考試必備:初中英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法大全匯總和《唐頓莊園》一樣經(jīng)典的10部英劇英文名千萬(wàn)不能亂起 會(huì)被老外誤會(huì)!
最火英美劇排行榜:經(jīng)典英美劇推薦高考英語(yǔ)必備40句:英語(yǔ)作文萬(wàn)能句新東方:英語(yǔ)不規(guī)則動(dòng)詞表大全 今天就給大家盤點(diǎn)盤點(diǎn)那些最容易說(shuō)錯(cuò)的表達(dá),看完這些才發(fā)現(xiàn),你可能一直說(shuō)的都是“假英語(yǔ)”~那個(gè)小童星長(zhǎng)殘了。
? The child star became ugly as he grew up.
? The child star is aging badly.
第一句的語(yǔ)法沒(méi)錯(cuò),但聽起來(lái)非常別扭。長(zhǎng)殘了,最常用的說(shuō)法就是age badly/terribly或者not age well,age是動(dòng)詞,表示年歲漸老。如果是小朋友長(zhǎng)殘了,還可以說(shuō)grow up (to be) ugly。
我覺(jué)得很痛。
? I am painful.
? I am in pain.
“我感到高興”是 I am happy,“我感到累了”是 I'm tired,但“我感到很痛”卻不是 I am painful。因?yàn)?painful 表示“使人痛苦的,讓人疼痛或討厭的”,它的主語(yǔ)往往不是人,而是事物或人體的某個(gè)部位,如:The foot is painful(腳痛),The lessons are painful(教訓(xùn)是慘痛的)等。
所以沒(méi)有 I am painful 這個(gè)說(shuō)法,如果你非要這樣說(shuō),別人會(huì)以為你全身帶電或渾身長(zhǎng)刺,別人碰了你就會(huì)疼,是你讓別人痛苦,而不是你自己痛苦。
“我很痛”的習(xí)慣說(shuō)法是I'm in pain. “你覺(jué)得痛嗎?”就是Are you in pain?
我好熱呀!
? I'm so hot!
? It's so hot!
呃,第一句很容易引起歧義,多半會(huì)被理解成,我好性感呀……除非這是你的本意……
老師很喜歡這個(gè)嘴甜的小姑娘。
? The teacher likes this sweet-mouthed girl.
? The teacher likes this honey-lipped girl.
中國(guó)人喜歡說(shuō)“嘴甜”,但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣,表示會(huì)說(shuō)話。
蘿卜青菜,各有所愛(ài)。
? Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage.
? Tastes differ.
Tastes differ/vary 是句英語(yǔ)諺語(yǔ),除此以外,原句還可翻譯成 No dish suits all tastes 或 You can never make everyone happy 等?!缎赂拍钣⒄Z(yǔ)》第三冊(cè)第23課的標(biāo)題是:One man's meat is another man's poison,表達(dá)得很生動(dòng)。 總之,應(yīng)采取意譯。
同學(xué)們都很討厭他,因?yàn)樗?jīng)常拍老師的馬屁。
? The students all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's ass.
? The students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's boots.
以前在歐洲,臣民見到國(guó)王與王后往往要匍匐在地,親吻他們的靴子。后來(lái),人們將 lick the boots 引申為“為了某種目的而討好某人”,它與漢語(yǔ)的“拍馬屁”含義一樣
如果你一定要用ass這個(gè)詞表達(dá)拍馬屁,那就說(shuō)kiss someone's ass,但注意這是很粗鄙的說(shuō)法,謹(jǐn)慎使用。
我們要把祖國(guó)建設(shè)成為社會(huì)主義的現(xiàn)代化強(qiáng)國(guó)。
? We will build our motherland into a socialist modern powerful country.
? We will build our motherland into a modern powerful socialist country.
形容詞作為修飾語(yǔ)在漢語(yǔ)和英語(yǔ)中都很常用,但使用的先后次序卻有所不同。在英語(yǔ)中我們一般遵循“靠近原則”,即越能說(shuō)明本質(zhì)屬性的修飾詞越靠近它所修飾的名詞,當(dāng)從這一點(diǎn)看不出區(qū)別時(shí),就靠詞的長(zhǎng)短來(lái)決定,短的在前,長(zhǎng)的在后。原文中最能說(shuō)明“國(guó)家”本質(zhì)的定語(yǔ)是“社會(huì)主義的”,所以 socialist 要最靠近它所修飾的中心詞。
人都是這山望著那山高,對(duì)自己的現(xiàn)狀沒(méi)有滿意的時(shí)候。
? Almost all people think that the other mountain is higher than the one they're standing on. They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.
? Almost all people think that the grass is greener on the other side. They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.
“這山望著那山高”是指人不滿足于現(xiàn)狀的心理,它在英語(yǔ)中已經(jīng)有了現(xiàn)成的說(shuō)法,即 the grass is greener on the other side(對(duì)面的草更綠),因此我們借用即可,這樣既方便又更有利于與西方人溝通。
轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)南北
? fight south and north
? fight north and south
在地理方位的表達(dá)習(xí)慣上,中英文有一定的區(qū)別。中國(guó)人習(xí)慣于先“東西”后“南北”,而且在涉及“南北”時(shí),習(xí)慣于先說(shuō)“南”,再說(shuō)“北”,如:“南征北戰(zhàn)”、“南來(lái)北往”等。
而英美人與此正好相反,如“江蘇在中國(guó)的東南部”英文是Jiangsu is in China's southeast. (Or, Jiangsu is in southeast China.)而“新疆在中國(guó)的西北部”應(yīng)譯為 Xinjiang is in China's northwest. (or, Xingjian is in northwest China.)
我唯一的資本就是勤奮。
? My only capital is diligence.
? My only means to success is diligence.
原文的“資本”是借喻,實(shí)際指“可以依靠并取得成功的手段”。而英語(yǔ)的 capital 指 money used to produce more wealth or for starting a business,并沒(méi)有中文那樣的引申意思。所以,這里的“資本”不能與 capital 畫等號(hào)。也有人用 advantage 來(lái)翻譯“資本”,雖然不盡意,但至少可以讓讀者理解。
這家商店開辟了休息處,受到顧客的稱贊。
? This department store has set up a resting-place, much to the customers' appreciation.
? This department store has set up a lounge, much to the customers' appreciation.
英語(yǔ)的 resting-place 雖然有“休息處”的意思,但更經(jīng)常的是用來(lái)指“墳?zāi)?rdquo;,即“最后安息之處”。因此,把公共場(chǎng)所的“休息處”譯為 resting-place 不很合適。也有人將它譯為 rest-room,但那更不妥當(dāng),因?yàn)橛⒄Z(yǔ)中的 rest-room 是“廁所”的委婉說(shuō)法。
別聽他們胡說(shuō)八道,根本就沒(méi)那回事。
? Don't listen to their babbling. It's nothing of the sort.
? Don't be fooled by their babbling. It's nothing of the sort.
原文中的“聽”不能用 listen to 來(lái)表示,因?yàn)?listen to 指“聽”的動(dòng)作,而原文中的“別聽”不是不讓他“聽”,而是勸告他“不要聽信”,因此,用 not be fooled by 才更達(dá)意。
別看別人不把她當(dāng)回事,在家里她可是父親的掌上明珠。
? Although other people never take her seriously, she is the pearl on her father's hand at home.
? Although other people never take her seriously, she is the apple of her father's eye at home.
中英文常用不同的喻體表明相同的喻義,“掌上明珠”與 the apple of one's eye 就是一個(gè)很好的例子。這種情況我們一般應(yīng)尊重各國(guó)文化和習(xí)俗,翻譯時(shí)取目的語(yǔ)的固定說(shuō)法,而不必直譯,這有助于將意思更有效地傳達(dá)給讀者。The apple of one's eye 源自圣經(jīng)《舊約》,當(dāng)時(shí)人們用 apple 指人的瞳孔。盡管瞳孔現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)用 pupil 來(lái)表示,不再是 apple 了,但這一用法卻延續(xù)了下來(lái)。
都十點(diǎn)鐘了。起床了,懶蟲!
? It's 10 o'clock. Get up, lazy worm!
? It's 10 o'clock. Get up, lazy bones!
“懶蟲”英語(yǔ)里與之對(duì)應(yīng)的說(shuō)法是 lazy bones(懶骨頭)。注意,這里的 bone 應(yīng)以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn),也許是因?yàn)椴粫?huì)只有一根骨頭懶吧!
大家都懷疑斯內(nèi)普教授是個(gè)間諜。
? Everyone doubts that Snape is a spy.
? Everyone suspects that Snape is a spy.
Doubt 作“懷疑”講,是“不相信”的意思;而 suspect 作“懷疑”講,是指“對(duì)...有所察覺(jué)”。第一句譯文所表達(dá)的意思是“大家對(duì)教授是間諜這件事表示懷疑”,即“大家不相信教授是間諜”,與原文的意思恰好相反。
我希望你不要拖我的后腿。
? I hope that you won't pull my leg.
? I hope that you won't hold me back.
Pull one's leg 是“愚弄某人,開某人的玩笑”的意思,相當(dāng)于 make fun of sb。英語(yǔ)中與“拖后腿”相對(duì)應(yīng)的表達(dá)是 hold sb. back 或 be a drag on sb 等。
學(xué)校里,那些長(zhǎng)得人高馬大的家伙常來(lái)找我的麻煩。
? At school, those big and strong guys always come to find my trouble.
? At school, those big and strong guys always come to pick on me.
英語(yǔ)中“找某人的麻煩”用短語(yǔ) pick on sb. 它不僅表示“挑剔某人、找某人的碴”,而且還包含 tease(取笑、戲弄)或 bully(威脅、欺侮)的意思。
原來(lái)如此。一經(jīng)你解釋我就明白了。
? So it is. I understood soon after your explanation.
? Oh, I see. I understood soon after your explanation.
注:So it is 的意思是“就是這樣,的確如此”,表示贊同對(duì)方觀點(diǎn)。例如:
A: It is a fine day today!
B: So it is.
而在表達(dá)恍然大悟時(shí),英文要用 So that explains it, 或更簡(jiǎn)單地道的說(shuō)法 Oh, I see.
我沒(méi)料到這個(gè)無(wú)恥的女人居然同她好友的丈夫調(diào)情。
? I had not expected that this shameful woman would flirt with her best friend's husband.
? I had not expected that this shameless woman would flirt with her best friend's husband.
Shameful 通常指某事物是“可恥的,丟臉的”,而 shameless 表示 having or showing no feeling of shame; immodest or impudent,它一般用來(lái)指人“不知羞恥的,不要臉的”或“傷風(fēng)敗俗的”。原文也可譯為:It's shameful that the woman would flirt with her best friend's husband.
你不好好學(xué)習(xí),還想去牛津上大學(xué)。這可真是個(gè)不切實(shí)際的幻想喲!
? You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an impractical illusion!
? You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an illusion!
漢語(yǔ)中的修飾語(yǔ)往往用的很多,目的在于加強(qiáng)語(yǔ)氣,但這種表達(dá)習(xí)慣在翻譯時(shí)必須進(jìn)行處理。Illusion 本身就有 impractical 的含義,而英語(yǔ)中在表意已經(jīng)很明確的情況下是無(wú)需重復(fù)的。
想讓他答應(yīng)這樣的要求恐怕不大可能。
? I'm afraid it is impossible for him to agree to such a request.
? I'm afraid it is unlikely for him to agree to such a request.
Impossible 表示“完全不可能”,所以與原文有出入。在英語(yǔ)中,probable 表示的可能性最大,其次是 possible,再次是 likely。而常用的句式為 it is probable/possible/likely for sb to do sth,或 sb be likely to do sth。
她和男朋友吵了一架,冒著大雨跑了出去。
? She quarreled with her boyfriend and ran out in the big rain.
? She quarreled with her boyfriend and ran out in the heavy rain.
漢語(yǔ)中的“大”可以修飾很多名詞,如“大風(fēng)”、“大浪”、“濕氣大”等,但在英語(yǔ)里卻不能一一對(duì)應(yīng)。例如,“大雨”就不能譯成 big rain。英美人形容雨大習(xí)慣用“重”(heavy),heavy rain(大雨),heavy clouds(云霧大),heavy moisture(潮氣大)等,這也許是因?yàn)樗麄冋J(rèn)為有些事物用重量來(lái)衡量比用體積更好吧。
在皎潔的月光下,那個(gè)花花公子在我耳邊悄悄說(shuō)著情話。
? The playboy whispered love words into my ear under a bright moon.
? The playboy whispered sweet nothings into my ear under a bright moon.
因?yàn)?ldquo;情書”是 love letter,“情歌”是 love song,所以不少人以為“情話”就應(yīng)該是 love words,其實(shí)并非如此。英語(yǔ)中“情話”常用 lovers' prattle 或 sweet nothings 來(lái)表達(dá)。Prattle 有“孩子話,廢話”的意思,所以 lovers' prattle 指“戀人之間孩子氣的廢話”;sweet nothings 更是一目了然,有“甜蜜而不中用”的意思。
給這位女士來(lái)杯威士忌,記在我的賬上。
? Whisky for this lady, and put it on my bill.
? Whisky for this lady, and put it on my tab.
我們可以說(shuō) Could we have the bill, please? (請(qǐng)給我們賬單好嗎?)或 pay the bill(埋單),但“記在某某的賬上”卻不用 bill,而要用 put...on one's tab 表示。
Tab 是“小紙片”的意思,因?yàn)檫^(guò)去小店的生意都是靠住在附近的老主顧,賒賬時(shí)有發(fā)生,于是老板們通常把每個(gè)人的賒賬情況記在各自的小紙片上,也就是 put...on one's tab,以防遺忘。
現(xiàn)在put it on my tab也就是說(shuō)先把賬記在我開的賬單上,我以后一起算清。
昨天晚上我們玩得很愉快。
? We played very pleasantly last night.
? We enjoyed ourselves very much last night. / We had a good time last night.
玩牌,打球,演戲之類就用 play,漢語(yǔ)這兒說(shuō)的玩是指度過(guò)一個(gè)愉快的時(shí)候,最好譯成 enjoy oneself 或 have a good time.
如果是和某人一起玩的話,最好說(shuō)成hang out with sb,不要說(shuō)play with sb,后者容易引起誤會(huì),帶有性暗示。
嘿,小伙子,千萬(wàn)別灰心。
? Hey, lad, don't lose your heart.
? Hey, lad, don't lose heart.
Lose one's heart (to sb) 是“心被...俘虜去,愛(ài)上...”的意思,而 lose heart 才表示“灰心喪氣,喪失勇氣或信心”。
百里挑一
? one in a hundred
? one in a thousand
“百里挑一”常被用來(lái)形容“很特別,很出眾”或“與眾不同”,one in a thousand 也有相同的含義。但值得注意的是,漢語(yǔ)用“百”,而英語(yǔ)則以十倍于百的 thousand 來(lái)夸張。同樣,漢語(yǔ)的“十分感謝”或“萬(wàn)分感謝”,英語(yǔ)則說(shuō) a thousand thanks(千分感謝)或 thanks a million times(百萬(wàn)次的感謝)??梢姡⒄Z(yǔ)比漢語(yǔ)要夸張。
周末許多人睡得很晚。
? Most people sleep late on weekends.
? Most people stay up late on weekends.
英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞有短暫動(dòng)詞和持續(xù)動(dòng)詞之分。Sleep 是典型的持續(xù)動(dòng)詞,表示“在睡覺(jué)”的過(guò)程。而原文的睡表示“上床睡覺(jué)”的短暫動(dòng)作,所以不能直接翻譯成sleep late。睡得晚,就是stay up late,也可以說(shuō)go to sleep late。
另外,sleep late的意思是早上起得晚。
一輛白色轎車前來(lái)接新郎新娘去教堂。
? A white car turned up to take the groom and the bride to the church.
? A white car turned up to take the bride and the groom to the church.
漢英兩種語(yǔ)言均有各自固定的詞序,因此,在翻譯時(shí)要根據(jù)各自的語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣進(jìn)行適當(dāng)?shù)恼{(diào)整,此處就是一個(gè)很好的例子。之所以將新娘放在前面,也許是西方文化中“女士?jī)?yōu)先”的又一體現(xiàn)吧!又如:“衣食住行”譯成英語(yǔ)是 food, clothing, shelter and transportation; 同樣,“左顧右盼”翻譯成 look right and left。