冯庆华《汉英翻译基础教程》笔记和课后习题(含考研真题)详解
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2.3 翻译示例汇总

一、对等译法

例1:

例2:

【解析】green bean其实是指“青豆,嫩豆,四季豆”,与粮食作物“绿豆”绝非同种;living room意为“客厅”;to have a fit是“发脾气”的意思,与“试穿”风马牛不相及;eat one’s words与“食言”也是貌合神离,它用来指“收回前言,认错道歉”;tomato sauce确有其物,但与番茄酱(一般叫ketchup)不同,是吃意大利面或匹萨时使用的调味酱;sour milk是变质而发酵的牛奶,而非“一种略带酸味的、发过酵的半流体牛奶食品”;to have/wear a green bonnet与“戴绿帽子”差之千里,其意为“破产”;而yellow book与色情毫无关系,乃“政府发表的报告书,一般用黄色封皮”,俗称“黄皮书”;“高等学校”指大学,而high school则为美国的中学,差了一级。

例3:

【解析】汉语中“农民”词义中性,而peasant在英语中带贬义,有“未受教育的人;没有礼貌的人”之意,farmer则比较中性(虽然与“农民”依然有差异);“宣传”与propaganda看似同义,其实后者常带有“欺骗性宣传”之意,具有贬义色彩,一般需采用中性词语publicity;“物美价廉”的商品质量是有保证的,但cheap则往往有质量低劣之嫌,使人想起假冒伪劣商品;“红光满面”不仅仅是脸色红润,更主要是指“身体健康,精力充沛”,而red face只能表明某人因为“不好意思”而脸色发红,甚至会令人联想到病态;这里的“气管炎”不是指疾病本身,而是喻指“怕老婆的男人”。

例4:

例5:

你们偶然看见一棵花生瑟缩地长在地上,不能立刻辨出它有没有果实,非得等到你接触它才能知道。

【译文】When you come upon a peanut plant lying curled up on the ground, you can never tell whether or not it bears any nuts until you dig it up.

例6:

◇博而不精extensive in knowledge but not expert in any particular field

◇看风使舵to watch how the wind blows and steer the rudder accordingly

◇脚踏实地with one’s foot on the ground

◇狡兔三窟a cunning hare has three warrens

◇既往不咎let bygones be bygones

◇寄人篱下to live under somebody’s roof

◇灰心丧气to lose heart

◇沧海一粟a drop in the ocean

◇冷眼旁观to watch on the side-line with a cold stare

例7:

◇趁热打铁Strike while the iron is hot.

◇滴水穿石Constant dropping wears the stone.

◇留得青山在,不怕没柴烧。As long as green hills remain, there will never be a shortage of firewood.

◇路遥知马力,日久见人心。As distance tests a horse’s strength, so time reveals a person’s heart.

◇他是不到黄河不死心。He would not stop until he reached the Yellow River—to give up until all his hope was gone.

二、增词译法

例1:增补冠词

(1)冬天是研究树木生长的最好的季节。虽则树叶落了,树枝光了,但树木本身却是美丽的。

【译文】Winter is the best time to study the growth of trees. Although the leaves are gone and the branches are bare, the trees themselves are beautiful.

【解析】汉语中没有冠词,但是在英语中,名词前面是一般都要有修饰词,其中冠词做修饰词是最普遍的现象。因此译文中出现了很多定冠词the,来表示泛指。

(2)他在那个大学里任语文教员。

【译文】He worked as a language teacher in that university.

【解析】在这里译文中的冠词表示类别。

(3)他抓住了小偷的衣服。

【译文】He seized the pickpocket by the collar.

【解析】seize/catch somebody by the ...或hit somebody in the face/on the head是英语中的习惯用法,因此collar前的the一般不能改成his。类似的习惯用法还有play the piano等。

例2:增补介词

(1)公共场所禁止吸烟。

【译文】Smoking is prohibited in public places.

(2)明天坐车去公园。

【译文】we are going to the park by bus tomorrow.

(3)温哥华则更是世界上屈指可数的多民族城市。

【译文】Vancouver is, in particular, one of the few metropolises with many ethnic groups in the world.

(4)中国是一个幅员广大、历史悠久的大国。

【译文】China is a great country with a vast territory and a long history.

(5)我们应当逐步消灭城乡差别。

【译文】we should gradually eliminate the differences between town and country.

(6)这些图片,你们四个人分。

【译文】Divide these pictures among the four of you.

例3:增补作主语的代词

(1)要形成一种制度,确保领导班子年轻化、知识化、专业化。

【译文】We should institute a system to ensure that a younger, better-educated and more professional leadership is maintained.

(2)学习外国的经验,必须有分析、有批判地学,不能盲目地学。

【译文】We must learn foreign experience with an analytical and critical eye, not blindly.

(3)要解决问题,还须做系统而周密的调查研究工作。

【译文】In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to make a systematic and thorough investigation and study.

【解析】原文中没有出现主语,在译文中补充it作形式主语。

例4:增补物主代词

(1)她用手蒙住脸,好像是为了保护眼睛。

【译文】She covered her face with her hands as if to protect her eyes.

【解析】汉语句子为了简明起见,把原文的物主代词都省略了。为了获得更符合英语习惯的译文,一个比较简便的方法是我们在翻译前,先把相关的“空”填上,即把这些物主代词先补充上:她用(她的)手蒙住(她的)脸,好像是为了保护(她的)眼睛。这样,在翻译的过程中就不太容易忘记添加了。

(2)他走进屋里,大衣上尽是雪,鼻子冻得通红。

【译文】He entered the room, his coat covered with snow and his nose red with cold.

例5:增补反身代词

(1)扇扇子时我们感到很凉快。

【译文】We feel cool when we fan ourselves.

【解析】建议大家还是采用补足法,先把句子补充完整为:(我们)扇扇子时我们感到很凉快。英语加进来了一个反身代词是出于结构上来考虑的,fan后面一定要跟一个宾语,否则句子就可能不完整。

(2)他们躲起来了。

【译文】They hide themselves.

例6:增补作宾语的代词

(1)交出翻译之前,必须读几遍,看看有没有要修改的地方。

【译文】Before handing in your translation, you have to read it over and over again and see if there is anything in it to be corrected.

【解析】从译文中看到,增补了两个it,回到原文可以看出这两个it都是原文省略掉的用作宾语的代词。

(2)他越是想掩盖他的烂疮疤,就越会暴露。

【译文】The more he tried to hide his warts, the more he revealed them.

例7:增补动词

(1)金杯牌充气床垫工艺先进,结构新颖,造型美观,款式繁多,舒适大方,携带方便。

【译文】The “Golden Cup” Brand air-filled bed cushions are made in advanced technology. With novel structure, beautiful shape and various patterns, they are comfortable and convenient to carry.

(2)打字机物美价廉。

【译文】The typewriter is low in price and fine in quality.

例8:增补连词

(1)其实世界上本没有路,走的人多了,也便成了路。(鲁迅《故乡》)

【译文】For actually the earth had no roads to begin with, but when many men pass one way, a road is made.

【解析】在译文如果不加上to begin with,前后文的逻辑就不清楚;如果不加上but when,句子结构上就不通顺。这与汉语是意合句而英语是形合句的特点有很大关系,汉译英时需要符合英语逻辑。

(2)留得青山在,不怕没柴烧。

【译文】As long as the green mountains are here, one should not worry about the firewood.

【解析】译文中加上as long as,就把原文的条件关系表达清楚了。

(3)匪军所至,杀戮人民,奸淫妇女,焚毁村庄,掠夺财物,无所不用其极。

【译文】Whenever they went, they massacred and raped, burned and looted, and stopped at nothing.

【解析】加上了whenever这个条件状语,就把原文省略的这层逻辑关系讲清楚了。

例9:需增补原文中暗含的语义

(1)人民犯了法,也要受处罚,也要坐班房……(《毛泽东选集》四卷,第1413页)

【译文】When anyone among the people breaks the law, he too should be punished, imprisoned ...

【解析】“人民”是个集体名词,在这里当然并不指集体,而是指其中的某个人,所以如果这里简单地将“人民”译成the people的话,就讹大了,只有加上anyone among才能准确表达蕴涵之义。

(2)要提倡顾全大局。

【译文】We should advocate the spirit of taking the whole situation into consideration.

【解析】汉语“提倡顾全大局”,指的是一种“精神”。“精神”二字暗含在字里行间,不需言明。译成英语时,需要把这种暗含的意思表达出来,否则读者就不能理解。

例10:增补概括性词语

(1)如此大量的人员……是决不能持久的,是很危险的。

【译文】A situation in which such a large number of personnel ... cannot last long and is very dangerous.

(2)结婚大办酒席,实在可以免去了。

【译文】The practice of giving lavish feasts at wedding can well be dispensed with.

【解析】虽然原文中并没有出现“这些”“情况”“做法”等词眼,但从上下文中可以明显地看出这些意思。而且如果不添加这些词眼的话,句子也很难安排妥当。像“局势”“政策”等词语也往往在汉语中省略,译成英语也需要补足。

例11:增补注释性词语

(1)中国古代的四大发明曾经给古代世界的文化发展以巨大的推动。

【译文】The Four Great Inventions in ancient China, namely, paper, printing, the compass and gunpowder, greatly advanced ancient civilization of the world.

(2)清明节

【译文】the Brightness Day, a festival when Chinese traditionally pay homage to their ancestors.

(3)三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮。

【译文】Three cobblers with their wits combined would equal Chukeh Liang the mastermind.

三、减词译法

例1:

◇治安措施——security

◇整顿工作——check-up

◇经营情况——business

◇解决办法——solution

◇分配关系——distribution

◇灵活态度——flexibility

◇越轨行为——irregularities

◇摇摆局面——uncertainties

例2:

(1)他是在我不知道的情况下拿走它的。

【译文】He took it without my knowledge.

(2)逐步推进商业、外贸、金融、保险、证券、电信和中介服务等领域的对外开放。

【译文】Commerce, foreign trade, banking, insurance, securities, telecommunications and intermediary service should be gradually opened to the outside world.

例3:省略重复的词语

(1)我们从事了10多年的英语教学教学质量高,教学经验丰富,在世界各地有成功办学的范例。

【译文】We have over ten years of experience in teaching quality English and have successfully managed schools in different parts of the world.

【解析】原文一句话里,重复出现了三处“教学”,且出现了在英语语境里不适合的夸张词和范畴词。译文根据英语表达习惯,突出了信息功能,省去了冗余的信息,因而译文的可读性也大大增强。

(2)为了推动中美关系发展,中国需要进一步了解美国,美国也需要进一步了解中国。(《江泽民主席在哈佛大学的演讲》)

【译文】To promote the development of China-US relations, China needs to know the US better and vice versa.

【解析】如果把重复的部分译成China needs to know the US better and the US also needs to know China better,则难免造成罗嗦累赘的感觉,而通过使用vice versa这个功能词,就可以避免重复用词,使译文简洁。

(3)于是怒,赞美责备挑剔,首肯摇头。(2004年英语专业八级统考汉译英试题)

【译文】Consequently, your joy would give way to anger; your praises to criticism or even faultfinding; and your nodding in agreement to shaking the head.

【解析】原文中出现了三个动词“转……为……”,而在英译文中,只要有一个对应的动词give way to就可以了,后面的两个可以简化为to即可。这是出于译文简洁的需要而作的结构性调整。

(4)新中国的成立,标志着中华民族实现了空前的大团结。

【译文】The foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 marked an unprecedented great unity of the Chinese nation.

【解析】原文中“实现”这个动词所表达的意思,已经包含在原句的整体意思中,完全可以省去不译。

(5)我们必须坚持社会主义道路,坚持人民民主专政即无产阶级专政,坚持共产党领导,坚持马列主义、毛泽东思想。

【译文】We must adhere to the socialist road, the people’s democratic dictatorship (i.e. the dictatorship of the proletariat), the Communist Party’s leadership and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.

【解析】在英汉语中,都存在着一个及物动词同时带几个宾语的现象,但汉语为了强调,往往会重复动词(如例子中的“坚持”),而译成英语时,只需一个动词adhere to就够了。

例4:

毫无根据的诽谤slander

不应有的误解misunderstanding

胜利完成fulfill

圆满结束conclude

完全征服conquer

极为可耻shameful

例5:调整句法结构,省译某些词语

(1)他们从地上爬起来,揩干净身上的血迹,掩埋好同伴的尸首,他们又继续战斗了。(《毛泽东选集》第三卷,第1036页)

【译文】They picked themselves up, wiped off the blood, buried their fallen comrades and went into battle again.

【解析】对比原文,我们发现译文中的“身上”“尸首”“从地上”“他们”和“继续”都被省略了,因为在英文中这些都是属于不言而喻的词语,无需译出。

(2)中国政府郑重声明……

【译文】The Chinese government declared ...

【解析】原文中的“郑重”是为了表示强调,其本身没有多大的实际意义,译文中无需加译seriously,因为没有哪个政府的声明是开玩笑的。

(3)本书以56个民族为经线,28类风俗为纬线,把天时、人生、社会、经济、信仰、审美等民俗事项分成28个子系。

【译文】The book divides customs of the 56 Chinese nationalities into 28 categories such as seasons, living, society, economy, religions, aesthetic, tastes, etc.

【解析】汉语原文中,“经线”和“纬线”是一种形象的比喻,没有实质性意义,可删去。另外,“28类风俗为纬线”和“民俗事项分成28个子系”意义有重合之处。本句的主要信息是“(把)56个民族的风俗分为……28个子系”。通过提取句子主干,删去与语境不相符合的冗余信息,译文较好地达到了信息清晰语言简洁的目的。

(4)只有充分发展商品经济,才能把经济真正搞活,使各企业增加效率。

【译文】The development of a commodity economy is the only way to invigorate Our economy and prompt enterprise to raise their efficiency.

【解析】原文中的“充分”“真正”只是为了加强语气,并无实质性内涵,在译文中不必译出。

(5)人群渐渐地安静了下来。

【译文】The crowd came to silence.

(6)一座古塔阴森森地矗立在山腰上。

【译文】An ancient pagoda frowns on the mountainside.

(7)我的姐姐又因为我不爱整洁而向我唠叨地劝诫了。

【译文】My sister has been preaching at me again about my lack of neatness.

【解析】上述三例中的副词“渐渐地”“阴森森地”“唠叨地”都已经包含在动词came to、frowns、preach的含义之中了,所以不必赘译。

例6:

(1)但一部小说开掘得深不深,艺术和思想是否有过人之处,的确不在题材大小。(1995年英语专业八级统考汉译英考题)

【译文】But the depth of a novel, or the excellence of its artistry and idea, does not depend on whether it has a grand theme.

【解析】译文通过使用两个名词结构the depth of a novel和the excellence of its artistry and idea,避免了冗长的从句结构。

(2)推动农产品生产、加工和销售的有机结合。

【译文】We should integrate the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products.

【解析】integrate的语气较强,包括combine和so as to become fully a part of something else两层意思,与“有机结合”正好相配。

四、合并译法

例1:

◇贪官污吏——corrupt officials

◇土崩瓦解——fall apart

◇浓妆艳抹——heavily made up

◇深仇大恨——deep hatred

◇街谈巷议——street gossip

◇医德医风——medical ethics

例2:

(1)我国人民在中国共产党第十五次全国代表大会的精神鼓舞下,正沿着建设有中国特色的社会主义道路,满怀信心昂首阔步地迈向21世纪。

【译文】Inspired by the spirit of 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the people of China are advancing confidently towards the 21st Century along the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics.

【解析】“满怀信心”“昂首阔步”这两个成语是异词同义,它们合在一起其实表达的是同一个意思(自信的意思),其目的是为了渲染一种昂扬向上的气氛,但像“昂首阔步”这样的形象在英语里并没有与之相同的语用义,翻译时只把“满怀信心”这一概念表达出来即可。

(2)本公司生产的地毯美丽大方光彩夺目富丽堂皇

【译文】The carpets made in our company are beautiful and magnificent.

【解析】原文是一个关于地毯的广告,广告的目的是为了让受众买自己的产品,因而广告语言不免就生动、煽情,而且读起来也是朗朗上口,让人很容易记住。在翻译成英文时,我们要注意原文使用的这些夸张词语在译文中要适当省略,否则反而会让外国读者产生不信任的心理。

(3)我们进行了长期不懈的努力。

【译文】We have made unremitting efforts for it.

【解析】“长期”与“不懈”意义相近,因此不必按照字面意思译为long lasting and unremitting,这样显得罗嗦重复,只用一个形容词即可。

例3:

◇神不知,鬼不觉stealthily / secretly

◇取之不尽,用之不竭inexhaustible

◇攻无不克,战无不胜all conquering / invincible

◇主持公道,伸张正义upholding justice

例4:

(1)下岗失业人员增多,就业压力加大……

【译文】... causing an increase in unemployment and resulting in pressure.

【解析】原文中的“下岗”和“失业”词义相近,可以合译成unemployment。不必全部译出。

(2)目标的轻重缓急孰先孰后应该仔细研究认真考虑反复推敲

【译文】Target priorities should be very carefully studied.

【解析】“轻重缓急”与“孰先孰后”是一个意思;“仔细研究”“认真考虑”与“反复推敲”的意思也基本相同。翻译时,只要把其整体意义译出即可。

(3)在长期的革命历程中,各民主党派与中国共产党同呼吸共命运。(《邓小平文选》)

【译文】In the protracted process of the Chinese revolution, the various democratic parties shared a common fate with the Chinese Communist Party.

【解析】“同呼吸”与“共命运”意义相同,如果全部译出breathed together and shared a common fate together则不仅罗嗦,而且行文呆板,令人费解。

五、转性译法

例1:汉语动词的转译

(1)医很艰苦,成为一名医生需要很长时间。

【译文】The study of medicine is very hard, and it takes long time to become a doctor.

【解析】如上文所述,汉语句子中经常会有多个动词同时出现。在上面的句子里,就有三个动词,“学”“成为”“需要”。根据句子的逻辑关系,原文前后句存在着隐含的因果关系,所以译文用and连接两个句子。但是前一个分句中没有主语,于是此处的动词并没有译成相应的谓语,而是译成了名词,在译文的前一句中做主语。

(2)我怀疑他是否还活着

【译文】I am doubtful whether he is still alive.

【解析】原文中的“怀疑”和“活着”是两个动词,在译文中转译成了形容词doubtful和alive。

(3)他不停地来回走着,激动得说不出话来。

【译文】He kept on walking back and forth, being too excited to say a single word.

【解析】原句有两个动词,而英语句子里只能有一个主动词。在翻译时,译文把后面的动词翻译成了-ing分词短语,用来作状语。

例2:汉语名词转译为英语动词

(1)他是世上一切邪恶的化身

【译文】He personified the evil that was in the world.

【解析】原文中的“化身”是一个抽象名词,英语中没有与之相对应的名词,因此进行转换是很必要的。译文把原文的抽象名词“化身”译成了动词personified,译文就显得生动了许多,也符合译入语的习惯。

(2)他的呼吸有股大蒜味道

【译文】His breaths smells of garlic.

【解析】译文把抽象名词转译为了动词smell,表达形象,而实际上smell也是由名词派生而来的,用在这里再恰当不过。

(3)这种习惯势力既然在社会中还存在,也就有可能给许多政府工作人员以影响

【译文】Since the force of habit still exists in society, it can influence many governmental functionaries.

【解析】将汉语句中的名词“影响”译成动词influence sb. 更符合英文表达。

(4)这只船容易颠覆,因为它造型不合理。

【译文】This boat is apt to overturn because it is unreasonably shaped.

【解析】译文根据两种语言的特点,适时地把原文的名词“造型”转译为译文中的动词,被动语态的使用也使得该表达更地道。

例3:汉语名词转译为英语形容词或副词

(1)就测量的精度速度而论,似乎还没有其他的技术能与激光相比。

【译文】There seems to be no other competitive techniques which can measure range as well or as rapidly as can a laser.

【解析】此句译文中将原句中两个名词分别用副词替代,并运用as ... as ...这个结构恰如其分地体现了出来,达到了词性的完美转换。

(2)他们养着马和牛,前者供乘骑,后者供食用。

【译文】They keep horse and cattle, the former for riding, the latter for food.

【解析】“前者”和“后者”这两个名词,在译文中转化成了形容词,这一转化符合英语的习惯。

(3)楼下有人找你。

【译文】There is a man downstairs who wants to see you.

【解析】“楼下”是一个表示地点的名词,在译文中则用副词downstairs来对应,这样译文显得更加流利。

例4:汉语形容词或副词转译为英语名词

(1)朱延年用热情的款待把他的窘态遮盖过去。(周而复《上海的早晨》)

【译文】Zhu Yannian covered up his embarrassment with the enthusiasm of his hospitality.

【解析】原文中的形容词“热情的”转换成了名词+of结构,这一表达符合英语的习惯。

(2)我们的教育方针,应该使受到教育者在德育、智育、体育几方面都得到发展,成为有社会主义觉悟有文化的劳动者。

【译文】Our educational policy must enable everyone who receives an education to develop morally, intellectually and physically and become a worker with both socialist consciousness and culture.

【解析】这个例子中把“有社会主义觉悟”“有文化”的这两个形容词转译为名词socialist consciousness和culture。

例5:汉语中的形容词转译为英语副词或汉语副词译成英语形容词

(1)我想男孩子的思维方式和女孩子是不一样的

【译文】I suppose boys talk differently from girls.

【解析】从译文中我们可以看出,副词differently对应的是原文中的形容词“不一样的”,原文中的名词“思维方式”也相应转换成动词。

(2)他详尽地问起我自己和我家里的情况。

【译文】He asked me for a full account of myself and family.

【解析】“详尽地”这个副词转译为了形容词full,修饰原句中的“情况”。

(3)纯粹由于偶然的机会,他在一家不起眼的二手书店里找到了他所需要的那本难得的书。

【译文】By pure chance he found the rare book he needed in a little second-hand bookshop.

例6:汉语中形容词或副词转译为英语介词或介词短语

(1)他不参加比赛,我感到很失望

【译文】To my disappointment, he did not attend the competition.

【解析】原文中的“失望”是一个形容词,而“感到很失望”这一短句正好与英语中的介词短语to my disappointment相当,这样的译文让英语读者很容易接受。

(2)父亲不赞成地看着他。

【译文】Father looked at him in disapproval.

【解析】原文中的“不赞成地”是一个副词,用来修饰“看着”这个动作,这个副词如果也翻译成副词disapprovingly来修饰look at的话就显得很碍眼,而且也不符合英语的语言习惯,用一个介词短语就消除了这一问题。

(3)我们必须广泛利用现代科学技术的新成就。

【译文】we must utilize the achievements of modern science and technology on a wide scale.

【解析】原文中“广泛”这个副词在译文中就对应地翻译成了介词短语on a wide scale,避免了选词和表达上的尴尬,很妙!

六、换形译法

例1:代词替代

(1)2003年,上海人均收入是14867元,北京人均收入是13882元。

【译文】In 2003, the average income per capita of Shanghai was 14,867 yuan and that of Beijing (was) 13,882 yuan.

【解析】如果我们翻译成and the average income per capita of Beijing就不符合英语的习惯了,这时我们就要采用换形译法,贴近译入语。that,those是常用的这类替代词。

(2)如果他是一个罪犯,是他父母使他沦为罪犯的。

【译文】If he is a criminal, it is his parents who have made him so.

【解析】“他父母使他沦为罪犯”是个兼语句,这种句式与英语的SVOC句型类似,其作宾补的重复名词常用so代替,这样符合了英语的句法要求。so也是一个典型的替代词语。

例2:同义近义替代

(1)化学变化是改变粒子结构、形成新物质的一种变化

【译文】A chemical change is one in which the structure of particles is changed and a flew substance is formed.

(2)低速度就等于停步,甚至等于后退。要抓住机会,现在就是好机会。(《邓小平文选》)

【译文】Slow growth equals stagnation and even retrogression. We must grasp opportunities; the present offers an excellent one.

【解析】上述两例中的one是典型的同义近义替代词,这类名词性替代词还包括前面提到的the former, the latter等。

例3:用代动词do或do so替代

(1)“你叫了医生吗?”“现在还没有(叫),我会叫的。”

【译文】“Have you called the doctor?” “I haven’t done yet, but will do.”

(2)“你向委员会递交了计划?”“昨天就递交了。”

【译文】“Have you sent your plan to the committee?” “I did so yesterday.”

例4:用so do或nor/neither do替代

她的舞跳得很好,她妹妹的舞也跳得很好。

【译文】She dances well, so does her sister.

例5:用so/the same和not来替代

(1)你结婚了吗?如果结过婚,请说出你妻子的名字。

【译文】Are you married? If so, give your wife’s name.

(2)今天下午忙吗?如果不忙的话,我希望你跟我们在一起。

【译文】Are you busy this afternoon? If not, I wish you would stay with us for a while.

例6:用不定式符号to替代不定式短语

这孩子想骑车上街,而他妈妈叫他不要在街上骑车

【译文】The boy wanted to ride his bicycle in the street, but his mother told him not to.

七、褒贬译法

例1:

(1)潘一堂虽没儿没女,但很爱穷人的小孩。

【译文】Pan Yitang, though with no family of his own, liked the children of the poor very much.

【解析】“没儿没女”是一个中性词,但放在这个句子里,则表现了潘一堂对穷人孩子的疼惜;though with no family of his own感情色彩则趋向褒义,为较佳译文。

(2)父亲死后,张大力两手空空,欠了一身饥荒,地主逼着他了长工。

【译文】The father’s debt was passed on to the son. Zhang Dali was forced to work as a hired hand for the landlord to pay it off in part.

例2:名声

(1)这次成功使他名声大振。(褒义)

【译文】This success greatly boosted his fame.

(2)这件事关系我们的名声。(中性)

【译文】This matter concerns our reputation.

(3)他在生前曾经声名狼藉。(贬义)

【译文】He had a certain notoriety in his fame.

例3:天真

(1)天真的孩童(褒义)

【译文】innocent child

(2)你真天真,居然会相信他。(贬义)

【译文】How naive you are to be taken in by him.

例4:嫉妒、羡慕

(1)学生很羡慕她的博学。(褒义)

【译文】Students admire her for her wide range of knowledge.

(2)你不该嫉妒人,说人家的坏话。(贬义)

【译文】It is not wise of you to be jealous of others and to speak evil of others.

例5:闲散、慵懒

(1)应把闲散人员变为生产个人。(中性)

【译文】We should turn the idle bread eaters into productive workers.

(2)在我们的社会里,懒惰是一种耻辱。(贬义)

【译文】To be lazy is considered a disgrace in Our society.

例6:

(1)展出的所有作品都出自这个村的农民之手。他们粗糙的手描绘出幅幅美好的画卷。

【译文】All the works on display are done by the farmers with their own hands that are used to farm work.

【解析】如果把“粗糙的手”译为rough hands,看似忠实,实有贬义。若译成hands that are used to farm work,则不仅没有了贬义色彩,还译出了“粗糙的手”的深层含义。

(2)听到你母亲去世的消息我非常悲痛。

【译文】I am deeply grieved to hear that your mother passed away.

【解析】“去世”在英语中有多种表达方式。其中to kick the bucket是俚语,相当于汉语的“翘辫子”,表示出对死者不尊重,用在这里显然不合适。而to pass away表达了一些悲伤的情绪。

(3)在战争期间,他私藏了许多的物品。

【译文】In wartime, he hoarded many scarce items.

【解析】“私藏”在这里带有贬义的色彩。accumulate是“积累”的意思,是一个中性词,如果用在这个地方显然不符合原文贬义的色彩。

(4)我不喜欢他竭力讨好上司的样子。

【译文】I don’t like the way he tries to flatter his leader.

【解析】文中的“竭力讨好”是贬义词,用flatter能表达原句中巴结、拍马屁的意思。