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对中式英语Say "No"(2) <img src="/data/attachement/jpg/site1/20150401/00221910dbb41685ad3313.jpg" border="0" />

网络 2015-04-01 11:30

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上一期的Chinglish小伙伴们都纠正了么?今天小编再次给大家敲敲警钟,下面的表达学起来。

1. 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,它在英语中有现成的说法,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。

2. 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。

3. 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。

4. 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。

5. 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.

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。

6. 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!

7. 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。

8. 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。Lounge指in a hotel, club, or other public place, a room where people can sit and relax,正是“休息室”之意。

9. 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。

10. 我们俩关系最好,他经常来我这儿蹭饭吃。

[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。

(来源:网络 编辑:刘明)

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