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中国式英语之最经典100句赏读

http://www.sina.com.cn 2009年09月03日 10:55   新浪教育

  [误] Pepple around here all feel that he has affairs outside his own marriage。

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

  注:affair 本身就指“私通”或“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 seriousy, she is the pearl on her father's hand at home。

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

  注:中英文常用不同的喻体表明相同的喻义,“掌上明珠”与 the apple of one's eye 就是一个很好的例子。这种情况我们一般应尊重各国文化和习俗,翻译时取目的语的固定说法,而不必直译,这有助于将意思更有效地传达给读者。the apple of one's eye 源自圣经《旧约》,当时人们用 apple 指人的瞳孔。尽管瞳孔现在已经用 pupil 来表示,不再是 apple 了,但这一用法却延续了下来。

  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。

  注:原文的“资本”是借喻,实际指“可以依靠并取得成功的手段”。而英语的 capital 指 money used to produce more wealth or for starting a business,并没有中文那样的引申意思。所以,这里的“资本”不能与 capital 画等号。也有人用 advantage 来翻译“资本”,虽然不尽意,但至少可以让读者理解。

  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。

  注:英语的 resting-place 虽然有“休息处”的意思,但更经常的是用来指“坟墓”,即“最后安息之处”。因此,把公共场所的“休息处”译为 resting-place 不很合适。也有人将它译为 rest-room,但那更不妥当,因为英语中的 rest-room 是“厕所”的委婉说法,而“休息处”不是这个意思。

  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。

  注:第一句只表明“他常到我这儿来白吃白喝”,但朋友这间那种亲密关系没有体现出来。而 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.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。

  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。

  注:So it is 的意思是“的确如此”,它是用来表示对对方观点的赞同的。例如:

  A: It is a fine day today!

  B: So it is。

  而在表达恍然大悟时,英文要用 So that's how it is 或 So that explains it, 或更简单地道的说法 Oh, I see。

  25. 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。

  注:shameful 通常指某事物是“可耻的,丢脸的”,而 shameless 表示 having or showing no feeling of shame; immodest or impudent,它一般用来指人“不知羞耻的,不要脸的”或“伤风败俗的”。原文也可译为:It's shameful that the woman should flirt with her best friend's husband。

  26. 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。

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