摆脱中式英语 5|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

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 occupation.nethead 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

wl 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 love words,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.

文本来源：佛山商务英语培训首选爱德华国际英语