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楼主: 般若白莲
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资料分享:外语(英日法德)学习、翻译考试(不断更新中……)

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 楼主| 发表于 13-1-24 02:09:09 | 只看该作者
中式英語之鉴


01.有他这颗扫帚星,什么事情都办不成。
[误] With a comet like him, nothing can be accomplished.
[正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished.
注:“扫帚星”是中国人对“彗星”(comet)的俗称,因其后面像拖着的一条像扫帚一样的长尾巴而得名。在中国古代,“扫帚星”被认为是灾难的预兆,并被用来比喻不吉利的人或事;祸根:(person or thing that is thought to bring)bad luck(to sb/sth);curse。英语的 comet 虽然没有这层含义,但却有一个对应的说法,即 jinx。 例:There's a jinx on/someone’s put a jinx on this car: it's always giving me trouble. “这辆汽车上有什么碍人的东西,总给我找麻烦”。
02.萝卜青菜,各有所爱。
[误] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage.
[正] Tastes differ.
注:Tastes differ/vary 是句英语谚语,除此以外,原句还可翻译成以下形式,有的说法在特定语境下也是可取的,所以所谓正误只是相对而言的:No dish suits all tastes. / You can never make everyone happy. / All things fit not all persons. / Every man has his hobbyhorse[liking]. / Every man[one] to his(own) taste. / It is difficult to cater for[to] all tastes. / It is hard to suit all tastes. / No dish suits all tastes. / Some persons like to eat radishes, others prefer cabbages--people's tastes are various. / There is no accounting for tastes. / There is no disputing about tastes. 等。《新概念英语》第三册第23课的标题是:One man's meat is another man's poison.
03.他一向嘴硬,从不认错。
[误] 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。主要是男孩们打架时的用语,当一方想制服另一方时,就用命令的口气说:“Say uncle!”这时,有的孩子为了表示不服输,就是不说。后来,say uncle 就成了“服输”的代名词,而 not say uncle 就相当于“嘴硬”了。
04.老师很喜欢这个嘴甜的小姑娘。
[误] The teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much.
[正] The teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.
注:中国人喜欢说“嘴甜”,但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的语言习惯。
05.同学们都很讨厌他,因为他经常拍老师的马屁。
[误] 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:以前在欧洲,臣民见到国王与王后往往要葡匐到在,亲吻他们的靴子。后来,人们将 lick the boots 引申为“为了某种目的而讨好某人”,它与汉语的“拍马屁”含义一样。在美国英语中,“拍马屁”还有另一种说法,即 polish the apple,它典出以前的学生用擦亮的苹果来讨好老师。
06.你听说了吗?迈克把他的女朋友给甩了。
[误] 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. 虽然表示“与某人分手了”,但并没说明是谁先提出来的。而 dump 的原意指“倾倒垃圾”,用在这里则表示像倒垃圾一样地甩掉。
07.我们要把祖国建设成为社会主义的现代化强国。
[误] We will build our motherland into a socialist modern powerful country.
[正] We will build our motherland into a modern powerful socialist country.
注:形容词作为修饰语在汉语和英语中都很常用,但使用的先后次序却有所不同。在英语中我们一般遵循“靠近原则”,即越能说明本质属性的修饰词越靠近它所修饰的名词,当从这一点看不出区别时,就靠词的长短来决定,短的在前,长的在后。原文中最能说明“国家”本质的定语是“社会主义的”,所以 socialist 要最靠近它所修饰的中心词。
08.我想要一点白酒。
[误] I'd like a little bit of white wine.
[正] I'd like a little bit of liquor.
注:汉语的“酒”可指任何酒,包括白酒、葡萄酒、啤酒,甚至米酒;但英语中则要分别用 liquor, wine, beer及 rice wine表示。所以要注意,英语的wine与汉语的“酒”是有区别的,它仅指葡萄酒。而且 red wine 是红葡萄酒,white wine 是白葡萄酒。
09.中华人民共和国主席
[误] Chairman of the People's Republic of China
[正] President of the People's Republic of China
注:以前,我们一直将“主席”翻译为 chairman,例如:great leader Chairman Mao(伟大领袖毛主席)。其实“主席”与 chairman 并不等义,chairman 在英语中通常指会议或某一具体组织的负责人,它的权力和重要性不及中文的“主席”。这就是为什么1983年,在我国《宪法》的英译单行本中开始使用 President一词,并沿用至今。另外,国内仍有不少词典把“班/级长(学校的)”译为“class monitor”,这是“四人帮”时代的产物,那时的“班长”是专司监管学生的,所以译作“monitor”。而“班长”的正确译文应该是“class president”。
10.转战南北
[误] fight south and north
[正] fight north and south
11.人都是这山望着那山高,对自己的现状没有满意的时候。
[误] Almost all people think that the other mountain is higher than the one he's standing on. They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.
[正] Almost all people think that the grass is greener on the other hill. They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.
注:“这山望着那山高”是指人不满足于现状的心理,它在英语中已经有了现成的说法,即 the grass is greener on the other hill(他山的草更绿),因此我们借用即可,这样既方便又更有利于与西方人沟通。
12.北京申奥成功的消息令我们热血沸腾。
[误] 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“使人激动”。英语中“使人激动”的说法除了 make one excited,还有较为口语化的 make one's spine tingle。
13.别听他们胡说八道,根本就没那回事。
[误] 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“听”不能用 listen to 来表示,因为 listen to 指“听”的动作,而原文中的“别听”不是不让他“听”,而是劝告他“不要听信”,因此,用 not be fooled by 才更达意。
14.我们这儿的人都觉得他有婚外恋。
[误] People around here all feel that he has affairs outside his own marriage.
[正] People around here all feel that he is leading a double life.
注:affair 本身就指“私通”或“暧昧关系”,当然是“婚外”的事,所以 outside one's own marriage 无疑是多此一举了。英语中“有婚外恋”的地道说法应该是 lead a double life。
15.别看别人不把她当回事,在家里她可是父亲的掌上明珠。
[误] Although other people never take her seriously, she is the pearl on her father's hand at home.
[正] Although other people never take her seriously, she is the apple of her father's eye at home.
16.都十点钟了。起床了,懒虫!
[误] It's ten o'clock. Get up, lazy worm!
[正] It's ten o'clock. Get up, lazy bones!
注:“懒虫”并非真是一条虫,只不过被用来形容人很懒惰罢了。英语里与之对应的说法是 lazy bones(懒骨头)。注意,这里的 bone 应以复数形式出现,也许是因为不会只有一根骨头懒吧!
17.我唯一的资本就是勤奋。
[误] My only capital is diligence.
[正] My only means to success is diligence.
18.这家商店开辟了休息处,受到顾客的称赞。
[误] 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.
19.大家都怀疑汤姆是个间谍。
[误] Everyone doubts that Tom is a spy.
[正] Everyone suspects that Tom is a spy.
注:doubt 作“怀疑”讲,是“不相信”的意思;而 suspect 作“怀疑”讲,是指“对...有所察觉”。第一句译文犯了两个错误:首先,doubt 不能接 that 从句,只有not doubt that 和 doubt if/whether;其次,它所表达的意思是“大家对汤姆是间谍这件事表示怀疑”,即“大家不相信汤姆是间谍”,与原文的意思恰好相反。
20. 我们俩关系最好,他经常来我这儿蹲饭吃。
[误] 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.
bum  sth. off sb. 指向非常熟的朋友要一些不起眼的小东西,而朋友也不会介意还不还
21. 这个教授教得很烂。
[误] The professor teaches badly.
[正] The professor is so terrible.
注:有人认为第二句的意思是“这个教授很可怕”,其实不然。英语中 terrible 意思很灵活,例如:feel terrible 指身体“不舒服”; The food is terrible 则是说食物“难吃极了”。而第一句纯属中文式的表达。
22. 我希望你不要拖我的后腿。
[误] 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,开某人的玩笑”的意思,相当于 make fun of sb.。英语中与“拖后腿”相对应的表达是 hold sb. back 或 be a drag on sb. 等。
23. 学校里,那些长得人高马大的家伙常来找我的麻烦。
[误] 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“发现我的难处”的意思,而英语中“找某人的麻烦”用短语 pick on sb. 它不仅表示“挑剔某人、找某人的碴”,而且还包含 tease(取笑、戏弄)或 bully(威胁、欺侮)的意思。
24. 原来如此。一经你解释我就明白了。
[误] So it is. I understand soon after your explanation.
[正] So that's how it is. I understand soon after your explanation.
25. 先生,您是不是迷路了?
[误] Hello, monsieur, get lost?         【 Get lost! (Informal) 滚!】
[正] Hello, monsieur, got lost?
有关迷路的常见说法:
1)  to get lost(常用)
I wouldn't have gotten lost, if I had asked for directions.
要是我问过路,就不至于迷路了。
2)  to lost one's way(正式)
The child had lost his way.
那个小孩迷路了。
3) to take the wrong road(不常用)
Finally we found ourselves having taken the wrong road.
最后,我们发觉我们迷路了。
4)  to go the wrong way(常用)
I am afraid we are going the wrong way.
恐怕我们走错路了。
5)  so lose one's bearings(正式)
One might lose his bearings in an unfamiliar place.
一个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.
他们在沙漠里继续走,直到他们最后迷了路。
7)  to stray(正式)
They strayed in the woods.
他们在森林中迷路了。
(to go astray:走入迷途,走上歧途)
========================================
26. 我没料到这个无耻的女人居然同她好友的丈夫调情。
[误] 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.
27. 东施效颦。
[误] Doingshi imitates Xishi.
[正] The ugly imitates the beautiful in such a distorted way that the ugliness of the ugly becomes worse.
28. 你不好好学习,还想去牛津上大学。这可真是个不切实际的幻想哟!
[误] 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!
29. 想让他答应这样的要求恐怕不大可能。
[误] I'm afraid it is impossible for him to agree to such a request.
[正] I'm afraid it is unlikely for him to agree to such a request.
注:impossible 表示“完全不可能”,所以与原文有出入。在英语中,probable 表示的可能性最大,其次是 possible,再次是 likely。而常用的句式为 it is probable/possible/likely for sb. to do sth.,或 sb. be likely to do sth.。
30. 一群蚂蚁
[误] a group of ants
[正] a colony of ants
注:表示群体时,group 通常指人或物,而 colony 才指生物群体。
31. 最近的人口统计显示中国人口已超过12亿。
[误] 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 译成中文虽然都是“超过,胜过”的意思,但出现具体数字时要用后者。
32. 我每天都要在网吧里呆上10个小时,是个不折不扣的网虫。
[误] 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:“网虫”要是直译成 net bug,很容易使人联想到计算机病毒,如:the millennium bug(“千年虫”病毒)。所以,英语中与之相应的说法是 netter/nettle。在《剑桥国际英语词典》里,对 netter/nettle 的解释是:regular user of Internet, perhaps one who spends too much time in this occupation。nethead 和“网虫”的意思差不多,它表示“网痴,网迷”;而 netizen 则可以用来指所有的网民,尤其是互联网的用户,它是由 net(网络)和 citizen(公民)组合而成的。还有一个时髦的词是 netsurfer,即“网上冲浪者”。
33. 每次考试来临的时候,约翰就变成了一只夜猫子,但这并不是一个好的学习方法。
[误] 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“猫头鹰”的意思,即一种深夜不睡,睁一只眼,闭一只眼,准备随时捕捉田鼠的动物。英语中用 night owl 来比喻经常熬夜的人,就像我们习惯用“夜猫子”一样。不论叫你“夜猫子”还是 a night owl,“开夜车”(burn the midnight oil)总是免不了的。
34. 现如今,由于出国深造的人越来越多,“海龟(归)派”也不像原来那样吃香了。
[误] 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:“海龟(归)派”是指那些在国外留学以后又回来的人,是个非常形象的新名词。但 overseas student 是指正在国外学习的“留学生”,意思正好相反,所以要换成 returnee。这个词本身就包含在海外学习过的意思。
35. 在皎洁的月光下,那个花花公子在我耳边悄悄说着情话。
[误] 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: 因为“情书”是 love letter,“情歌”是 love song,所以不少人以为“情话”就应该是 love words,其实并非如此。英语中“情话”常用 lovers'prattle 或 sweet nothings 来表达。prattle 有“孩子话,废话”的意思,所以 lovers' prattle 指“恋人之间孩子气的废话”;sweet nothings 更是一目了然,有“甜蜜而不中用”的意思。
36. 比尔.盖茨平均每天工作15个小时,他简直就是一个工作狂。
[误] 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 虽然可以作“疯狂的,狂热的”讲,但 be crazy about/on sth. 的意思却是“热衷于...,对...着迷”;be crazy for 也不行,因为它表示“渴望(某物);迷恋(某人)”。可见,它们都与“工作狂”有一定区别。而 workaholic 是从 alcoholic(嗜酒成癖者)派生出来的,表示像酗酒者离不开酒精一样地离不开工作。现在人们将 -holic 作为一个后缀,表示“对...上瘾,嗜好...成癖”,并构成了许多新词。例如:movie-holic(嗜好电影成癖的人),telehokic(看电视成癖的人)等。
37. 给这们女士来杯威士忌,记在我的账上。
[误] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my bill.
[正] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my tab.
注: 我们可以说 Could we have the bill, please? (请给我们账单好吗?)或 pay the bill(埋单),但“记在某某的账上”却不用 bill,而要用 put...on one's tab 表示。tab 是“小纸片”的意思,因为过去小店的生意都是靠住在附近的老主顾,赊账时有发生,于是老板们通常把每个人的赊账情况记在各自的小纸片上,也就是 put...on one's tab,以防遗忘。渐渐地,该词组就成了一种习惯用法。
38. 哈罗得挥金如土,没有一点积蓄。
[误] Harold spends money like dirt, and has no savings.
[正] Harold spends money like water, and has no savings.
注: 英国是一个岛国,离不开水;而我们中国的许多地区深处内陆,人们的生活离不开土地。所以,英语中有许多习语与“水”有关,而汉语却常常拿“土”作比。这就是为什么同样是比喻花钱浪费,大手大脚,英语是 spend money like water,而汉语却是“挥金如土”。此外,英语中还有很多有关船和水的习语,例如:rest on one's oars(暂时歇一歇),keep one's head above water(奋力图存),be all at sea(不知所措)等等。
39. 这只表的价钱很贵。
[误] The price of the watch is dear.
[正] The watch is dear. /The price of the watch is high.
注: 以物品为主语时用 dear 或 cheap,以定价为主语时就说 high 或 low.
40. 昨天晚上我们玩得很愉快。
[误] 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,演戏之类就用 play,汉语这儿说的玩是指度过一个愉快的时候,最好译成 enjoy oneself 或 have a good time.
41. 她和男朋友吵了一架,冒着大雨跑了出去。
[误] 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: 汉语中的“大”可以修饰很多名词,如“大风”、“大浪”、“湿气大”等,但在英语里却不能一一对应。例如,“大雨”就不能译成 big rain,因为那会被人误以为是雨点大,而不是雨大。英美人形容雨大习惯用“重”(heavy),heary rain(大雨),heavy clouds(云雾大),heavy moisture(潮气大)等,这也许是因为他们认为有些事物用重量来衡量比用体积更好吧。
42. 歌迷们冲进演员休息室,抢着同凯莉.米纳合影。
[误] 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: 伦敦西区的特鲁街剧院是英国最古老的剧院,据说为了让演员们长时间处于舞台强烈灯光照射下的眼睛得到休息,那里的演员休息室被漆成了绿色。后来,greenroom 就逐渐成了“(剧场)演员休息室”的代名词。而 rest room 可不是这个意义上的“休息室”,它其实是“厕所”的一种委婉说法。
43. 我感到很痛。
[误] I am painful.
[正] I feel great pain.
注:“我感到高兴”是 I am happy,“我感到累了”是 I'm tired,但“我感到很痛”却不是 I am painful。因为 painful 表示“使人痛苦的,让人疼痛或讨厌的”,它的主语往往不是人,而是事物或人体的某个部位,如:The foot is painful(脚痛),The lessons are painful(教训是惨痛的)等。所以没有 I am painful 这个说法,如果你非要这样说,别人会以为你全身带电或浑身长刺,别人碰了你就会疼,是你让别人痛苦,而不是你自己痛苦。
44. 亚洲四小龙。
[误] the Four Little Dragons of Asia
[正] the Four Little Tigers of Asia
注: 在我国古代传说中,龙是降雨和惩治妖魔鬼怪的神奇动物,是吉祥和力挽狂澜的象征。很多汉语成语与“龙”有关,如“龙飞凤舞”、“龙凤呈祥”、“藏龙卧虎”等,而且多为褒义词。但如果把“四小龙”直译成英文却不行,因为西方人对“龙”的联想和看法与中国人完全不同。“龙”(dragon)在西方是贬义词,是邪恶的免征,西方人不会理解为什么要把亚洲经济的四个强国说成“四个小魔鬼”,所以要用 tiger 进行替换。在西方人眼里,tiger “是朝气蓬勃、坚忍不拔、努力奋斗、充满希望”的免征,所以用 tiger 才能准确表达原文的意思。
45. 百里挑一。
[误] one in a hundred
[正] one in a thousand
注: “百里挑一”常被用来形容“很特别,很出众”或“与众不同”,one in a thousand 也有相同的含义。但值得注意的是,汉语用“百”,而英语则以十倍于百的 thousand 来夸张。同样,汉语的“十分感谢”或“万分感谢”,英语则说 a thousand thanks(千分感谢)或 thanks a million times(百万次的感谢)。可见,英语比汉语要夸张。这也许反映了两个民族不同的思维方式:中国人崇尚中庸之道,凡事避免走极端,即使夸大其词也不太过火;而英美人追求标新立异和充分考虑表现自我,这在语言中自然也有体现。
46. 周末许多人睡得很晚。
[误] Many people sleep late at weekends.
[正] Many people go to bed very late at weekends.
注: 第一句译文错在没弄懂 sleep 的真正含义。英语动词有短暂动词和持续动词之分,它们分别表示短暂动作和持续的动作或状态。sleep 是典型的持续动词,表示“在睡觉”。而汉语的“睡”既可表示“上床睡觉”的短暂动作,如:我昨天11点才睡;也可以表示“在睡觉”的持续动作和状态,如:他睡了整整10个小时。原文属于前一种情况,即表示“上床睡觉”的短暂动作,故应该使用 go to bed。
47. 干杯!要一饮而尽。
[误] ---Cheers! Bottom up.
[正] ---Cheers! Bottoms up.
注: bottoms up 虽然只比 bottom up 多一个 s,但是两个词组的意思却相差十万八千里。bottoms up 里的 bottom 是指“(酒杯的)底部”,那么杯朝天就是“一饮而尽”的意思,而且因为干杯时肯定不止一人一饮而尽,所以要用复数;而 bottom up 表示“屁股朝天”。
48. 这个任务很危险,但总得有人去冒险。
[误] 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 指军事历险、探险旅行等惊险活动或投机活动。而 bell the cat 源自一个故事:一窝老鼠想在猫脖子上套一个铃铛,这样猫一来他们就会听到,并及时逃命。但主意虽好,却苦于没人去套这个铃铛(bell the cat)。后来,bell the cat 被人们反复引用,表示“为大家的事去承担风险”,并成了表示原文意思最贴切的英语习语。
49. 一辆白色轿车前来接新郎新娘去教堂。
[误] 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: 汉英两种语言均有各自固定的词序,因此,在翻译时要根据各自的语言习惯进行适当的调整,此处就是一个很好的例子。之所以将新娘放在前面,也许是西方文化中“女士优先”的又一体现吧!又如:“衣食住行”译成英语是 food, clothing, shelter and transportation; 同样,“左顾右盼”翻译成 look right and left。
50. 你去弄些水来。
[误] Go and bring some water.
[正] Go and fetch some water.
注: bring 虽然表示“带来”,但它是让某人在来的时候将某物带来(但说话时人还没来);而 fetch 则是让身边的某人“去取某物”,它包括往返的两段路程。
51. 嘿,小伙子,千万别灰心。
[误] Hey, lad, don't lose your heart.
[正] Hey, lad, don't lose heart.
注: lose one's heart (to sb.) 是“心被...俘虏去,爱上...”的意思,而 lose heart 才表示“灰心丧气,丧失勇气或信心”。
52. IBM公司一直处在电脑行业的前沿。
[误] 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“前线,第一线”的意思,常指最危险或最艰苦的地方。例如:Many doctors are in the front line of the fighting against SARS(许多医生战斗在抗击“非典”的第一线)。at the cutting edge 最早出现在20世纪50年代,它最初指“锐器的锋利部位”,现在常隐喻“处在(高科技的)最前沿。
53. 一位有经验的教师曾经说,上课之前他觉得如临大敌,上课时他是如履薄冰,只有上完课后他才会如释重负。
[误] 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”是比喻一个人“做事十分小心谨慎或战战兢兢”,而英语的类似说法却是 walk on eggs 或 tread on eggs,要注意中英文喻体的不同。
54. 我有一个舒适的家。
[误] I have a cozy family.
[正] I have a cozy home.
注: family 和 home 虽然翻译成汉语时都是“家”,但它们在英语中却不是同义词。family 主要指家庭成员;而 home 主要指居住地,即“住宅”。原文中用“舒适的”来修饰“家”,显然是指“舒适的房子”。如果原文是“我有一个和睦的家”,就应该翻译成 I have a harmonious family 了。
55. 每节课老是都会点名。
[误] The teacher will call our names in every period of class.
[正] The teacher will call the roll in every period of class.
注: 英语的“点名”是 call the roll,而 call one's name(s)的意思是“谩骂某人”。roll 有“名册”的意思,又如:remove sb.'s name from the roll(把某人除名)。
56. 我的学习很忙。
[误] My study is very busy.
[正] I am very busy with my study.
注:第一句译文完全套用汉语的结构和语序,却犯了英文的句法错误。因为在英语中,study(学习)是一个行为,并不懂得忙不忙,感到忙的应是进行这一行为的人。所以,be busy with sth. 或 be busy (in) doing sth. 才是地道的英语表达。
57. 给他当二把手我看也值得。他太能干了。
[误] 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:英语的 second hand 作名词指“中间人”、“旧货”或“助手工人”,而汉语的“二把手”是“副手”,即“第二负责人”的意思,所以二者不是一回事。play second fiddle 则源于管弦乐队中第一提琴手(first violin)不在的时候由第二提琴手负责,并被人们引申为“当主要领导人的副手”,也就是我们所说的“当第二把手”。由此,不难猜出“当一把手”译成英语应该是 paly first fiddle了。
58. 电车上十分拥挤,几乎没有立足之地。
[误] 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:副词 hardly 和 scarcely 虽然都含有“几乎不”等否定含义,有些时候也可以互换,如:I could hardly/scarcely recognize her(我几乎认不出她来了),但仍有细微的差异。如在强调数量“不足”时只能用 scarcely,这时它常与 enough、sufficient等词连用。
59. 他被戴上了绿帽子。
[误] He is made to wear a green hat.
[正] He is a cuckold.
注:中文的“戴绿帽子”是指某人之妻与他人私通,但直译成英文西方人只会按字面意思理解为“某人头上被戴了顶绿色的帽子”,无论如何也不会理解汉语的喻义。而英语的 cuckold 是指“奸妇的丈夫”(a man whose wife deceives him by having a sexual relationship with another man),所以用 be a cuckold 才能正确表达原文的意思。
60. 我在新闻片里看到你站在总裁的身旁。
[误] 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“立于某人旁边”(to stand by the side of someone)。但是,如果 stand by 后面的宾语不是人,那倒是可以与 stand beside 互换,表示“在...之旁”,例如:Their house stands by a forest(他们的房子在森林旁边)。除此之外,stand by 还有“袖手旁观”之意,例如:How can you stand by and watch while your allies are attacked?(当你们的盟友受到攻击时,你们怎能袖手旁观呢?)
61. 那本书毫无价值可言。
[误] That book is invaluable.
[正] That book is valueless.
注:invaluable 和 valueless 一个是在形容词 valuable(有价值的)之前加上否定形容词前缀 in-;另一个是在名词 value(价值)的后面加上否定形容词 -less,但它们的意思却刚好相反。invaluable 是指“非常贵重的,无价的”(highly valuable, precious),其同义词是 priceless;valueless 的意思却是“毫无价值的”,相当于 worthless。现将这两个词用在同一个句子中,以便区别:The book that he considered valueless proved invaluable to us(他认为毫无价值的那本书对我们来说却是无价之宝)。
62. 房间里有一张床、两张桌子和五把椅子。
[误] 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 动词的单复数取决于离它最近的那个词。原文虽然一共列举了八件家具,但是根据英语的谓语就近原则,one bed 决定了应该使用 is。
63. 我不想听他那些空话。
[误] I don't want to hear his empty words.
[正] I don't want to hear his hollow words.
注:虽然 empty 和 hollow 都有“空洞的”之意,但表达“空话”时,英语习惯用 hollow words 或 empty talk。
64. 他是我们的死敌。
[误] He is our dead enemy.
[正] He is our deadly enemy.
注:dead 作形容词时表示“死的,无感觉的”,而 deadly 才表示“致命的,不共戴天的”。
65. 奥斯本名义上是个医生,但他整天都呆在股票交易所里。
[误] 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 虽然形似,但涵义却有区别。by name 相当于 by the name of,常放在专有名词之后,表示所说的人或事物的确实名称。例如:There was a great poet in China, Qu Yuan by name(中国有个伟大的诗人,名叫屈原)。而 in name 是贬义词,表示“名义上的”或“徒有虚名”。
66. 我们是不信上帝的。
[误] We do not believe God.
[正] We do not believe in God.
注:believe 和 believe in 虽然都有“相信”的意思,但表示“信仰”的时候只能用后者。
67. 你做这样的事难道不感到羞耻吗?
[误] 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“对他人的行为或外在事物感到羞耻”,而 be ashamed of 则是“由于自己的所作所为而感到羞耻”。
68. 车祸发生在十字路口。
[误] The accident took place at a crossroad.
[正] The accident took place at a crossroads.
注:crossroad 是“交叉路,横马路”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 绝不能丢掉。
69. 要学好英语,大量的练习是必要的。
[误] 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:英语中非谓语动词的逻辑主语要与句子的主语一致,本例句中不定式 to learn English well 的逻辑主语应该是“人”,而句子的主语却是 practice,两者不相一致,违背了英语习惯,所以必须将句子的主语改为 one,并做其它相应的调整。
70. ---谢谢你带我们到办公室来。
---不用谢,这是我们应该做的。
[误] ---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:汉语的回答实际上是句客套话,如果把它直译为 It's my duty,就会让西方人误以为你并不想帮他,只是因为职责才不得已而为之,这与汉语的愿意有很大出入。所以,恰当的回答应该是 I'm glad to be of help 或 It's a pleasure,其意思是“我很乐意为您效劳”。
71. 车来了。您先请。
[误] Here comes the car. You go first, please.
[正] Here comes the car. After you.
注:第一句译文虽然把“请”翻译出来了,但还是带有命令的口吻。地道的说法应该是 After you。另外,不少人以为汉语的“请”等同于英语的 please,其实并非如此。例如,在餐桌上请人吃菜或喝酒就不用 please,地道的说法是 Help yourself。
72. 布衣蔬食。
[误] cotton clothes and vegetables
[正] coarse clothes and simple fare
注:“布衣蔬食”是形容一个人生活俭朴,但直译成英文却会令人难以理解。因为现在的英、美等国,cotton clothes and vegetables(棉布衣服和青菜)已没有“生活俭朴”的任何联想了,它们早已成了富翁们的最爱,而且价格也比其他产品贵,没钱人还享用不起呢!而第二句译文不仅忠实于原文,而且 fare 一词作“食物”讲还略带古色,恰好反映出了原文的风格。
73. 你真是红光满面。
[误] Your face is all red.
[正] You are in ruddy health.
注:“红光满面”是说一个人身体很好,而 You face is all red 则指对方满脸通红,似乎“不好意思”或“牌窘境”,皮肤过敏也未可知,总之与原句不符。a ruddy complexion 虽然有“面色红润”的意思,但没能充分表达出汉语“身体健康,精力充沛”的意思。当然,除了第二句译文,还可以用 You look so healthy and full of pep 或 You look the very picture of health and energy 来表达。
74. 你该吃晚饭了。
[误] It's time to eat your dinner.
[正] It's time to have your dinner.
注:不是所有的“吃”字都能翻译为英语 eat 的,英语中有许多固定搭配,如:take one's medicines(吃药);lead an idle life(吃闲饭);be very popular(吃香);I had some meat for lunch(午餐我吃了些肉)等。eat:“进餐”,在英国不常用,但在美国却常见。例如:
Eat your dinner.
He ate his breakfast quickly, then ran up to his room again.
75. 我们一起跟着音乐跳舞吧!
[误] Let's dance with the music.
[正] Let's dance to the music.
注:英语一般说 dance with sb.,即“跟某人一起跳舞”,“音乐”是无生命的东西,怎么能跟它 dance 呢?这里正确的说法是用介词 to。又如:sing to the piano 等。
76. 他的病情好多了。
[误] His sick condition is much better.
[正] His condition is much better.
注:在英美人看来,sick 只是一种无意义的重复,因为去掉它以后意思一亲清楚,而且还更地道。我们甚至可以更简单地翻译为 He is much better。
77. 经常给我写信。
[误] Write letters to me often.
[正] Write to me often.
注:中文动宾结构的宾语在翻译成英文时常常省略,因为这些英语动词本身已经包含了中文宾语的意思,不言自明,除非需要强调,否则可以省略,不省略反而与英语习惯不符。上面的例句就是个很好的例子。又如:“你会唱歌吗”(Can you sing);“我会付钱给你”(I'll pay you);“他花很多时间读书”(He spends a lot of time reading)等。
78. 挑战者以0比4的比分输了与冠军队的那场比赛。
[误] 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 虽然都可以表示“零”,但 zero 多用于电话号码或邮政编码,而 nil 则特指比赛的比分。同样,0比0就应该翻译成 nil to nil(足球)。网球的0比0应译成love love
79. 在一次具有历史意义的表决中,北京羸得了申办奥运会的机会。
[误] 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“历史上著名的,有历史意义的”,而 historical 则表示“有关历史的,历史学的”。
80. 你读没读过菲尔丁的经典长篇小说《汤姆.琼斯》?
[误] Have you ever read Fielding's classical novel Tom Jones?
[正] Have you ever read Fielding's classic novel Tom Jones?
注:classic 即可作形容词,表示“经典的,第一流的”,又可作可数名词,表示“经典作品”;而 classical 却是一个没有比较级和最高级的形容词,常指“(建筑,文学,音乐等方面)古典的,传统的”。
81. 未经允许,任何人不得入内。
[误] Anybody can not come in without permission.
[正] Nobody can come in without permission.
注:“任何......都不”是汉语中常用字的否定句式,而在英语中,any 构成的合成词及其所修饰的词语作主语时,谓语动词是不能用否定形式的。因此,any ... not 的用法不符合英语的表达习惯,须用“否定形式的主语+肯定形式的谓语”替换。但是,any 构成的合成词及其所修饰的词语作主语时,如果带有后置定语,那么其谓语也可以用否定形式。如:Anyone who does that isn't honest(干那种事的人都是不诚实的)。
82. 听到这个消息,没有一个人不感到兴奋。
[误] Having heard the news, nobody did not feel excited.
[正] Having heard the news, everybody felt excited.
注:汉语中把主、谓语同时否定以表示肯定,但这不符合英语习惯,所以 nobody...not 的结构在英语中是不正确的。翻译这类句子时,可像上面正确的译文那样,把主语和谓语都改成肯定形式;也可用“there be + 否定的主语 + 否定形式的定语从句”来表达,即:There was nobody who did not feel excited 或者 There was nobody but felt excited.
83. 我是一个中国人。
[误] I am a Chinese.
[正] I am Chinese.
注:第一句译文是不地道的,正确的说法应该去掉不定冠词,或者说 I am a Chinese man。同样,He is an English 也没有 He is English 或 He is an Englishman 好。
84. 母狼为了保护幼崽同猎豹展开了殊死的搏斗。
[误] 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:汉语一般用“公”、“母”或“雌”、“雄”来区分动物的性别,而英语中,有一部分动物是雌雄各有其名,例如:cock(公鸡)和 hen(母鸡),stag(雄鹿)和 doe(雌鹿)等;而另一部分则是用 male 和 female 加以区分,如:male leopard(公豹),female panda(母熊猫)等;当然,也有例外的情况,如:bull elephant(公象)和 cow elephant(母象),he wolf(公狼)和 she wolf(母狼)等。
85. 使我高兴的是,我儿子对意大利语也略知一二。
[误] To my joy, my son know a thing or two about Italian.
[正] To my joy, my son knows something about Italian.
注:有些英语词语在字面上同汉语十分相似,但实则貌合神离,如果不求甚解很容易出错。例如,know a thing or two 就不表示“略知一二”,而是“很有经验,精明强干”的意思。
86. 你希望什么时候成家呢?
[误] When do you want to start a family?
[正] When do you want to get married?
注:中文的“成家”是“结婚”的意思,而英文 start a family 的含义却是“生第一个孩子”,二者完全不是一回事。
87. 宁做鸡头,不做凤尾。
[误] 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:每种语言中都有许多约定俗成的表达,没有什么道理好讲,但使用时则需遵照各自的语言习惯。中文是“鸡头”和“凤尾”比,而英语中却要用“狗头”和“狮尾”。
88. 海伦就像一只骄傲的公鸡,从来不爱搭理别人。
[误] 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”在中国人眼里是美丽和吉祥的象征,而公鸡因为常把头昂得高高地,尾巴翘到了天上,摆出一副盛气凌人的架子,因此成了“骄傲”的化身。但西方文化不注重孔雀美丽的一面,认为它们很骄傲,所以英美人在形容一个人骄傲、狂妄和爱慕虚荣时,就把他(她)比作 peacock。
89. 因为没有吃的,那个索马里的小男孩瘦得像猴子。
[误] 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联想,具有不同的内涵。所以,在一种语言中用这种事物作比喻,而在另一种语言中很可能会有不同的表达。这样的例子中英文还有很多,例如:as timid as a hare(胆小如鼠),as strong as a horse(力大如牛),as poor as a church mouse(一贫如洗)等。
90. 索菲娅望子成龙心切,给儿子报名参加了许多补习班。
[误] 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:“龙”在中国人心目中象征着神圣和万能,但在西方人的印象中却是可怕的,《圣经》里就把“龙”描述成了罪恶的象征。所以在翻译“望子成龙”时需要意译。
91. 由于街道的扩建,道路两旁矮小的房屋全部被拆除了。
[误] 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:英语中,形容人或树等的高矮要用形容词 tall 和 short;但是指山峦、房屋或其它建筑物的高矮,我们通常用 high 和 low。
92. 爸爸总爱发脾气。
[误] Dad always likes losing his temper.
[正] Dad is apt to lose his temper.
注:like doing something 表示“喜欢干某事”,一般用来说明某人的兴趣爱好;而 be apt to do sth.则表示“常常发生某种行为”或“容易发生某种变化”。根据原文的意思显然应该用后者。
93. 欧文按捺不住激动的心情,大声喊道:“我中奖了!”
[误] 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 这种搭配很不地道,虽然“振奋人心的消息”是 exciting news,“有趣的故事”是 interesting story,但“激动的心情”却要用名词形式 excitement 来表达。
94. 丹尼斯自己不努力,还老是眼红别人的成就。
[误] 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:中国人说一个人嫉妒用“眼红”,但英美人则用“眼绿”来形容。英语的 green 除了表示颜色之外还有“嫉妒”的意思,又如:I was absolutely green (with envy) when I saw his splendid new car(我看到他那辆漂亮的新车非常眼红)。其实,英语中许多表示色彩的词汇都有特殊的含义,不能照字面去理解。再比如:He gave me a black look(他恶狠狠地蹬了我一眼);She visits us once in a blue moon(她难得来看我们一次)等。
95. 夏天要多喝白开水。
[误] You should drink more white boiled water in summer.
[正] You should drink more plain boiled water in summer.
注:“白开水”不是指“水的颜色是白色”,而是指“水中没有添加其他的东西”。而 plain 正是指“没掺杂其他东西的,单纯的”,所以能确切表达原文的含义。
96. 对不起,我把课本忘在家里了。
[误] 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,不能翻译成英文的 forget,而应用表示“把...留在某地,丢下,落下”等的意思的 leave。
97. 中国足球队击败了日本队,从而取得了参加半决赛的资格。
[误] 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- 是英语里的一个前缀,表示“半”,例如:automatic 是“自动的”,那么 semiautomatic 就表示“半自动的”;diameter 指“直径”,那么 semi-diameter 就指“半径”;monthly 指“月刊”,那么 semi-monthly 就表示“半月刊”。以上这些都跟 semifinal(半决赛)一样,是约定俗成的。
98. 在自然灾害期间,绝大多数人都过着半饥半饱的生活。
[误] During the natural calamity, most people were half hungry, half full.
[正] During the natural calamity, most people were underfed.
注:under- 是一个英语前缀,表示“......不足的”,如:underdeveloped(经济发展不充分的),underage(未到法定年龄的)等。所以,underfeed 表示“未喂饱的,食物不足的”。汉语中“半......半......”的结构可以翻译成 half...half...,例如:As for this matter, I am half-believing, half-doubting(对于这件事我是半信半疑的);This composition is half literary, half vernacular(这篇文章写得半文不白的)。
99. 汉语是我们的母语。
[误] Chinese is our mother language.
[正] Chinese is our mother tongue.
注:tongue 除了指“舌头”,还可以用来指“语言,方言”,如 the Spanish tongue 并非指“西班牙舌头”,而是指“西班牙语”。我们常说的有“语言天赋”,英语里相应的表达是 the gift of tongues。“母语”在英语中用 mother tongue 表达,还可以说 parent language 或 linguistic parent,但 mother language 的说法却是不地道的。
100. 我爷爷是奔75的人了。
[误] My grandpa is running for seventy-five.
[正] My grandpa is getting on for seventy-five.
注:run for 有“竞赛,竞选”之意,如:run for Congress(竞选国会议员),run for the presidency(竞选总统)等。而 get on for 才表示“接近”,它通常用进行时态,后面一般跟年龄或者时间,如:It's getting on for midnight(快到半夜了)等。
  (1). push thirty[forty,etc.]已经快到三[四...]十岁了:
She would like you to think so, but she's pushing thirty.
You wouldn't think so to look at him, but he's pushing 40.
(2). get on for[towards]快到(某时间),快(多少岁):
It's getting on for nine o'clock.
He must be getting on for forty now.
Here you are getting on toward thirty.
(3). 年龄的一些说法:
1) I'm twenty.(常用)
2) I'm twenty years old.(常用)
3) I'm twenty-year-old.(不常用)
4) I'm twenty years of age.(书面)
5) I'm aged twenty (years).(书面)
6) My age is twenty (years).(不常用)
7) I come into the age of twenty.(不常用)
8) I'm in my teens.(不常用)
in one's early teens(不常用)
在十三四岁年纪
not yet out of one's teens(不常用)
还没有到20岁
101. 正如中国的一句俗话:“笨鸟先飞”。
[误] As an old Chinese saying goes, "Stupid birds have to start flying early."
[正] As an old Chinese saying goes,"Clumsy birds have to start flying early."
注:“笨鸟先飞”常用来比喻那些能力差的人,因为做事怕落后,所以就提前行动。这里的“笨”并非 stupid(智力低下的,愚蠢的)的意思,而用 clumsy(笨拙的,不灵巧的)更恰当。
102. 艾达把“发音”一词拼写错了,不过只是个笔误。
[误] Ida misspells the word "pronunciation", however, it is only a mistake of pen.
[正] Ida misspells the word "pronunciation", however, it is only a slip of the pen.
注:与 mistake(错误,误会,过失)相比,slip 更侧重于由于不经意或疏忽而造成的错误,所以“口误”一般译为 a slip of the tongue,同样,“笔误”就翻译成 a slip of the pen。
103. 我们将口头对这一问题做个表决。
[误] We shall take an oral vote on this problem.
[正] We shall take a voice vote on this problem.
注:voice 除了指“说话声,嗓音”之外,还有“(公开或正式表达出的)意见,愿望”的意思。voice vote 又叫“呼声表决”,即参加表决者叫喊“同意”或“不同意”,按呼声响亮的一方决定。而 oral 则强调“以口头的方式”,例如:oral practice(口头练习),oral examination(口试),oral report(口头汇报)等,但“口头表决”英语却没有 oral vote 之说,而习惯用 voice vote。
104. 内德有条腿瘸了。
[误] Ned has a lame leg.
[正] Ned is lame in one leg.
注:lame 作“瘸的,跛的,残废的”讲,一般用作表语,且其主语往往是人或动物,例如:go lame(变成瘸子),be lame in/或 of one leg(一条腿跛的)。当 lame 用作定语时,它常表示“站不住脚的,有缺陷的”,例如:a lame excuse(站不住脚的借口),a lame imitation(低劣的仿制品)。
105. 我舅舅的胃病又犯了。
[误] My uncle has got another attack of stomach disease.
[正] My uncle has got another attack of stomach trouble.
注:英语同汉语一样,也有很多约定俗成的表达法。同样是“病”,心脏病可以说 heart disease,但胃病、肝病、眼病等就习惯说成 stomach/liver/eye trouble。
106. 奥尼尔是首位进入决赛的种子选手。
[误] O'Neil is the first seed player to reach the final.
[正] O'Neil is the first seed to reach the final.
注:seed 的愿意是“种子,萌芽”,后被引申为“种子选手”,所以这时不必再加 player。类似的词还有“植物人”(vegetable),它被翻译成英语时“人”字也不必译出。
107. 因为玛吉请了三天病假,所以她必须把落下的课补上。
[误] Since Maggie asked for a sick leave of three days,she should make up for her lost lessons.
[正] Since Maggie asked for a sick leave of three days,she should make up her lost lessons.
注:同样表示“弥补,补偿,补足”,make up 后面一般接具体的名词,如:make up a missed lesson(补课),a make-up examination(补考)等;而 make up for 后面的名词通常比较抽象,如:make up for the lost time(弥补时间上的损失),make up for one's defects(补其所短)等。
108. 对不起,因为交通繁忙,我迟到了20分钟。
[误] Excuse me, I am twenty minutes late because of the busy traffic.
[正] Excuse me, I am twenty minutes late because of the heavy traffic.
注:busy 的确可以作“繁忙”讲,如:the busy farming season(农忙季节),a busy day(繁忙的一天)等,但“交通繁忙”却是约定俗成的说法,要用 heavy 形容 traffic,而不是 busy。在大城市,交通一般都比较繁忙,尤其在 rush hours(上下班的高峰期),常常会出现 traffic jam(交通阻塞)。如果要表达“街上车辆很少”,可以说 There is little traffic on the roads。
109. 在很久以前,这里曾经有座宫殿。
[误] There used to be a palace here before long.
[正] There used to be a palace here long before.
注:不要想当然地以为 before long 是指“在很久以前”,恰恰相反,它的意思是“不久以后”,例如:Harry Porter will be published before long(《哈利.波特》不久就要出版了)。而 long before 才相当于 long,long ago,表示“在很久很久以前”。
110. 你真是不要脸,居然干出这种事。
[误] You are so faceless that you should have done such a thing.
[正] You are so shameless that you should have done such a thing.
注:虽然 -less 主要附在名词或动词后面构成否定形容词,表示“没有,无,不”,如:fearless(无畏的),careless(不小心的),doubtless(无疑的)等,但 faceless 的意思却是“姓名不详的,匿名的,不露面的”。而“伤风败俗的,无耻的,不要脸的(人)”则要用 shameless 来表达,而 shameful 一般用来指“可耻的,丢脸的(行为)”,例如:shameful conduct(可耻的行为),a shameless exploiter(无耻的剥削者)。
111. 你们必须擦亮眼睛,弄清楚事情的真相。
[误] You should wipe your eye and find out the truth.
[正] You should remove the scales from your eyes and find out the truth.
注:英语里确实有 wipe one's eye 这一短语,但它表示“先发制人”或“使某人看到自己的狂妄”,而且这里的 eye 要用单数形式。而 scale 用作复数可比喻“障眼物”,英文的 remove the scales from one's eyes 才对应于中文的“擦亮眼睛”。
112. 瞧,树上有两只麻雀。
[误] Look, there are two sparrows on the tree.
[正] Look, there are two sparrows in the tree.
注:英语中,只有“长”在树上的东西才用介词 on,例如:There are lots of apples on the tree;其余均用介词 in,例如:The primitive built houses in the tree(原始人在树上建房子)。本例句也不例外。
113. 裘德在乡下有一块菜地。
[误] Jude has a piece of vegetable field in the countryside.
[正] Jude has a piece of vegetable plot in the countryside.
注:英语里 field 的确可指“(一块)田地”,如:a paddy field(一块稻田),terraced fields(梯田)等,但“菜地”却习惯称为 vegetable plot,而不是 field。 plot 指“小块土地,小块地皮”,如:an experimental plot of cotton(一块棉花试验田)。
114. 我妻子总喜欢留朋友吃顿便饭。
[误] My wife is fond of asking her friends to stay for a casual meal.
[正] My wife is fond of asking her friends to stay for a light meal.
注:casual 可作“不拘礼节的,非正式的”讲,如:clothes for casual wear(便服)。但“便饭”人们习惯用形容词 light,该词也有“随便的,不重要的”之意,如:a light conversation(闲谈)。
115. 要测量海水的深度不是一件容易的事情。
[误] It is a tough job to measure the depth of the sea.
[正] It is a tough job to fathom the depth of the sea.
注:要测量某人的身高,某人物体的长、宽、高,某两点间的距离,某物体的运动速度等,都可以用 measure 一词,例如:The room measures 10 meters across(这房间10米),但惟有测量水深时不用 measure,而要用 fathom。
116. 美国是个超级大国,不少人都梦想着能移民到那儿。
[误] The United States is a super country, and many people dream of immigrating into it.
[正] The United States is a superpower, and many people dream of immigrating into it.
注:super- 是一个前缀,表示“特大的,超级的”等含义,例如:supermarket(超市),superstar(超级明星),superman(超人)等。superpower 是“超级大国”的习惯表达,power 本身也有“强国,大国”的含义,如:an industrial power(工业强国),the imperialist powers(帝国主义列强)等。用 super country 表示“超级大国”是中国式的英语。
117. 哈罗德邀请一位女士到舞池里跳舞。
[误] Harold invites a lady to dance in the dance pool.
[正] Harold invites a lady to dance in the dance floor.
注:pool 在英语里是指“水塘”或“水池”,如 swimming pool(游泳池)等。而中文的“池”意思就多了,它在“舞池”中就指“旁边高中间低的地方”,再加上许多约定俗成的说法,所以,翻译时要具体情况具体对待。如:“舞池”英文是 dance floor,而“乐池”则为orchestra pit。
118. ---我们这是上哪儿去?
-    ---去我的住处。
[误] ---Where are we going to?
-    ---To my living place.
[正] ---Where are we going to?
-    ---To my dwelling place.
注:虽然 live 有“居住”的意思,但 living place 却是指“(房屋里)可居住的地方”,因为 living 作形容词所表达的意思是“适于居住的”。而 dwelling 本身就是名词,指“住处”或“寓所”,它也可以再修饰其他名词,如:dwelling house 或 dwelling place 等。
119. ---想喝点什么?
-    ---来杯淡茶吧!
[误] ---What would you like to drink?
-    ---A cup of light tea, please.   
[正] ---What would you like to drink?
-    ---A cup of weak tea, please.
注:一般说来,形容食物“清淡”用 light,例如:light soup(清汤),a light diet(清淡的饮食)等。形容烟、酒等“味淡的”则要用 mild,例如:The tobacco is very mild(这烟草儿很淡)。而“淡茶”的表达是 weak tea。与“淡”相对的是“浓”,可以翻译成 strong,例如:strong drinks(烈性酒),strong tea(浓茶);也可以译成 thick,例如:thick soup(浓汤)等。
120. 有人看见一位妇女和两个孩子朝路那边走去。
[误] A woman with two children were seen walking down the road.
[正] A woman with two children was seen walking down the road.
注:在英语中,主语由 as well as, with, along with, together with 等连接时,谓语动词要与这些连接词前面的名词或代词保持一致。
121. 我们的班主任住在18栋楼4单元2号。
[误] Our head-teacher lives in Building 18, Entrance 4, No. 2.
[正] Our head-teacher lives in No. 2, Entrance 4, Building 18.
注:英语地址的写法同汉语相反,汉语是从大到小,而英语却是从小到大。例如:Bill Clinton lives in the Little Rock, Arkansas.(比尔.克林顿住在阿肯色的小石城)。
122. 如果你也那样做可就有失身份了。
[误] You would lose your identity if you'd follow suit.
[正] It would be beneath your dignity if you'd follow suit.
注:identity 是可以翻译成汉语的“身份”,如:The police made sure of his identity(警察查明了他的身份)及 an identity card(身份证)等,但它所表示的“身份”是“正身”或“个人及家庭的基本情况”。而“有失身份”的“身份”是指“一个人所处的地位和应有的尊严”,所以它不能翻译成 lose one's identity,而应用 beneath one's dignity 来表达。“在某人的尊严之下”(beneath one's dignity)不就是“有失身份”的意思吗?当然,它还可以用 not up to one's status/dignity/fame 之类的短语来表示。
123. 每个月的单号我们都有一场比赛。
[误] We have a match on single-numbered days of each month.
[正] We have a match on odd-numbered days of each month.
注:single 是“单一的,单个的”意思如:single-eyed(独眼的),single-handed(独手的,单枪匹马的)等。而 odd 才表示“单数的,奇数的”意思,如:odd houses(单号门牌的房子),odd month(有三十天的月份)等。
124. 大舌头的人发音都很糟糕。
[误] Big-tongued persons have terrible pronunciations.
[正] Thick-tongued persons have terrible pronunciations.
注:tongued 常和其他词构成复合词,如:loose-tongued(铙舌的,随口乱说的),silver-tongued(能言善辩的)等。说一个人是个口齿不清的“大舌头”,除了可用 a thick-tongued person 来表达,还可以用 a lisper 表达相同的意思。
125. 你可真是个人物啊!
[误] You are really a person.
[正] You are really a personage.
注:person 仅仅指一个普通的“人”,如:a young person(一个年轻人),a courageous person(一个勇敢的人)等。所以第一句译文的意思是“你真的是一个人”,好像在讽刺人似的。而 personage 指“要人,名流,显贵”,用这个词才能准确表达原句的意思。
126. 你为什么不走大路偏走小路呢?
[误] Why don't you take the big road instead of the small one?
[正] Why don't you take the main road instead of the path?
注:英语里常用 main 表示“主要的”,如:main line(铁路的主要干线);main stem(河流的主要河道);mainland(对小岛和半岛而言的“大陆”)等。而中文的“大路”就是“主干道”的意思,所以也应用 main 修饰。
127. 在动笔之前,你必须先打开思路。
[误] You should open your mind before you begin to write.
[正] You should broaden your mind before you begin to write.
注:open 表示“打开,张开”时,后面通常跟具体名词,而 broaden 表示“拓宽,扩大”,其后既可以跟具体名词搭配,又可以接抽象名词,如:broaden one's horizon(开阔眼界),The street broadens here(街道在这里变宽了)。mind 是个抽象名词,所以应与 broaden 搭配。
128. 那些人攒三聚五地聚在一起干嘛呢?
[误] What are those people gathering in threes and fives for?
[正] What are those people gathering in threes and fours for?
注:汉语中有些数词可以直接翻译成英文,如:“沧海一粟”(a drop in the ocean),“一箭双雕”(kill two birds with one stone)等。但是,也有不少数词不能进行等值翻译,上面所列的就是一例。除此之外,还有“乱七八糟”(at sixes and sevens),“再三考虑”(on second thought),“三三两两地”(by ones and twos)等。
129. 我爷爷的爷爷从生下来一直到死都没有离开过这座大山。
[误] My great great-grandfather had never left the mountain from birth to death.
[正] My great great-grandfather had never left the mountain from the cradle to the grave.
注:“从......到......”常可以翻译成 from ...to...,如:from ancient times to the present(从古至今),from beginning to end(从头到尾),from dawn to dusk(从早到晚)等。第一句翻译错就错在将“生”和“死”翻得太直白了,不符合英语的习惯。
130. 要想学习英语,必须首先学会查字典。
[误] In order to learn English, one must learn to look up the dictionary first.
[正] In order to learn English, one must learn to look up words in the dictionary first.
注:look up 表示“(在字典、词典、参考书等中)查找,查寻”,后面要跟查找的对象。所以,第一句译文搭配不正确,让人误以为是要“找字典”。原文还有另外一种表达方式,即 consult the dictionary,因为 consult 表达的正是“查阅(字典、书籍等)”。
131. 盖奇在船厂工作了30年。
[误] Cage has been working in a ship factory for thirty years.
[正] Cage has been working in a shipyard for thirty years.
注:英语中的 factory 与汉语的“厂”有时候可以对应,如:clothing factory(服装厂),chemical factory(化工厂),food products factory(食品厂)等,但也有例外,除了“船厂”要用 yard 以外,还有“酿酒厂”(brewery),砖瓦厂(brickfield),电厂(power plant)等。
132. 当心碰到脑袋。
[误] Take care of your head!
[正] Mind your head!
注:英语里提醒别人注意可以说:Take care! /Look out! /Be careful! 等,但 take care of 却表示“照顾,照料(某人或某物)”。而 mind 用作及物动词时表示“注意,留心,当心”,也有提醒注意的意思。如:Mind the wet paint(当心,油漆未干)等。
133. 买鞋油的钱你先垫着,我以后还。
[误] Please pay for the shoe oil for me. I'll pay back later.
[正] Please pay for the shoe polish for me. I'll pay back later.
注:鞋油的“油”不用 oil 表达,而要用 polish。polish 可以作“擦光剂”讲,也可以作“磨光,擦亮”讲,如:a desk with a high polish(表面光泽极好的书桌)。
134. 由于第三者插足,这对夫妻离婚了。
[误] The couple divorced because of the third person.
[正] The couple divorced because of a third party.
注:序数词一般常跟定冠词 the 连用,表示“第几”;而序数词和不定冠词 a 连用时表示的则是“另一个”。如:He won the third prize(他得了个三等奖),He won a third prize(他第三次得奖)。
135. 这是个口误。
[误] It is an oral mistake!
[正] It is a slip of the tongue!
注:“口误”要用 slip of the tongue(舌头滑了一下)表达,而 misake 一词太严重了,与汉语的内涵有出入。
136. 三思而后行。
[误] Think three times before you act!
[正] Think twice!
注:汉语中以“三”言其多,英国人却只要求“转念”即可,所以用 twice(二)。若将中国的思维强作移植,只恐果实滋味无人懂。
137. 这是她的口头禅。
[误] This is her habitual phrase.
[正] This is her pet phrase.
注: 习惯的短语?宠物的短语?若是像对宠物一般珍视和不离,这短语自然就是中国人所谓的“口头禅”了!
138. 生命短暂而艺术永恒。
[误] Life is short, and art is long.
[正] Art is long, and time is fleeting.
注: 这是一句传诵千古的名言,若直译成英文会显消极和晦气,没有了原汁原味的神韵。
139. 过河莫忘搭桥人。
[误] Don't forget the builder of the bridge when you cross the river.
[正] Prise the bridge he goes over.
注: 第一句虽不算错,但第二句意象一转,层面一变,可就简练形象多了!
140. 习惯成自然。
[误] Habit forms nature.
[正] Habit is second nature.
注: 第二句颇有后天习得之意味,妙处也就在于此。
141. 上梁不正下梁歪。
[误] If the upper beam is crooked, the one below is necessarily so.
[正] Fish begins to stink at the head.
注: 鱼要腐烂头先臭?西方人把中国人赋予建筑的喻义转接到了食物身上,异曲同工吧!记得不要直译哦!
142. 聊胜于无。
[误] Few is better than none.
[正] Half a bread is better than none.
注: 中国的四字成语言简意赅,而英文却将此形象化于西方人所熟悉的面包,亲切可触。
143. 忧愁伤身。
[误] Worry hurts body.
[正] Care killed the cat.
注: 既然莎翁(莎士比亚)用了一只可怜的猫,那么,就用猫好了。
144. 他输了这场球。一切都完蛋了。
[误] He has lost the game. The egg is over.
[正] He has lost the game. It has gone belly up.
注: 我们不知道中文“完蛋”二字的源头,但是英文表达里的 belly up 源自漂在水中的死鱼。怎么样?很生动吧!千万不要用鸡蛋把外国人搞得丈二和尚摸不着头脑哦!
145. 他俩好得能穿一条裤子。
[误] They are so close as if they could wear the same trousers.
[正] They are hand in glove.
注: 中国人的这一表达在西方人看来简直是莫名其妙,他们相应的说法是像手在手套里一样亲密无间。
146. 他资质平平。
[误] He has a normal intelligence.
[正] He has an average intelligence.
注: normal 言其正常,average 言其平庸。貌似一般,但内涵不同,绝对不可滥用。
147. 他这次可是搬起石头砸自己的脚。
[误] This time, he has carried a stone and let it fall on his own feet.
[正] This time, he has shot himself in the foot.
注: 中文和英文都用了“脚”,可是一个要用“石头”,一个要用“枪”。别记错了!
148. 他老是信口开河。
[误] He is always making his mouth flow like a river.
[正] He is always shooting off his mouth!
注: 中国人的这一比喻西方人是无论如何也理解不了的,他们不仅体会不到其中的夸张,还会以为这个人整天口水直流呢!
149. 这事儿八字还没一撇呢!
[误] I have not drawn the first part of the letter eight!
[正] It has not got to the first base!
注: 这句话与汉字形状有关,直译成英文真是要多怪有多怪。幸好英文里有一个类似表达,那就拿来用吧!
150. 她最爱给人当头泼凉水了。
[误] She loves pouring cold water over other's head.
[正] She loves throwing a wet blanket on others.
注: wet blanket 在英语中指“令人扫兴的人或事”,而中文的“泼凉水”在这里也不是直泼,也是“令人扫兴”的意思。所以在某些时候,中国人的“泼凉水”等同于西方人的“抛湿毯子”呢!
151. 她老是为一些鸡毛蒜皮的小事烦心。
[误] She is always worrying over chicken feather and garlic skin.
[正] She is always worrying over nickel and dime.
注: 中文里拿细碎小物作比,英文中则用零钱碎钞为喻,两种文化,表达自然不同了。
152. 他是个软心肠。
[误] He is a soft-hearted man.
[正] He is a pushover.
注: 心肠软,其实也就是听不得别人几句好话,外力一推就身不由已了。在这里,英文不言局部的“心”,而只谈整体的“人”,与汉语的这个区别要记一记。
153. 我们俩得为这个错误负责。
[误] You and I am responsible for this mistake.
[正] I and you are responsible for this mistake.
注: 老师常常强调英文中要“先人后己”,但表达承担责任或接受指责等倒霉事时却例外,反其道而行之,这你知道吗?
154. 她儿子终于平安无事地回来了。
[误] Her son has finally come back, safe and eventless.
[正] Her son has finally come back, safe and sound.
注: “平安”可以用 safe 表达,可是“无事”呢?不要直译,因为 safe and sound 在英文里已经是固定搭配,直接拿来用吧,很地道的!
155. 别太沮丧了,众口难调嘛。
[误] Don't be frustrated. It is hard to cater for all tastes.
[正] Don't be frustrated. You can't please everyone.
156. 明日复明日,明日何其多。
[误] Tomorrow after tomorrow. How many tomorrows would there be?
[正] One today is worth two tomorrows.
157. 一日不见,如隔三秋。
[误] It seems many years if they fail to see each other.
[正] Absence sharpens love.
158.  有情人终成眷属。
[误] Lovers shall become couples in the end.
[正] All shall be well, and Jack shall have Jill.
注: 中文里千古传诵的句子,到了英文中却具体成了两个有名有姓的年轻人,而且还用了英文特有的修辞手法---头韵,妙极!
159. 我给年轻人的忠告就是多用耳朵,少用嘴巴。
[误] The advice I would like to provide the young people with is to use their ears more than their mouths.
[正] The advice I would like to provide the young people with is to be swift to hear but slow to speak.
160. 人言可畏。
[误] Words are horrible.
[正] Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
161. 别五十步笑百步了,你并不比我做得好。
[误] Don't laugh at those who have covered 100 steps when you have covered 50. You have done no better than me.
[正] The pot calls the kettle black! You have done no better than me.
162. 一粒老鼠屎,坏了一锅汤。
[误] The mouse waste spoils the whole pot of soup.
[正] The rotten apple injures its neighbors.
注: 都来自生活小常识,都揭示人生大现象,可是,中英文选择的载体就是不一样。中国人熟悉的表达是“老鼠屎”,西方人则用“烂苹果”。
163. 史密斯先生觉得自己是个小人物,他多希望有一天能成为大人物啊!
[误] Mr Smith always considers himself a small figure, and how he wishes to be a big figure one day!
[正] Mr Smith always considers himself nobody, and how he wishes to be somebody one day!
注:“小人物”也好,“大人物”也罢,是言其地位,而非体格。nobody 和 somebody 能准确表达这一中文意思,而 small figure 和 big figure 是指“小个子”和“大个子”,不要混淆噢!
164. 三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮。
[误] Three cobblers equal Zhuge Liang.
[正] Two heads are better than one.
注: 此类中文典故很难通过直译讲清楚,加上一大堆注释又无法传神,所以还不如用英文对应的习惯表达呢。
165. 文人相轻。
[误] Men of letters despise each other.
[正] Two of a trade never agree.
注: 虽然第二句英文说法比中文原文的所指范围要宽泛一些,但其精髓是相通的,值得比较记忆。
166. 一个巴掌拍不响,这事儿是他俩一块儿干的。
[误] One palm claps not ---this must have been done by them both.
[正] It takes two to tango ---this must have been done by them both.
注: 我们说“一个巴掌拍不响”,而西方人习惯用“探戈舞是需要两个人一块儿跳的”,但这两者的含义是那么的一致。
167. 江山易改,本性难移。
[误] It is easier to move the mountains than to change one's nature.
[正] A leopard can't change its spots.
注: “豹子改变不了身上的花斑”,英语里常用动物来说明事理。
168. 汤姆破产以后,他的那些朋友都不见了 ---他们不过是一些酒肉朋友。
[误] None of his friends has ever turned up since Tom went bankrupt ---they are nothing but friends of wine and meat.
[正] None of his friends has ever turned up since Tom went bankrupt ---they are nothing but fine weather friends.
注: 英语中的 fine weather friends 是指“顺境中的朋友”,其意思与我们的“酒肉朋友”是一样的,都是指“只能同甘,不能共苦的朋友”。
169. 他白手起家,把一家小工厂办成了跨国集团。
[误] He started from white hand, developing a small factory into an international business group.
[正] He started from scratch, developing a small factory into an international business group.
注: “白手”是“从零开始”的意思,而不是“白色的手”。所以,有时候直译是会贻笑大方的。scratch 作名词时曾有“起跑线”之意,所以 start from scratch 才是“白手起家”的正确翻译。
170. 这班上最高的男生成了她的靠山。
[误] The tallest boy in the class has become her backing hill.
[正] The tallest boy in the class has become her security blanket.
注: “靠山”只是个比喻说法,它是指“保护人”。但英国人不习惯用“靠山”作比喻,也不用我们常说的“保护伞”。也许他们认为被毯子包裹起来更有安全感吧。
171. 我心里有数,他将成为我最优秀的学生。
[误] I have numbers in my heart that he will be my best student.
[正] I feel in my bones that he will be my best student.
注: 如果将“心中有数”翻译成“心里有几个数字”,那外国人一定不明白是什么意思。而 feel in one's bones(在骨头里都感觉到了)不正充分表达了中文的意思吗?
172. 他把这工程做砸了,被老板骂得狗血淋头。
[误] He failed in the project and was poured the blood of dogs by his boss.
[正] He failed in the project and was given both barrels by his boss.
注: 在这里,barrel 是“枪筒”的意思。而 give sb. both barrels 指连续射击,狠狠打击对手,不给他喘息的机会。它与中文的“狗血淋头”不是一回事吗?
173. 他老爱吹牛,一点也不可信。
[误] He is always blowing the bull up and is not reliable at all.
[正] He is always talking big and is not reliable at all.
注: 将“吹牛”翻译成“把一头牛吹起来”的人可能并不多,但不知如何翻译的人也许不在少数。现在你知道了吗?talk big 就是“吹牛”的地道说法。
174. 别杞人忧天了,公司的状况很好。
[误] Don't worry about the falling sky. The company is going on quite well.
[正] Don't be a nervous Nellie. The company is going on quite well.
注: nervous Nellie 就是英文里那个忧心忡忡的“杞人”,那么为什么不直接拿来用呢!
175. 她做事总是拣了芝麻,丢了西瓜。
[误] She is always collecting sesame at the cost of watermelon.
[正] She is only penny-wise.
注: “拣了芝麻,丢了西瓜”是中文里对因小失大的形象比喻,但照搬到英文里则会让人糊涂。西方人怎样说呢?penny-wise! 即“只在小钱上精明”。但仔细想想它们是不是具有相同的意思呢?
176. 自从那件事发生以后,他总是魂不守舍的。
[误] His soul is absent from its dwell ever since the occurrence of that event.
[正] He has been having ants in his pants ever since the occurrence of that event.
注: “蚂蚁在裤腿里爬”当然会让人坐立不安了,这时与中文所说的“魂不守舍”是不是一个样子呢?只是中文用的是拟人的修辞手法,而英文用的是比喻。
177. 他累断了腰才把儿子抚养成人。
[误] He broke his waist to bring up his son.
[正] He broke his neck to bring up his son.
注: 中国人说“累断了腰”,而英国人习惯用“累断脖子”。
178. 他俩总混在一块儿,可真是物以类聚啊。
[误] They stay together all the time ---similar objects are always together.
[正] They stay together all the time ---like to like.
注: 第一句译文也能达意,但怎能与言简意赅且富有乐感的 like to like 相比呢?
179. 小声点儿,隔墙有耳!
[误] Turn down your voice! There is a ear behind the wall!
[正] Turn down your voice! Walls have ears!
注: 在这里,地道的英文表达是用拟人的说法。“隔墙有耳”就是“墙也长耳”啊!
180. 他做事总是半途而废。
[误] He is in the habit of doing things by half.
[正] He is in the habit of doing things by halves.
注: by halves 已经成为英文中的一个习惯表达,表示做事情“有始无终”。擅加改动可就错了。
181. 露西最喜欢吃巧克力冰淇淋。
[误] Lucy most likes chocolate ice cream.
[正] Lucy likes chocolate ice cream best.
182. 建好新的高速公路恐怕要等到猴年马月了。
[误] The new motorway won't be ready until monkey's year and horse's month.
[正] The new motorway won't be ready for donkey's years.
注: 我们的“猴年马月”在英文中要用“驴年”表达,即 donkey's years。另外,英文中 till the cows come home 所表达的意思也与此相同,如:If you expect to get help from him, you will have to wait till the cows come home.
183. 请自重!
[误] Be respectful to yourself!
[正] Behave yourself!
注: 这句中文几乎是一种警告,不是 respectful 所能表达的。但 behave oneself 也不总表达如此严厉的语气,而且其中的 oneself 还可以省略。如:Children, please behave!(孩子们,乖一点!)另外,conduct oneself with dignity 也可以表达“自重”或“放规矩点”等相同的意思。
184. 他太激动了,以致无法从头至尾地把故事讲完。
[误] He was too excited to tell his story from the beginning to the end.
[正] He was too excited to tell his story from beginning to end.
注: 这有关英语零冠词的用法。在英语的某些固定短语中,是无需使用冠词的。除了上例,相似的还有 at this time of year/day(一年中的这个时候),in bed(在床上)等。
185. 隐形眼镜
[误] invisible glasses
[正] contact lenses
注: 一般的眼镜是用玻璃(glass)制成的,所以在英文中用 glass 表达。但隐形眼镜因为由特殊材料制成,并与人们的眼球直接接触(contact),因此名为 contact lenses。
186. 月夜
[误] moon night
[正] moonlit night/moonlight night
注: 英语中用名词作定语的情况很多,如:cloth market(布匹市场),women doctors(女医生),school gate(学校大门)等,但并不是万无一失的,类似的例子还有 sunny day 或 sunlit courtyard等。
187. 虽说他们是两兄弟,但学习态度真有天壤之别啊!
[误] Though they are brothers, their attitudes of studying are really as different as sky and earth!
[正] Though they are brothers, their attitudes of studying are really as different as night and day!
注: 还是取地道的英文表达最保险,但这需要平时就做有心人,注意积累。
188. 勇敢点孩子,别怕被人笑话。
[误] Be brave, boy, don't be afraid of being laughed by others.
[正] Be brave, boy. Don't be afraid of being laughed at by others.
189. 随便叫个人来帮忙,张三李四都行。
[误] Get someone to help, Zhang San, Li Si or anyone else.
[正] Get any Tom, Dick or Henry to help.
190. 车速越来越快了。
[误] The speed of the car is getting faster and faster.
[正] The speed of the car is getting higher and higher.
注: fast 不能与 speed 连用,其固定搭配是 high。可以说 The car is getting faster and faster,但只能说 Our car is driving on the highway at an extremely high speed。
191. 他掌权以后立刻露出了本来面目。
[误] He showed his true face as soon as he got the power in his hand.
[正] He showed his true colors as soon as he got the power in his hand.
注: 注意,这里的 colors 要用复数,而且这一短语带有很强的贬义。再看下面的句子:She finished the work in flying colors(她出色地完成了任务)。这里的 colors 指“彩旗”,而飘扬的彩旗可是胜利的标志噢!
192. 敌人对我们又打又拉。
[误] The enemy striked and pulled us.
[正] The enemy used both the carrot and the stick towards us.
注: 英语里常用借代的修辞手法。又如:Pen is mightier than sword.
193. 不就是一篇论文吗,小菜一碟。
[误] Just a paper? It's a small plate of dish.
[正] Just a paper? It's a piece of cake/as easy as a pie.
194. 我不信你会傻到帮他背黑锅。
[误] I don't believe you are foolish enough to carry the black pan for him.
[正] I don't believe you are foolish enough to hold the bag for him.
注: 这里的 bag 相当于 blame 或 responsibility,所以短语 hold the bag 指“代人受过”,与我们的“背黑锅”意思相同。
195. 不管别人怎么对你,我永远是支持你的。
[误] No matter how others may treat you, I'll always support you.
[正] No matter how others may treat you, I'll be always on your side.
注: support 一般指经济或行动上比较实在的帮助和支持,而 on one's side 则侧重于观点、立场等精神上的支持和一致。因此,这里用 on one's side 更符合愿意。
196. 她受丈夫的影响,成了不吃肉,只消费蔬菜、蛋和奶的素食者。
[误] Influenced by her husband, she changed into a vegan having eggs and milk only.
[正] Influenced by her husband, she changed into a vegetarian having eggs and milk only.
注: vegan 是“严格的素食主义者”,他们不仅不吃肉,而且连动物的副产品也不吃。而并不忌讳蛋和牛奶的“素食者”应用 vegetarian。
197. 你是在杀鸡取卵。
[误] You are killing the hen for her eggs.
[正] You are killing the goose that lays golden eggs.
现在,人们用 kill the goose that lays golden eggs 比喻“目光短浅”或“得不偿失”,正是中文“杀鸡取卵”的意思。
198. 他三言两语就解释清楚了整件事。
[误] He made the whole thing clear in three or two words.
[正] He made the whole thing clear in one or two words.
注: 虽然英语中的 one or two words 也是虚指,但所用的数字却与中文的不同。又如:三思(think twice),三心二意(in two minds),百里挑一(one in a thousand)等。
199. 他的恬不知耻让我起鸡皮疙瘩。
[误] His shamelessness gives me chick-pimples.
[正] His shamelessness gives me goose-pimples.
注: 中文的“鸡皮疙瘩”在英语中要用“鹅皮疙瘩”(goose-pimples)表达。这多半由饮食习惯的差异引起,因为鹅在中国可不像在英国那样常见。
200. 十之八九你不能按时完成任务。
[误] Eight or nine out of ten you will not be able to finish the assignment in time.
[正] Ten to one you will not be able to finish the assignment in time.
注: “十之八九”表示“很可能”,相当于 probably,与英语的习惯用语 ten to one 意思相同。
201. 爸爸给这张桌子上了一层新漆。
[误] Daddy painted the desk with a layer of paint.
[正] Daddy painted the desk with a coat of paint.
注:layer 和 coat,虽然翻译成中文都是“层”,但用法却不同。如:Onions have layers(洋葱是一层一层的),但涂上一层油漆却要用 coat。
A layer of smog settled over the city.
The cake has three layers.
These seeds must be covered with a layer of earth.
A layer of ice on the street.
You must put another coat of paint on this door.
Two coats of painting were needed to cover the old colour.
A coat of dust
202. 他喝起酒来像牛钦,但极少出交通事故。
[误] He drinks like a cattle, but seldom has traffic accidents.
[正] He drinks like a fish, but seldom has traffic accidents.
注:中国是个农业国,自古以来牛就是耕作的主要牲畜,所以中国人喜欢用牛,这一自己熟悉的动物来比喻。英国是个岛国,以渔业和航海业著称,所以那里的人们最为熟悉的动物就是鱼了。
203. 他已经到了山穷水尽的地步了。
[误] They are at the end of their road.
[正] They are at the end of their tether.
注:tether 是用来拴家畜的系绳,这些家畜只能在系绳尽头所能达到的范围内活动,所以 at the end of one's tether 被用来比喻能力等“达到了极限”。这里的 tether 有时也用 rope 替代。
204. 国家法律规定,不论贫富,一律征税。
[误] According to the state law, both poor and rich are taxed.
[正] According to the state law, both rich and poor are taxed.
注:两种语言的表达顺序往往存在差异,而且都是约定俗成的,不容改变。又如:前后(back and forth),新旧(old and new),悲欢(joy and sorrow),血肉(flesh and blood),钢铁(iron and steel),兴衰(fall and rise),南北(north and south)等。
205. 要在那么多书中找到我们想要的那本书简直就是大海捞针啊!
[误] To find a book we want in so many books is just as difficult as looking for a needle in the sea.
[正] To find a book we want in so many books is just as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack.
注:a needle in a haystack(干草堆里的一根针)确实难找,与我们“大海捞针”的难度应该是半斤八两,而且,它可是英语中约定俗成的用法啊!
206. 面包和黄油是西方人极其喜爱的食品。
[误] Bread and butter are westerners' favorites.
[正] Bread and butter is westerners' favourite.
注:bread and butter 在这里应该被看成一个整体,所以谓语动词要用单数形式。又如:刀叉(knife and folk)等。
207. 失之东隅,收之桑榆。
[误] Lose where the sun rises and gain where the sun sets.
[正] What one loses on the swings, he gets back on the roundabouts.
注:第一句虽然将原文的意思忠实地表达了出来,但英国人仍然难以体会中文“日出之处日落之时”的内涵。因此,借用地道的英语说法才是最明智的选择。swings 是“秋千”,roundabouts 是“旋转木马”。swings and roundabouts 在英语中就表示“有得有失”。“失之东隅,收之桑榆”还可以直接用 It's all swings and roundabouts 来表达。
208. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。
[误] When the old man on the frontier lost his horse, who could tell it was not a blessing in disguise?
[正] A loss of many turns out to be a gain.
注:直译出的句子很长,有失原文的韵味。而且,英美人没有听过“塞翁失马”的故事,所以他们也未必能懂。还有一些其它的译法:A loss sometimes spells a gain.; Every cloud has a/its silver lining.; Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.; Nothing so bad, as not to be good for sth.
209. 此地无银三百两。
[误] There isn't 300 liang of silver buried here.
[正] A guilty person gives himself away by conspicuously protesting his innocence.
注:民间故事,有个人把银子埋在土里,上面写了个字条:“此地无银三百两”;他的邻居阿二把银子偷走了,也写了个字条:“隔壁阿二不曾偷。” Folk tale. A man buried his silver in the ground and put up a note, saying: "Three hundred ounces of silver is not buried here." His neighbour Ah Erh stole the silver and also put up a note with this: "Your neighbour Ah Erh didn't steal it." ---A metaphor for one's being exposed by one's own vindication. 与上句一样,对不清楚故事背景的人,只有把一切解释得明白一点了。
210. 现在的家庭一般都用白糖而不用红糖。
[误] Nowadays households tend to use white sugar rather than red sugar.
[正] Nowadays households tend to use white sugar rather than brown sugar.
注:就像我们中国人不知道为什么要叫红糖(有的红糖其实是黄色的),恐怕英国人也不知道为什么要叫 brown sugar,约定俗成吧!另外,他们的 brown bread 我们却称作“黑面包”。类似一些说法还有:红眼病 green eyes;脸色发紫 black in the face;红茶 black tea;黄色电影 blue film 等。
211. 对不起,小姐,恐怕我点的不是红茶而是绿茶。
[误] Sorry Miss, I'm afraid my order is not red tea but green tea.
[正] Sorry Miss, I'm afraid my order is not black tea but green tea.
注:与前面的例子一样,这又是无法解释的东西方颜色差异。又如:“黄色书籍”英文用 blue book,“又青又紫”英文称 black and blue。另外,西方人眼中的吉日是 a white day,如“婚礼”就被叫做 white wedding,因为新娘的婚纱是白色的(近年来,在中国,一些城里人也有去教堂举行婚礼的,自然新娘要穿白色婚纱)。而中国人传统上只有葬礼才用白色形容(如红白“喜事”)。
212. 三个和尚没水喝。
[误] Three monks have no drinking water.
[正] Everybody's business is nobody's business.
注:后一句译文用最直白的方式将原文的内在含义准确表达出来,避免了文化差异带来的理解障碍。
213. 人才流失是我们面临的重大问题。
[误] Talents draining is a serious problem we are facing.
[正] Brain-draining is a serious problem we are facing.
注:talent 指的是“天才”,而原文中的“人才”是可以通过后天塑造的,而且 brain-draining 是表示“人才流失”的英文地道说法,用在这里更恰当。
214. 你怎么做出那样愚蠢的事情?真是让人笑掉大牙。
[误] What a fool you are to do such a thing! That really makes people laugh off their front teeth.
[正] What a fool you are to do such a thing! That really makes people laugh off their head.
注:“笑掉头”可比“笑掉门牙”更严重,看来英国人比我们还夸张。
215. 和他谈文学简直是对牛弹琴。
[误] To talk with him about literature is nothing but playing the lute to a cow.
[正] To discuss with him about literature is nothing but casting pearls before swine.
注:“对牛弹琴”可以借用英语中类似的现成说法。这种可以在英语中找到对应表述的情况很多,如:吹牛(to talk horse);挥金如土(to spend money like water);鹬蚌相争,渔翁得利(When shepherds quarrel, the wolf has a winning game);近朱者赤,近墨者黑(Who heeps company with the wolf will learn the howl)。
216. 瞧,那个穿蓝衣服的是她的白马王子。
[误] Look, that one in blue is her White-horse Prince.
[正] Look, that one in blue is her Prince Charming.
注:西方人不会明白为什么一定是骑白马的王子,所以不如直接表现王子的俊朗魅力。管他白马、黑马,反正帅呆了!
217. 小姑娘红扑扑的脸上挂着微笑。
[误] The little girl's red cheeks are brightened by a smile.
[正] The little girl's rosy cheeks are brightened by a smile.
注:rosy cheeks 所指的红润脸颊展示着健康和美丽,而 red 是用来形容由害羞或窘迫引起的脸红。如:He went red when I asked about his girlfriend. 下面给出有关 red 的翻译:(For the time being, I cannot locate the post I posted on Rainlane months ago. I'll settle this later on.)
218. 韦尼格先生因酒后驾车被罚了100美元。
[误] Mr. Vinegar was punished $100 for drunken driving.
[正] Mr. Vinegar was fined $100 for drunken driving.
注:punish 后面不直接加具体惩罚,如:He was punished by long terms of imprisonment(他被处以长期监禁)或 He was unished to pay $100 for drunk driving。专门用来表示罚款的动词是 fine,其后可直接加被罚金额。
219. 挂羊头卖狗肉。
[误] Hanging a sheep's head while selling a dog's flesh.
[正] Cry up wine and sell vinegar.
注:嚷着卖酒,其实卖的却是醋,这也是名不符实的典型。至于为什么英语中用这样比喻,也许是因为英国人善饮,而视狗为宠物,一般不吃狗肉吧。
220. 吉尔的作业找不到了,急得像热锅上的蚂蚁。
[误] Failing to find her homework, Jill is just like an ant on a hot pan.
[正] Failing to find her homework, Jill is just like a cat on a hot tin roof.
注:试想,炎热的夏天,可怜的猫在晒得发烫的锡房顶上脚板都快被烤熟了,它既不敢跳下去,又不能飞到天上,其处境岂不是酷似“热锅上的蚂蚁”?
221. 我想要认识格林先生。
[误] I want to recognize Mr. Green.
[正] I should like to know Mr. Green.
注:中文说的“认识”在上句中只能用英文的 know 来译,如照字面直译为 recognize 就错了,因为英文的 recognize=know again,例如 He has changed so much that I can hardly recognize him.(他变得太厉害,我几乎不认识他了。)原来认识的人才可以用 recognize,第一次相识只能说 know。
222. 他父亲破产使他不能出国去留学了。
[误] The bankruptcy of his father has made him impossible to go abroad.
[正] The bankruptcy of his father has made it impossible for him to go abroad.
注:英文的 possible 或 impossible 一类的形容词,是要用“it”来作主语,不可以用“人”作主语的。
223. 如蒙早日赐复,不胜感激。
[误] I shall appreciate very much if you will reply at your earliest convenience.
[正] I shall appreciate it very much if you will reply at your earliest convenience.
注:作“感激”解的 appreciate 是及物动词,必须接有宾语,其他例如,I greatly apprreciate your kindness.(我非常感激你的好意。)
224. 他跟一个百万富翁的女儿结婚了。
[误] He married with the daughter of a millionaire.
[正] He married the daughter of a millionaire.
注:英文 marry 一字通常是用作及物动词的,共有三个意思。(1)结婚,包括娶和嫁,例如 He is going to marry Miss Wong.(他将娶王小姐为妻。)She married an Englishman.(她嫁给一个英国人。)May cousins marry each other?(表兄弟可以结婚吗?)(2)遣嫁,娶媳,例如 He married his daughter to a rich man.(他把女儿嫁给一个富翁。)He married his son to an architect's daughter.(他替儿子讨了一个建筑师的女儿做老婆。)(3)主婚,例如 The priest is going to marry them.(牧师将为他们主婚。)如用 passive voice 是表示已结了婚的那种状态,如 Tom and Alice have been married four years.(汤姆和艾丽丝已结婚四年了。)They got married soon after that.(那以后他们随即就结婚了。)
225. 我哥哥是个跳舞迷。
[误] My brother is a dance mania.
[正] My brother has a mania for dancing.
注:表示对某事的着迷或狂热,英文说 mania,但这个名词不能作主语补足语,只能用作动词 have 的宾语。其他例如 He has a perfect mania for rare books.(他有狂搜珍本书的癖好。)
226. 加拿大有多少人口?
[误] How many population has Canada?
[正] What is the population of Canada?
注:“人口”的英文 population 是不加“s”而构成复数的,所以不能用 many,但有时可以加不定冠词,如 India has a very large population for its area.(印度以面积来说人口是很多的。)这个 population 当然也作单数用,如 Population sinks.(人中降低。)通常用作集合名词,不加“s”构成复数,除非是下列情形:the educated pupulations of China and Japan(中日两国的知识阶层)。
227. 我希望我的父母长寿。
[误] I hope my parents to live long.
[正] I hope my parents will live long.
注:英文动词有一定的惯用法(correct usage),有的后面可接不定式,如 I want you to attend the meeting. 有的后面要接动名词,如 How can we avoid making mistakes? 还有的后面一定要接一个句子(clause),如本例所示,但 hope 也可接不定式,如 I hope to see you soon again.
228. 红色的和白色的玫瑰花开了。
[误] A red and white rose are in bloom.
[正] A red and a white rose are in bloom.
注:表示不同的人,名词前都应用冠词。A novelist and poet 指一个人,即“小说家兼诗人”。另外,不同的形容词修饰名词,则形容词前也须加冠词。A red and white 表示“红白相间的”。
229. 今年应邀出席教师节庆祝活动的教师人数比去年多。
[误] The number of teachers invited to the Teachers' Day celebrations this year were larger than that of last year.
[正] The number of teachers invited to the Teachers' Day celebrations this year was larger than that of last year.
注:a number of 是“若干,许多”的意思,后面应该用动词的复数形式;第二个句子内 the number of 中的 number 是“数目”的意思,尽管后面接了复数 teachers,但主语是单数的 number,所以动词须用单数。
230. 他是一位很有经验的教师,学生提什么问题他都不在乎。
[误] He is a too experienced teacher to care what kind of question the students may ask.
[正] He is too experienced a teacher to care what kind of question the students may ask.
注:如果按正常的词序,则 He is a too experienced teacher.(他是一位很有经验的教师。)不能算错,但是由于此句以 too...to 结构贯穿整个句子,这就必须将 too 和 experienced 提至冠词之前。
231. 假期从明天开始。
[误] The vacation begins from tomorrow.
[正] The vacation begins tomorrow.
注:中文的“从”字在这种场合是不需译出的,其他场合也不需译成 from,例如“新学期从四月开始”。The new term begins in April. “新学期从四月五日开始。” The new term begins on the 5th of April. “茶会从六点开始。”The tea party begins at six o'clock. “教育从一个人出生开始。” Education begins with a man's birth. 例句中的 tomorrow,是一个副词,副词前是不可以用介词的。April, the 5th, six o'clock, birth 都是名词。
232. 我很高兴接受你的邀请。
[误] It gives me much plesure in accepting your invitation.
[正] It gives me much pleasure to accept your invitation.
.    I have much pleasure in accepting your invitation.
.    I take great pleasure in accepting your invitation.
注:take great pleasure=greatly enjoy. 如说 have the pleasure 则后不接 in 而接 of,如 I have the pleasure of accepting your invitation.也是通的,不过此种语法多用于下类句中:May I have the pleasure of taking a glass of wine with you? I once had the pleasure of being introduced to you. I am sorry I cannot have the pleasure of accompanying you today. I hope you will give me the pleasure of dining with me at 8 o'clock tomorrow evening at my place. There are many famous men whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting so far.
233. 我最好讲个故事给你听。
[误] I can do no better than to tell you a story.
[正] I can do no better than tell you a story.
注:在 than 后的词的形式应和 than 前的一致,句中前面是 can do,后面只能说(can)tell,不能说(can)to tell. 他例如 It is better to win than to lose. I'd rather stay at home than go for a walk.
234. 错误显然是在你那一边。
[误] The fault clearly lies at your side.
[正] The fault clearly lies with your side.
注:在不及物动词 lie 后可接用各种各样的介词,惟含义各有不同,如 Sheets of paper lie about the room.(纸张散满一屋。)The vilage lie across the river.(村庄在河的对岸。)Accusation of theft lay against him.(控他以盗窃罪。)The path lies along a stream.(小路沿溪。)The hot springs lie among pretty scenery.(温泉在风光明媚之中。)The blame lies at his door.(错在他。)A happy future lies before you.(幸福就在你前面。)What mystery lay behind the disappearance of the girl?(少女失踪的后面潜在着什么神秘?)The truth lies between extremes.(真理存于两个极端之间。)He has the MSS lying by him for the next number.(下一期的原稿在他那里。)The charm of travel lies in its new experiences.(旅行的妙趣在于新奇的经历。)The ship is lying off the mouth of the river.(船停在河口以外。)The book lies on the floor.(书在地上。)A white mist lay over London.(伦敦为白雾笼罩。)The person lies under the suspicion of corruption.(那人有受贿的嫌疑。)The choice lies with you.(任你选择。)在 lie 后面接介词 with 时,意为“是...的义务”,“是...的责任”,他例如 It lies with you to decide.(决定的责任在你。你有义务来作决定。取决于你。)It lies with you to accept or reject the proposal.(接受或拒绝那个建议就全看你了。)The fault does not lie with the government officials.(责任不在政府官员。)
235. 那房间是用电力照明的。
[误] The room is lighted with electricity.
[正] The room is lighted by [means of] electricity.
.    The room is lighted with electric lamps.
注:用于无形的手段时要用 by,所以与抽象名词连用,但用于有形的手段时则用 with,所以与普通名词连用。electricity 为抽象名词,electric lamps 为普通名词。
236. 你是怎么认识他的?
[误] How you come to know him?
[正] How come you to know him?
注:惯用法在 come to do 的问句中,要将 do,did 等发问的虚词略去,这是古来的传统。但在现今的口语中可说 How did you come to know him? 美国口语还可以说 How come you didn't say anything?(你为何一言不发?)
237. 我从小就认识他。
[误] I have known him since a child.
[正] I have known him from a child.
.    I have known him since his childhood.
注:从过去某一时期到现在为止,英语要用现在完成时态,介词就用 since,但有时不说“迄”(till)也可以说“起”(from)的,即用“from + 普通名词”代替“since + 抽象名词”。但在 from 后也同样可接抽象名词,所以不说 He has been blind since childhood,而说 He has been blind from childhood. 也是一样。
238. 他有自己的一幢房子。
[误] He has his own house.
[正] He has a house of his own.
注:英语的属格代名词(Possessive Pronouns)有两种形式,普通的形式为 my 等,后必须接名词如 my book,绝对的形式为 mine(=my book)等,是为避免重复地说那名词而采用的,例如 Your house is larger than mine (=my house)。在属格代名词的前面如再加指示代名词时,即在 my book 前再加 this,that,a,some,any,no 等字样时,普通的形式便得改为绝对的形式,以避免指示代名词与属格代名词连在一起。三百年前的英语是可以连用的,即可以说 this my book,而现代英语则必须改为 this book of mine 才行。反身属格(Reflexive Possessive)的 my own,your own,his own 等,也要采用绝对的形式,因为现代英语已不说 He has that his own house. 或 She has some her own reasons. 而必须改成 He has that house of his own. 或 She has some reasons of her own.
239. 他是我父亲的朋友。
[误] He is a friend of my father.
[正] He is a friend of my father's.
注:名词前面的属格,可代定冠词用,如 my brother's wife=the wife of my brother. 又 my brother's friends=(all) the friends of my brother. 如果不是指某一个特定的人或几个人时,则须用不定冠词 (a),那是不能用属格来代替的,即是用了属格,还得有不定冠词,但我们又不能说 my brother's a friend. 或 a my brother's friend,所以只好说 a friend of my brother's. 这种表现法所含有的意味是 a friend (that is) my brother's 或 one of my brother's friends. 这便是英语的双重属格的由来。
240. 该校有三千名学生。
[误] The school has three thousand students.
[正] There are three thousand students in the school.
注:英语动词 have 有三义:(1)物质上的所有,如 I have a lot of friends. (2)身心上的具有:如 I have a poor memory. (3)构成上的含有:如 A week has seven days = There are seven days in a week. 例句中的 have 与(3)相似,但仍是似是而非,因学校是一个地点,不是机构,学校与学生的关系,不是不可分离的,不像星期少了一天就不成。还有 “there + be”愿意为“存在”,存在于某处,因而变成“有”的意思。
241. 他们的希望全部破灭了。
[误] Their hope fell to 0.
[正] Their hope fell to zero.
注:zero 作数字时,在科技文章中普遍用作表示0,但在日常生活中,英国英语常把 0 叫作 naught,或 nil,美国英语往往叫作 zero。在 zero 用作比喻用法时,表示“希望破灭”,“完全没有”,不能写作0。
242. 你有必要这样去做。
[误] It is necessary of you to do so.
[正] It is necessary for you to do so.
注:一个形容词可以用来指“行为”,又可以用来指“行为者”,如 kind, good, foolish, nice, careful, careless 这类皆是。这种形容词可以接用 of 来造句,如 It is kind of you. (行为)= You are kind. (行为者)。另外有些形容词,只能用来指“行为”,不能用来指“行为者”,如 necessary, impossible, inconvenient, unbearable 这类皆是。这种形容词是不可以接用 of 来造句的,它只能接用 for,例如 It is necessary for you to go. 而不能说 You are necessary to go.
243. 那囚犯的处死引起了诸多公众谴责。
[误] The prisoner's execution has caused a lot of public censure.
[正] The execution of the prisoner has caused a lot of public censure.
注:英语的属格有两种用法:一为主格作用 (Subjective Possessive)。一为宾格作用 (Objective Possessive)。例如 She has come to sing his praise. (她来赞美他。)是宾格作用。She doesn't want his praise.(她不要他赞美。)是主格作用。说 his praise(他的赞美)用作主格作用是不会有误解的,但说 his praise(赞美他)用作宾格作用,把属格变成了宾格,就令人费解了。这两种作用在文字上是没有分别的,读者要从意义上才能加以辩明。如上例句中所说的 the prisoner's execution,意为处死囚犯,当然是宾格作用,因为被人处死,是被动,决不可能变成囚犯自己处死的,所以不能说成 the prisoner's execution,只能改用 of 的造句而说成 the execution of the prisoner,因为用 of 的造句多是表宾格作用的,例如 the choice of him=the act of choosing him.(选择他)。如说 his choice=the person or thing he has chosen(他所选定的人或物),就是主格作用了。
244. 战争结束后他就留洋了。
[误] After the war being over, he went abroad.
[正] The war being over, he went abroad.
注:在 Absolute Participle 的前面不要再加连词或介词。改正后的句子是属于 Written English 方面的,如改为 Sopken English,则为 After the war was over, he went abroad.
245. 虽然他病了好几年,现在却完全好了。
[误] Though having been ill for years, he is now quite well.
[正] After having been ill for years, he is now quite well.
.    Having been ill for years, he is now quite well.
注:though 是连词,只能用于连结两个从句(clause)。句中 having been ill for years,不是一个从句,至多前面只能用介词 after,或根本什么都不要。
246. 今天的青年喜欢跳舞。
[误] The youth of today is fond of dancing.
[正] The youth of today are fond of dancing.
注:youth 前面加冠词 the 表示复数概念“青年人们”,是集合名词,词尾不加 s。这时谓语动词常用复数形式。这些名词主要有:cattle, people, police, youth 等。接在这些名词之后的谓语动词要用复数,指代它们的代词也要用复数。如果要表示以上这些名词的单数,可分别说成 a cow, a person, a polikcman 和 a young person。a youth 的意思是 a young man(一个男青年)。
247. 一到新加坡,我的朋友就在机场等我。
[误] On arriving at Singapore, my friend was waiting for me at the airport.
[正] On arriving at Singapore, I found my friend waiting for me at the airport.
注:凡是带有介词的动名词,或是单独的分词,必须有一个意义上的主语,来配合这个动作。到达新加坡的是“我”,而主句中的主语却是“我的朋友”,动作不能配合,所以是错误的。介词 before 与 after 的情形和 on 一样,故下面的两句也是错的:After finishing his work, I paid him. Before reading the text, the vocabulary should be learned.
248. 无知与疏忽是这错误的原因。
[误] Ignorance and negligence have caused this mistake.
[正] Ignorance and negligence has caused this mistake.
注:两个以上的主语用 and 连起来表示一个单纯的目的或观念时,动词要用单数才对。他例如 Truth and honesty is always the best policy. Slow and steady wins the race. Bread and butter is his abomination.
249. 麦饼比米饼便宜。
[误] A cake made of wheat costs less than that made of rice.
[正] A cake made of wheat costs less than one made of rice.
注:that 是从 the 变来的,属于定冠词的范围之内,所以它只能代表有定冠词的单数名词,如 The cost of oil is less than that of gas. 但凡是有不定冠词的单数名词,就不能用 that 代表,只能用 one 代表,如上举的两个例句:one=a cake,而 that=the cost。对于有定冠词的单数名词,也并不一定非用 that 代表不可,如 The step you have taken is that of much risk. 一句中的 that 就错了,应改为 one 才对,因为在动词 is 后应接 a step,所以只能用 one 代表。
250. 学生们在星期六晚上要去参加一个舞会。
[误] The students are going to a dance party on Saturday night.
[正] The students are going to a dance on Saturday night.
注:舞会应该说 dancing party,不要说 dance party,但一般只说 dance 也就够了。开舞会就说 give a dance,去参加舞会就说 go to a dance。那旅馆每晚举行舞会:At the hotel dances are held nightly. 我第一次遇见她是在一个舞会上:She and I first met at a dance. 他们请我参加舞会:They asked me to a dance. 规模较大的舞会,英语又可说 ball,是从拉丁文来的。
251. 这机器要修理。
[误] The machine wants to repair.
[正] The machine wants to be repaired.
.    The machine wants repairing.
注:动词 want 也和动词 need 一样,后接动名词时要用主动,后接不定式时才可以用被动,用主动便错了。如果以人做主语,也就可以用主动的不定式了,同时也可接被动的不定式,例如 He wants to buy a watch. He wants to be notified beforehand.
252. 苹果坏了四分之三。
[误] Three-fourths of the apples was ruined.
[正] Three-fourths of the apples were ruined.
注:英语以分数为主语时,由其后接的名词决定动词的单复数,例句中的 apples 为复数,故动词应改为复数的 were。但 Three-fourths of the crop was ruined.(四分之三的收成都毁了。)
253. 猫把家里的老鼠一扫而光。
[误] The cat cleared off rats from the house.
[正] The cat cleared the house of rats.
.    The cat swept rats out of the house.
注:用动词 clear 时,其形式为“clear + 地点 + of + 物”,如用 sweep 时,则为“sweep + 物 + out of + 地点”。
254. 昨夜他喝得大醉。
[误] He was much drunken last night.
[正] He was much drunk last night.
注:drunken 是一个限定形容词,只能用在名词前,如 a drunken man(醉人),不能作叙述形容词用。
255. 到公园去怎样走?
[误] How shall I go to the park?
[正] What way shall I take to get to the park?
注:How shall I go 是问怎样去法,如坐出租车去,坐公共汽车去,或坐三轮车去之类。问路应说 What way 才对。
256. 全家人在九点钟上教堂去做礼拜。
[误] The family go to the church at 9 o'clock.
[正] The family goes to church at 9 o'clock.
注:把全家人看做一个整体,即一家人,应该接用单数动词。“去做礼拜”,英语应说 go to church,如果加了冠词说成 go to the church,便不是去做礼拜,而只是去参观礼拜堂的建筑。同样“上学读书”是 go to school,如说 go to the school,便是指校舍而言,与读书无关。
257. 他的女儿嫁给一个阔人。
[误] His daughter married to a rich man.
[正] His daughter married a rich man.
.    His daughter was married to a rich man.
注:中国话的“嫁”或“娶”,英语都是 marry。此外,“主婚”也是 marry,例如 She is married to a foreigner.(她嫁给一个外国人。)He married a wife last year.(他在去年娶了妻。)He has been married two years.(他结婚两年了。)He wshed to marry his daughter to a peer.(他希望把女儿嫁给一个贵族。)The clergyman married Mary Jones to John Smith.(牡师主持玛莉和约翰的婚礼。)
258. 日暮途穷。
[误] The day is falling and the road is coming to an end.
[正] The night is falling and the road is coming to an end.
注:我们说的“日”英语应译作“夜”。汉语的“日暮”除译作 The night is falling 外,又可译成 the night is closing in,或 night is coming(on),或 it is getting dark。汉语的“途穷”,除如上照字面译出的以外,又可译为 no road ahead,或意译为 straitened, in poor circumstances 等。
259. 她的服装不大入时。
[误] Her dress does not conform to the fashion.
[正] Her dress does not conform with the fashion.
注:conform to (custom),从(俗),依照(习惯),是有意志的,至于 conform with (custom),(与习惯)相合,是无意志的。例如 Conform to the custom of the land,入国随俗。Your conduct does not conform with the custom. 你的行为不合习惯。
260. 如你所知道的,人生常比做航海。
[误] As you know, life is often compared with a voyage.
[正] As you know, life is often compared to a voyage.
注:同种类的东西相比用 compare with,不同种类的东西相比,则要用 compare to,例句中 life 与 voyage 完全不同种类,故用 compare to 方合,再看下例 Famous as she is, she cannot be compared with him as a writer of tragedies.(她虽有名,但作为一个悲剧作者是不能和他相比的。)
261. 她入不敷出。
[误] Her expenditures do not correspond with her income.
[正] Her expenditures do not correspond to her income.
注:correspond to (something),相当,相称,相配。corrspond with(each other),一致,符合。例如 The punishment should correspond to the offence.(刑罚应与犯罪相当。)This house exactly corresponds with my needs.(这房子正合我意。)又 correspond with,可作通信解,如 We have corresponded with each other for several years.(我们通信有好几年了。)
262. 这台缝纫机是中国制造的。
[误] This sewing-machine is Chinese make.
[正] This sewing-machine is of Chinese make.
注:说何国制造而用 make 时,必须带有 of 的字样,如 of Chinese(English, American, Japanese) make,但如用 made 时则说 Chinese made 或 made in China,不要再加 of,如说 manufacture 也是要有 of 的,如 of Chinese manufacture(中国制造)。
263. 马可波罗以一二五四年生于威尼斯一个商人的家里。
[误] Marco Polo was born in 1254 at a Venetian merchant family.
[正] Marco Polo was born in 1254 into a Venetian merchant family.
注:说生于什么人家,即俗称投生于某家,故英语要用 into,不用 at。他例如 No man is born into this world whose work is not born with him.(James Russel Lowell)。如果是指由什么人即父母而生,则要用 of,例如 He was born of Chinese parents(of humble parentage, of poor fisherfolk in Holland 等)。但家庭在这种意义之下即可用 of,例如 He was born of a wealthy (noble, good) family. 又 But in every child born of man lurks some of greatness ---waiting for the food.(H. G. Wells) 生于什么人家,有时又可译成 to 字,例如 She was born to the purple; diamonds suited her. 这个 to 是指的对象,如 Two children were born to them.(他们生有两个孩子。)Mark Twain was born to Samuel Langhorne Clemens, in Florida, Mo. November 30, 1835.(马克吐温以1835年11月30日,于米苏里洲佛罗利达市,作为桑米朗洪克来门斯的儿子而出生的。)
264. 那种音乐在青年中很流行。
[误] That music is popular with the youngs.
[正] That music is popular with the young.
注:如 young 一类的形容词前面加上定冠词 the,就变成名词,它表示所有这一类的人。这样的名词必须是单数形式,但动词一定是复数。在英语中,像 the young 这类的表达形式并不多。最常见的有 the blind, the deaf, the sick, the mentally ill, the poor, the unemployed, the old, the dead, the rich, the clever,等等。
265. 你们写一篇短文,两小时交卷。
[误] Write a short essay and you must hand it in in two hours.
[正] Write a short essay and hand it in in two hours.
注:误句前后语气不一致,前一句用的是祈使句,第二个分句改用了陈述语气。应该使前后一致。可以把两个分句都改为祈使语气,或都改为陈述语气。
266. 可怜的佃农骨瘦如柴。
[误] The poor tenant is as thin as a piece of firewood.
[正] The poor tenant is as lean as a rake.
注:rake(耙子)是一种长把,下端有一排直片状的齿,用来收集枯叶和疏松土壤的工具。英国人认为用它来形容瘦才形象。
267. 好吧,我告诉你。但你必须守口如瓶。
[误] OK,I'll tell you, on condition that you keep it as a bottle.
[正] OK,I'll tell you, on condition that you be as dumb as an oyster.
注:牡蛎是一种类似于蚌的水生有壳动物。秘密在一个嘴巴闭得像牡蛎一样紧的人那里是再安全不过了。英国是一个岛国,牡蛎在那里十分常见,所以才有这样的比喻。
268. 在他看来,她的美沉鱼落雁,闭月羞花。
[误] In his eyes, her beauty would make fishes sink, wild geese fall, moon an flowers hide for shame.
[正] In his eyes, her beauty would put the flowers to shame.
注:“沉鱼落雁,闭月羞花”典出我国古代的四大美女,直译出来大多数外国人难以理解,所以不如选择一个他们容易理解的词,而不必重复。
269. 瓮中之鳖
[误] a tortoise in an urn
[正] a rat in a hole
注:英语中原本就有 a rat in a hole(洞中之鼠)的说法,与我们的“瓮中之鳖”意思一样,所以不妨一借。
270. 中国政府正在施行稳健的货币政策。
[误] The Chinese government is launching a steady monetary policy.
[正] The Chinese government is launching a sound monetary policy.
注:“稳健”不仅指 steady 所包含的“稳定,扎实”,而且还有“合理,健康”的意思。而 sound 做形容词时有“合理的,明智的,稳妥的”等意思,用在这里十分贴切。
271. 经她的一番添油加醋,这件事情的性质竟被完全改变了。
[误] After her adding oil and vinegar to this affair, the nature of the whole matter has been completly altered.
[正] After her adding highly colored details to this affair, the nature of the whole matter has been completely altered.
注:“油”和“醋”都是中国菜的重要调料,加了它们,菜的味道就不一样了。但西餐与中餐完全不同,所以在这里采取直译的方法会使不了解中国饮食文化的西方人无法理解。
272. 我的表妹玛丽总觉得很孤单,我想这可能是因为她是个独生子女。
[误] My cousin Mary often feels lonely; I supose it's because she is a single child.
[正] My cousin Mary often feels lonely; I suppose it's because she is an only child.
注:only child 是一个固定搭配,而且 only 强调“唯一,只有一个”,而 single 常用于指“单身的”。例如:Mary is single(玛丽还没有成家)。
273. 同时爱上海伦使这两个好朋友成了情敌。
[误] Falling in love with Helen simultaneously makes these two good friends become competitors in love.
[正] Falling in love with Helen simultaneously makes these two good friends become rivals in love.
注:rival in love 是固定搭配。而且,competitor 多用于比赛等特定环境中的竞争对手,而 rival 的使用范围则较为宽泛与笼统。例如:business rival(商业上的竞争对手);a violinist without rivals(无与伦比的小提琴家)等。
274. 弱肉强食是自然法则。
[误] It's the law of nature for the stronger to eat the weaker.
[正] The law of jungle is the law of nature.
注:the law of jungle(丛林法则)就是“胜者为王”或“弱肉强食”。它形象、贴切,又不乏想象空间,比照字面直译更深刻地把握了原文的内涵。又如:“人生的机遇是可遇而不可求的”就可以译为 Life is something of a lottery。因为拿彩票来比喻变幻莫测的人生是再贴切不过了。
275. 他的理论没有科学根据。
[误] His theory has no scientific base.
[正] His theory has no scientific basis.
注:base 和 basis 虽然都有“基础”的含义,但 base 指物质上的、具体的“基础”,常表示“基地”或“根据地”,如:After bombing the targets, the planes returned safely to their base;而 basis 则指理论、信念、思想或某项工作所依据的抽象的“基础”或“根据”。
276. 如果你早将这些蔬菜放进冰箱里的话,它们就不会变黄了。
[误] If you had put these vegetables in the refrigerator earlier, they wouldn't have turned yellow.
[正] If you had put these vegetables in the refrigerator earlier, they wouldn't have rusted.
注:英语中用 rust(生锈)来描述蔬菜因失去水分和营养而变黄的状态。
277. 许多无名小国成了洗钱的天堂。
[误] Many small nabeless countries have become the heaven of money-washing.
[正] Many small nameless countries have become the heaven of money-laundering.
注:launder 的原意是“洗涤衣服”,但后来被引申为“洗黑钱”,即把来路不正的钱弄得貌似合法。
278. 他经历了一场刻骨铭心的网恋。
[误] He experienced an unforgettable net love.
[正] He experienced an unforgettable cyber love.
注:net 多实指,表示“网”或“网状物”,但“计算机网络”却不用它表达,而用 cyber 或 web。如:网吧(cyber cafe),网友(cyber acquaintance),网迷)(web fan),网站(web site)等。
279. 我们一开始都把总裁当成了普通员工。
[误] We all took the president as an ordinary employee at first.
[正] We all took the president for an ordinary employee at first.
注:“take...for...”是“误把......当成......”的意思,而“take...as...”则表示“把......当......看待”,如:He took what she said as a compliment(他把她的话看作是恭维)。
280. 这辆车的后窗玻璃上写着“教练车”。
[误] There is a sign on the rear window of the car, saying "coach car".
[正] There is a sign on the rear window of the car, saying "student car".
注:student 用作定语时可以表示“实习的”,所以“教练车”应用 student car 表示。
281. 你还教育起我来了!
[误] How dare you educate me.
[正] How dare you lecture me.
注:educate 虽然指“教育”,但不能表达原文“教育”中“教训”的含义。lecture 常做名词,如 give a lecture(讲课,演讲),做动词时则有“训诫,说教”的意思,正好符合原义。
282. 人的贪欲是个无底洞。
[误] Human greed is a bottomless hole.
[正] Human greed is a bottomless pit.
注:bottomless hole 是典型的“中式英语”,因为地道的说法是 bottomless pit。而且 pit 有“深渊”的意思,也更能表达原义。
283. 会上有许多观众。
[误] There was a large number of audience at the meeting.
[正] There was a large audience at the meeting.
注:audience 是集合名词,为“观众”的总称。所以“观众多”应说 a large audience,“观众少”则应说 a small audience。又如:An audience of millions watched the royal wedding on TV(百万观众在电视上观看皇家婚礼)。
284. 音乐会很成功。我是昨天在报上看到这则消息的。
[误] The concert was a great success. I saw the news on the paper yesterday.
[正] The concert was a great success. I saw the news in the paper yesterday.
注:“登在报上”应用 in a newspaper,而“写在纸上”则用 on paper。注意,paper 前没有冠词。如:Please put the notes on paper(请把笔记记在纸上)。
285. 抗日战争是1937年爆发的。
[误] The Anti-Japanese War was broken out in 1937.
[正] The Aunti-Japanese War broke out in 1937.
注:break out(战争等的爆发)是不及物动词短语,不能用于被动语态。类似的还有 happen, belong, disappear, fail, take place 等。
286. 你认为这本小说怎么样?
[误] How do you think of the novel?
[正] What do you think of the novel? /How do you like the novel?
注:what do you think of 相当于 what's your opinion of, 而英语中无 how do you think of sth.的说法。
287. 在会上他做了一个总结,主要意思如下......
[误] He made a final report at the meeting. The main idea is as follow...
[正] He made a final report at the meeting. The main idea is as follows...
注:as follows 是个习语,不管后面要讲的内容有几项,follow 后面一律加s。
288. 请坐在座位上,不要出声。
[误] Please sit quietly in your seats.
[正] Please sit quiet in your seats.
注:sit 表状态时相当于联系动词,后面应接形容词。又如:Aunt Marry likes sitting idle(玛丽姑妈总喜欢呆坐着)。
289. 凯文是几兄弟中最热心的。
[误] Kevin is the most warm-hearted of his brothers.
[正] Kevin is the most warm-hearted of all the sons in the family. /Kevin is more warm-hearted than any of his brothers.
注:“his brothers”并不包括凯文本人,所以用最高级不正确。
290. 不要打扰他的工作,他正忙着呢。
[误] Don't interfere in his work. He is very busy now.
[正] Don't interfere with his work. He is very busy now.
注:interfere with 才是“打扰,妨碍”的意思,而 interfere in 却表示“干涉”。如:This country is always interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.(这个国家总是干涉他国的内政)。
291. 首先,你必须努力工作。
[误] At first, you must work hard.
[正] First, you must work hard.
注:at first 指“起初,开始的时候”,如:At first I found this question very difficult, but finally I managed to answer it(一开始我觉得这个问题很难回答,不过最后我还是答出来了);first 才是指“首先”。又如:First, let me introduce myself(首先,请允许我介绍一下我自己)。
292. 他们走到病床前,只见她脸黄黄的。
[误] They came to her sickbed and found her looking yellow.
[正] They came to her sickbed and found her looking pale and unwell.
注:显然,这句话如果直译外国人多半不懂,因为他们的肤色与我们的不同。所以应该直接把虚弱和病态表达出来,而不拘泥于原文。
293. 她的工作就是收发信件。
[误] Her job is to receive and send letters.
[正] Her job is to send and receive letters.
注:我们用“收发”,而英国人是先“发”再“收”。英文的语序与中文常常相反,又如:“衣食无忧”是 not worry about food or clothing;“迟早”是 sooner or later;“不论贫富”是 no matter rich or poor;“不管死活”应该翻译成 care little about one's life or death。
294. 镇上的男男女女都爱打听人家的闲事儿。
[误] Women and men in the town are curious about others' private affairs.
[正] Men and women in the town are curious about others' private affairs.
注:值得注意的是,此处的“男男女女”中英文词序一致。另外,英文的 ladies and gentlemen 翻译成汉语与是“女士”在前。
295. 小心,病从口入!
[误] Beware! Disease comes from the mouth.
[正] Beware! A close mouth catches no flies.
注:这又体现了中英文思维角度的差异。一个是“入”,一个是“挡”。虽然说法不同,但都十分形象。
296. 他对什么都无所谓了 ---死猪不怕开水烫嘛!
[误] He cares about nothing ---a dead pig never fears boiling water.
[正] He cares about nothing ---a dead mouse feels no cold.
注:“死猪不怕开水烫”是一句十分形象的中国俗语,它在英语中也有对应表达,只不过喻体变成了“老鼠”,但也很妙哦!
297. 苦尽甘来。
[误] Sweet comes after bitterness.
[正] After rain comes the sunshine.
注:也许是中国人受饮食文化的影响,他们的比喻用“甜”和“苦”;而在天气多变的英国,人们更习惯用“风雨”和“阳光”做比吧!
298. 让我们详细讨论一下这个问题吧。
[误] Let's discuss this matter in details.
[正] Let's discuss this matter in detail.
注:in detail 一起相当于一个副词,指“详细地”;而 in details 中,details 是名词,指“细节”。所以,上面的句子也可以表达为 Let's discuss the details of this matter 或 Let's go/enter into details。
299. 那位有钱的女人从头到脚都珠光宝气的。
[误] That rich woman is covered with jewellery from head to foot.
[正] That rich woman is covered with jewellery from top to toe.
注:虽然人有十个脚趾,但英语的“从头到脚”却要用单数的 toe 来表达,这也是约定俗成的问题。
300. 困境之中,我们需要能人帮助。
[误] We need a capable person to help us in time of difficulties.
[正] We need a capable person to help us in times of difficulties.
注:time 是指“时间,时候,时刻”,而表示“境况”要用 times。又如:What a times you'll have doing that(干那事可够你受的);hard times(艰难时世)。times 还可表示“时代”,如:What wonderful times we live in(我们生活在多么了不起的时代啊)。
301. 她可是当时有名的交际花。
[误] She was then a famous social flower.
[正] She was then a famous social butterfly.
注:我们中国人觉得“交际花”十分贴切,但直译成英文却会让人感到另据。butterfly 才是地道的英国说法呢。
302. 他逞酒后之勇说出了真相。
[误] He told the truth with the wine courage.
[正] He told the truth with the Dutch courage.
注:以前英国与荷兰关系紧张,所以英语中有很多讥讽荷兰人的说法,此处就是一例。因为英国人曾一度以为荷兰人都受酗酒,所以 Dutch courage 就成了“酒后之勇”的代名词。
303. 我笑得肚子都痛了。
[误] I laughed until my belly ached.
[正] I laughed my head off.
注:在这里,英语表达可够夸张的 ---头都笑掉了!如果说汉语表达还合乎情理,那么这里的英文主要是起修辞效果了。
304. 那好时光却只是昙花一现。
[误] The good days were only the display of broad-leaved epiphyllum.
[正] The good days were only a nine days' wonder.
注:“昙花一现”在中文里是个成语,它在英文中的表达也是约定俗成的。你可以用 a nine days' wonder,也可以用 a flash in the pan,你甚至可以说 last briefly。但象上面的那样的直译却是典型的中式英语,会贻笑大方的。
305. 我那骄傲的邻居居然被三岁小孩愚弄了,真是自己打自己的嘴巴。
[误] My arrogant neighbor was fooled by a three-year-old child. It's really like beating his own face.
[正] My arrogant neighbor was fooled by a three-year-old child, and he had to eat crow.
注:eat drow(吃乌鸦)是个地道的美国口语,它指“做使自己丢脸的事”,如“被迫收回成命或承认错误”等。用在这里既能准确表达愿意,又十分地道。
306. 要使中国的农民富起来不是短时期内能办到的事。
[误] It is not a matter that can be settled in a short period of time to make Chinese farmers rich.
[正] It is not a matter that can be settled in a short period of time to improve Chinese farmers' living conditions.
注:在英语中,rich 是一种很高的生活水准,要相当富有。很显然,这里的“富起来”远谈不上 rich,只是生活有所提高的意思,即 have some improvement。此处把 rich 换成 better-off 也可以。
307. 经过一年的刻苦钻研,琳达取得了很大成就。
[误] Linda has made great achievements after one year's hard research.
[正] Linda has had/recorded/scored great achievements after one year's hard research.
注:“取得成就”的固定搭配是“have/record/score achievements”,而“make achievements”却不是地道的英文说法,我们常用的是 make progress。
308. 学校是学生学知识的殿堂。
[误] School is a palace where students learn knowledge.
[正] School is a palace where students acquire/attain knowledge.
注:learn 后一般只接具体的学习内容,如 learn English(学英语),learn to play basketball(学打篮球)等。但宽泛的“学知识”不能用 learn,而应用 acquire/obtain knowledge,因为那才是地道的表达。
309. 他向兔子开了枪,但还是让它逃脱了。
[误] He shot the rabbit but it managed to escape.
[正] He shot at the rabbit but it managed to escape.
注:shot 单独用有“射中”或“射死”的意思,用在这里显然前后矛盾。又如:She shot the wolf jumping on her(她射死了扑向她的狼)。shot at 才表示“朝......瞄准”,而不管是否射中。
310. 许多媒体拒绝对这件丑闻发表意见。
[误] Many media refuse to express their opinions on this scandal.
[正] Many media refuse to comment on this scandal.
注:虽然 express one's opinion 和 comment on 都有发表意见的意思,但前者随意,后者正式。又如:Would you please express your opinion on this piece of essay?(能说说你对这篇文章的看法吗?)
311. 最终,政府不得不对酒的生产和销售采取强硬政策。
[误] Eventually the government has to apply strong policies to alcohol producing and purchasing.
[正] Eventually the government has to apply tough policies to alcohol producing and purchasing.
注:这种错误源于对词义理解不准确。“强硬”要用 tough 表达,而说一个人强壮应该用 strong。
312. 爱玛省吃俭用,为的是攒钱买书。
[误] Emma saves food and expenses to accumulate more money for books.
[正] Emma lives frugally to save up more money for books.
注:save 是指“省下,把......存起来”。我们常说 save time, save money 等,但“省吃俭用”是指把买食物的钱和其他花费都存下来买书,这显然不能用 save food and expenses 表达,因为英语的 save food 是指“把食物存起来”。
313. 伍德斯先生担心他的客人被风吹病了。
[误] Mr. Woodhouse was afraid that his guests might be blown sick by the wind.
[正] Mr. Woodhouse was afraid that his guests might fall ill because of exposure to the wind.
注:sick 是自己感到不舒服,所以“被风吹病”一说会令英国人觉得很荒谬。
314. 茶树在这片山地上长得很好。
[误] Tea trees grow well in these mountain fields.
[正] Tea grows well in these mountain fields.
注:“茶树”、“果树”等在翻译成英语时常常省略 tree,因为这些词本身就包含“树”的意思。如 orange(橘子树),banana(香蕉树)等。
315. 淡季生意不好做。
[误] It's hard to do business in light seasons.
[正] It's hard to do business in slack seasons.
注:“淡”在英语中往往不用 light 表示。又如:“淡茶”(weak tea),“淡水”(fresh water)等。
316. 这可是件大事!
[误] This is a big thing!
[正] This is an important matter!
注:big thing 是指“体积大的东西”,而“大事”是指“重要的事情”,它也可以用 major issue 来表达。所以中文的“大”不一定对应英文的“big”,如:“大雾”的表达就是“thick fog”。
317. 该停机检查故障了。
[误] It is time that we stop the machine and find the trouble.
[正] It is time that we stopped the machine and found the trouble.
注:It is time that...表示“是......的时候了”,其后的从句应采用过去时态,这是虚拟语气的要求。
318. 今天我要到叔叔家拜年。
[误] I'll go to visit my uncle and say "Happy New Year" to him today.
[正] I'll pay a New Year call to my uncle today.
注:“拜年”用英文怎么说一定难倒了很多人。第一句译文不是不对,而是没有后一句好。“拜年”还可以被说成 wish sb. a Happy New Year,如:Auntie, we've come to wish you a Happy New Year(大妈,我们给您拜年来了)。
319. 近几年我国的第三产业增长很快。
[误] For the latest couple of years the third industry in our country has been developing very rapidly.
[正] For the latest couple of years the tertiary industry in our country has been developing very rapidly.
注:“第一产业”是 the primary industry,“第二产业”是 the secondary industry,但“第三产业”不是 the third industry,而是 the tertiary industry。其实,tertiary 与 third 是同义的,都是“第三”的意思,这样用只是约定俗成。另外,“第三产业”还可以说成 the service industry,因为第三产业主要指服务业。
320. 适当保持低调是维护好的公众形象的窍门。
[误] To keep an adequately low tone is a tip to maintain good public impression.
[正] To be adequately low-keyed is a tip to maintain good public impression.
注:tone 指“音调”或“口气”,是实指。如:She always speaks with a rising tone(她讲话总是用升调)。而这里的“低调”是“不张扬”的意思,应用 low-keyed 或 low-key。如:The wedding is a very low-key affair/The wedding is very low-keyed(婚礼办得很低调)。
321. 恭喜发财。
[误] May you become wealthy.
[正] May you be prosperous. /Wish you all the best.
注:“恭喜发财”是句祝福语,不能直译,应按照英语的习惯。
322. 他不得不口是心非地夸她的晚装很漂亮。
[误] He had to say "yes" in the mouth but "no" in the heart when he praised her for her beautiful dress.
[正] He had to say "yes" but mean "no" when he praised her for her beautiful dress.
注:第二句更为地道简洁。
323. 他俩上中学时堕入爱河,那时被别人称作早恋,但十年后他们竟真的结为夫妻了。
[误] They fell in love with each other when they were middle school students, and that was called "early love" by others. But ten years later, they actually get married.
[正] They fell in love with each other when they were middle school students, and that was called "puppy love" by others. But ten years later, they actually get married.
注:“早恋”指未成年男女过早地涉足爱情,它一般被认为是不成熟和不宜提倡的。在英语中,“早恋”的地道说法是 puppy love 或 calf love。如:He is mad about his biology teacher, but it's only puppy love.
324. 这些人情况不同,不能采取一刀切的政策。
[误] These people are in different situations, so we cannot adopt the policy of cutting with one knife in dealing with them.
[正] These people are in different situations, so we cannot adopt the policy of cutting at one stroke in dealing with them.
注:“一刀切”不是使用同一把刀切东西,而是比喻不顾实际情况的不同而采取相同的处理方法。stroke 在这里指一刀切下去的动作,所以用作比喻非常形象。
325. 一次性筷子的用量猛增,加重了环境的负担,也加速了森林的破坏。
[误] Booming use of one-time-only chopsticks increases the burden of our environment and accelerates the destruction of woods.
[正] Booming use of throw-away chopsticks increases the burden of our ecvironment and accelerates the destruction of woods.
注:“一次性”就是“用完就扔”的意思。第一种说法虽然不错,但不符合英语习惯。英语中还有一个词可以表示“一次性”,那就是 disposable,如:disposable syringes(一次性注射器)等。
326. 摇钱树
[误] money tree
[正] cash cow
注:中文有“摇钱树”之说,而英语中也有 cash cow(产现金的牛)的比喻。这二者虽然一个是“树”,一个是“牛”,但含义却是一样的,而且在各自的语言中都十分地道。
327. 希望工程自创建以来已经帮助了无数的贫困学生。
[误] The Hope Project has helped numerous poor students ever since it was founded.
[正] The Project Hope has helped numerous poor students ever since it was founded.
注:这种专用名词往往有其固定的说法,你在可不必追究为什么“希望”在后,“工程”在前,记住就是了。
328. 无氟冰箱一上市就领导了一场“环保革命”。
[误] No-Freon refrigerator leads an "environmental revolution on its going to the market.
[正] Freon-free refrigerator leads an "environmental revolution" on its going to the market.
注:“无......”一般都译成 free,如:“无烟区”就是 smoke-free zones。
329. 水墨画是一项中国传统艺术。
[误] Water and ink painting is one of Chinese traditional arts.
[正] Ink and wash painting is one of Chinese traditional arts.
注:“水墨画”在英语里的对应说法除了 ink and wash painting,还有 Chinese brush drawing。但 water and ink painting 却是中式英语。
330. 他的身体素质一直很差,终年疾病不断。
[误] He has got very poor physical quality with continuous illnesses all the year round.
[正] He has got very poor physical constitution with continuous illnesses all the year round.
注:虽然“素质”常翻译成 quality,如:Do you think she possesses the necessary managerial qualities to do this job?(你认为她具有从事这个工作所必须的管理素质吗?)但“身体素质”却要用 physical constitution(体格)来表达。
331. 神州行电话卡在国内使用得很普遍。
[误] The telephone cards of Walking Around Shenzhou are widely used in China.
[正] The Shenzhou pre-paid telephone cards are widely used in China.
注:这也是一个专用名词,有固定的译法。只有平时多留心,注意积累,在翻译这类词语时才不会像狗咬刺猬似地无从下手笔。
332. 公司股票上市以后筹集到了很多资本。
[误] After the stocks going to the market, the company collected a large amount of capital.
[正] After the stocks being listed, the company collected a large amount of capital.
注:普通商品的“上市”可以说 go to the market,但金融领域的“上市”,如公司、股票、证券等的上市却要用 be listed。又如:上市公司(listed companies),上市证券(listed securities)等。
333. 许多公司之间存在着三角债。
[误] There exist triangle debts among many corporations.
[正] There exist chain debts among many corporations.
注:“三角恋爱”可以译成 triangle love,但“三角债”不行。因为很多情况下,三角债都不仅仅牵涉三方,这里的“三”是指“多”,所以不能与英文的 triangle 对应。chain debts 才是正确的英文表达。
334. 不能共患难的朋友
[误] friend who can not suffer with you
[正] fair-weather friend
注:fair-weather 是指“好天气”。我们中国人不也经常用“凄风苦雨”比喻生活中的挫折,而用“风和日丽”来形容人生的坦途吗?所以 fair-weather 在这里是“只能同甘、不能共苦”的意思,而 fair-weather friend 也是原文最地道的英文说法。另外你知道“全天候飞机”怎么说吗?是 all-weather aircraft,意思是无论什么天气都能飞行。
335. 朦胧诗在当时十分流行。
[误] Vague poems were very popular at that time.
[正] Misty poems were very popular at that time.
注:misty 指像隔着一层薄雾一样,隐隐约约地只见轮廓,但看不真切,却给人无限的遐想。它准确表达和肯定了朦胧诗给人的感觉。而 vague 一般指表达不清楚或容易引起歧义的,常含贬义。
336. 不正之风不能长。
[误] We shouldn't let bad winds develop.
[正] Bad practice should not be promoted.
注:“不正之风”在这里有比喻意义,是“不良风气”和“错误做法”的意思,所以不能翻译成 bad winds,而应译为 bad/harmful practice 或 unhealthy tendency 等。
337. 他这么年轻就已经当上了英语系的副教授。
[误] Young as he is, he has become a vice-professor in English department.
[正] Young as he is, he has become an associate professor in English department.
注:许多人都知道“副总统”叫 vice-president,于是想当然地以为“副教授”就应该是 vice-professor,其实不对。“副”和 vice- 并不总是一一对应的,又如:副产品(by production),副业(side occupation),副作用(by-effect)等。
338. 他们去的时候只有站票了。
[误] There were only standing tickets available when they went there.
[正] There were standing-room-only tickets available when they went there.
注:“站票”不是指票是站着的,而是指持票人只有站的空间,没有坐的位子。所以,正确的译法是 standing-room-only ticket。
339. 君子之交淡如水。
[误] The friendship between gentlemen is as tasteless as water.
[正] The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal.
注:中国人用水来表示纯洁,但英美人习惯用水晶来比喻。而且,tasgeless 在英文中表示淡而无味的,含有贬义,所以直译会令西方人误解。
340. 虎父无犬子。
[误] A father like a tiger will not have a son like a dog.
[正] A wise goose never lays a tame egg.
注:英美人看了第一句译文也许会无知所云,或者感到好笑。而第二个句子与中文的意思大致相同,但却是英语中的地道说法。
341. 这件事告诉我们,他并不像我们想象的那样诚实。
[误] This tells us that he is not so honest as we thought.
[正] This shows that he is not so honest as we thought.
注:中文用的是拟人的修辞手法,但在这句话上英国人很较真,他们认为“事情”是不会像人一样开口说话的,只能 show(表明)。
342. 玛丽姨妈最喜欢喝花茶了,所以妈妈让我多带些给她。
[误] Flower tea is Aunt Mary's favorite, so Mom asked me to bring a lot to her.
[正] Scented tea is Aunt Mary's favorite, so Mom asked me to bring a lot to her.
注:“花茶”的地道说法是 scented tea,但有些具体的花茶有它们自己的名称,如“茉莉花茶”就是 jasmine tea。
343. 如果不解决这些人的生活问题,社会就无法安定。
[误] There will be no social stability unless these peopl's living problems have been solved.
[正] There will be no social stability unless these people's daily needs have been met/satisfied.
注:living problems 会让人误以为是“住房问题”,译成problems of livelihood 又太抽象了。其实这里的“解决生活问题”就是满足日常生活的需要,而英语中的 meet/satisfy the daily needs 正是这个意思的地道说法。
344. 换季的时候,商场会推出许多特价品来促销。
[误] On the shifting of seasons, department stores will take out many special-priced goods to promote their selling.
[正] On the shifting of seasons, department stores will take out many bargain goods to promote their selling.
注:“特价品”就是降价促销的商品,而 special-priced goods 没有把其中的意思清楚表达出来。bargain goods 指便宜货,是“特价品”的地道说法。
345. 现在,竹制品越来越多地用于装饰。
[误] Nowadays bamboo-made goods are more and more used as decorations.
[正] Nowadays bamboo-wares are more and more used as decorations.
注:“......制品”,即“用什么原料制成的物品”,在英语中常用 wares 表示,如:brass wares(黄铜制品),glass wares(玻璃制品),wooden wares(木制品)等。
346. 他掩护他们小组撤退,而且因为这一行动而受到表扬。
[误] He was praised for the act of covering the retreat of his group.
[正] He was praised for the action of covering the retreat of his group.
注: act 指具体、短暂和简单的行为,它侧重于效果,如:He was caught in the act of stealing(他正行窃时被当场抓获)。而 action 指抽象、持续和复杂的行为,它侧重于行为的过程及作用。
347. 睢你像只落汤鸡!
[误] You look like a bedraggled chicken!
[正] You look like a drowned rat!
注:bedraggled 是形容词,指“全身泥污的,湿透的”。第一句是直译,它虽然保留了原文的形象,但不符合英美人的表达习惯。而 a drowned rat/mouse 就十分地道了。
348. 正在做坏事时却被父亲逮到了,他吓得面如土色。
[误] He was caught by his father while doing something bad, and his face turned to the color of earth.
[正] Caught red-handed by his father, he was as white as a sheet.
注:西方人以白种人居多,他们无论受到怎样的惊吓都不会面如土色的,除非生了什么病。所以直译会令他们费解,不如按他们的习惯来说。
349. 免 费入场
[误] free to enter
[正] entrance free
注:entrance free 是英语的固定表达,它相当于 admission free。海报上的 admission/entrance free,就表示人们不用买票就可进场。而 free to enter 则让人觉得“可以随意进出”而无视礼貌。
350. 母细胞和子细胞
[误] mother sells and son cells
[正] parent cells and daughter cells
注:这是约定俗成的用法。
351. 人和动物不同,是有理性的。
[误] Man, different from animals, is a rational being.
[正] Man, different from other animals, is a rational being.
注:我们平常所说的“动物”是狭义的,不包括人,而且把人称作动物无异于在骂人。但英语的 animal 却是广义的,包括人,所以上面的句子应该加 other 才严谨、正确。
352. 那天晚上,这男子喝得烂醉如泥,连回家的路都找不着了。
[误] That night, the man was as drunk as mud and even lost his way home.
[正] That night, the man was as drunk as a fiddler and even lost his way home.
注:中文用“稀泥”来形容醉得很厉害,而英文却用“小提琴”来比喻醉汉。据说以前的提琴手所得的报酬是酒而不是钱,因此常常是不醉不归。了解了这一典故以后,这个英语说法也就不难记忆了。
353. 这农民还上诉,简直是以卵击石。
[误] Lodging an appeal, the farmer is no less than hurling an egg against a rock.
[正] Lodging an appeal, the farmer is no less than kicking against the pricks.
注:prick 指“(赶牲畜用的)刺棒”。牲畜挨了打,气得踢那根用来打它的刺棒,这不是明显的自讨苦吃吗?kick against the pricks 来自《圣经》故事,可算是历史悠久,而且与我们的“以卵击石”有异曲同工之妙。
354. 天网恢恢,逃逸了两年之久的罪犯终于落网了。
[误] The web of God is so broad that the criminal who had been away for as long as two years was finally caught.
[正] The mills of God grind slowly and the criminal who had been away for as long as two years was finally caught.
注:“天网恢恢”后面常省略“疏而不漏”,它是指法律的效力无处不在,犯罪分子必将受到惩罚。相同的意思,而英文却用“上帝的磨碾得极慢(但却很细)”来表达。
355. 天完全黑了,可怜的姑娘掩面而泣,不知道去哪里寻找走失的妹妹。
[误] It was completely dark, and the poor girl cried with her face covered, not knowing where to find her lost sister.
[正] It was completely dark, and the poor girl put the finger in her eyes, not knowing where to find her lost sister.
注:“掩面而泣”在英语中有一个固定表达,即 put the finger in one's eyes。它来自莎翁的创造,后来又在许多童谣中被引述,广为流传,并成为习惯用语。
356. 你不必担心,他是个知道分寸的人。
[误] You can rest assured. He is a man who knows inches and metres.
[正] You can rest assured. He is a man who knows his distance.
注:“分寸”二字在中文里是指“说话或做事的恰当限度”,它译成英文时不可直译。know one's distance 出自莎士比亚的《终成眷属》,而且准确表达了原文的含义。
357. 在这里工作多年,她算是个了解内幕的人,因此告诉了我们许多鲜为人知的故事。
[误] Having worked here for many years, she is one of those who know what goes on behind the scenes, and is able to tell us a lot of things which are unknown to most people.
[正] Having worked here for many years, she is one of those who know the ropes, and is able to tell us a lot of things which are unknown to most people.
注:“内幕”翻译成 what goes on behind the scenes 固然没错,但 know the ropes 更简洁。我们还可以用 know the inside stories 表示相同的意思。
358. 叫他卷铺盖走人吧!
[误] Ask him to roll his quilt and go!
[正] Give him the sack!
注:“卷铺盖走人”和 give sb. the sack 都是“解雇”的意思,即“炒某人的鱿鱼”,而且这两个表达在各自的文化背景中都十分形象。sack 指“袋子”,它表示“解雇”源于17世纪,而且来自法文。属口语用法。
359. 他们的目光相遇了,两人从此坠入了爱河。
[误] Their eyesight met, and they fell in love with each other ever since.
[正] Their eyes met, and they fell in love with each other ever since.
注:“目光”不能用 eyesight 表达,因为 eyesight 只能指“视力”,如:If you eat a lot of fish, you can have good eyesight(多吃鱼会使你的视力好)。而 eye 不仅表示“视力”,还可以指“眼光”。如:a good eye for distance(能看很远的好视力)和 She met his eye across the room(隔着房间,她与他的目光相遇了)。
360. 自古以来人们就知道“伴君如伴虎”。
[误] people have known that accompanying kings is just like accompanying tigers even since the ancient times.
[正] People have known that kings and bears often worry their keepers even since the ancient times.
注:第一句译文西方人未必明白其中的含义,而第二句不仅将原文的意思准确表达出来了,还按照英语的习惯,把君王比作“熊”,十分地道。
361. 左腿中弹以后,这位勇敢的士兵明白,在获救之前他只能咬紧牙关默默忍受了。
[误] Being shot in the left leg, the brave soldier knew that he had to bite his teeth silently before getting rescued.
[正] Being shot in the left leg, the brave soldier knew that he had to bite the bullet silently before getting rescued.
注:我们用“咬紧牙关”来表达忍受痛苦,而英语中却用“咬住子弹”(bite the bullet)。据说它源于以前战场上条件艰苦,连麻约都没有,接受手术的士兵只有靠咬住子弹来使自己不至于疼得叫出声来。这一说法虽然惨烈了一点,但却具有极强的感染力。
362. 你以为会凭空写出文章吗?你不能做无米之炊,所以还是先去搜集资料吧。
[误] Do you think you could write something out of nothing? You cannot make a meal without rice. So gather some information first!
[正] Do you think you could write something out of nothing? You cannot make bricks without straw. So gather some information first!
注:米饭对西方人来说并不那么重要,所以把“无米之炊”直译成英文他们是无法理解的。英语中地道的说法是拿“砖”和“稻草”做比喻,而且据说还有来自《圣经》的典故呢。
363. 她以前是个传统的中国女孩,可出国一年以后,也已经变成了一个地道的美国人。
[误] She was a traditional Chinese girl before, but after one year abroad, she has become a real American.
[正] She was a traditional Chinese girl before, but after one year abroad, she has become as American as apple pie.
注:“苹果馅饼”是典型的美国食品,用它来表达“地道的美国式”是再合适不过了。需要提醒大家注意的是,这里的 apple pie 虽用单数,但前面却不加冠词,又如:It's as easy as pie(这太容易了)。另外,这里不能用 a real American,因为她毕竟不是美国人。但可以将 real 换成 typical。
364. 这个问题对我们来说虽然困难,但对一个数学专业的学生却易如反掌。
[误] The question, though difficult for us, is as easy as turning over his palm for a mathematics major.
[正] The question, though difficult for us, is as easy as winking for a mathematics major.
注:“易如反掌”在英语中却是“像眨眼睛一样地容易”。它们虽然表达不同,但都贴切得让人叫绝。
365. 虽然是双胞胎,但这两兄弟的性格却截然不同。
[误] Though the two brothers are twins, their dispositions are quite different.
[正] Though the two brothers are twins, their dispositons are as like as chalk and cheese.
注:虽然是“不同”,但却不用 different,而是用 alike(相同的)。chalk 和 cheese 形似而实不同,这看似矛盾的措辞用在这里倒能产生令人难忘的效果。
366. 在商场混迹多年,这人十分有钱,但却是个铁公鸡。
[误] Being in business for so many years, he has made a lot of money, but he is as mean as an iron cock.
[正] Being in business for so many years, he has made a lot of money, but he is as mean as a louse.
注:louse 指“虱子”或“寄生虫”。这种不生物什么都要从别人身上索取,用它来比喻吝啬也是十分贴切的。
367. 叔叔给他带来了令他惊喜的礼物---一双崭新的皮鞋。
[误] His uncle has brought him a surprising gift---a pair of completely new shoes.
[正] His uncle has brought him a pleasantly surprising gift---a pair of brand new shoes.
注:surprising 只能表达“令人吃惊的”,所以要忠实体现原文意思需要在前面加 pleasantly;“崭新”的地道说法是 brand new。
368. 病人坐在里排的桌前吃饭,大粒的汗从额上滚下,夹袄也贴住了脊心,两块肩胛骨高高凸出,印成一个阳文的“八”字。
[误] The patient was sitting at the table by the wall, eating. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead, his lined jacket was sticking to his spine, and his shoulder blades stuck out so sharply, an "eight" seemed stamped there.
[正] The patient was sitting at the table by the wall, eating. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead, his lined jacket was sticking to his spine, and his shoulder blades stuck out so sharply, an inverted V seemed stamped there.
注:第一句其实翻译得不错,就是“八”字的英文表达不妥。要知道汉字的书写与英文完全不同,若译成 eight 英国人是不懂的。an inverted V(一个反的英文字母V)就化腐朽为神奇了。
369. 这位老农大概有三四个孩子,而且他们现在都长大成人,可以在地里干活了。
[误] The old farmer has about three or four children, who have now grown up and are able to work in the fields.
[正] The old farmer has three or four children, who have now grown up and are able to work in the fields.
注:汉语可以说“大约有三四个孩子”,但翻译成英语却不行。因为 about 后面不能接约数,而应该接确定的数目。即:要么去掉 about,只用 three or four;要么用 about,但后面接 three 等具体的数字。
370. 每个周末,玛丽都会陪年迈的祖父去看电影。
[误] Every weekend, Mary would accompany her old grandfather to go to the cinema.
[正] Every weekend, Mary would accompany her old grandfather to the cinema.
注:accompany 常被翻译成“陪同”,所以人们在翻译“陪某人看电影”时,会很自然地用 accompany sb. to go to the cinema。其实,查英英词典你就会发现,accompany 的意思不是 together with,而是 go togethr with。所以上述情况中其后的 to go 明显是多余的。
371. 他又犯了一个拼写错误。
[误] He made another spelling mistake again.
[正] He made another spelling mistake.
注:another spelling mistake 就有“又犯”的意思,所以句中的 again 应该删去。不能因为汉语中有一个“又”字就在英语句子中加 again。
372. 学生们被告知,任何人都不得把这些书籍带出阅览室。
[误] The students were told that anyone was not allowed to take the books out of the reading room.
[正] The students were told that nobody / no one was allowed to take the books out of the reading room.
注:anybody 作主语时,谓语部分使用否定词不符合英语的习惯,应将 anybody 改为 nobody,并将否定词 not 删去。又如:你喜欢的食物没有一种是适合我吃的(Nothing you like agrees with me)。
373. 这是莎士比亚十四行诗的主要特点之一。
[误] This is one of the main characters of Shakespeare's sonnets.
[正] This is one of the main characteristics of Sharkespeare's sonnets.
注:character 是表示某一事物的总体特征(the combination of qualities which make a thing different from others),而 characteristic 则表示事物的具体特征。由此说来,一个事物只有一个 character,但却可以有多个 characteristic。所以在上面的例句中,one of the main characters 是错误的,应该改成 one of the main characteristics。又如:A person's character is always formed in his early years(一个人的性格通常在小时候养成);Carelessness is one of his characteristics(粗心是他的一个特点)。
374. 他在艺术界有极高的地位。
[误] He has occupied a prominent position in the art circle.
[正] He has occupied a prominent position in art circles.
注:circle 表示“......界”时习惯用复数形式,而且前面多不加定冠词,如:cultural/academic/theatrical/business circles(文化/学术/戏剧/商界)。
375. 大赛在即,每个动力员都在努力训练,以期刷新自己以前的纪录。
[误] The game is at hand and every athlete is training hard to improve their previous records.
[正] The game is at hand and every athlete is training hard to improve on their previous records.
注:improve 指“改善,提高”,如 improve one's language ability(提高某人的语言能力)。在英国人看来,以前的纪录(previous records)是既成事实,不可能再加以改变(improve)了,所以应该在 improve 后面加上介词 on,以表示创造新的、更高的纪录。
376. 不要再费口舌了。
[误] Don't waste your words again.
[正] Save your breath.
注:save one's breath 有时也被说成 save one's energy,它对应的中文还可以是“白费力气”。你知道“白费心思”用英语怎么说吗?是 bother one's head for nothing。
377. 这个看上去很忠实的保姆实际上是一个惯愉。凯文一家真是引狼入室了。
[误] This seemingly honest baby-sitter is actually a habitual thief. The Kevin's do lead the wolf into the house.
[正] This seemingly honest baby-sitter is actually a habitual thief. The Kevin's do put the cat among the pigeons.
注:put the cat among the pigeons 的字面意思是“将猫放进鸽子笼”。可以想象,那样的话笼子里一定不得安宁。它与“引狼入室”有异曲同工之妙,而且更地道,更易于西方人理解。
378. 在院足球队里叱咤风云的威廉到了校队却只能坐冷板凳。
[误] William, who was so popular in the department team, is given a cold bench in the university team.
[正] William, who was so popular in the department team, is given a cold shoulder in the university team.
注:give sb. a/the cold shoulder 的字面意思是“给某人一个冷肩膀”。当不看重某人和对其冷淡的时候,人们往往会把身体转过去,用背或肩膀对着他。这与“坐冷板凳”的意思相同,而且比直译地道多了。
379. 经过一夜的围捕,警察终于把罪犯逼到了死胡同。
[误] After a night's pursuing, the police finally forced the criminal to a dead alley.
[正] After a night's pursuing, the police finally forced the criminal to a blind alley.
注:“死胡同”的英文表述是 blind alley 或 dead end。
380. 如果你爷爷看到你今天的所作所为,他一定会死不瞑目的。
[误] If your grandpa could see what you're doing now, he wouldn't have closed his eyes when he died.
[正] If your grandpa could see what you're doing now, he would turn over in his grave.
注:“死不瞑目”的意思是“死时尚存遗憾”或“灵魂得不到安息”。若将其直译出来西方人很可能感到费解,所以建议采取意译的方式。除了上面的译法,还可以用 die with everlasting regret 或 die discontent 等。
381. 为了配合治疗,大夫不得不撒了个善意的谎,说病情并不严重。
[误] For better treatment, the doctor told him a goodwill lie saying his illness is nothing serious.
[正] For better treatment, the doctodr told him a white lie saying his illness is nothing serious.
注:a white lie 是英语的固定搭配,指“善意的谎言”。
382. 最近许多女孩都鬼迷心窍似的一心只想嫁个外国人。
[误] Nowadays, many girls seem to be bewitched by ghosts and they are determined to marry foreigners.
[正] Nowadays, many girls seem to have a bee in their bonnets and they are determined to marry foreigners.
注:have a bee in one's bonnet 的字面意思是“帽子里有只蜜蜂”,但它的真正意思是“想得入了迷”,与“鬼迷心窍”是一个意思。又如:She never stops talking about dieting---she's got a real bee in her bonnet about it(她不停地谈论节食---完全鬼迷心窍了)。
383. 那位顾客同买东西的人讨价还价,嘴皮都磨破了,可那人就是不降价。
[误] The customer bargained with the seller till he had worn out his lips, but the seller didn't change his price.
[正] The customer had worn out his tongue bargaining with the seller, but the seller didn't change his price.
注:中文用“嘴皮”,但 tongue 却更符合英国人的习惯。另外,“保持缄默”的英文是 bite the ongue。
384. 现在,有些子女虽然已经成家,却还住在父母家白吃白喝。
[误] Nowadays, some young people still stay at their parents' home eating and drinking free, even after having their own families.
[正] Nowadays, some young people are still freeloaders at their parents' home, even after having their own families.
注:freeloader 指“利用别人的慷慨占便宜的人”或“寄生虫”,用在这里十分准确和地道。
385. 梅森的辞职对老板来说是正中下怀,他不仅可以除去梅森这个眼中钉,而且还省去了一大笔赔偿费。
[误] Mason's resignation well fit his boss' mind, because he could not only get rid of Mason, a nail in the eye, but also save a large sum of compensation.
[正] Mason's resignation well played into his boss' hands, because he could not only get rid of Mason, a thorn in his flesh, but also save a large sum of compensation.
注:play into one's hands 源于扑克牌游戏,意指打出的牌正是对方想要的,而且多含“中了对方的圈套”之意,因而用在这里十分贴切。“眼中钉”在英语中也有对应的表达,即 a thorn in one's flesh。
386. 昨天晚上我们去看电影了。
[误] We went to the cinema yesterday night.
[正] We went to the cinema last night.
.    We went to the cinema yeserday evening.
注:习惯上可以说 last night 或 yesterday evening,但不能说 yesterday night。但是,我们可以说 yesterday morning/afternoon(昨天早晨/下午),而不说 last morning/afternoon。
387. 你今年多大了?
[误] How old are you this year?
[正] How old are you?
注:汉语中常说“你今年多大年纪?”,但英语却不习惯说 this year,因为事实上没有问“今年/去年/来年多大年纪?”这样的问题的。(参见第10楼,第100题,有关年龄的表达法)
388. 这个省的粮食产量逐年增加。
[误] The grain output in this province has increased year after year.
[正] The grain output in this province has increased year by year.
注:year after year(年复一年地)和 year by year(逐年地)的区别在于:后者分别看待年份;而前者集中看待年份(含“年年如此”甚至有“长此以往”之义。)根据原意,应选用 year by year。
389. 让我们响应党的号召,坚持一切正确的东西,反对一切错误的东西。
[误] Let us respond to the Party's call and uphold all the correct and oppose all the wrong.
[正] Let us respond to the Party's call and uphold all that is right and oppose all that is wrong.
注:“一切正确的东西”,不能译成 all the correct,“一切错误的东西”,不能译成 all the wrong,因为这种说法不合乎英语习惯。
390. 这本小说的作者是谁?
[误] Who is the writer of this novel?
[正] Who is the author of this novel?
注:writer 是“作家”,范围比较广;author 是“作者”,指文章、小说、书本的著作者。
391. 成千上万的人来到这里向战争纪念碑敬献花圈。
[误] Thousands and thousands of people came and laid bouquets at the war memorial.
[正] Thousands and thousands of people came and laid wreaths at the war memorial.
注:wreath 是“花环,花冠,花圈”,可表示纪念死者所用的花圈等,bouquet 指的是“花束”,用于喜庆的场合,如婚礼上新娘所手持者。
392. 昨晚台风袭击上海郊区,许多人受伤了。
[误] Last night a typhoon hit the suburban areas of Shanhai and many people were wounded.
[正] Last night a typhoon hit the suburban areas of Shanhai and many people were injured.
注:wound 指在战争、战斗中“负伤”或用枪弹、炮弹、锐利刀、剑等故意施加的“伤害”。在事故中受到的损伤,如在交通事故,工伤事故和天灾中所受的伤用 injure。
393. 我以前有过一辆大众轿车。
[误] I would have a Volkswagen.
[正] I used to have a Volkswagen.
注:虽然 would 和 used to 都可以表示过去习惯性的动作,但 used to 还可以表示过去的状态,而 would 却不能。
394. 奇怪,鲍勃会在那个转角处出了事。
[误] It is strange that Bob would have an accident at that corner.
[正] It is strange that Bob should have an accident at that corner.
注:在以 it is + 形容词 + that 引导的句子中,用 should + 动词原型表示欣喜、惊奇、忧虑等感情色彩。在这类句型中,只能用 should,不能用 would。如果表示的是过去发生的事,should 后面要用不加 to 的不定式的完成时态。
395. 我宁愿你明天来看我。
[误] I would rather you will come to see me tomorrow.
[正] I would rather you came to see me tomorrow.
注:would rather(也可用 had rather)后面跟从句时,从句中的动词总是用过去式,不管指的是现在或将来发生的动作。
396. “你觉得电影好看吗?”“还可以,但我宁愿去听音乐会。”
[误] Did you enjoy the movie? It was okay, but I would rather went to the concert.
[正] Did you enjoy the movie? It was okay, but I would rather have gone to the concert.
注:would rather do sth. 的过去时是在 would rather 后接 have + 过去分词,表示的是对过去未做之事的向往,或对已做之事的后悔。
397. “请再来点咖啡好吗?”“不,不要了,谢谢。”
[误] Would you like some more coffee? No, I wouldn't like any more.
[正] Would you like some more coffee? No, I don't want any more.
注:would you like...是一种表示客气的询问对方“是否想要(什么)”的口语句型,它只用于第二人称,因此,在回答进,由于说的是自己,就不能再按惯例用 would,而是肯定时用 Yes, please;否定时用“No,I don't want...”。
398. “你喜欢喝下午茶吗?”
[误] "Would you like to have tea in the afternoon?"
[正] "Do you like to have tea in the afternoon?"
注:Would you like to do sth. 这一句型一般用于邀请等,表示一次性的动作。当询问一个习惯的动作时,不能用这一句型,要用 Do you like...?(你喜欢......?)
399. 我们是未来的教师。
[误] We are would-be teachers.
[正] We are future[或 prospective] teachers.
注:would-be teachers 是“希望成为教师的人”,表示主观愿望,有时有贬意,含有“自称而其实不是”的意思。future 或 prospective 并不表示主观愿望,可以指正在培养成为从事某种职业的人。
400. 请不要把烟对着我吹好吗?
[误] Would you please don't blow the smoke right at me?
[正] Would you please not blow the smoke right at me?
注:would you please do ... 是一种很客气的说法,意为“请你...好吗?”其否定式只需在动词前加 not,不加 do,因为 would 已是助动词,不需再加上一个助动词 do。
401. 这是一次很有价值的访问。
[误] It was a worth while visit.
[正] It was a worthwhile visit.
注:worth while 即 worth one's while,意思是“做......是值得的”,其一般句型是 it is worth while doing sth.。worthwhile,即“值得的”之意:a worthwhile experiment(一项值得做的实验)。本句中 worthwhile 作定语修饰 visit,故不能分开写。
402. 那座寺庙值得一看。
[误] The temple is worthwhile visiting.
[正] It is worth while visiting the temple.
注:be worth while doing 意为“值得做、有价值”,但通常用 it 作形式主语,而不用名词作主语。
403. 他有份不错的工作。
[误] She had a very worth while job.
[正] She had a very worthwhile job.
注:表示“值得干的”、“有价值的”意思时,worthwhile 常常放在名词之前作定语。worth while 分写时意思为“值得花时间”、“值得花力气”,不可用作定语,常用作表语。
404. 他值得我们尊重。
[误] He is worthy our respect.
[正] He is worthy of our respect.
注:worthy 后必须跟介词 of 后才能再用名词。这和 worth 不一样。worth 后可以直接跟名词。
405. 这位可敬的人尽了一切可能来帮助城里的穷人。
[误] This worth man did all he could to help the poor of the town.
[正] This worthy man did all he could to help the poor of the town.
注:worth 作形容词时,只能作表语,不能作定语;worthy 则既可以作表语,又可作定语,意为“有价值的,值得的”。
406. 买一套好服装是值得的,因为它比便宜的要耐穿。
[误] It is worth to buy a good suit because it will wear better than a cheap one.
[正] It is worth buying a good suit because it will wear better than a cheap one.
注:在 it is worth buying 的句型中,worth 是形容词,习惯上不跟动词不定式,而跟动名词,或者跟名词或代词。
407. 这本书的确值得一找。
[误] This book is very worth looking for.
[正] This book is well worth looking for.
注:这里的确良 worth 是介词,说“非常值得”、“的确值得”应该用 well worth,不用 very worth。
408. 不管他做什么,你得容忍他。
[误] No matter what he does, you must abide by him.
[正] No matter what he does, you must abide him.
注:abide 作“忍受”、“容忍”解时是及物动词,其后接宾语时不用介词。但 abide 作“遵守(法律、诺言、决定等)”、“坚持(观点等)”解时是不及物动词,后接宾语时要说 abide by。
409. 这孩子具有惊人的记忆力。
[误] The child has a wonderful ability for remembering things.
[正] The child has a wonderful capacity for remembering things.
注:ability 与 capacity 两个词虽然都有“能力”的含义,但用于人时,ability 一般指已表现出来的实际能力;而 capacity 则表示潜在的能力,如接受能力。因此,原句英译应该用 capacity 而不是 ability。
410. 他们的错误能够被改正。
[误] Their mistakes are able to be corrected.
[正] Their mistakes are capable of being corrected.
注:be able to 的主语一般是物,表示某人有做某事的能力。capable 的主语可以是人,也可以是物,表示有达到一般要求的能力。本句主语是 mistakes,故须用 capable。
411. 我们应该摒弃旧习俗,创新风尚。
[误] We should cancel outmoded customs and establish new ones.
[正] We should abolish outmoded caustoms and establish new ones.
注:cancel 和 abolish 都有“除去”之意,均可作及物动词,但含义不相同。abolish 意为“废除、革除”,往往用于规章制度、政治、法律、风俗和社会组织等方面。cancel 有“取消、使丧失效力”之意,如证书、义务、契约、约会、假期等的“取消或废止”。
412. 1977年前后,我在农场工作。
[误] About in 1977 I worked on a state farm.
[正] Around 1977 I worked on a state farm.
注:表示1977年前后,可用 around 1977 或 in 1977 or thereabouts,而不说 about in 1977。about in 后不能跟具体的年份或日期。
413. 我们正要动身,天下起雨来。
[误] We were just about to start, when it rained.
[正] We were about to start, when it rained.
注:be about to...表示“即将要......”,just 在此显得多余。
414. 那男孩大约八九岁。
[误] The boy was about eight or nine years old.
[正] The boy was eight or nine years old.
注:about 意为“大约”,three or four o'clock(三点或四点/三四点钟);eight or nine years old 也是表示“大约”的时间,因此再用 about 就重复了。
415. 他不至于做卑鄙和欺骗的事情。
[误] He is beyond meanness and deceit.
[正] He is above meanness and deceit.
注:above 常指因某种缘故而“不做,不屑,不至于”。如:Do you think you're above criticism?(你认为你不至于受批评吗?)如要表示超过范畴、能力、控制等意思,则常用 beyond。
416. 他从海外来。他居住加拿大。
[误] He came from abroad. He lives in Canada.
[正] He came from overseas. He lives in Canada.
注:abroad 和 overseas 的区别:abroad 强调“到/从其他国家去/来”;overseas 则表示“从海外来”。
417. 他在吗?---不在。
[误] ---Is he in? ---No, he is absent.
[正] ---Is he in? ---No, he is out/not in.
注:absent 通常表示“缺席”,如果表示“不在”,一般用 not in 或 out。
418. 那个男孩对新的知识吸收很快。
[误] The boy absorbs in new knowledge quickly.
[正] The boy absorbs new knowledge quickly.
[正] The boy absorbs into new knowledge quickly.
[正] The boy takes in new knowledge quickly.
注:absorb(吸收)是及物动词,可以直接跟宾语,absorb in 的意思是“吸引,专心于”,absorb into 才是“吸收”,另外 take in 也表示“吸收”。
419. 你是在寻找住处吧?
[误] Are you looking for an accommodation?
[正] Are you looking for accommodation?
注:accommodation 是个不可数名词,但在美国英语中常用复数,不过,无论英国英语还是美国英语,accommadation 前都不可加不定冠词 an。这个词的意思是“a place to live”,指的是“(住宿用的)套房,旅馆房间,住房等”。
复数(accommadations)的用法:[住宿(有时包括伙食)等条件;房间、舱位、坐位或铺位等]须用复形,有复念,常不可数。作“住宿(有时包括伙食)等条件”解,如:
motel accommodations
The city has excellent hotel accommodations.
He's coming up here next week. I want to see about accommadations.
He wired the hotel accommadations directly by calling the Overland Park Ramada at 1-800-2 Ramada.
420. 经理由一位秘书陪同。
[误] The manager was accompanied with a secretary.
[正] The manager was accompanied by a secretary.
注:accompany 作“陪同”解时,通常用 be accompanied by 的结构。而 be accompanied with 则常指“(两事物)伴随而来”。另外,be accompanied on/at,表示“由......伴奏”。
421. 他是自愿参加的。
[误] He participated out of his own accord.
[正] He participated of his own accord.
注:accord 作名词用时,意思是“符合”,“一致”。of one's own accord 的意思是“自愿地、主动地”。误句在 of his own accord 的前面加上 out 一词是多余的。
422. 依我看,房租太贵。
[误] According to me, the rent's too high.
[正] In my opinion, the rent's too high.
注:“按照我的意见”或“根据我的看法”应译成 in my opinion。但在转述别人的意见或看法时就可以用 according to 这个短语。例如:according to the news report(根据新闻报导),according to reliable sources(根据可靠消息来源)。
423. 他们一步一步地达到了目标。
[误] They reached their aim step by step.
[正] They achieved their aim step by step.
注:达到目的或目标,常用的说法有三种:1、achieve one's aim; 2、accomplish/achieve/fulfil a purpose;3、achieve/attain a goal。三处一般不能用 reach 或 get 等动词。
424. 我认识那位女士。
[误] I acquainted the lady/I acquainted with the lady.
[正] I am acquainted with the lady.
注:acquaint 是及物动词,意为“使认识”,故其常用句型是 acquain sb. with sth.(使某人熟悉某事),或 be acquainted with sb.(认识某人)。acquaint 和 acquainted 之后的介词只能用 with,没有其他选择。
425. 要是游过河去,需要多少时间?
[误] How long would it take to swim through the river?
[正] How long would it take to swim across the river?
注:across 表示“到达一条线、一条河或一条道路的对面”(与“细而长”的物体相对而言的位置或动作),through 不能用于从“细而长”的物体之一侧到另一侧的动作。
426. 他又干了件傻事。
[误] He made another stupid act.
[正] He committed another stupid act.
注:act 作名词时,和其搭配的动词通常是 commit、do 或 perform。
427. 行动比言词更重要。
[误] Acts are more important than words.
[正] Actions are more important than words.
注:act 和 action 都表示“行动,行为”,在有些场合可以互相换用。但是,act 指具体的、短暂的个别行动,而 action 侧重指抽象的行动,且时间较长,包括行动的各个步骤。
428. 失业是当前所面临的一个问题。
[误] Unemployment is a very actual problem.
[正] Unemployment is a current problem.
注:表示“当前发生”或“存在”的意思时,通常用 present, up-to-date, current 等形容词,而 actual 的意思是“existing as a real fact”(实际的,实在的),多用于纠正误解或引出出乎意料的消息。
429. 我们现在对国际事务感兴趣。
[误] We are interested in world affair now.
[正] We are interested in world affairs now.
注:affair 指与公众有关的“事务”时,须用复数形式,所以误句中的 world affair 须改为 world affairs。另外,current affairs(时事),foreign affairs(外交事务),affairs of state(国事)等,也都用复数形式。在指“(关系到某个人的)事”时,用单数。在指某一事件时,用单数,在 have an affair with sb.(与某人私通)这个固定词组中用单数。
430. 昨天下午,我们的校长在办公楼二楼的接待室里接待了几位外宾。
[误] Yesterday afternoon our president received several foreign vistitors in the parlor on the second floor of the Administration Building.
[正] Yesterday afternoon our president received several foreign vistitors in the reception room on the second floor of the Administration Building.
注:parlor 在美国英语里指私人家里的客厅,也指旅馆里的休息室等房间,但现在已少用。在美国,也用于某些商业性的营业室,如 ice-cream parlo冷饮室,hairdresser's parlor,beauty parlor美容室。学校以及其它公共机关里的接待室(或会客室),一般用 reception room。
431. 这篇文章还需要润色一下。
[误] This article has yet to be adorned.
[正] This article has yet to be polished.
注:adorn 的意思是“修饰,装饰,打扮”不能用于文章、作品的“润色”。polish 的意思是“擦亮(机器),抛光(器具),使......优美,使(语言、文字)洗练,润饰(文章,作品)。
432. 天然纤维所做的衣服比之人工料子所做的衣服有很大的优点。
[误] Clothing made of natural fibres has a great advantage on that made of artificial material.
[正] Clothing made of natural fibres has a great advantage over that made of artificial material.
注:have an advantage over sb./sth.(对某人/某物占有优势)是固定词组,其中 over 不能用于其他介词取代。advantage 在这里是可数名词,必要时可用复数”值得注意的是,have the advantage 这一说法须后接 of ,说明 advantage 的内容。另外,take advantage of sb./sth.意为“利用某人/某物”,这时 advantage 之前没有冠词。
433. 广告对我们产生微妙的影响。
[误] Advertisement exerts a subtle influence on us.
[正] Advertising exerts a subtle influence on us.
注:advertising 为广告的总称,是不可数名词。作主语时,谓语动词用单数,advertisement 是可数名词,这类名词还有 machinery--machine, baggage--bag, jewelry--jewel, poetry--poem 等。
434. 我不会建议开车去---没有地方停车。
[误] I wouldn't advise you taking the car --there's nowhere to park.
[正] I wouldn't advise taking the car --there's nowhere to park.
注:advise, allow,forbid 和 permit 等动词, 既可后接动名词,也可后接不定式。当后接动名词,动名词前不用表示人的宾语,若后接不定式,则要用表示人的宾语。总之,要表示“劝某人做某事”这个意思时,常用的结构是 advise sb. to do sth.,不是 advise sb. doing sth.,但可说 advise doing sth.。要表示“劝某人不要做某事”时,常用的结构是 advise sb. against sth. 或 advise sb. against doing sth.。
435. 因为家里有病人,所以他今天没来上班。
[误] He didn't come to work today because there is a patient in his family.
[正] He didn't come to work today because someone is ill in his family.
注:“家里有病人”是上班请假最好的理由之一。但此“病人”非彼“patient”。通常,一个人进了医院,花钱享受医生的服务才能被称为 patient。换言之,patient 是相对于医生说的。例如:The doctor is visiting his patients in hospital. 医生正在医院探视他的病人。如果你自己在家里照顾病人,那么他就不能被称为 patient。这时,我们不妨像正确句那样换一种说法,巧妙地避开了可怕的“病人”。另外提醒一句,也不是所有的 patient 都是患有疾病的。有一种特殊机构——美容院(beauty saloon),它的顾客们就被称为 patient。例如:This beauty shop is filled with patients on Sundays.(周日这家美容院会挤满顾客。)
436. 这种新发型使她的外表发生了惊人的变化。
[误] The new hairdo affected a startling change in her appearance.
[正] The new hairdo effected a startling change in her appearance.
注:affect 和 effect 在音、形上是易混词,在含义上是近义词,均可译成“影响”。但两个词的用法区别很大。affect 总是做动词,常表示“影响”、“感染”等。effect 可以做动词,但做动词时不表示“影响”,而表示“产生”、“实现”、“促成”等。
437. 他的突然死亡对我们所有的人都有影响。
[误] His sudden death influenced all of us.
[正] His sudden death affected all of us.
注:affect 通常强调对某人或某物产生的具体作用,而 influence 则侧重对人或思想、性格以及作品等产生相对较长远的影响。
438. 去伦敦的访问使他能与律师决定事务。
[误] The visit to London afforded him to settle his business with the lawyers.
[正] The visit to London allowed him to settle his business with the lawyers.
注:虽然 afford 与 chance 或 opportunity 等连用时,含有“使......有机会做......”的意思,但 afford 本身并不表示“allow”(容许,许可)的意思,所以本句不能用 afford,而要用 allow。再者,afford 不能用于 afford sb. to do sth.(如误句)的结构中,而 allow sb. to do sth.则是常见的。
439. 他一两个星期后来。
[误] He will come after a week or two.
[正] He will come in a week or two.
注:in a week or two 用在表示将来的时态中,意为“一两周后”。虽然这个短语含有“过一两周”的意思,但不能用 after 代替 in。此处的 in 是“过若干(时间)”的意思。如:in an hour(过一小时)。
440. 我们开了一个快乐的晚会,又喝酒,又跳舞,一直玩到最后尽兴,我们才回家。
[误] We had a nice party with drinks and dancing, then, after all, we went home.
[正] We had a nice party with drinks and dancing, and finally, we went home.
注:after all 不是 finally 的意思,它主要有两层词义:一、“毕竟,终究”。after all 这一用法,通常置于句末。二、“必须记住,别忘了”。after all 的这一用法,通常置于句首。所以根据误句所要表达的意思来看,不能用 after all,而是要用 finally 来表示“若干时间或动作”之后的“最后(行动)。
441. 我们都尊敬系里经验丰富的老教师。
[误] We all respect the experienced aged teachers in our department.
[正] We all respect the experienced old(或 senior)teachers in our department.
注:aged 往往有“年迈力衰”的含意,用作原句的译文不恰当。我们可以说:We should take care of the sick and the aged.我们应当照顾病人和老人。I go home to see my aged parents at weekend. 周末我回家看望年迈的双亲。因为在两个例句中强调的是“年老体弱”。
442. 在晚年,那里的人们过着幸福的生活。
[误] In their old ages, the people there are living a happy life.
[正] In their old age, the people there are living a happy life.
注:age 既是可数名词,也是不可数名词。当作“年龄,年纪”解时,可数不可数都可以。当表示“(做某事的)年龄限制”时,为不可数,如在 under age(未到规定年龄),over age(超龄),come of age(达到法定年龄)等说法中。在口语中表示“很久”之意时,通常和复数形式:I haven't seen you for ages.(好久没见到你了。)因此,在 in their old age 中,age 表示的是“人生的某一阶段”的意思,应该是不可数名词,没有复数形式。
443. 国务院于今年初批准了进一步发展旅游业的计划。
[误] The State Council agreed to the plan for further development of tourism early this year.
[正] The State Council approved the plan for further developmnet of tourism early this year.
注:agree 是“同意”的意思,一般指同级的人或机构之间经过讨论协商取得一致的意见,approve 是权力机关对某项计划、措施、行动、方法等的“批准”、“同意”。也可表示上级对下级、长辈对小辈之间的“同意”。
444. 我们完全赞同你在会上提出的计划。
[误] We fully agree with the plan you put forward at the meeting.
[正] We fully agree to the plan you put forward at the meeting.
注:表示“同意计划、建议、提议”时,agree 后接介词 to,而不接介词 with。
445. 我同意他认为需要多办些学校的意见。
[误] I agree with him to the need for more schools.
[正] I agree with him about the need for more schools.
注:用 agree 表示“同意某人(的意见)”时,后接介词 with:He agreed with me.(他同意我的意见。)若要表示“在某件事上同意某人的意见”时,要用 agree with sb. on/about sth.的结构。所以误句中的 to 须改为 on 或 about。
446. 这是助听器。
[误] It's an aid hearing.
[正] It's an aid to hearing.
注:aid 表示“援助、帮助”时是不可数名词,没有复数形式。aid 有时可用作可数名词,这时它表示“助手、辅助用品”,与 to 连用,表示“对......的援助”。
447. 我们希望用和平手段达到目标。
[误] We hope to reach our aim by peaceful means.
[正] We hope to achieve our aim by peaceful means.
注:aim 不与 reach 连用。reach 表示“到达”时,指到达一个具体的地方。表示“达到目标”可说 achieve one's aim。
448. 他开始学英语,目的是做一名教师。
[误] He started to learn English with the aim to become a teacher.
[正] He strarted to learn English with the aim of becoming a teacher.
注:“with the aim of + 动名词”是固定的短语结构,意为“以期......,意在......”,不能改用动词不定式。但是,当 aim 用作主语时,应该用 be + 动词不定式作谓语。
449. 他英国之行的目的是丰富语言知识。
[误] His aim of going to English is to improve his knowledge of language.
[正] His aim in going to England is to improve his knowledge of language.
注:aim 作名词,意思是“目的,目标”,它可以后跟动词不定式:Our aim to complete the work before the end of the month.(我们在月底以前完成这项工作的目标。)或者后接介词 in 引导的短语:What's your aim in life? (你的人生目标是什么?)但是不能用介词 of。
450. 我打算明年六月获得熟练工的证书。
[误] I shall aim in a Certificate of Proficiency next June.
[正] I shall aim for a Certificate of Proficiency next June.
注:aim for 意为“以......为目标,努力争取......”。所以误句中的 in 须改为 for 或 at。此外也可说 aim to do sth. 这与 aim at doing sth. 同义,都表示“想要,打算”的意思。但前者多用于美国英语,后者则用于英国英语。
451. 有些地方,几乎没有采取什么措施把烟尘净化,就把它排放到空中去了。
[误] In some places, little is done to make the smoke clean before it goes into air.
[正] In some places, little is done to make the smoke clean before it goes into the air.
注:air 单作“空气”解时,是物质名词,不用冠词。如:Let's go out for some fresh air.(我们出去呼吸新鲜空气吧。)但当 air 泛指“空中”或“大气层中”时,须加用定冠词。如:castles in the air(空中楼阁)。
452. 这间低屋顶的房间通风不好,令人气闷。
[误] The air in this low-ceilinged room was stuffy and oppressive.
[正] This low-ceilinged room was stuffy and oppressive.
注:虽然汉语中可以说“空气闷”,但是在英语中,stuffy 和 oppressive 等的主语不能是 air,而应当是某个地方,如 theatre(戏院),classrooom(教室)等名词。
453. 这所大学所有的办公室都安装了空调。
[误] All the offices in the university are equipped with air-conditions.
[正] All the offices in the university are air-conditioned.
注:air-condition 为动词,意为“在...上安装空调”。误句将 air-condition 用作了名词。如用名词,则可说 ...be equipped with air-conditioners。但通常要表达是否“安装空调”这类意思时,总是用 air-conditioned。
454. 我很远就发现了那两架飞机。
[误] I spotted the two aircrafts from a distance.
[正] I spotted the two aircraft from a distance.
注:aircraft 是“航空器”的意思,它统指“飞机、飞艇、气球”等飞行物,单数和复数同形,没有加“s”的复数形式。
455. 他们的想法与我们的思考方式极其相反 。
[误] Their ideas are quite alien from our way of thinking.
[正] Their ideas are quite alien to our way of thinking.
注:表示“与...相反”时,应该说 alien to;alien from 表示的是“与...有不同性质”的意思。
456. 英国人在中国是外国人。
[误] An Englishman is alien in China.
[正] An Englishman is an alien in China.
注:alien 可作形容词或名词,作形容词时是“foreign”(外国的,异族的)的意思;作名词时指的是“外侨”,这是个官方用语,平时一般用“foreigner”。本句中就是用的名词形式,因此前面要加不定冠词 an。
457. 鸟的翅膀和飞机的机翼是相似的。
[误] The wings of a bird and those of an airplane are alike.
[正] The wings of a bird and those of an airplane are analogous.
注:误句在语法结构上没有错误。但 alike 指“相似”,往往强调外形的相似;而 analogous 则往往指一种可比拟性,包括外观和内涵,更强调功能。
458. 我们都很疲劳。
[误] We all are tired.
[正] We are all tired.
注:all 通常紧跟在句中助动词后。如果句中没有助动词,all 就放在主要动词前。如果句中主要动词是 be,all 就直接跟在 be 后面。
459. 我把它们都吃了。
[误] I've eaten all them.
[正] I've eaten them all.
注:all 可置于直接宾语或间接宾语之后,但这个宾语必须是代词,而不能是名词。所以误句中的 all 和 them 的词序须互换。
460. 从早饭时分起,雨一直下个不停。
[误] It has been raining all the time since breakfast.
[正] It has been raining since breakfast.
注:句中的现在完成进行时态(has been raining)以及介词短语 since breakfast,已包含了“一直”的意思,因此没有必要再用 all the time。
461. 所有的孩子都有调皮的时候。
[误] All of children can be naughty sometimes.
[正] All children can be naughty sometimes.
注:一般来说,all 或 all of 都可用于名词或 this,that 之前,但是,当名词单独使用(即不带冠词、代词所有格或其他限定词)时,通常不用 all of,而在代词前,则只可用 all of。如:All whisky is expensive.(威士忌都很昂贵。)All of you are wrong.(你们全都错了。)I've read all(of) the books you lent me.(你借给我的书,我都看过了。)
462. 整个夏天他都很忙。
[误] He was busy in all summer.
[正] He was busy all summer.
注:在表示时间的短语里如有 all 修饰,则前面一般不加介词。
463. 我双亲都在北京。
[误] My parents are all in Beijing.
[正] My parents are both in Beijing.
注:当指三个或三个以上的全体时,用代词 all: There are five boys and four girls in our class. We all want to go to the park.(我们班上有五个男同学四个女同学。我们大家都想到公园去。)若只限于两个,则用 both: I borrowed two books from the library. They were both useful.(我从图书馆借了两本书,两本书都很有用。)由此可见误句中的 all 应改为 both。
464. 工农业生产都在大踏步前进。
[误] Insustrial and agricultural productions are all making giant strides.
[正] Both industrial and agricultural productions are making giant strides.
注:汉语中的“两者都”这一概念,英语常用 both...and 来表示:Both John and Tom have passed the exam.(约翰和汤姆两人都已通过考试。)而 all 则常指三者或三者以上的人或物。误句中说的是工业和农业两者,故不可用 all。
465. 他们都没去看展览。
[误] All of them didn't go to the exhibition.
[正] None of them went to the exhibition.
注:对 all 构成的否定属于部分否定。意思是:“并非所有...”。要表示全部否定,须用 none(无一)作主语。这时谓语动词可以是复数,也可以是单数。
466. 这儿不允许抽烟。
[误] It is not allowed to smoke here.
[正] Smoking is not allowed here.
注:当 allow 用于被动语态时,我们不能用形式主语 it 作句子的主语,而应以“(不)允许做的事”为主语。
467. 演出还没结束,几乎没有观众在看了。
[误] Nearly no audience were still seeing it before the performance ended.
[正] Almost no audience were still seeing it before the performance ended.
注:在与 never, nobody, nothing, no 等否定意义的词连用时,只用 almost,不用 nearly。
468. 雾太大,我们几乎什么也看不清。
[误] We could almost not see through the fog.
[正] We could hardly see through the fog.
注:almost 可以修饰 no, none, nothing, 但不可以修饰 not。 例如:Almost none of us took any rest last night. 汉语中“几乎不......”,“差不多没有......”等通常用 hardly, scarcely 来表达。例如:Scarcely(或 Hardly)anybody believes it.
469. 他几乎把半个大奶油蛋糕吃掉了。
[误] He almost ate half of the big cream cake.
[正] He ate almost half (of) the big cream cake.
注:尽管 almost 是个居于句子中间位置的副词,即应当置于谓语动词之前,或第一个助动词之后。但是此句中 almost 修饰的不是谓语动词 ate,而是宾语 half(of) the big cream cake,故应置于 ate 之后,half 之前。half 置于名词前时,其后可以加 of,也可以不加。
470. 学校正在采取有效措施来提高学生独立工作能力。
[误] The university is taking effective measures to improve the students' ability to work alone.
[正] The university is taking effective measures to improve the students' ability to work independently.
注:work alone 是“单独工作”,work independently  或 do independentwork 才表示“独立工作”。
471. 花园里仅有一棵树。
[误] There is an alone tree in the garden.
[正] There is a lone tree in the garden.
注:alone 仅用作表语,不作定语,而 lone 用作定语,表示“仅有的”意思。
472. 他们准备好了发射宇宙飞船?
[误] They are already to launch the spaceship.
[正] They are all ready to launch the spaceship.
注:already 是副词,而 ready 是形容词;两者的意义也有所不同,前者意为“已经”,不可后接不定式。而后者是“准备好”的意思,有时前加 all 表示程度。
473. 自从我们上次会面以后,你的脾气越来越坏了。
[误] Your temper has altered for the worse since I saw you last.
[正] Your temper has changed for the worse since I saw you last.
注:alter 和 change 作动词用都有“改变”之意,但二者的侧重点不同。change 多指事物或人物本质方面所发生的显著变化。alter 是指事物在形状、体积、人物性格或外观方面的部分改变,但并非本质变化。
474. 这座山的高度是两千米。
[误] The altitude of the mountain is 2000 meters high.
[正] The altitude of the mountain is 2000 meters.
[正] The mountain is 2000 meters high.
注:altitude 是 height 的意思,所以句中再用 high 属多余。或者去掉 altitude,数词后面加 high。
475. 全家人一起到公园去。
[误] The family went to the park altogether.
[正] The family went to the park together/all together.
注:副词 altogether 的词意是:“完全,全部”或“(数量)总计”或“总而言之,总的来说”。就两例句而言,所要表达的意思应该是“一起”(with one another, in company),故应当用 together,或其强化形式 all together。
476. 他在写信时不断地抓挠下巴。
[误] While he was writing the letter, he always scratched his chin.
[正] While he was writing the letter, he kept scratching his chin.
注:always 表示“总是,一贯”。表示“不断地,反复地做某事”可以用 keep doing sth。
477. 我很高兴告诉你:你的儿子一直帮助穷人。
[误] I'm glad to tell you that your son is always helping the poor.
[正] I'm glad to tell you that your son always helps the poor.
注:always 与进行时连用习惯上带有贬义。因此,说“一直在帮助穷人”时不要用进行时,而应用现在时。
478. 我搞错了,不是吗?
[误] I am mistaken, am I not?
[正] I am mistaken, aren't I?
注:如果陈述句部分是 I am,则反意疑问句部分用 aren't I?不用 am I not?。这是英国英语的习惯用法。美国英语接受这一用法,但在口语中也有用 amn't I 代替 aren't I 的。
479. 这位漂亮的美国小女孩是朱蒂的表妹。
[误] This American pretty little girl is Judy's cousin.
[正] This pretty little American girl is Judy's cousin.
注:形容词的次序中英文不同,一般来说,汉语总是把最重要的形容词置于前面,而英语则必须让最重要的形容词接近被修饰的名词。
480. 他们达成了一项和平友好地解决争端的办法。
[误] They came to a peaceful and amiable settlement of the dispute.
[正] They came to a peaceful and amicable settlement of the dispute.
注:amiable 与 amicable 都作“友好”解,但是 amiable 用于人,如 amiable neighbours, and amiable colleague. amicable 用来形容环境、动作、协议等。如 an amicable discussion, abicable relations。
481. 他让他的妻子、女儿和妹妹分享他的财产。
[误] He shared his property among his wife, his daughter, and his sister.
[正] He shared his property between his wife, his daughter, and his sister.
注:在 divide,share 等动词后,若接表示两个以上的复数名词时,当然用 among,但若接数个单数名词时,中间要用介词 between,而不用 among。当后接复数名词时,可用 among,也可用 between。
482. 在我们和他之间有一些分歧。
[误] There is some disagreement among us and him.
[正] There is some disagreement between us and him.
注:上例看上去“我们和他之间”是超过三个人,但是,实际上“我们”指一方,“他”指另一方。所以,“我们和他双方之间”,应用 between us and him。
483. “慰问团”是 condolation group 吗?
西北航空公司的航空杂志《西北航空》有一篇叙述民航总局春节文艺慰问团的文章,其标题为 CAAC Spring Festival Condolation Group。虽然上海交通大学出版社出版的《汉英大词典》把“慰问团”译为 condolation group,但实际上英语词汇里没有 condolation 这个词。condole 的名词是 condolence。即使把文章标题中的慰问团改成 condolence gruop 也显然是错误的。
Condolence 的意思是 sympathy for something that has pappened to someone, especially the death of a friend or of relative,即“吊唁或哀悼的慰问”,这和表示“问候、祝贺、感谢的娱乐性慰问或慰劳”是截然不同的。
根据文章的内容,民航总局的慰问团是个演出文艺节目的团体,可以译成 greeting-conveying group。英语国家通常把这种团体称为 entertaining group。
484. 误用add 一例  
    做“增添”、“添加”解时,人们常从汉语意思出发,误用add。下面这段北京国子监介绍词中一句话就是个例子:
    Guozijian (The Imperial College) was the national highest academy during Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1306), rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, and was added new buildings, Biyong and Glazed Archway, in the Qing Dynasty (1754). (国子监是元、明、清三代国家设立的最高学府,又称“太学”,始建于元大纪十年(公元1306年)。明永乐二年修葺、扩建。清乾隆四十九年增建“辟雍”、“琉璃牌坊等建筑。)
    不能用 A + be + added + B 来表示“A 增添了B”,应该说 B + be +added to A,用主动语态则是主语 + add + B to A,如:
    A surprise ending was added to the story.(故事增添了个出人意外的结局。)它是从 The writer added a surprise ending to the story 转换而来的。又譬如:Shall we add this particular task to her responsibility?(我们是否把这项特殊任务也交给她来负责?)
    因此,关于国子监的错句应该改为 and two new buildings were added to it。
485. 对于成长中的男孩,玩的时间永远不够。
[误] A growing boy never has ample time to play.
[正] A growing boy never has enough time to play.
注:ample 意为“充足而有余的,绰绰有余的”,如果与 enough 相比,它指 more than enough。也可修饰时间,但须在谈到很具体的事情时,才能判断是否“绰绰有余”。enough 意为“足够的”,指数量多到足够满足某一需要或愿望。根据本句要表达的意思,该用 enough 而不是 ample。
486. 每年为抽烟花去的钱数额很大。
[误] Large amounts of money is spent on tobacco every year.
[正] Large amounts of money are spent on tobacco every year.
[正] A large amount of money
        is spent on tobacco every year.
注:谓语动词的形式需与主语中心词的数一致。在“large amounts of +名词”中,中心词是 amounts;在“a large amount of +名词”中,中心词是 of 后的名词。
487. 濒危物种的数量随着自然栖息地的消失而逐年增加。
[误] The amount of endangered species increase every year as natural habitats disappear.
[正] The amount of endangered species increases every year as natural habitats disappear.
注:本句中的主语是 the amount of endangered species,中心词是 the amount,单数,所以谓语动词应与主语中心词一致,也用单数形式。
488. 我写几封信,你们能自己快乐地玩玩吗?
[误] Can you please yourselves while I write some letters?
[正] Can you amuse yourselves while I write some letters?
注:当 amuse 解作“make time pass pleasantly”,可用于反身代词形式“amuse oneself”,即“(自己)取乐,消遣”,没有 please oneself 这样的说法。please yourself 是“do as you like”(你想怎样就怎样)的意思。
489. 他们在舞会上非常快乐。
[误] They amused themselves at the party.
[正] They enjoyed themselves at the party.
注:amuse oneself 后面常跟介词 by 或 with 引导的短语,表示“以......娱乐自己”,即“自己做点什么消遣消遣”。但是,amuse 不能表示“(某种场合)使人愉快,过得快活”的意思。若要表达这样的意思,就要用 enjoy oneself。
490. 这个学期,我们读了许多短篇小说:“Mrs. Adis”,“The Luncheon”,“The Background”等等。
[误] This term we have read a number of slhort stories: "Mrs. Adis", "The Luncheon", "The Background" and etc.
[正] This term we have read a number of slhort stories: "Mrs. Adis", "The Luncheon", "The Background" and several others.
注:etc. 是拉丁文“et cetera”的缩写,等于英语 and others,and so forth。用 and etc. 等于 and others,当然是错误的。此外,etc. 多用于技术性或注释等力求简短的文件中,在正式文章里最好不用。
注:谓语动词的形式需与主语中心词的数一致。在“large amounts of +名词”中,中心词是 amounts;在“a large amount of +名词”中,中心词是 of 后的名词。
487. 濒危物种的数量随着自然栖息地的消失而逐年增加。
[误] The amount of endangered species increase every year as natural habitats disappear.
[正] The amount of endangered species increases every year as natural habitats disappear.
注:本句中的主语是 the amount of endangered species,中心词是 the amount,单数,所以谓语动词应与主语中心词一致,也用单数形式。
488. 我写几封信,你们能自己快乐地玩玩吗?
[误] Can you please yourselves while I write some letters?
[正] Can you amuse yourselves while I write some letters?
注:当 amuse 解作“make time pass pleasantly”,可用于反身代词形式“amuse oneself”,即“(自己)取乐,消遣”,没有 please oneself 这样的说法。please yourself 是“do as you like”(你想怎样就怎样)的意思。
489. 他们在舞会上非常快乐。
[误] They amused themselves at the party.
[正] They enjoyed themselves at the party.
注:amuse oneself 后面常跟介词 by 或 with 引导的短语,表示“以......娱乐自己”,即“自己做点什么消遣消遣”。但是,amuse 不能表示“(某种场合)使人愉快,过得快活”的意思。若要表达这样的意思,就要用 enjoy oneself。
490. 这个学期,我们读了许多短篇小说:“Mrs. Adis”,“The Luncheon”,“The Background”等等。
[误] This term we have read a number of slhort stories: "Mrs. Adis", "The Luncheon", "The Background" and etc.
[正] This term we have read a number of slhort stories: "Mrs. Adis", "The Luncheon", "The Background" and several others.
注:etc. 是拉丁文“et cetera”的缩写,等于英语 and others,and so forth。用 and etc. 等于 and others,当然是错误的。此外,etc. 多用于技术性或注释等力求简短的文件中,在正式文章里最好不用。
注:谓语动词的形式需与主语中心词的数一致。在“large amounts of +名词”中,中心词是 amounts;在“a large amount of +名词”中,中心词是 of 后的名词。
487. 濒危物种的数量随着自然栖息地的消失而逐年增加。
[误] The amount of endangered species increase every year as natural habitats disappear.
[正] The amount of endangered species increases every year as natural habitats disappear.
注:本句中的主语是 the amount of endangered species,中心词是 the amount,单数,所以谓语动词应与主语中心词一致,也用单数形式。
488. 我写几封信,你们能自己快乐地玩玩吗?
[误] Can you please yourselves while I write some letters?
[正] Can you amuse yourselves while I write some letters?
注:当 amuse 解作“make time pass pleasantly”,可用于反身代词形式“amuse oneself”,即“(自己)取乐,消遣”,没有 please oneself 这样的说法。please yourself 是“do as you like”(你想怎样就怎样)的意思。
489. 他们在舞会上非常快乐。
[误] They amused themselves at the party.
[正] They enjoyed themselves at the party.
注:amuse oneself 后面常跟介词 by 或 with 引导的短语,表示“以......娱乐自己”,即“自己做点什么消遣消遣”。但是,amuse 不能表示“(某种场合)使人愉快,过得快活”的意思。若要表达这样的意思,就要用 enjoy oneself。
490. 这个学期,我们读了许多短篇小说:“Mrs. Adis”,“The Luncheon”,“The Background”等等。
[误] This term we have read a number of slhort stories: "Mrs. Adis", "The Luncheon", "The Background" and etc.
[正] This term we have read a number of slhort stories: "Mrs. Adis", "The Luncheon", "The Background" and several others.
注:etc. 是拉丁文“et cetera”的缩写,等于英语 and others,and so forth。用 and etc. 等于 and others,当然是错误的。此外,etc. 多用于技术性或注释等力求简短的文件中,在正式文章里最好不用。
491. 玛丽对汤姆的粗鲁很生气。
[误] Mary was angry with Tom's rudeness.
[正] Mary was angry at Tom's rudeness.
注:对“人”生气可以用其所长 be angry with sb.;对“事”生气可以用 be angry at/about sth.,不能用 angry with sth.,但可以说 angry with sb. for sth.。
492. 他激动得一句话也说不出来。
[误] He was only too excited to say a word.
[正] He was too excited to say a word.
注:在一般情况下,too...to do 结构具有否定意义。但是,当 all too, but too, only too, quite too 与动词不定式连用时,就没有否定意义了。例如:They are all too satisfied to take the opinions of others without the pain of thought for themselves.(他们都满足于不费脑筋思考就采纳别人的观点。)I'm only too pleased to help you.(我很高兴帮助你。)They are but too glad to do so.(他们很高兴这样做。)
493. 她是个忙人。
[误] She's a busy-body.
[正] She's a busy woman.
注:busy-body 是“多嘴多舌,爱管闲事的人”。“忙人”应该是 a busy man 或 a busy woman。
494. 法律宣布所有此类婚姻都无效。
[误] The law announced all such marriages null and void.
[正] The law declared all such marriages null and void.
注:declare(宣布),是正式负责地公开宣布。如 declare war/peace(宣布战争/和平)等。announce 宣布,有预告的意思,尤指“宣布(公众有兴趣的或足以满足公众好奇心的事情)”。如 announce a discovery/marriage(宣布一项发现/婚姻)。
495. 你可以在这些座位中挑任何一个。
[误] You may take anyone of these seats.
[正] You may take any one of these seats.
注:anyone 是“任何人”的意思,不是“任何一个”,anyone 后面加 of these seats 是不通的。any one 是“任何一个”,后面可用 of 加名词或代词。
496. 那份英语论文中有什么重要的内容吗?
[误] Is there any important thing in that English paper?
[正] Is there anything important in that English paper?
注:在问句中,anything 必须合成一个词,此外 anything,nothing 等复合代词被修饰时,形容词应置于其后,而不是其前。
497. 爱丽丝的书写比她班级里的其他任何人都好。
[误] Alice's handwriting is better than anyone's in her class.
[正] Alice's handwriting is better than anyone else's in her class.
注:在进行差级比较时,由于 Alice 本人也是这个班级的一员,所以不能说“比班级里任何人”,只能说“比班级里其他任何人”,这样才符合逻辑。
498. 我们被如画的山景迷住了。
[误] We were appealed by the picturesque scenery of the mountains.
[正] We
     were fascinated/charmed by the picturesque scenery of the mountains.
[正] The pcturesque scenery of the mountains appeal to us.
注:appeal 作“引起兴趣,有吸引力”解,是不及物动词,不能用于被动语态结构,且只能以事物作主语。如以人作主语,则应用 charm 和 fascinate  的被动结构。
499. 他显得很伤心。
[误] He is appearing very sad.
[正] He appears very sad.
注:appear 后跟形容词时意指“似乎”、“显得”。通常不用于进行时态,可以用一般现在时表示目前的状况。
500. 不要以貌取人。
[误] Don't judge by appearance.
[正] Don't judge by appearances.
注:指看得见但可能是假相的外表时,appearance 广泛应用复数形式,区别于一般的、看得见的外表或相貌。
501. 他装成一副老实、无辜的面孔。
[误] He has put on the look of honesty, innocence.
[正] He has put on the appearance of honesty, innocence.
注:appearance(外观、外表),指人或物的可见外貌,有时含有“外表如此,其实不然”的意思。look 指“外表、神情”更着重神态、气色、表情等具体方面。
502. 他努力学习研究生课程。
[误] He applies himself to study his postgraduate courses.
[正] He applies himself to studying his postgraduate courses.
注:apply oneself to... 表示“集中精力做某事”,但其中 to 是介词,后接名词或动名词,不能接不定式。
503. 深感赞赏的观众对表演报以雷动的掌声。
[误] The highly appreciable audience loudly applauded the performance.
[正] The highly appreciative audience loudly applauded the performance.
注:尽管 appreciable 和 appreciative 均源于动词 appreciate,但两者意义大相径庭,不可混淆。前者意为“可以估计的,可以看到的”;而后者意为“有欣赏力的,深感赞赏的”。
504. 我非常感谢你的厚意。
[误] I greatly appreciate you for your kindness.
[正] I greatly appreciate your kindness.
505. 她非常感激我的帮助。
[误] She was very appreciative for my help.
[正] She was very appreciative of my help.
注:形容词 appreciative 意为“感激的/感谢的”。若要表示“对......表示感激/感谢的”,appreciative 后要接介词 of 引导的短语,不能由 for 代替。
506. 我不能支持一项我从未赞成的政策。
[误] I cannot support a policy which I have never approved.
[正] I cannot support a policy of which I have never approved.
注:approve 用作及物动词表示“批准,通过”的意思。当表示“赞成”的意思时,approve 是不及物动词,所以在带有宾语时,必须用 approve of。
507. 任何人,只要是人,就会经常犯错误。
[误] Anyone who is human is apt to make mistakes now and then.
[正] Anyone who is human is liable to make mistakes now and then.
注:be apt to 和 be liable to 意思均为“易于......的”,“有......倾向的”。这两个说法有时可以互换,不过 apt to 所指的倾向可好可坏,而 liable to 多指与主语不利的倾向,更强调本性、脾气和习惯形成的倾向。
508. 五千英镑是一大笔钱。
[误] Five thousand pounds are a lot of money.
[正] Five thousand pounds is a lot of money.
注:当复数名词用来表示一个单独的数量或距离时,便可将其作为单数看待。所以误句中的 are 应为 is。
509. 我只能匀出15分钟与你讨论这件事。
[误] Fifteen minutes are all that I can spare to talk over this matter with you.
[正] Fifteen minutes is all that I can spare to talk over this matter with you.
注:当作度量、时间等的复数名词,通常被当作一个整体来看,谓语动词应采取单数形式。例如:Twenty years in prison was the penalty he had to pay.(25年监禁是他必须接受的惩罚。)
510. 恐怕已经发生了困难。
[误] I'm afraid a difficulty has risen.
[正] I'm afraid a difficulty has arisen.
注:arise(arose, arisen)现在主要用于无形的东西,说“(困难、麻烦、矛盾等)发生”可用 arise。rise 通常用于有形的东西,表示“升起”。
511. 我不喜欢现代艺术。
[误] I don't like modern arts.
[正] I don't like modern art.
注:当 art 作为“艺术”解时,是个抽象名词,因此是不可数名词,如:classical art(古典艺术),folk art(民间艺术),abstract art(抽象艺术)等。当 art 作“(做某事的)技术,技艺”解时,可数不可数都行。art 还可指“文科学科”,这时用复数形式:Bachelor of Arts(文学学士)。本句的 modern art 指的是“现代艺术”,故不能用复数。
512. 你只要看一下她的住房,就会知道她是一位艺术家了。
[误] You have only to see her house to know she is very artful.
[正] You have only to see her house to know she is very artistic.
注:artful 是个贬义词,意思是“狡猾的,欺诈的,诡计多端的”。而 artistic 是个褒义词,含有“有审美力的,有艺术技巧的”。如:an artistic flower arrangement(富于艺术性的插花)。本句中应该用 artistic,说明被讲述者的艺术气质。
513. 这条裙子是我趁打折时买的。
[误] I got this skirt from bargain.
[正] I got this skirt on sale.
注:“打折”的正确英语应为“a bargain sale”或“sale”。若想说“趁打折的时候买的......”应为“get ... on sale”。另外,作为名词的 bargain 还有“物美价廉的商品”、“价格便宜的商品”的意思。说某种商品正在打折销售,可用 be on sale 来表达。类例:(1) This shirt was a bargain.这件衬衣真是便宜。(2) I bought this jacket on sale.我是在打折的时候买的这件夹克。(3) I got it at half price.我是半价买下(这件商品)的。
514. 她是个明星。
[误] She is a TV talent.
[正] She is a celebrity.
注:(电视)演员不可以说“talent”,“talent”有具备某种才能或技能的意思,并不代表艺人。和电视演员最相近的词是“celebrity”,“celebrity”可泛指名人,从中可以联想到演艺界的知名人士。类例:(1) I've always wanted to be a rock star.我一直想成为一名摇滚乐歌星。 (2) Jenny has a real talent for playing the piano.詹妮确实有弹钢琴的天赋。(3) Eric is a very talented young boy.埃里克是个很有才华的孩子。
515. 我刚刚插上插座。
[误] I just put the plug in the consent.
[正] I just put the plug in the outlet.
注:美式英语的“插座”是 outlet,英式英语是“socket”。电器的电源插头插入插座,用 plug;拔出时用 unplug。插电门用 put the plug 表示。类例:Jamie, don't put your fingers in the outlet. / The lamp isn't plugged in. / Plugs in China have two pins or three pins.中国的插头有两脚的或三脚的。
516. 这是我的女朋友。
[误] This is my lover.
[正] This is my girlfriend.
注:英语中“lover”不只有恋人的意思,也有情人、情妇或情夫的含义,暗指两人之间有性关系。正确的说法是 girlfriend(女朋友,恋人)或 boyfriend(男朋友,恋人)。类例:Dennis is my boyfriend.丹尼斯是我的恋人/男朋友。/ Helen and Ross are going with each other.海伦和罗斯在恋爱。
517. 新办公室很宽敞。
[误] The new office is very wide.
[正] The new office is very spacious.
注:wide 是 narrow 的反义词,意为宽阔的,指横向幅度,例如:a wide river 一条宽阔的河流。表示房间的空间很大,不可以用 wide,而用 spacious 或 large。类例:The house was old and not very big.这栋房子很旧,而且也不大。/ The highways in America are very wide.美国的公路很宽阔。/ I love your new apartment. It's so roomy.我喜欢你的新公寓,这么宽敞。
518. 我有很多男性朋友。
[误] I have many boyfriends.
[正] I have many male friends.
注:英语中 boyfriend 指的是男朋友、恋人。“男性的朋友”是 male friend,male 的意思是男性的。类例:Steve isn't my boyfriend. He's just a friend.史蒂夫不是我的男友,只是个朋友。/ Most of my guy friends are good cooks.我的很多男性朋友都是好的厨师。
519. 我的朋友住公寓大楼。
[误] My friend lives in a mansion.
[正] My friend lives in an apartment.
注:mansion 指的是有钱人住的大宅第。如果有人说“I live in a mansion”,那一定会使人惊讶,人们一定会以为他很有钱。公寓在英语中可以说 apartment 或 condo (condominium 的简略形式)。类例:I wish I were rich enough to live in a mansion.我希望我很有钱,可以住在大宅子里。/ Mike has a European style mansion in New York.迈克在纽约有一座欧洲风格的宅第。/ I have a large studio apartment in Bejing.我在北京有一个独单。(studio apartment 指只有一间居室的公寓房)
520. 我想当一名地勤人员。
[误] I want to be a ground hostess.
[正] I want to work at an airport counter.
注:英语中“hostess”是空中小姐的意思。可是,ground hostess 就完全是中式英语了。在英语中,不只是这个例子,对于某些职业,与其说职业名,倒不如说出具体的工作内容更好。例如:我是数学教师,可以说成 I'm a maths teacher,虽然不算错,但是还是说 I teach maths 更为地道。类例:Wendy is a flight attendant for the Northwest.温迪是西北航空公司的乘务员。/ Donald teaches English at a high school.唐纳德是中学英语老师。/ Penny works at the information desk.彭妮在询问处工作。
521. 他很有趣。
[误] He's so interesting.
[正] He's so funny.
注:interesting 是指有趣味的, 引起好奇(或注意)的。“让人发笑,令人觉得有趣”可以说 funny。和 funny 相近的其他词有 humorous(幽默的),amusing(引人发笑的,有趣的)等。用 funny 主语是人;用 humorous,amusing 主语是物。类例:She's hilarious.她令人发笑。/ He's a scream.他是个会搞笑的人。/ She's such a laugh.她真是个开心果。
522. 能给我减价吗?
[误] Price down?
[正] Can I get a discount?
注:price down 为中式英语。discount 有打折、减价的意思。除了 Can I  get a discount,还可以说:Could you give me a discount?  类例:Any chance of a discount?便宜点行吗?/ Could you knock the price down?价钱能否低点?
523. 真是个好消息!
[误] That's a great news!
[正] That's great news!
[正] That's a piece of great news!
524. 这是一则重要的消息。
[误] It's an important information.
[正] It's a piece of important information.
[正] It's an important piece of information.
[正] It's important information.
注: (1) No an before the uncountable noun information. (2) The second sentence above is not wrong, but it is not as good as the third and the fourth sentences.
525. 医生即研究医学和行医的人。
[误] Doctor is one who has studied medical science and practices medicine.
[正] A doctor is one who has studied medical science and practices med.
526. 走着去大约只有十分钟的路。
[误] It's only about ten-minute walk.
[正] It's only about a ten-minute walk.
527. 依 Jeff 来看,James 不是 Becky 的理想男友。
[误] According to Jeff's opinion, James is not the ideal boyfriend for Becky.
[正] According to Jeff, James is not the ideal boyfriend for Becky.
[正] In Jeff's opinion, James is not the ideal boyfriend for Becky.
528. 接连的网球赛影响了Meg 的体力。
[误] The fatigue of back-to-back tennis games effected Meg's stamina.
[正] The fatigue of back-to-back tennis games affected Meg's stamina.
529. 我到了之后再给你打电话。
[误] I'll call you after I will arrive.
[正] I'll call you after I arrive.
[正] I'll call you after I have arrived.
[正] I'll call you after my arrival.
530. 别担心。两周后我就回来。
[误] Don't worry. I'll be back after two weeks.
[正] Don't worry. I'll be back in two weeks.
531. 我想在50岁时退休。
[误] I want to retire at age 50.
[正] I want to retire at the age of 50.
532(a). Earl的爸爸去世有三年了。
[误] Earl's father died for three years.
[正] Earl's father died three years ago.(三年前死的)
[正] Earl's father passed away three years ago.(三年前死的)
[正] Earl's father has been dead for three years.(已死三年了)
532(b). Samantha 离开台湾有三年了。
[误] Samantha left Taiwan for three years.
[正] Samantha left Taiwan three years ago.(三年前离开的)
[正] Samatha has been away from Tainwan for three years.(已离开三年了)
533. Chandra 的男朋友三年前死于车祸。
[误] Chandra's boyfriend died in a car accident since three years ago.
[正] Chandra's boyfriend died in a car accident three years ago.(三年前死的)
[正] It's been three years since Chandra's boyfriend died in a car accident.(已死三年了)
534.我们不许人们在大楼里抽烟。
[误] We don't allow people smoking in the building.
[正] We don't allow people to smoke in the building.
[正] We don't allow smoking in the building.
[正] People are not allowed to smoke in the building.
[正] Smoking is not allowed in the building.
535.我说英语,我丈夫也说英语。
[误] I speak English, and my husband speaks English also.
[正] I speak English, and my husband speaks English, too.
[正] I speak English, and my husband also speaks English .
[正] My husband and I both speak English.(我和丈夫都说英语)
536.我又花了三天时间才作完这首诗。
[误] I've got three other days to finish the poem.
[正] I've got another three days to finish the poem.
[正] I've got three more days to finish the poem.
537.如果您能为我的Flying High out of a Tibetan Valley写个书评,我将不胜感激。
[误] I'd greatly appreciate if you would write a review of my book Flying High out of a Tibetan Valley.
[正] I'd greatly appreciate it if you would write a review of my book Flying High out of a Tibetan Valley.
注: appreciate + it + if/when-clause (with it)  E.g.:
I really appreciated it when Dennis offered to massage my neck and shoulders.
We would appreciate it if you could continue with the story about what happened next between Dennis and you.
538.机长向乘客保证没有危险。
[误] The captain of the plane assured that there was no danger.
[正] The captain of the plane assured the passengers that there was no danger.
注: Assure means to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, especially in order to remove doubt about it.
(1) assure somebody that (not assure that)   E.g.:
The doctor assured me that I would feel all right in a week.
(2) assure somebody of something  E.g.:
Mom assured us of the health of Amy's newborn daughter, even though Amy is uncertain who is the biological father.
539.有500多来宾出席了在大学举行的为期两天的中国艺术展。
[误] Over 500 guests joined the two-day Chinese art exhibition at Saint Leo University.
[正] Over 500 guests attended the two-day Chinese art exhibition at Saint Leo University.
注: (1) Attend means to be present at an event or activity or to go regularly to a place, for example, to a school as a student or to a church as a member.  E.g.:
I did not attend the meeting yesterday, because I was sick.
All our friends and relatives will attend our wedding next Sunday.
I was born in Malaysia, but I attended high school in Canada and university in Australia.
(2) Join means to become a member of an organization, club, etc.  E.g.:
Soon Anna will join our golf club.
After graduation from high school, Anna joined the Army.
540.对如此劣行该采取什么措施?
[误] What should be done about such bad behaviors?
[正] What should be done about such bad behavior?
注: Behavior means the way that someone behaves. It is an uncountable noun, cannot be used with the article a, and doesn't have a plural form. Unless you are writing in psychology, sociology, anthropology, or a related field, it is better to avoid the use of behaviors in your writing.  E.g.:
Has the behavior of your students improved?
Today my children are on their best behavior.
541.你喜欢打(篮)球吗?
[误] Do you like to paly balls?
[误] Do you like to paly with balls?
[正] Do you like to paly basketball? (volleyball/baseball/soccer?)
[正] Do you want to paly ball?   
注: (1) When you want to play a game with a ball, you usually mention a specific ball(for example, baseball, volleyball, basketball). And in this case, ball is an uncountable noun. E.g.:
Clark is playing ball at the park.
Mark is playing basketball at the park.
(2) While playing ball on a sports ground, you need to follow certain rules and cooperate with others. Therefore, play ball evolved into the meaning of working together with someone in an effective way. E.g.:
I tried to get my ex-husband to help, but he refused to play ball.
"If you play ball with us, we'll let you go," said the police officer.
(3) Why isn't play balls a proper usage?
1) Once during an oral English test in an elementary school in Taiwan, a boy asked his American teacher, "Do you like to play balls?"  The American teacher did not know how to reply. "Do you like to play balls?" also appeared in an English textbook for Chinese elementary students.
This is a common error non-native speakers of English tend to make. Because there are all kinds of balls (baseball, volleyball, basketball, etc.), they naturally say, "We like to play balls." But it is wrong!
2) The word balls(plural) often means a male's testicles. "I like to play balls" is close to saying that "I like to play with my balls" or that "I like to play with my testicles." So the above question "Do you like to play balls?" sounds
"I am opposed to the death penalty, but I would like to see their balls cut off,(把他们的蛋子割掉)" one anti-rape activist said.
542.我最讨厌这个。
[误] I dislike it the best.
[正] I dislike it the most.      
注: (1) We say like something or somebody best but dislike something or somebody the most.
(2) Best is the superlative form of good and well.
I know best what is good for me.
Sunday afternoon would suit me the best.
(3) Most is the superlative form of many and much.
Of the three books, this one is the most difficult.
Of all the men I have dated, Jeff is the most handsome and the most boring.        
543.我非常喜欢打保龄球。
[误] I like to play bowling very much.
[正] I like to go bowling a lot.              
注: We say like to go bowling (not like to play bowling; not like to play bowling ball). Similarly, we say like to go skiing.
544.他给女友开了张500元的空头支票。
[误] He wrote his girlfriend a check of $500, but the check bounced.
[正] He wrote his girlfriend a check for $500, but the check bounced.
[正] He wrote his girlfriend a $500 check, but the check bounced.         
注: a check for a particular sum of money (not a check of)
The car saleswoman said a bank check for $39,919 would be fine.
545.昨晚安喝得大醉,碾过一只死臭鼬。
[误] Last night Ann was deadly drunk and ran over a dead skunk.
[正] Last night Ann was dead drunk and ran over a dead skunk.
注: (1) Dead and deadly are easily to get mixed up.
(2) dead (adj.): Dead as an adjective means no longer living, as in "Ann ran over a dead skunk."
(3) In some phrases, dead is used as an adverb.
dead (ad.) = completely; absolutely; exactly; very
dead certain -->absolutely certain
dead drunk -->completely drunk
dead slow -->very slow
dead sure -->absolutely sure
dead tired -->very tired
stop dead -->stop completely and suddenly
(4) deadly (adj.) = able or likely to kill people; extreme
deadly poison 剧毒
deadly weapon 致命武器
deadly enemies 死敌
deadly silence 万籁寂静
deadly dullness 百无聊赖
Is this a deadly poison?
(5) deadly (ad.) = in a way suggestive of death
When Abigail saw the killer whale, her face turned deadly pale(煞白).
546.李明正在决定是去北京还是去上海。
[误] Li Ming is making a decision of whether he should go to Beijing or Shanghai.
[正] Li Ming is making a decision about whether he should go to Beijing or Shanghai.
547.暴风雪把我们挡在家里了。
[误] The snowstorm discouraged us to go out.
[正] The snowstorm discouraged us from going out.
548.让我们讨论一下两国间的政治问题吧。
[误] Let’s discuss about the political problems between these two countries.
[正] Let’s discuss the political problems between these two countries.
549.我不怀疑/相信李明在这次考试中会得个A。
[误] I do not doubt whether Li Ming will get an A on the exam.
[正] I do not doubt that Li Ming will get an A on the exam.
550.学一门外语需要花很大气力。
[误] Learning a foreign language requires a lot of efforts.
[正] Learning a foreign language requires a lot of effort.
551.昨天我去她家了,但她没在家。
[误] I went to her house yesterday but she was absent.
[正] I went to her house yesterday but she was not home.
注: absent的意思是“不在”,用在开会、上课、参加活动均无问题。如:He was absent from the meeting. 但在“在家”这种情况下,用 absent 会给人“你在家是一种义务”的感觉。正确的表达法是 not (at) home 或 not in。
552.我爷爷7点钟就醒了。
[误] My grandpa was very awake at 7 o'clock.
[正] My grandpa was wide awake at 7 o'clock.
553.王先生还说什么了?
[误] What did Mr. Wang say else?
[正] What else did Mr. Wang say?
554.这是一辆专门设计在沙漠用的卡车。
[误] This car was especially designed for use in the desert.
[正] This car was specially designed for use in the desert.
555.人民竖立起一座雕像来纪念他。
[误] The people established a statue to his memory.
[正] The people erected a statue to his memory.
注: erect(竖立),所建的东西有一定的高度。如:erect a monument/flagstaff(竖立纪念碑、旗杆)。establish(建立,竖立),兼指抽象和具体事物。如:establish a school/a government/reputation(建立一所学校/一个政府/声誉)。本句说的 statue,须用 erect。
556.你到底要些什么?
[误] Whatever do you want?
[正] What ever do you want?
注: ever 用于疑问句,为“到底、究竟”的意思,相当于 on earth,常和 what, who, when, where,how,why 等连用,用以加强语气。而 whatever 的意思是“无论什么”,相当于 no matter what,在此句中应用 what ever。
557.那颗卫星每隔3秒钟发一次脉冲信号。
[误] That satellite gave a pulsed signal every three seconds.
[正] That satellite gave a pulsed signal every four seconds.
注: “每隔3秒钟”实际上是“每个第4秒”或“每4秒钟”,故可说 every four seconds,“每隔一”在口语中常用 every other 或 every second 表示。
558.因为家里有病人,所以他今天没来上班。
[误] He didn't come to work today because there is a patient in his family.
[正] He didn't come to work today because someone is ill in his family.
注: “家里有病人”是上班请假最好的理由之一。但此“病人”非彼“patient”。通常,一个人进了医院,花钱享受医生的服务才能被称为 patient。换言之,patient 是相对于医生说的。例如:The doctor is visiting his patients in hospital. 医生正在医院里探视他的病人。如果你不妨像正确句那样换一种说法,巧妙地避开了可怕的“病人”。另外提醒一句,也不是所有的 patient 都是患有疾病的。有一种特殊机构---美容院(beauty saloon),它的顾客们就被称为 patient。例如:This beauty shop is filled with patients on Sundays. 周日这家美容院会挤满顾客。
559.你要想成为一名优秀的钢琴家,还需要大量的训练。
[误] You need to take a lot of exercises is you want to be an excellent pianist.
[正] You need to take a lot of practice if you want ot be an excellent pianist.
560.他在判断画方面,很有眼光。
[误] He has eyes for good pictures.
[正] He has an eye for good pictures.
注: eye 的本义是“眼睛”,但其单复数形式用法不同。eyes 的意思是“眼睛”,除了在 be all eyes(全神贯注地看),up to the(one's) eyes in(忙于;埋头于)等个别短语中外,eyes 一般作为本义用,而 eye 则通常用作转义,如: catch sb.'s eye(引起某人注意),give an eye to(顺便照看一下,稍加注意一下),have an eye/a good eye for(善于识别,对......有欣赏能力),keep an eye on(照看,注意,监视),meet the/one's eye(出现在眼前),pass one's eye over(浏览,过目),in one's mind's eye(在想象中),under sb.'s eye(当着某人的面),with an eye to(注意,目标在于)。have an eye for 表示“有欣赏......的能力”,介词用for,不可用about。
561. 对外宣传中的中式英语案例(网上收集并整理)
1. 望文生义,不符合英语表达习惯的翻译:
胶水 glue water(应为glue)
不准拍照 Don't take picture(应为:No photographs)
当心碰头 Be careful, head(应为:Mind your head / Lower your head)
拳头产品 fist product 但fist这个词只是握住拳头,并没有打出去的动作和力量(参考:“knockout” product /“hard-punch” product / core product / product with a competitive edge / market-penetrating product)
科技旅游 technological tours 这给人的印象似乎是,旅游本身是技术性的 (参考:science-theme tours)
黄金地段 golden area 这是说“金色地区”?(试比较:prime /central/ideal location)
(电视屏幕上的栏目名称)看世界 Look the World(试比较:Around the World / Window onto the World / Across the World )
经济改革取得了巨大成就并且不断深化 The economic reform has made great achievements and is deepening.(似应译为:Great achievements have been made in the economic reform, which is developing in depth)
2. 不符合国际上通用惯例的翻译,这主要是指一些常用的专门术语。例如:
外向型产业 external directed industries (比较:export-oriented  manufacturing )
保税区 tax-protected zone (比较:bonded zone 或 free-trade zone)
追求卓越管理 working for brilliant management (参考:in search of excellence in management / commitment to managerial excellence )
小商品博览会 small goods / commodities fair (参考:general merchandise show / expo)
入境登记卡、年月日、入境事由、观光休闲、返回常住地、定居”entry card, year/month/day, Your main reason for coming to China (only one), outing/in leisure, return home, settle down 按照英语习惯,这些应该分别译为landing card 或 disembarkation form, day/month/year 或 month/day/year, purpose of visit, pleasure 或 travel, returning home, settling in
3. 对汉语中某些地道的简略语 (short-hand phrases) 的翻译常常令人难以看懂。例如:
五讲四美 five stresses and four points of beauty (对照:five merits to advocate—civilized behavior, common courtesy, hygienic conditions, proper discipline and public morality; and four virtues to promote—lofty sentiments, refined language, good manners and environmental awareness.)
三通一平 three-side connections and one site level 成了“三面连接” 和“一块地是平的”。(对照:three availables—Utility services, telecommunications and paved roads are available; and one accessible—You are accessible to leveled plant ground)
开发热点地区 heating point of development (参考:a popular destination of investors for development projects)
货币分房 monetary housing (参考:the own-as-you-pay housing system)
好酒也要勤吆喝 Good Doing, Good Drumming (比较:Good wine does need a bush, after all)
4. 意思走了样的翻译,即译文同原文说的不一样,有的差别不大,有的差别甚远,例如:
购卡后(电话卡)可以修改密码/此卡限北京市使用 please revise PIN; just used in Beijing (试比较:Pin number may be changed; inactive out of Beijing area)
旋转果合(一种可以转动的盛糖果的圆盘)spinning fruit box (试比较:rotating dish for nuts and candies)
进出口商品结构 foreign trade structure (试比较:the make-up 或 composition of imports and exports)
在家自制矿泉水(指矿泉壶)family made mineral water (试比较:You can make mineral water at home.)
去机场的班车 Airbus 与欧洲制造的“空中客车”飞机雷同。(应为:airport shuttle bus 或 airport shuttle)
空调公共汽车 air bus(应为 air-conditioned bus)
不同的肤色,共同的青岛啤酒(广告语) The same choice for different colors 其意思变成了“都选择不同的颜色”。这里至少应该加上people一词,翻译成 The same choice for people of different colors.(可以考虑:People’s skin colors are different—far and near; but their choice is the same—for Qingdao Beer.)
5. 只管词语的字面意思,不顾其特殊含义的翻译。例如:  
仲裁员休息室 arbitrators’rest rooms (可考虑: arbitrators’lounges 或 recess rooms)。这里有两点要注意: 一是英语里表示休息室的词很多,不同的场合有不同的叫法; 二是restrooms通常总是指厕所, 包括分开写的 rest rooms, 比如美国高速公路旁就有写着 REST ROOMS 2 MILES AHEAD的巨大指示牌。
九月,相约在大连(指参加那里的国际时装节) Dating in Dalian, this September。(可考虑 Let’s Meet in Dalian in September.)殊不知,这里的 date一词是指青年男女之间的约会,而不是通常意思上的会面。
纽约有家一碟盐(餐馆名) There is a dish of salt in New York. (可考虑 An“A Dish of Salt”restaurant has been opened in New York.)
反对“平均主义”的“平均主义”egalitarianism。实际上,egalitarianism 是一个褒义词,是指政治、经济、法律地位均等的意思。否则人家会以为我们主张两极分化,拉大贫富之间的距离。这里的egalitarianism 可以用leveling-out 来代替。
旅游的热点 a hot spot of tourism 那么这里的 hot spot 就有可能引起麻烦,因为hot spot 可以被理解为 place where (e.g.) trouble is likely (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)。(可以考虑:a popular destination of tourists / a popular tourist attraction / a Mecca of tourists。)
摸着石头过河 crossing the river by feeling the stones ( 可以考虑:“wading across the stream by feeling the way,”so to speak。)
6. 对于有些从英语翻译过来的词语,在翻译成英语时本应用回译的方法还原;可是有些人却按汉语的字面意思或者发音加以重新翻译,其结果是“差之毫厘,失之千里”或者是失去地道性。例如:
把第一时间(来源于英语的 prime time) 译成 first time
把“卡丁车”中的“卡丁”(来源于英语的 cadet)译成 carding
把“第21届世界大学生运动会” 译成the 21st World Students Games, 而实际应为 the 21st Universiade
7. 有一些是非常蹩脚的错误百出的翻译。例如:
免淘米 needn’t wash rice ( 可以考虑:prewashed rice)
英雄高级纯蓝墨水,灌注各种金笔 Hero High Pure Blue Ink, Poured fountain pen ( 可以考虑“Hero”brand high-grade light-blue ink, suitable for all types of fountain pen)
多文种字处理排版系统是您在文字处理中高效省时、经济方便的好帮手(广告语) MWP is your economic and effective assistant, it can make your business easy. (可以考虑:Typographic word processing can make you very busy; but the MWP system can make the work really easy)
8. 有的英译文走了样,不但起不到正面的宣传作用,反而会起反宣传的作用或副作用。例如:
一小时内免费上门送票(某航空公司推出的新的服务项目) Drop in to Give Ticket Free of Charge 其意思是“上门送免费机票”(应该是: We offer free delivery service of air tickets at customers’doorsteps one hour after booking confirmation.)
海南岛的“天涯海角”The End of the World 其意思是“世界末日”或“大难临头”。要是这样,谁还愿意到那里去旅游?(应该是 Land’s End / The Ends of the Earth)
修建辐射型的道路 to build radioactive roads 请注意: 这里指的是受辐射污染的道路。这种情况下,谁还敢来投资?还不赶紧躲得远远的!(建议改为:to build a system of roads radiating out in several directions 或 to build a road system of wheel-spokes pattern)
9. 还有一些英译文是在不了解中外文化差异的情况下生硬地“移植”的。例如:
以外贸企业为龙头 with foreign trade enterprises as the dragon head 这里有两个问题:一是在西方人心目中dragon 是个令人生畏的怪兽, 是个凶恶的形象; 二是国外的人不知道耍龙灯是怎么回事,当然也就无法知晓龙头的作用。如果改为 with foreign trade firms as the locomotive 或 flagship,用尽人皆知的火车头或者旗舰作比喻,那么问题就迎刃而解了。
10. 有时候所谓的译文只不过是把汉字写成拼音,这根本不能算做翻译。例如:
治咳川贝枇杷露 Zhike Chuanbei Pipalu 等于没有翻译 (似应译为: a cough syrup prepared with extracts from frillary bulbs and loquat leaves)
“……创业大楼” …Chuangye Tower 其中一半没译,一半译错了(实际上那座大楼并不是一座塔楼)。这里的“创业大楼”似乎可以译为enterprise building。
刻有‘南天一柱’、‘海判南天’的巨石 huge stones engraved with Chinese characters“Nantian Yizhu” and“Haipan Nantian”这叫谁能看懂?“南天一柱”、“海判南天” 似可分别译成 A Pillar Piercing into the Southern Sky, and the Sea Rising Against the Sky in the South
“上海皮鞋”Shanghai pixie 非但没有达到翻译的目的,反而会引起莫名其妙的歧义,因为在英语中存在pixie 这个词,它是指童话中的小仙子、小精灵。那末Shanghai pixie 就有可能被误解成“上海小精灵”了。
11. 在对汉语原文没有进行认真理解,并不知其所云的情况下就盲目着手按字面进行翻译,其结果很可能是文不对题。例如:
超值享受 super value enjoyment (比较:enjoyment with extra benefits)
人文奥运 People’s Olympics (比较:Culture-Enriched Olympics)
科技奥运 High-tech Olympics (比较:Technology-Empowered 或 Propelled Olympics )
12. 有时汉语原文的语言十分夸张,充满了过度渲染的形容词 (charged adjectives),这对于中国读者来说是习以为常的事情。但是,如果照直译成英语,西方人就难以接受。例如:
有的旅游广告把自己那一块地方说成是“人间仙境,世外桃源”,而且被翻译成earthiy(原文如此) fairyland。其实 fairyland 是指神奇美妙的童话世界(比如可以说This toy-shop is a fairyland for young children),可在这里完全不适用。而且用 the Garden of Eden, paradise 等说法也不太合适。最好是用平淡朴素的词语(比如a retreat / beaten track away from the hustle and bustle of the city), 这样反而更加能被西方人所接受。
再比如,某个富于创新的科技园区,被描写成这是一片神奇的土地,这对中国人来说是可以接受的,因为我们为自己的成就感到自豪,我们习惯于运用夸张的语言。但是,如果把它直译为 This is a magic land / marvelous land / wonderland, 对西方人来说,它既没有实际意义,又容易引起反感。还不如改用朴素具体的词语来得实在:This is a place renowned for its abundance of talent and innovation.
13. 说话的语气或口气是否恰当也会影响宣传效果。有些宾馆饭店的旅客须知就是以居高临下、盛气凌人的口气说话,那么这种宣传材料就很可能给人留下不好的印象。例如:     
■ 旅客登记时,须凭足以证明本人身份的有效证件,并说明住宿原因。
■ 旅客必须遵守宾馆饭店的规章制度,服从工作人员的管理,爱护饭店的公共财物。
■ 对违反上述规定的旅客,饭店有权责成改正。其英译文的口气当然也是十分生硬:   
■ Guests are requested to show their own valid papers to prove their identities and to tell the reason for lodging when they check in at the hotel.
■ Every guest has the obligation to abide (by) the rules and regulations of the hotel, cooperate with the personnel in carrying out their duties and take good care of the property in the hotel.
■ The authority of the hotel has the right to reason with anyone who has violated (the) regulations mentioned above. (黑体是后加的)
上述规定是十多年前制定的(并且是针对“内宾”的),显然已经不能适应当前改革开放环境的需要。如今的宾馆必须用非常客气的口气对客人说话才行, 因为顾客是上帝。其中包括要求客人遵守有关的规定,也必须非常客气。试比较下面的几种表达方法(参考英语国家饭店的有关规定):
■ Please help us to speed up your check-in by presenting your ID.
■ Our guests are kindly expected to heed the rules and regulations. Your cooperation will be appreciated in making our services effective.
■ In the unlikely event that something in the room is broken or damaged, please let the Floor Desk know immediately.
■ If you find the robe in the bathroom to your liking, you are welcome to contact the Front Desk for a purchase deal.
■ If your departure time does not coincide with our 12 Noon checkout timing, please call our Reception Desk and every effort will be made to accommodate you.
562.小李只会抱怨她的男朋友。
[误] Xiao Li did nothing except complaining about her boyfriend.
[正] Xiao Li did nothing except complain about her boyfriend.
(1) Except is followed by an infinitive without to, not by the verb-ing form.(except 用作连词)
(2) except do something
I couldn't do anything except sit there and pray.
563.小李经常逃学,将拿不到今年的高中毕业证了。
[误] Xiao Li often escapes from school and will not be able to get her high school diploma this year.
[正] Xiao Li often skips school and will not be able to get her high school diploma this year.
注: (1) skip school / class = cut shool / class 逃学
564.犯罪是一项严重的全球性问题,尤其在大城市。
[误] Crime is a serious worldwide problem, specially in big cities.
[正] Crime is a serious worldwide problem, especially in big cities.
565.除了玛丽和我,大家都去海滨度周末了。
[误] Everyone has gone to the beach for the weekend except Mary and I.
[正] Everyone has gone to the beach for the weekend except Mary and me.
566.对不起,警官!我把驾照忘家里了。
[误] Sorry, officer! I've forgotten my driver's license at home.
[正] Sorry, officer! I've left my driver's license at home.
567.如果你能把我带到机场,我将非常感激。
[误] I would be very thankful if you could give me a ride to the airport.
[正] I would be very grateful if you could give me a ride to the airport.
568.美丽的海南岛上有许多非常高大的树木。
[误] Many trees on beautiful Hainan Island are very high.
[正] Many trees on beautiful Hainan Island are very tall.
1). Tall describes something which has a small diameter in proportion to its height. We use tall to describe plants, trees, people, buidings, animals, etc.
(2). In other words, tall is used for talking about people or things that measure more than is usual from their bottom to their top.
(3). Always use tall when you describe the height of a person.
a tall building       a tall chimney      a tall mast
a tall man            a tall steeple        a tall lamppost
a tall thin bottle   the tallest girl in the class
My boyfriend Vladimir is a tall man.
--->not "a high man"
(4). High is applied to anything that is elevated or raised above another thing (having a relatively great elevation; extending far upward; extending a specified distance upward).
(5). In other words, high is used for talking about things that are large in size from the top to the ground and a long way from the ground or about things whose top parts are a long way from the ground.
(6). Sometimes you may hear people say a tall hill or a tall mountain. Well, it is acceptable in oral English, but in formal writing, use high for the words hill and mountain.
569.今天的天气最适合去冲浪了。
[误] Today's weather is the most ideal for furfing.
[正] Today's weather is ideal for surfing.
注: (1). Words like ideal, perfect, etc. are not modified by most/more /rather/very, etc.
(2). Something ideal or perfect means something best. The best is the best. You do not say most best, rather best, very best, or more best, so you should not say most/more/rather/very ideal/perfect.
570.在今天早上的车祸中,有两人死亡,二十人受伤。
[误] In the bus accident this morning, two people were killed, and twenty were wounded.
[正] In the bus accident this morning, two people were killed, and twenty were injured.
注: (1). When you are hurt in an accident, you are injured (not wounded).
(2). When you are hurt in a fight or battle or war, you are wounded (by guns, knives, etc.). If you are wounded, you are hurt by violence. In this sense, some people may also use injure.
(3). the wounded (伤员) = people who are wounded, especially in warfare
My back was badly/seriously severly injured in the car accident yesterday.
Five enemy soldiers were killed, and twenty-five were wounded in the battle.
The guard was wounded in the leg.
571.“你想来杯冰镇苹果汁吗?”
--“好的,谢谢。洗过桑拿现在我真渴得慌。”
[误] "Would you like a glass of cold apple juice?"
--"Sure, thanks. Just now I'm really thirsty from taking a sauna."
[正] "Would you like a glass of cold apple juice?"
--"Sure, thanks. Right now I'm really thirsty from taking a sauna."
572. 如果你不断用功学习,你将学会中文。
[误] You will study Chinese if you keep working hard at it.
[正] You will learn Chinese if you keep working hard at it.
注:  (1) learn = gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of something through experience or study 通过经验或学习获得知识、理解力或掌握某项技能
(2) People often comfuse these two words.

     1) When you study, you make an effort to learn a particular subject, usually by going to classes or reading or doing research. 当你学习时,你将努力学会某一特定科目,一般通过上课、阅读或从事研究来实现
573. 暑假你能过来和我们住一星期吗?
[误] Could you come and live with us for a week during summer vacation?
[正] Could you come and stay with us for a week during summer vacation?
[误] My girlfriend now stays in the U.S.
[正] My girlfriend now lives in the U.S.

注:  (1) stay = to remain in a place for a while as a guest or visitor(作为客人或游客在某处作短期逗留,这时用stay)
(2) live = to have a home in a place; used in connection with someone's permanent place, country or residence(在某处有家;用于与某人永久居住地、国家或住所相关联的情形,这时用live)

574. 到周五我读不完这本书。
[Less common] I can not finish reading this book by Friday.
[Common] I cannot finish reading this book by Friday.
[Common] I can't finish reading this book by Friday.
在会话或非正式写作中通常写成 can't,can not不是标准英语,正规英语用cannot

575. 我们必须采用一切办法来帮助小李。
[误] We must help Xiao Li by all means.
[正] We must help Xiao Li by all possible means.
注:  
(1) by all possible means=by all possible methods 采用一切可能的办法
(2) by all means=certainly=of course 当然

By all means, we must help Xiao Li!
=Of course, we must help Xiao Li.(当然)
(3) More examples with by all means:
"Do you mind if I invite a few friends over for dinner this Friday?" -"By all means."(别邀请)
"Can I borrow your sailboat for five days?" -"By all means."(可以借)
576. 请打开所有的灯。
[误] Open all the lights, please.
[正] Turn on all the lights, please.


1.日常用语类
busboy 餐馆勤杂工(不是“公汽售票员”)
busybody 爱管闲事的人(不是“大忙人”)
dry goods (美)纺织品;(英)谷物(不是“干货”)
eleventh hour 最后时刻(不是“十一点”)
lover 情人(不是“爱人”)
dead president 美钞(上印有总统头像)(并非“死了的总统”)
sweet water 淡水(不是“糖水”)
confidence man 骗子(不是“信得过的人”)
criminal lawyer 刑事律师(不是“犯罪的律师”)
rest room 厕所(不是“休息室”)
dressing room 化妆室(不是“试衣室”或“更衣室”)
horse sense 常识(不是“马的感觉”)
capital idea 好主意(不是“资本主义思想”)
black tea 红茶(不是“黑茶”)
black stranger 完全陌生的人(不是“陌生的黑人”)
white man 忠实可靠的人(不是“皮肤白的人”)
green hand 新手(不是“绿手”)
blue stocking 女学者、女才子(不是“蓝色长统袜”)
Chinese dragon 麒麟(不是“中国龙”)
American beauty 红蔷薇(不是“美国美女”)
English disease 气管炎(不是“英国病”)
Spanish athlete 吹牛的人(不是“西班牙运动员”)
2、成语类
pull one's leg 开玩笑(不是“拉后腿”)
in one's birthday suit 赤身裸体(不是“穿着生日礼服”)
eat one's words 收回前言(不是“吃话”)
an apple of love 西红柿(不是“爱情之果”)
handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆(不是“大字报”)
bring down the house 博得全场喝彩(不是“推倒房子”)
have a fit 勃然大怒(不是“试穿”)
think a great deal of oneself 高看或看重自己(不是“为自己想得很多”)
pull up one's socks 鼓起勇气(不是“提上袜子”)
3、表达类
Look out! 当心!(不是“向外看”)
What a shame! 多可惜!真遗憾!(不是“多可耻”)
You don't say! 是吗!(不是“你别说”)
You can say that again! 说得好!(不是“你可以再说一遍”)
I haven't slept better. 我睡得好极了。(不是“我从未睡过好觉”)
You can't be too careful in your work. 你工作越仔细越好。(不是“你工作不能太仔细”)
It has been 4 years since I smoked. 我戒烟4年了。(不是“我抽烟4年了”)
All his friends did not turn up. 他的朋友没全到。(不是“他的朋友全没到”)
People will be long forgetting her. 人们在很长时间内会记住她的。(不是“人们会永远忘记她”)
He was only too pleased to let them go. 他很乐意让他们走。(不是“他太高兴了,不愿让他们走”)
It can't be less interesting. 它无聊极了。(不是“它不可能没有趣”)
bank holiday 不是银行节,是公共假期
bookmaker 不一定是图书业者,有可能是接受赌注的庄家
    coming of age 不是时代来临,而是成年
drawing room 不是画室,而是客厅
living room 就是客厅,在英国又称之为sitting room,主要是普罗阶层的说法。豪门贵族的客厅则称之为drawing room,但这里和画画没关系。从前贵族客厅乃男士高谈阔论的地方,女性和小孩通常都会回避。所以drawing room其实是withdrawing room的简称。
flat-footed 不是扁平足,有可能是手足无措
扁平足引文叫做flatfoot。扁平足的人脚弓instep arch直接触地,不利于行,因此flat-footed 常用来指笨手笨脚,手足失措。如:
A recent drought caught the government flat-footed.
fourth estate 不是第四笔地产,是指记者或新闻界
estate 有地产、遗产、地位的意思。欧洲传统上认为社会由贵族、教会、平民三大基层构成。大家是否还记得高中历史书上的法国大革命的图片。这些就是所谓的estate of the realm;
近代新闻记者自成一个势力,则是传统三大阶层以外的第四阶层,称为fourth estate,有人把它译为第四权。
full of beans 不是到处都是豆子,是精力充沛
bean 通常指四季豆,大概是豆子营养丰富的原因,所以full of beans 意为精力充沛。不过在美国俚语中另有“错误连篇”的意思。
gray matter 不是灰色的东西
是大脑皮层表面的灰质……
大脑里面是白质也就是 white matter
green bean 不是绿豆,是四季豆
hard shoulder 不是硬肩膀, 是路肩
headhunt 不再是从前食人族的猎头陋习,而是当前流行的“挖角”行为
heavy duty 不是责任重大,是耐用
hobby horse 不是爱马,是别人早就听腻、自己却乐此不彼的话题
hobby一般译为嗜好,但其实跟中文的嗜好有些不同。hobby必须是正面的,花时闲去培养的休闲活动,看电视、逛街都不算。骑马horseback riding 可算是一种hobby,但hobby horse 与马无关,是别人早就听腻了的,自己却乐此不彼、老爱谈起的话题。
industrial action 不是工业行动, 是罢工之类的手段
labour of love 不是为情所困,是为了兴趣嗜好而无怨无悔做的事
milk run 不是牛奶用光了,是旅行搭的飞机或火车停很多站,非直达或者直飞
有别于直飞或直达,停靠好几站载客的飞机或火车,就像milkman一天要跑好多地方一样,所以叫做milk run。另外,英国有所谓的milk round。是指大公司每年到各大学征才的活动。大概就是招聘会。
moonshine 不一定是月光,也指私酒,或馊主意
mug shot 不是被马克杯击中,拍照存档
mug现在被译为马克杯。18世纪初英国流行怪异面孔装饰造型的马克杯,因此mug遂有“面孔”的意思。歹徒被捕后到警察局 get a mug shot,指拍照
on the couch 不一定是坐在沙发上,是看心理医师
couch就是sofa,看心理医师的时候,病人躺下来谈话的长椅也叫couch,所以 on the couch也就有看心理医师的意思。Spending months on the couch delving into childhood traumas.
是“花几个月看心理医师,探索童年的心灵创伤”的意思。
free shipping 不是免费“偷渡”,而是免费邮寄
              1.词汇类
    lover 情人(不是“爱人”)
    busboy 餐馆勤杂工(不是“公汽售票员”)
    busybody 爱管闲事的人(不是“大忙人”)
    dry goods (美)纺织品;(英)谷物(不是“干货”)
    heartman 换心人(不是“有心人”)
    mad doctor 精神病科医生(不是“发疯的医生”)
    eleventh hour 最后时刻(不是“十一点”)
    blind date (由第三者安排的)男女初次会面(并非“盲目约会”或“瞎约会”)
    dead president 美钞(上印有总统头像)(并非“死了的总统”) ...[
personal remark 人身攻击(不是“个人评论”)
    sweet water 淡水(不是“糖水”或“甜水”)
    confidence man 骗子(不是“信得过的人”)
    criminal lawyer 刑事律师(不是“犯罪的律师”)
    service station 加油站(不是“服务站”)
    rest room 厕所(不是“休息室”)
    dressing room 化妆室(不是“试衣室”或“更衣室”)
    sporting house 妓院(不是“体育室”)
    horse sense 常识(不是“马的感觉”)
    capital idea 好主意(不是“资本主义思想”)
familiar talk 庸俗的交谈(不是“熟悉的谈话”)
    black tea 红茶(不是“黑茶”)
    black art 妖术(不是“黑色艺术”)
    black stranger 完全陌生的人(不是“陌生的黑人”)
    white coal (作动力来源用的)水(不是“白煤”)
    white man 忠实可靠的人(不是“皮肤白的人”)
    yellow book 黄皮书(法国政府报告书,以黄纸为封)(不是“黄色书籍”)
    red tape 官僚习气(不是“红色带子”)
green hand 新手(不是“绿手”)
    blue stocking 女学者、女才子(不是“蓝色长统袜”)
    China policy 对华政策(不是“中国政策”)
    Chinese dragon 麒麟(不是“中国龙”)
    American beauty 红蔷薇(不是“美国美女”)
    English disease 软骨病(不是“英国病”)
    Indian summer 愉快宁静的晚年(不是“印度的夏日”)
    Greek gift 害人的礼品(不是“希腊礼物”)
    Spanish athlete 吹牛的人(不是“西班牙运动员”)
    French chalk 滑石粉(不是“法国粉笔”)
2.成语类
    pull one's leg 开玩笑(不是“拉后腿”)
    in one's birthday suit 赤身裸体(不是“穿着生日礼服”)
    eat one's words 收回前言(不是“食言”)
    an apple of love 西红柿(不是“爱情之果”)
    handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆(不是“大字报”)
    bring down the house 博得全场喝彩(不是“推倒房子”)
    have a fit 勃然大怒(不是“试穿”)
  make one's hair stand on end 令人毛骨悚然—恐惧(不是“令人发指——气愤”)
    be taken in 受骗,上当(不是“被接纳”)
    think a great deal of oneself 高看或看重自己(不是“为自己想得很多”)
    pull up one's socks 鼓起勇气(不是“提上袜子”)
    have the heart to do (用于否定句)忍心做……不是“有心做”或“有意做”)
3.表达方式类
    Look out! 当心!(不是“向外看”)
    What a shame! 多可惜!真遗憾!(不是“多可耻”)
    You don't say! 是吗!(不是“你别说”)
    You can say that again! 说得好!(不是“你可以再说一遍”)
    I haven't slept better. 我睡得好极了。(不是“我从未睡过好觉”)
    You can't be too careful in your work. 你工作越仔细越好。(不是“你工作不能太仔细”)
    It has been 4 years since I smoked. 我戒烟4年了。(不是“我抽烟4年了”)
All his friends did not turn up. 他的朋友没全到。(不是“他的朋友全没到”)
    People will be long forgetting her. 人们在很长时间内会记住她的。(不是“人们会永远忘记她”)
    He was only too pleased to let them go. 他很乐意让他们走。(不是“他太高兴了,不愿让他们走”)
    It can't be less interesting. 它无聊极了。(不是“它不可能没有趣”)
容易翻译错的45句
1. The house is really A-1.
(误译)那间房子的门牌确实是A-1号。
(正译)那间房子确实是一流的。
2.He bought a baker’s dozen of biscuits.
(误译)他买了面包师做的12块饼干。
(正译)他买了13块饼干。
3.A bull of Bashan woke the sleeping child with his noise.
(误译)贝兴的一头公牛弄醒了那个酣睡的孩子。
(正译)一个大嗓门的人把那个酣睡的孩子吵醒了。
4.He was a cat in the pan.
(误译)他是盘子中的一只猫。
(正译)他是个叛徒。
5.A cat may look at a king.
(误译)一只猫都可以看到国王。
(正译)小人物也该有同等权利。
6.Even a hair of dog didn’t make him feel better.
(误译)即使一根狗毛也不会使他觉得好些。
(正译)即使是再喝解宿醉的一杯酒,也不会使他觉得好些。
7.Is he a Jonah?
(误译)他就是叫约拿吗?
(正译)他是带来厄运的人吗?
8.Jim is fond of a leap in the dark.
(误译)吉姆喜欢在黑暗处跳跃。
(正译)吉姆喜欢冒险行事。
9.A little bird told me the news.
(误译)一只小鸟将此消息告诉我。
(正译)消息灵通的人士将此消息告诉我。
10.Angela is a man of a woman.
(误译)安吉拉是个有妇之夫。
(正译)安吉拉是个像男人的女人。

11.Nellie is a man of his word.
(误译)内莉是他所说的那个人。
(正译)内莉是个守信用的人。
12.He paid a matter of 1000 yuan.
(误译)他付了1000元的货物账。
(正译)他大约付了1000元。
13.It is a nice kettle of fish! I have a stomachache.
(误译)这是一锅好鱼,(可惜)我胃痛。
(正译)真糟糕,我胃痛了。
14.She is a nose of wax.
(误译)她的鼻子是腊制的义鼻。
(正译)她没有主见。
15.Glen spent a small fortune on a tour round the world.
(误译)格伦花了一笔小钱周游世界。
(正译)格伦花了巨资周游世界。
16.He is very glad that his wife’s going to get a visit from the stork.
(误译)他为她的妻子将获得参观鹳鸟的机会感到非常高兴。
(正译)他为妻子即将生孩子感到非常高兴。
17.Archibaid was a whale at fishing in his young days.
(误译)阿奇比德年轻时捕鱼捕到了一条鲸鱼。
(正译)阿奇比德年轻时擅长捕鱼。
18.Is there a world of difference between Kenneth and Louie?
(误译)肯尼斯和路易是生活在不同的世界吗?
(正译)肯尼斯和路易之间有极大的不同吗?
19.The ABC hopes to settle in China.
(误译)那个美国广播公司希望在中国设立公司。
(误译)那个在美国土生土长的华裔希望在中国定居。
20.Bruce was taken up above the salt.
(误译)布鲁斯坐在盐上。
(正译)布鲁斯被请坐上席。
21.These commercial transactions are aboveboard.
(误译)这些商业交易是在船上进行的。
(正译)这些商业交易是光明磊落的。
22.Colin is absent in Shanghai.
(误译)科林现在不在上海。
(正译)克林去上海了,不在这里。
23.I only use Accent for soup.
(误译)我只须强调做汤。
(正译)我只在做汤时加味精。
24.We should call him Adam.
(误译)我们应该把他叫做亚当。
(正译)我们应该叫他的名字。
25.Donna can sing after a fashion.
(误译)唐纳能唱时代歌曲。
(正译)唐纳多少能唱一些歌。
26.Her opinion is all my eye.
(误译)她的主张也完全是我的观点。
(正译)她的主张是胡说八道。
27.Bess ate all of six fruit cakes.
(误译)贝丝吃光了所有的六块水果蛋糕。
(正译)贝丝足足吃了六块蛋糕。
28.All the world and his wife were so kind to Marlin.
(误译)全世界和他的妻子都对马林这么好。
(正译)人人都对马林这么好。
29.Mr. Smith is an American China trader.
(误译)史密斯先生是一个美籍华裔商人。
(正译)史密斯先生是一个做对华贸易的美国商人。
30.These youths are full of animal spirits.
(误译)这些年轻人充满动物精神。
(正译)这些年轻人充满活力。
31.Jim is discussing anything under the sun with Paula.
(误译)吉姆和葆拉在阳光下讨论问题。
(正译)吉姆与葆拉海阔天空,无所不谈。
32.Why is Merry like April weather?
(误译)为什么梅里好像四月天气?
(正译)为什么梅里喜怒无常?
33.The bank is open around the clock.
(误译)那家银行准时营业。
(正译)那家银行24小时营业。
34.Bath Festival is just around the corner.
(误译)巴斯音乐节就在那个拐角周围举行。
(正译)巴斯音乐节即将到来。
35.The child is as good as gold.
(误译)这个孩子像黄金那样宝贵。
(正译)这个孩子很乖。
36.Mr. Norman will help you, as likely as not.
(误译)诺曼先生不可能帮助你。
(正译)诺曼先生很可能会帮助你。
37.I am as old again as you.
(误译)我又像你那样老了。
(正译)我的年纪比你大一倍。
38.Tom asked after you.
(误译)汤姆在后面叫你。
(正译)汤姆问候你。
39.The escaped prisoner is still at large.
(误译)那个逃犯罪行仍然很大。
(正译)那个逃犯仍逍遥法外。
40.Gary spoke at length about the bridge.
(误译)加里讲述了那座桥的长度。
(正译)吉里详细地讲述了那座桥的事。
41.Gordon is at once modest and clever.
(误译)戈等立即显得聪明和谦逊。
(正译)戈登即聪明又谦逊。
42.Why did Berk have a good laugh at Allan’s expense?
(误译)为什么伯克大笑艾伦的花费?
(正译)为什么伯克对艾伦大加嘲笑?
43.Carrie never changes her mind at pleasure.
(误译)卡里从来不会高高兴兴地改变主意。
(正译)卡里从不随意改变主意。
44.He has athlete’s foot.
(误译)他的一只脚长得像运动员的脚一样。
(正译)他患香港脚。
45.Your august father is my friend.
(误译)你父亲八月份成为我的朋友。
(正译)令尊是我的朋友。
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32#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-24 04:14:19 | 只看该作者
《英汉翻译教程》


第一章 总论

  翻译是运用一种语言把另一种语言所表达的思维内容准确完整地重新表达出来的语言活动。
(张培基等 1983)
  我国早期典籍《周礼·秋官司寇》篇里就有“象胥”(谓 ...
般若白莲 发表于 13-1-24 02:05



  常用的翻译参考词典:
  《英汉大词典》陆谷孙 上海译文出版社
  《新时代汉英大词典》吴景荣 程镇球 商务印书馆 较权威
  《英汉美英报刊词典》周学艺 外语教学与研究出版社
  《英语姓名译名手册》商务印书馆
  《外国地名译名手册》商务印书馆
  《当代英语习语大辞典》秦秀白 天津科学技术出版社 外语教学与研究出版社
  《牛津高级双解词典》商务印书馆
  《美国俚语大全》中国对外翻译出版公司
  《汉英外事工作常用词汇》外文出版社
  《当代英汉搭配词典》现代出版社(台湾)建宏出版社
  当然,现在除了工具书,因特网也是一个重要的信息资源。善于利用因特网查询资料,既快捷,又方便,而且,能够查到最新的资料,在工具书无奈时,因特网可以起到工具书无法比的作用。当然,同样也有个使用方法的问题。网络上的东西虽多,但可谓鱼龙混杂,仅供参考,不可全信,要善于分析、判断。这里不妨提供一些网站,供参考:
Google网 http://www.google.com
中国翻译网 http://www.chinatranslate.net
译丛 http://www.renditions.org
百科全书 http:// www.encyclopedia.com
词典 http://dictionary.reference.com
金桥译港世界通 http://www.netat.net
中国日报
http://language.chinadaily.com.cn/vocabulary.shtml
新华网 http://xinhuanet.com
英语比萨园地 http://epizza.nease.net/
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33#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-24 04:48:52 | 只看该作者
通宵整理了一小部分口笔译培训资料,原本受伤的手指忙得忘记了疼痛,最后也差点累得手抽筋儿了……
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34#
发表于 13-1-24 04:50:05 | 只看该作者
太有用了!
我需要10年时间来消化这些好东西!
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35#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-24 05:06:10 | 只看该作者
本帖最后由 般若白莲 于 13-1-24 05:08 编辑
太有用了!
我需要10年时间来消化这些好东西!
Charlie Z. Song 发表于 13-1-24 04:50



还有很多,有的格式的文档在U盘里能看,在百度网盘里看不了,HTML格式的暂时也不能很完好地复制过来,我先复制了一些DOC和写字板文本文档格式的。

还有很多电子书以及类似电子书那种不能复制的,暂时还不知道怎么弄上来分享。

所以考虑哪天把口笔译培训资料的压缩包上传上来,供喜欢翻译的朋友学习参考。
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36#
发表于 13-1-24 05:14:18 | 只看该作者
通宵整理了一小部分口笔译培训资料,原本受伤的手指忙得忘记了疼痛,最后也差点累得手抽筋儿了……
般若白莲 发表于 13-1-24 04:48


白莲战友多保重。。。。
来日方长啊。。。
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37#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-24 05:29:15 | 只看该作者
白莲战友多保重。。。。
来日方长啊。。。
Charlie Z. Song 发表于 13-1-24 05:14



没事的,只是手指也有些疼。要不我现在就把压缩包传上来吧。过些天该回老家过春节了,不能用电脑,只能用手机上空间,上不了论坛。
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38#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-24 05:34:31 | 只看该作者
看了一下,不知道怎么上传,慢慢来吧,还是~ :)
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39#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-25 17:26:30 | 只看该作者
谁学法语?

Je vais vous touché
Je serai toujours dans


真爱一生,不离不弃?


                  ——这样译如何?
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40#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-25 17:39:18 | 只看该作者
后天回家,之后至少有半个月时间不能上网,预祝大家春节快乐,吉祥如意!
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41#
发表于 13-1-25 23:10:32 | 只看该作者
谢谢白莲战友的辛勤劳作!
祝过年好!
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42#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-26 16:07:46 | 只看该作者
谢谢白莲战友的辛勤劳作!
祝过年好!
Charlie Z. Song 发表于 13-1-25 23:10


不客气, 再来看看,春节后再见~
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43#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-26 17:16:38 | 只看该作者
法语学习网站大全


2013-1-26 00:08 阅读(0)  转载自可蕙










(1)  首先当然是大家都知道的法国国际广播电台:  http://www.rfi.fr/  
(2)  法国电台:http://www.radiofrance.fr   
     
(3)  官方经贸网  http://www.economie.gouv.fr/
(4)  亲亲FM调频音乐电台:  http://www.cheriefm.fr/

         
(5)  一家私营的电台,还不错:http://www.rtl.fr/  
Puis,  在线报刊:
(1) 每天必读的《世界报》:  http://www.lemonde.fr/   
(2) 《解放报》:http://www.liberation.fr/  
(3) 法国第一大报《法国西部报》:  www.ouest-france.fr
(4) 经济类第一大报刊《回声》:  http://www.lesechos.fr/   
(5) 经济类第二大报刊《论坛报》:  http://www.latribune.fr/  
(6) 金融的报刊《资本报》:  http://www.capital.fr/      
(7) 最大的周刊《新观察家报》: http://permanent.nouvelobs.com   
(8) 《快报》:http://www.lexpress.fr/info/  
(9) 《观点》:http://www.lepoint.fr/sommaire.html  
(10) 《今日巴黎人》:http://www.leparisien.fr/home/index.htm   
(11) 最大的娱乐周刊《电视明星周刊》:  http://www.telestar.fr/   
(12) 体育新闻最畅销的《队报》:  http://www.telestar.fr/  
(13) 天,忘了一个最有名的《费加罗报》呵呵:www.lefigaro.fr   

Enfin,c'est  在线电台:
(1)  法国一台:http://www.tf1.fr/   
(2) 法国二台:http://www.france2.fr/   
(3) 法国三台:http://www.france3.fr/  
(4) 国际教育5台:http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/programmes/accueil_continent.php  
(5) 有名的私营电视台M6:http://www.m6.fr/   

法广中文网:
http://www.rfi.fr/chinoiscn/actu/pages/001/HomeChinois.asp

还有兴趣的话,可以继续试一下面这些


- 法国广播音乐电台  
http://www.radiofrance.fr/

- 法国新闻广播电台 France Info  
http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-info/accueil/
这个电台是以播报新闻为主, 每隔7分钟就会重覆一次, 对於学法语的学员是个训练听力的好机会.

- 法国文化广播电台 France Culture  
http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-culture2/sommaire/
此电台会针对一些主题进行访问或介绍, 节目具有一定的水准, 对法文程度好的人, 不仅可以训练  
听力, 还可以拓展知识领域.

- 法国音乐广播电台 France Musiques  
http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-musiques/direct/
以古典音乐为主.

- 法国音乐广播电台 Chérie FM  
http://www.cheriefm.fr/web/index.php?popup_HP=1
NRJ
http://www.nrj.fr
以法国流行歌曲为主, 有时也会播放一些英文歌. 整点时会有新闻播报.

- 法国音乐广播电台 RFM  
http://www.rfm.fr/home/index_home.php
同上, 差别只是播放的歌曲及电台的风格不同. C'est à vous de voir

- 加拿大广播电台Radio Canada  
http://radio-canada.ca/radio/
加拿大也讲法语, 听听看有何不同!!

2. 法语学习网站

- 法语发音  
http://phonetique.free.fr/indexphoncons.htm
可测试自己是否能分辨出法语音标间的差别, 是有声的, 很好玩!!

- 简易法语  
http://lexiquefle.free.fr/
有一些实用的法语字汇及会话, 互动式教学, 相信初学者会喜欢.

- Accord (méthode de français)
http://www.didieraccord.com/

- 初级练习
http://www.didieraccord.com/Accord1/dossier1/
"Accord" 是法语学习的教材, 入它的网站有自我学习及订正的练习, 对於写作是一个练习的好机  
会.

- 主题学习  
http://babelnet.sbg.ac.at/canalreve/bravo/index2.htm
站内依主题分, 共八个单元, 每个单元内又分会话, 字汇及写作. 会话的部份有小影片辅助教学,  
生动活泼. 此网站比较适合已有法语基础者.

- 进阶练习  
http://www.didierbravo.com/html/jeux/index.htm
法语程度不错者, 可进入挑战.

- BBC  
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/index.shtml
实用法语课程互动式学习

- 用画学习及运用法语  
http://peinturefle.free.fr/
不仅可以学到法文, 还可以欣赏到一些名画. 很棒的一个网站.

- Polar FLE  
http://www.polarfle.com/

- 法语多媒体教学网站  
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/index.html
法英对照, 有许多实用字汇及影音, 初学者可多加利用.

- 法语动词变化  
http://www.hku.hk/french/starters/lexis/fiche06_verb1.htm
法语动词变化很难但也很重要, 希望这个网站对学员们能有所帮助.

3. 法语电视新闻网站:
法国的目前的XXXXX电视台一共有五个:TF1,FRANCE2,FRANCE3,ARTE5,M6

- http://www.tf1.fr/
- http://www.france2.fr/
- http://www.france3.fr/
- http://www.arte-tv.com/fr/70.html
- http://www.m6.fr

4. 想取个法文名字吗? 可进入此网站查查
- http://www.prenom.com/

5. 法文歌曲歌词 :
- http://www.paroles.net/
- http://www.lexode.com/keskidi/artiste-523-30-titre.html

法国儿歌欣赏 :有歌词及歌唱语音播放. 相信学法语的您很快就可以朗朗上口.
- http://ste-therese.nbed.nb.ca/nosprojets/chansonsenfantines/recueil.htm

6. 小王子法文版网站 :
- http://galeb.etf.bg.ac.yu/mp/mp/pp.html

7. 法国国铁 SNCF 网路订票 : 想将您所学的订票用语运用在实务中吗? 进去试试吧 !! -http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_TMS=1081827442774&_DLG=SvHomePage&_LANG=FR&_AGENCY=VSC

9. 中文法文直译网站:
- http://www.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html
请选择中文(simplified),对基本翻译还不错,长篇的就需要修改了  

中文 法文直译网站
http://www.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html

法语动词变为系统
http://www.sixpourcent.com/cn601.htm

推荐一个小语种学习网,其中有法语,很好的哦

http://www.languageguide.org/

里面的法语单词都分门别类的
还图文并茂
法语单词读音也很好听也~~~
可以学到很多基本的法语单词!

CCTV的法语频道可以在网上直接看

原来CCTV的法语频道可以在网上直接看的,我到现在才发现。内容还挺多的。
大家仔细找找还有法语音乐什么的,也可以在线看。
http://fr.cctv.com/francais/03/index.shtml

http://fr.cctv.com/francais/
这个是首页。
http://fr.cctv.com/program/journal/02/07/index.shtml
这个是可以在线观看的,速度还不错。
顺便在讲一下,不知道是我浏览器的原因,还是什么原因,浏览CCTV的东西要刷新两三次
全是免费的资源,音像,影像,文本教程一应俱全,有法语,西班牙语,德语还有意大利语。英语解说。


法语: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/

西班牙语: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/

学法语的网站,很不错的,英法对照噢
http://bbc.co.uk/languages

很多法语视频

还有很多音乐,电影片段
http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/programmes/accueil_continent.php  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/最好的该算是 BBC 的 French Steps  
当然,这需要你有一定的英语基础,
毕竟这是人家英国人学法语的网站,
用flash做的,全对话场景教学,并有配套教材供下载
中国国际广播电台 法语频道
http://fr.chinabroadcast.cn/  

中法文化年  
http://www.anneedelachine.org/pre_home.htm  

中国网 法语频道
http://www.china.org.cn/french/index.htm

French Tutorial - http://www.frenchtutorial.com/  
英法双语,有语音,讲解系统、简单明了~~可打包下载~~强烈推荐

Tex's French Grammar - http://www.lamc.utexas.edu/tex/
有很基础的法语语法讲解和练习 只要在这里坚持做,一天一点点 会有很大进步


法国国际广播电台的官方网站,左侧 la langue francaise很好的,有文稿,是每日新闻,声音文件可以下载!

还有后起之秀  http://www.fayuqu.com 法语区
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44#
 楼主| 发表于 13-1-26 17:21:51 | 只看该作者
本帖最后由 般若白莲 于 13-1-26 17:26 编辑

令人拍案的妙译

2013-1-26  01:34 阅读(24) 转载自 查红玉






  在笔者学习翻译的过程中,不时发现一些令人砰然心动,不禁拍案称奇的妙译。


  众所周知,“俱乐部”是根据英语 club而来的音译词,现在已不知出自谁人之手。开始并不觉得有何高明,一日,读到《孟子》中的“独乐乐,与人乐乐,熟乐?”,又联想到英语谚语,“The true joy of the joys is the joy that joys in the joy of others”,才感到“俱乐部”这一音译词真是精美绝伦,必是译者呕心沥血的结晶。其它音译词诸如,把饮料Coca Cola译成“可口可乐”,把空想的美好王国Utopia译成“乌托邦”,把英国皇家辉煌宏伟的宫殿Buckingham Palace译成“白金汉宫”,我们不能不为译者的奇思妙想而感叹。


  一般认为,原文中使用了修辞格,翻译起来就格外困难,有时甚至是不可译的。有这样一个著名的句子: Able was I ere I saw Elba. 据说这是1814年各国联军攻陷巴黎后,拿破仑被放逐到地中海的厄尔巴(Elba)荒岛时所写。这是一个回文句。从左到右与从右到左的字母排列一样。

  钱歌川先生虽给出译文“我在看到厄尔巴岛之前曾是强有力的”,但同时又承认,该译文失去了原文的“妙味”。

  许渊冲先生在《翻译之艺术》也提供了两种译文:

  不见棺材不掉泪

  不到俄岛我不倒

  两位先生都是翻译界的大家,但是,译文都没有再现原文的形貌突出特征,因而无法充分体现出原文的神韵。有人这样翻译:

  落败孤岛孤败落

  顺念倒念意思完全相同,字也完全一样,是一个地道的回文句,且具有一定的寓意。我们不能不佩服译者的精巧构思

  真正见功夫的翻译是文学的翻译。原文是经典名著,或出自名家,书中一字一句总关情,都是作者呕心沥血的结晶,译者倘若功力不够,随意译出,则好比毛延寿画王昭君,把好端端一个美女描绘成丑八怪,可真是冤哉枉也。


  马克·吐温有一句名言:It was a splendid populationfor all the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths stayed at home.


  在这个句子里,作者用了五个头韵词(Alliteration)与前面的splendid呼应,词义色彩则正好相反,造成了强烈的诙谐和幽默的效果。一般说来,谐音押韵,如头韵,尾韵等的修辞效果是“不可译”的,因为翻译时不得不照顾词义,而破坏了韵律与声调。虽然汉语有双声和叠韵,但把这句中的slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths stayed五个词的头韵翻译出来,几乎是不可能的。

  我见过的译文有以下三种:


  1) 这是一批卓越能干的人民——因为所有这些行动迟缓、瞌睡稀稀、呆如树懒的人都留在家乡了。 (余立三 译)


  2) 那是一批卓越的人——因为那些慢慢吞吞、昏昏沉沉、反映迟钝、形如树懒的人留在了家乡。 (杨莉藜 译)


  3) 这是一批卓越能干的人民——因为那些行动迟缓、头脑迟钝、睡眼惺忪、呆如树懒的人留在了家乡。(章和升 译)

  三个译文虽然有不少可取之处,但作为一句名言,在音、形、意、神方面还有很大差距,总觉得有不能令人满意的地方。后来偶然读到马红军先生对此的译文:


  (出来的) 这帮人个个出类拔萃——因为凡是呆板、呆滞、呆头呆脑的呆子都呆在了家里。



  译者用五个“呆”字,翻译出了五个押s字母的头韵词,真可谓巧夺天工,我不由拍案称妙。


  美国富兰克林可称一代语言大师,在其诸多妙语中,翻译界议论最多的是那个妙用两个hang的句子,即富兰克林在《独立宣言》上签名时说的那句话:

  If we don’t hang together, we shall most assuredly hang separately.


  我们见到的,并认为不错的译文有以下4种:


  1) 咱们要不摽到一块儿,保准会吊到一块儿。


  2) 我们不紧紧抱在一起,准保会吊在一起。


  3) 如果我们不能紧密地团结在一起,那就必然分散地走上绞刑台。


  4) 我们不紧紧团结一致,必然一个个被人绞死。


  我们把译文和原文作一比较就会感到,原文掷地有声,意味深长,使人过目不忘,玩笑的口吻中透着严肃诙谐,具有名言警句的特征。译文1)和2)过于口语化,特别是译文1),用了北京方言“摽”字,感觉不到警策之力,反而有一点油腔滑调,因而语言档次不够,也不像出自领袖之口,尤其不适宜引用。后两句译文过于平淡,上下句联系不够自然、紧凑,在力度上与原文也有很大的差距。

  后来笔者读到了这样的译文:


  5) 我们必须共同上战场,否则就得分别上刑场。


  6) 我们必须共赴沙场,否则就得分赴法场。




  这两个译文就其修辞效果,语言风格,以及深层含义都和原文比较接近。特别是其中两个hang,用两个“场”体现出来,更是神工鬼斧。这两个译文可谓是富兰克林那句名言的妙译


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