(guó)人。

[誤] I am a Chinese.

[正] I am Chinese.

注:第一句譯文是不地道的,正確的說(shuō)法應(yīng)該去掉不定冠詞,或者說(shuō) I am a Chinese man。同樣,He is an English 也沒有 He is English 或 He is an Englishman 好。

84. 母狼為了保護(hù)幼崽同獵豹展開了殊死的搏斗。

[誤] The female wolf fights against the leopard so as to protect her whelps.

[正] The she wolf fights against the leopard so as to protect her whelps.

注:漢語(yǔ)一般用“公”、“母”或“雌”、“雄”來(lái)區(qū)分動(dòng)物的性別,而英語(yǔ)中,有一部分動(dòng)物是雌雄各有其名,例如:cock(公雞)和 hen(母雞),stag(雄鹿)和 doe(雌鹿)等;而另一部分則是用 male 和 female 加以區(qū)分,如:male leopard(公豹),female panda(母熊貓)等;當(dāng)然,也有例外的情況,如:bull elephant(公象)和 cow elephant(母象),he wolf(公狼)和 she wolf(母狼)等。

85. 使我高興的是,我兒子對(duì)意大利語(yǔ)也略知一二。

[誤] To my joy, my son know a thing or two about Italian.

[正] To my joy, my son knows something about Italian.

注:有些英語(yǔ)詞語(yǔ)在字面上同漢語(yǔ)十分相似,但實(shí)則貌合神離,如果不求甚解很容易出錯(cuò)。例如,know a thing or two 就不表示“略知一二”,而是“很有經(jīng)驗(yàn),精明強(qiáng)干”的意思。

86. 你希望什么時(shí)候成家呢?

[誤] When do you want to start a family?

[正] When do you want to get married?

注:中文的“成家”是“結(jié)婚”的意思,而英文 start a family 的含義卻是“生第一個(gè)孩子”,二者完全不是一回事。

87. 寧做雞頭,不做鳳尾。

[誤] Better be the head of a cock than the tail of a phoenix.

[正] Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

注:每種語(yǔ)言中都有許多約定俗成的表達(dá),沒有什么道理好講,但使用時(shí)則需遵照各自的語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣。中文是“雞頭”和“鳳尾”比,而英語(yǔ)中卻要用“狗頭”和“獅尾”。

88. 海倫就像一只驕傲的公雞,從來(lái)不愛搭理別人。

[誤] Helen is proud as a cock, and she never talks to others.

[正] Helen is proud as a peacock, and she never talks to others.

注:“孔雀”在中國(guó)人眼里是美麗和吉祥的象征,而公雞因?yàn)槌0杨^昂得高高地,尾巴翹到了天上,擺出一副盛氣凌人的架子,因此成了“驕傲”的化身。但西方文 化不注重孔雀美麗的一面,認(rèn)為它們很驕傲,所以英美人在形容一個(gè)人驕傲、狂妄和愛慕虛榮時(shí),就把他(她)比作 peacock。

89. 因?yàn)闆]有吃的,那個(gè)索馬里的小男孩瘦得像猴子。

[誤] That Somali boy is as thin as a monkey because of the lack of food.

[正] That Somali boy is as thin as a shadow because of the lack of food.

注:同一事物,在不同的文化里可能引起不同的聯(lián)想,具有不同的內(nèi)涵。所以,在一種語(yǔ)言中用這種事物作比喻,而在另一種語(yǔ)言中很可能會(huì)有不同的表達(dá)。這樣的 例子中英文還有很多,例如:as timid as a hare(膽小如鼠),as strong as a horse(力大如牛),as poor as a church mouse(一貧如洗)等。

90. 索菲婭望子成龍心切,給兒子報(bào)名參加了許多補(bǔ)習(xí)班。

[誤] Sophia hopes to see her son become a dragon, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling.

[正] Sophia hopes that her son will have a bright future, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling.

注:“龍”在中國(guó)人心目中象征著神圣和萬(wàn)能,但在西方人的印象中卻是可怕的,《圣經(jīng)》里就把“龍”描述成了罪惡的象征。所以在翻譯“望子成龍”時(shí)需要意譯。

91. 由于街道的擴(kuò)建,道路兩旁矮小的房屋全部被拆除了。

[誤] The short and small houses on both sides of the road have been demolished due to its widening.

[正] The low and small houses on both sides of the road have been demolished due to its widening.

注:英語(yǔ)中,形容人或樹等的高矮要用形容詞 tall 和 short;但是指山巒、房屋或其它建筑物的高矮,我們通常用 high 和 low。

92. 爸爸總愛發(fā)脾氣。

[誤] Dad always likes losing his temper.

[正] Dad is apt to lose his temper.

注:like doing something 表示“喜歡干某事”,一般用來(lái)說(shuō)明某人的興趣愛好;而 be apt to do sth.則表示“常常發(fā)生某種行為”或“容易發(fā)生某種變化”。根據(jù)原文的意思顯然應(yīng)該用后者。

93. 歐文按捺不住激動(dòng)的心情,大聲喊道:“我中獎(jiǎng)了!”

[誤] Owen couldn't hold back his exciting feeling, and he shouted, "I've got the winning number in the bond!"

[正] Owen couldn't hold back his excitement, and he shouted, "I've got the winning number in the bond!"

注:exciting feeling 這種搭配很不地道,雖然“振奮人心的消息”是 exciting news,“有趣的故事”是 interesting story,但“激動(dòng)的心情”卻要用名詞形式 excitement 來(lái)表達(dá)。

94. 丹尼斯自己不努力,還老是眼紅別人的成就。

[誤] Denis himself doesn't work hard, however, he is always red-eyed of other people's achievements.

[正] Denis himself doesn't work hard, however, he is always green-eyed of other people's achievements.

注:中國(guó)人說(shuō)一個(gè)人嫉妒用“眼紅”,但英美人則用“眼綠”來(lái)形容。英語(yǔ)的 green 除了表示顏色之外還有“嫉妒”的意思,又如:I was absolutely green (with envy) when I saw his splendid new car(我看到他那輛漂亮的新車非常眼紅)。其實(shí),英語(yǔ)中許多表示色彩的詞匯都有特殊的含義,不能照字面去理解。再比如:He gave me a black look(他惡狠狠地蹬了我一眼);She visits us once in a blue moon(她難得來(lái)看我們一次)等。

95. 夏天要多喝白開水。

[誤] You should drink more white boiled water in summer.

[正] You should drink more plain boiled water in summer.

注:“白開水”不是指“水的顏色是白色”,而是指“水中沒有添加其他的東西”。而 plain 正是指“沒摻雜其他東西的,單純的”,所以能確切表達(dá)原文的含義。

96. 對(duì)不起,我把課本忘在家里了。

[誤] Sorry, I forgot my textbook at home.

[正] Sorry, I left my textbook at home.

注:原文中的“忘”是指“落在家里”的意思,不能翻譯成英文的 forget,而應(yīng)用表示“把...留在某地,丟下,落下”等的意思的 leave。

97. 中國(guó)足球隊(duì)擊敗了日本隊(duì),從而取得了參加半決賽的資格。

[誤] The Chinese football team beat the Japanese team, and is qualified to play in the half-finals.

[正] The Chinese football team beat the Japanese team, and is qualified to play in the semifinals.

注:semi- 是英語(yǔ)里的一個(gè)前綴,表示“半”,例如:automatic 是“自動(dòng)的”,那么 semiautomatic 就表示“半自動(dòng)的”;diameter 指“直徑”,那么 semi-diameter 就指“半徑”;monthly 指“月刊”,那么 semi-monthly 就表示“半月刊”。以上這些都跟 semifinal(半決賽)一樣,是約定俗成的。

98. 在自然災(zāi)害期間,絕大多數(shù)人都過(guò)著半饑半飽的生活。

[誤] During the natural calamity, most people were half hungry, half full.

[正] During the natural calamity, most people were underfed.

注:under- 是一個(gè)英語(yǔ)前綴,表示“......不足的”,如:underdeveloped(經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展不充分的),underage(未到法定年齡的)等。所以, underfeed 表示“未喂飽的,食物不足的”。漢語(yǔ)中“半......半......”的結(jié)構(gòu)可以翻譯成 half...half...,例如:As for this matter, I am half-believing, half-doubting(對(duì)于這件事我是半信半疑的);This composition is half literary, half vernacular(這篇文章寫得半文不白的)。

99. 漢語(yǔ)是我們的母語(yǔ)。

[誤] Chinese is our mother language.

[正] Chinese is our mother tongue.

注:tongue 除了指“舌頭”,還可以用來(lái)指“語(yǔ)言,方言”,如 the Spanish tongue 并非指“西班牙舌頭”,而是指“西班牙語(yǔ)”。我們常說(shuō)的有“語(yǔ)言天賦”,英語(yǔ)里相應(yīng)的表達(dá)是 the gift of tongues。“母語(yǔ)”在英語(yǔ)中用 mother tongue 表達(dá),還可以說(shuō) parent language 或 linguistic parent,但 mother language 的說(shuō)法卻是不地道的。

100. 我爺爺是奔75的人了。

[誤] My grandpa is running for seventy-five.

[正] My grandpa is getting on for seventy-five.

注:run for 有“競(jìng)賽,競(jìng)選”之意,如:run for Congress(競(jìng)選國(guó)會(huì)議員),run for the presidency(競(jìng)選總統(tǒng))等。而 get on for 才表示“接近”,它通常用進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài),后面一般跟年齡或者時(shí)間,如:It's getting on for midnight(快到半夜了)等。
 


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