英文疑难详解
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2. 代替time的各种不同的名词

“我和王君久别重逢。”译成英文为:“I met Mr. Wang again after a long parting.”。不知译得正确否?

【解答】英文的part是讲离别的动作,动名词parting的意思还是如此,如“她在临别时哭了”(She cried at parting)、“临别赠言”(parting words)、“临别的一吻”(a parting kiss)。如果是说离别的期间,就应该说separation,例如:

They were very pleased to meet after such a long separation.(久别重逢,他们非常高兴。)

因此,问题中的译文也应改为:

I met Mr. Wang after a long separation.

在after a long后面的名词,可随时改用他字。如:

I received a letter from him after a long silence.(许久未通讯,最近才接到他来函。)

I went out for a walk after a long interval.(好久没有出外散步,这回才去了。)

He returned to his native village after a long absence.(他出门很久才回故乡。)

这种说法都是for a long time的变化,如after a long separation就等于说whom I had not seen for a long time,而after a long absence就等于说where he had not been for a long time。诸如此类,斟酌情形,是可以采用各种不同的名词来代替time的。