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[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. 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。 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. 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。 |
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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)。 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 ruddycomplexion 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。 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。 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. 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。 82. 听到这个消息,没有一个人不感到兴奋。 |
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[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. 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。 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 |
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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。 [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。 |
| 参与人数 1 | 鲜花 +30 | 收起 理由 |
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| + 30 | Good! |
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