我們學(xué)語(yǔ)言常常會(huì)落入逐字翻譯的泥淖,而忽略了真正的含義。有些很簡(jiǎn)單的詞組或句子,其意義事實(shí)上和字面意思是不一樣的。請(qǐng)不要再逐字翻譯,沒(méi)弄清楚,往往會(huì)鬧笑話。
Tell me about it!翻譯成“快告訴我是怎么回事”,錯(cuò)!
What else is new?翻譯成“還有什么是新的嗎”,錯(cuò)!
如果將這兩句放到對(duì)話中,含義與字面意思有很大不同。那么,這兩句話到底是什么意思呢?讓我們舉幾個(gè)例子:
1 Tell me about it!
A:Do you know under the newly reformed tax plan, the rich people actually pay less tax?(你知道嗎?改革后的新稅務(wù)法,富人繳的稅會(huì)更少。)
B:Yeah, tell me about it! My neighbor is a millionaire and he told me that his tax rate would be reduced by fifty percent.(可不是嘛!我的鄰居是個(gè)百萬(wàn)富翁。他告訴我,他繳的稅會(huì)降低50%。)
在這里,tell me about it不是要求對(duì)方告訴你什么事,而是附和,并帶有驚訝的成分。再如:
A:Under such harsh economic down turns, working class can hardly make ends meet.(經(jīng)濟(jì)下滑這么厲害,工薪階級(jí)都入不敷出了。)
B:Tell me about it! In my family alone two people got laid off. I don't know how I can make the mortgage payment this month.(可不是嘛!光我們家就被裁了兩人,我還不知道這個(gè)月怎么付房貸呢。)
2 What else is new?
A:Hey, do you know the new governor is going to cut the funding for education?(嘿,你聽(tīng)說(shuō)了嗎?新州長(zhǎng)要削減教育經(jīng)費(fèi)呢?。?/p>
B:What else is new? We all know he represents big businesses. Education is not his top priority.(那有什么稀奇的?我們?cè)缇椭浪恢С执笃髽I(yè)的利益,并不關(guān)心教育。)
在這里,What else is new表示,這種結(jié)局是預(yù)料之中的事,不算什么新聞。所以,根據(jù)上下文,也可說(shuō)“這算不上什么新聞”。再如:
A:Yesterday my daughter gave me a gift wish list for her 15th birthday.Among other things she asks for a laptop computer!(我女兒昨天給我一張列表,寫(xiě)著她15歲生日想要的禮物,其中竟然有筆記本電腦?。?/p>
B:What else is new? At least she hasn't asked for a car. Wait till next year!(那有什么稀奇的?她至少?zèng)]要你送她一輛車。明年你等著瞧吧!)
再?gòu)?fù)習(xí)一遍:
Tell me about it!就是嘛!這還用說(shuō)嘛!
What else is new?那有什么稀奇的?
瘋狂英語(yǔ) 英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法 新概念英語(yǔ) 走遍美國(guó) 四級(jí)聽(tīng)力 英語(yǔ)音標(biāo) 英語(yǔ)入門(mén) 發(fā)音 美語(yǔ) 四級(jí) 新東方 七年級(jí) 賴世雄 zero是什么意思廣州市海珠南路小區(qū)英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)交流群