摆脱中式英语 3|佛山英语培训

文本来源：佛山商务英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语

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.

文本来源：佛山商务英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语