中式英语之鉴1-45.txt36母爱是一缕阳光，让你的心灵即便在寒冷的冬天也能感受到温暖如春；母爱是一泓清泉，让你的情感即使蒙上岁月的风尘仍然清澈澄净。
01.有他这颗扫帚星,什么事情都办不成.[误] With a comet like him, nothing can be accomplished.[正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished.注:"扫帚星"是中国人对"慧星"(comet)的俗称,因其后面象拖着的一条像扫帚一样的长尾巴而得名.在中国古代,"扫帚星"被认为是灾难的预兆,并被用来比喻不吉利的人或事;祸根person or thing that is thought to bring)bad luck (to sb/sth);curse.英语的 comet 虽然没有这层含义,但却有一个对应的说法,即 jinx. 例:There's a jinx on/ Someone's put a jinx on this car: it's always giving me trouble. "这辆汽车上有什么妨人的东西,总给我找麻烦".02.萝卜青菜,各有所爱.[误] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage.[正] Tastes differ. 注:Tastes differ/vary 是句英语谚语,除此以外,原句还可翻译成:No dish suits all tastes. / You can never make everyone happy. / 等.《新概念英语》第三册第23课的标题是no man's meat is another man's poison.03.他一向嘴硬,从不认错.[误] He has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault.[正] He never says uncle.注:say (cry) uncle: to give up or in; to surrender; to admit defeat. Mainly used by boys, as when fighting.主要是男孩们打架时的用语,当一方想制服另一方时,就用命令的口气说:"Say uncle!"这时,有的孩子为了表示不服输,就是不说.后来,say uncle 就成了"服输"的代名词,而 not say uncle 就相当于"嘴硬"了04.老师很喜欢这个嘴甜的小姑娘.[误] The teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much.[正] The teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.注:中国人喜欢说"嘴甜",但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的语言习惯.05.同学们都很讨厌他,因为他经常拍老师的马屁.[误] The student all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's ass.[正] The students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's boots. 注:以前在欧洲,臣民见到国王与王后往往要葡匐到在,亲吻他们的靴子.后来,人们将 lick the boots 引申为"为了某种目的而讨好某人",它与汉语的"拍马屁"含义一样.在美国英语中,"拍马屁"还有另一种说法,即 polish the apple,它典出以前的学生用擦亮的苹果来讨好老师.06.你听说了吗迈克把他的女朋友给甩了.[误] Have you ever heard that Mike broke up with his girlfriend.[正] Have you ever heard that Mike dumped his girlfriend. 注:break up with sb. 虽然表示"与某人分手了",但并没说明是谁先提出来的.而 dump 的原意指"倾倒垃圾",用在这里则表示像倒垃圾一样地甩掉.07.我们要把祖国建设成为社会主义的现代化强国.[误] We will build our motherland into a socialist modern powerful country. [正] We will build our motherland into a modern powerful socialist country. 注:形容词作为修饰语在汉语和英语中都很常用,但使用的先后次序却有所不同.在英语中我们一般遵循"靠近原则",即越能说明本质属性的修饰词越靠近它所修饰的名词,当从这一点看不出区别时,就靠词的长短来决定,短的在前,长的在后.原文中最能说明"国家"本质的定语是"社会主义的",所以 socialist 要最靠近它所修饰的中心词.08.我想要一点白酒.[误] I'd like a little bit of white wine.[正] I'd like a little bit of liquor. 注:汉语的"酒"可指任何酒,包括白酒,葡萄酒,啤酒,甚至米酒;但英语中则要分别用 liquor,wine,beer及 rice wine表示. 所以要注意,英语的wine与汉语的"酒"是有区别的,它仅指点葡萄酒.而且 red wine 是红葡萄酒,white wine 是白葡萄酒.09.中华人民共和国主席[误] Chairman of the People's Republic of China[正] President of the People's Republic of China 注:以前,我们一直将"主席"翻译为chairman,例如:great leader Chairman Mao(伟大领袖毛主席).其实"主席"与 chairman 并不等义,chairman 在英语中通常指会议或某一具体组织的负责人,它的权力和重要性不及中文的"主席".这就是为什么1983年,在我国《宪法》的英译单行本中开始使用 President一词,并沿用至今.另外,国内仍有不少词典把"班/级长 (学校的)"译为"class monitor",这是"四人帮"时代的产物,那时的"班长"是专司监管学生的,所以译作"monitor".而"班长"的正确译文应该是"class president".10.转战南北[误] fight south and north[正] fight north and south注:在地理方位的表达习惯上,中英文有一定的区别.中国人习惯于先"东西"后"南北",而且在涉及"南北"时,习惯于先说"南",再说"北",如:"南征北战","南来北往"等.而英美人与此正好相反,如"江苏在中国的东南部"英文是 Jiangsu is in the south-east of China, 而"新疆在中国的西北部"应译为 Xinjiang is in the north-west of China.11.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 saisfied 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,它在英语中已经有了现成的说法,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.12.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.13.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.14.我们这儿的人都觉得他有婚外恋.[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. 这个教授教得很烂.[误] The professor teaches badly.[正] The professor is so terrible.注:有人认为第二句的意思是"这个教授很可怕",其实不然.英语中 terible 意思很灵活,例如:feel terrible 指身体"不舒服"; The food is terrible 则是说食物"难吃极了".而第一句纯属中文式的表达.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. 先生,您是不是迷路了[误] Hello, monsieur, get lost[正] Hello, monsieur, got lost注:这两句译文表面上看只是时态上存在差异,其实它们的含义也截然不同.get lost 是俚语:"走开,别捣乱"的意思,got lost才是"迷路".难怪当你友好地问外宾 "Get lost "时,他并不领情呢! Please see:26. 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.27. 东施效颦.[误] Doingshi imitates Xishi.[正] The ugly imitates the beautiful in such a distorted way that the ugliness of the ugly becomes worse.注:把原文按照字面意思直译过来,恐怕只有中国人能够理解.要想让外国人明白这个中国成语,就要对译文进行解释性加工了.同样,"情人眼里出西施"不是 Xishi is in the eye of the beholder,而是 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.28. 你不好好学习,还想去牛津上大学.这可真是个不切实际的幻想哟![误] You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an impractical illusion! [正] You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an illusion!注:汉语中的修饰语往往用的很多,目的在于加强语气,但这种表达习惯在翻译时必须进行处理.illusion 本身就有 impractical 的含义,而英语中在表意已经很明确的情况下是无需重复的.29. 想让他答应这样的要求恐怕不大可能.[误] I'm afraid it is impossible for him to agree to such a request.[正] I'm afreaid it is unlikely for him to agree to such a request.注:impossible 表示"完全不可能",所以与原文有出入.在英语中,probable 表示的可能性最大,其次是 possible,再次是 likely.而常用的句式为 it is probable/possible/likely for sb. to do sth.,或 sb. be likely to do sth..30. 一群蚂蚁[误] a group of ants[正] a colony of ants注:表示群体时,group 通常指人或物,而 colony 才指生物群体.31. 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.32. 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. 注:"网虫"要是直译成 net bug,很容易使人联想到计算机病毒,如:the millennium bug("千年虫"病毒).所以,英语中与之相应的说法是 netter/nettle.在《剑桥国际英语词典》里,对 netter/nettle 的解释是:regular user of Internet, perhaps one who spends too much time in this head 和"网虫"的意思差不多,它表示"网痴,网迷"; 而 netizen 则可以用来指所有的网民,尤其是互联网的用户,它是由 net(网络)和 citizen(公民)组合而成的.还有一个时髦的词是 netsurfer,即"网上冲浪者".33. 每次考试来临的时候,约翰就变成了一只夜猫子,但这并不是一个好的学习方法. [误] John becomes a night cat every time the examination is coming. However, this is not a good way to learn.[正] John becomes a night owl every time the examination is coming. However, this is not a good way to learn. 注:owl 是"猫头鹰"的意思,即一种深夜不睡,睁一只眼,闭一只眼,准备随时捕捉田鼠的动物.英语中用 night owl 来比喻经常熬夜的人,就像我们习惯用"夜猫子"一样.不论叫你"夜猫子"还是 a night owl,"开夜车"(burn the midnight oil)总是免不了的.34. 现如今,由于出国深造的人越来越多,"海龟(归)派"也不像原来那样吃香了.[误] Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the overseas students are not so popular as before.[正] Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the returnees are not so popular as before.注:"海龟(归)派"是指那些在国外留学以后又回来的人,是个非常形象的新名词.但 overseas student 是指正在国外学习的"留学生",意思正好相反,所以要换成 returnee.这个词本身就包含在海外学习过的意思.35. 在皎洁的月光下,那个花花公子在我耳边悄悄说着情话.[误] The playboy whispered love words to my ear with a bright moon in the sky. [正] The playboy whispered sweet nothings to my ear with a bright moon in the sky. 注: 因为"情书"是 love letter,"情歌"是 love song,所以不少人以为"情话"就应该是 lovewords,其实并非如此.英语中"情话"常用lovers'prattle 或sweet nothings 来表达.prattle 有"孩子话,废话"的意思,所以 lovers' prattle 指"恋人之间孩子气的废话";sweet nothings 更是一目了然,有"甜蜜而不中用"的意思.36. 比尔.盖茨平均每天工作15个小时,他简直就是一个工作狂.[误] Bill Gates works 15 hours a day on average, and he is crazy about his work. [正] Bill Gates works 15 hours a day on average, and he is a workaholic.注: crazy 虽然可以作"疯狂的,狂热的"讲,但 be crazy about/on sth. 的意思却是"热衷于...,对...着迷";be crazy for 也不行,因为它表示"渴望(某物);迷恋(某人)".可见,它们都与"工作狂"有一定区别.而 workaholic 是从 alcoholic (嗜酒成癖者)派生出来的,表示像酗酒者离不开酒精一样地离不开工作.现在人们将 -holic 作为一个后缀,表示"对...上瘾, 嗜好...成癖",并构成了许多新词.例如:movie-holic(嗜好电影成癖的人),telehokic(看电视成癖的人)等.37. 给这们女士来杯威士忌,记在我的账上.[误] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my bill.[正] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my tab.注: 我们可以说 Could we have the bill, please (请给我们账单好吗 )或 pay the bill(埋单),但"记在某某的账上"却不用 bill,而要用 put...on one's tab 表示.tab 是"小纸片"的意思,因为过去小店的生意都是靠住在附近的老主顾,赊账时有发生,于是老板们通常把每个人的赊账情况记在各自的小纸片上,也就是 put...on one's tab,以防遗忘.渐渐地,该词组就成了一种习惯用法.38. 哈罗得挥金如土,没有一点积蓄.[误] Harold spends money like dirt, and has no savings.[正] Harold spends money like water, and has no savings.注: 英国是一个岛国,离不开水;而我们中国的许多地区深处内陆,人们的生活离不开土地.所以,英语中有许多习语与"水"有关,而汉语却常常拿"土"作比.这就是为什么同样是比喻花钱浪费,大手大脚,英语是 spend money like water,而汉语却是"挥金如土".此外,英语中还有很多有关船和水的习语,例如:rest on one's oars(暂时歇一歇),keep one's head above water(奋力图存),be all at sea(不知所措)等等.39. 这只表的价钱很贵.[误] The price of the watch is dear.[正] The watch is dear. /The price of the watch is high.注: 以物品为主语时用 dear 或 cheap,以定价为主语时就说 high 或 low.40. 昨天晚上我们玩得很愉快.[误] We played very pleasantly last night.[正] We enjoyed ourselves very much last night./ We had a good time last night. 注: 玩牌,打球,演戏之类就用 play,汉语这儿说的玩是指度过一个愉快的时候,最好译成enjoy oneself 或 have a good time.41. 她和男朋友吵了一架,冒着大雨跑了出去.[误] She quarreled with his boyfriedn and ran out in the big rain.[正] She quarreled with his boyfriedn and ran out in the heavy rain. 注: 汉语中的"大"可以修饰很多名词,如"大风","大浪","湿气大"等,但在英语里却不能一一对应.例如,"大雨"就不能译成 big rain,因为那会被人误以为是雨点大,而不是雨大.英美人形容雨大习惯用"重"(heavy),heary rain(大雨),heavy clouds(云雾大),heavy moisture(潮气大)等,这也许是因为他们认为有些事物用重量来衡量比用体积更好吧.42. 歌迷们冲进演员休息室,抢着同凯莉.米纳合影.[误] The fans rushed into the rest room trying to take photos with Kylie Minogue. [正] The fans rushed into the greenroom trying to take photos with Kylie Minogue. 注: 伦敦西区的特鲁街剧院是英国最古老的剧院,据说为了让演员们长时间处于舞台强烈灯光照射下的眼睛得到休息,那里的演员休息室被漆成了绿色.后来,greenroom 就逐渐成了"(剧场)演员休息室"的代名词.而 rest room 可不是这个意义上的"休息室",它其实是"厕所"的一种委婉说法.43. 我感到很痛.[误] I am painful.[正] I feel great pain.注:"我感到高兴"是 I am happy,"我感到累了"是 I'm tired,但"我感到很痛"却不是 I am painful.因为 painful 表示"使人痛苦的,让人疼痛或讨厌的",它的主语往往不是人,而是事物或人体的某个部位,如:The foot is painful(脚痛),The lessons are painful(教训是惨痛的)等.所以没有 I am painful 这个说法,如果你非要这样说,别人会以为你全身带电或浑身长刺,别人碰了你就会疼,是你让别人痛苦,而不是你自己痛苦.44. 亚洲四小龙.[误] the Four Little Dragons of Asia[正] the Four Little Tigers of Asia注: 在我国古代传说中,龙是降雨和惩治妖魔鬼怪的神奇动物,是吉祥和力挽狂澜的象征.很多汉语成语与"龙"有关,如"龙飞凤舞","龙凤呈祥","藏龙卧虎"等,而且多为褒义词.但如果把"四小龙"直译成英文却不行,因为西方人对"龙"的联想和看法与中国人完全不同."龙"(dragon)在西方是贬义词,是邪恶的免征,西方人不会理解为什么要把亚洲经济的四个强国说成"四个小魔鬼",所以要用 tiger 进行替换.在西方人眼里,tiger "是朝气蓬勃,坚忍不拔,努力奋斗,充满希望"的免征,所以用 tiger 才能准确表达原文的意思.45. 百里挑一.[误] one in a hundred[正] one in a thousand注: "百里挑一"常被用来形容"很特别,很出众"或"与众不同",one in a thousand 也有相同的含义.但值得注意的是,汉语用"百",而英语则以十倍于百的 thousand 来夸张.同样,汉语的"十分感谢"或"万分感谢",英语则说 a thousand thanks (千分感谢)或 thanks a million times(百万次的感谢).可见,英语比汉语要夸张.这也许反映了两个民族不同的思维方式:中国人崇尚中庸之道,凡事避免走极端,即使夸大其词也不太过火;而英美人追求标新立异和充分考虑表现自我,这在语言中自然也有体现.。
