摆脱中式英语 7|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

49. 一辆白色轿车前来接新郎新娘去教堂.
[误] A white car turned up to take the groom and the bride to the church.
[正] A white car turned up to take the bride and the groom to the church.
注: 汉英两种语言均有各自固定的词序,因此,在翻译时要根据各自的语言习惯进行适当的调整,此处就是一个很好的例子.之所以将新娘放在前面,也许是西方文化中"女士优先"的又一体现吧!又如:"衣食住行"译成英语是 food, clothing, shelter and transportation; 同样,"左顾右盼"翻译成 look right and left.

50. 你去弄些水来.
[误] Go and bring some water.
[正] Go and fetch some water.
注: bring 虽然表示"带来",但它是让某人在来的时候将某物带来(但说话时人还没来);而 fetch 则是让身边的某人"去取某物",它包括往返的两段路程.

51. 嘿,小伙子,千万别灰心.
[误] Hey, lad, don't lose your heart.
[正] Hey, lad, don't lose heart.
注: lose one's heart (to sb.) 是"心被...俘虏去,爱上..."的意思,而 lose heart 才表示"灰心丧气,丧失勇气或信心".

52. IBM公司一直处在电脑行业的前沿.
[误] IBM is always in the front line of computer industry.
[正] IBM is always at the cuttting edge of computer insustry.
注: front line 是"前线,第一线"的意思,常指最危险或最艰苦的地方.例如:Many doctors are in the front line of the fighting against SARS(许多医生战斗在抗击"非典"的第一线).at the cutting edge 最早出现在20世纪50年代,它最初指"锐器的锋利部位",现在常隐喻"处在(高科技的)最前沿.

53. 一位有经验的教师曾经说,上课之前他觉得如临大敌,上课时他是如履薄冰,只有上完课后他才会如释重负.
[误] An experienced teacher once said that before class he felt as if faced with a formidable enemy, in class he felt like walking on ice, and only after class would he feel relieved.
[正] An experienced teacher once said that before class he felt as if faced with a formidable enemy, in class he felt like walking on eggs, and only after class would he feel relieved.
注: 中文的"如履薄冰"是比喻一个人"做事十分小心谨慎或战战兢兢",而英语的类似说法却是 walk on eggs 或 tread on eggs,要注意中英文喻体的不同.

54. 我有一个舒适的家.
[误] I have a cozy family.
[正] I have a cozy home.
注: family 和 home 虽然翻译成汉语时都是"家",但它们在英语中却不是同义词.family 主要指家庭成员;而 home 主要指居住地,即"住宅".原文中用"舒适的"来修饰"家",显然是指"舒适的房子".如果原文是"我有一个和睦的家",就应该翻译成 I have a harmonious family 了.

55. 每节课老是都会点名.
[误] The teacher will call our names in every period of class.
[正] The teacher will call the roll in every period of class.
注: 英语的"点名"是 call the roll,而 call one's name(s)的意思是"谩骂某人".rool 有"名册"的意思,又如:remove sb.'s name from the rool(把某人除名).

56. 我的学习很忙.
[误] My study is very busy.
[正] I am very busy with my study.
注:第一句译文完全套用汉语的结构和语序,却犯了英文的句法错误.因为在英语中,study(学习)是一个行为,并不懂得忙不忙,感到忙的应是进行这一行为的人.所以,be busy with sth. 或 be busy (in) doing sth. 才是地道的英语表达.

57. 给他当二把手我看也值得.他太能干了.
[误] I feel it worth being a second hand to him. He is so capable.
[正] I feel it worth playing second fiddle to him. He is so capable.
注:英语的 second hand 作名词指"中间人","旧货"或"助手工人",而汉语的"二把手"是"副手",即"第二负责人"的意思,所以二者不是一回事.play second fiddle 则源于管弦乐队中第一提琴手(first violin)不在的时候由第二提琴手负责,并被人们引申为"当主要领导人的副手",也就是我们所说的"当第二把手".由此,不难猜出"当一把手"译成英语应该是 paly first fiddle了.

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文本来源：佛山商务英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语