摆脱中式英语 22|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

189. 随便叫个人来帮忙,张三李四都行.
[误] Get someone to help, Zhang San, Li Si or anyone else.
[正] Get any Tom, Dick or Henry to help.
注:中国人姓"张"和姓"李"的很多,所以汉语中用"张三李四"泛指任何人.英国人叫 Tom,Dick 或 Henry 的很多,所以我们的"张三李四"在英语中就成了"Tom,Dick or Henry". 类例:老王= George Source: 《汉英词语翻译漫话》陈忠诚著 p.9 《汉英词典》中,"老王卖瓜,自卖自夸"的汉语译文是: 1) Lao Wang selling melons praises his own goods. [此译文后还有一个注释("---praise one's own ware or work",但不是译文,姑不予置论.] 这句译文可谓紧扣原文,无懈可击.问题是外国读者能够理解 Lao Wang 并非特指具体的老王吗因此,是否可以从英语中物色一个具有通称作用的人名来译"老王"呢在英语中,Tony 和 George 都曾被用作从事某种行当者的通称: 2) The ditchdiggers were all called "Tony" (as pullman porters were then[in 1920s]in U.S.called "George". ---Luigi Barzini: O America! London 1977, p.171 这就是说,在当年,凡挖沟工人,人多称之为 Tony;而"红帽子",则人们都通称为 George! 那么,是否可以把"老王卖瓜,自卖自夸"中的老王译成 Tony 或 George 呢 Tony 可说不上,用 George 译"老王卖瓜......"中的老王,倒是可以考虑的.George 不仅是美国二十年代"红帽子"的通称,而且即使在二十世纪的八十年代,还在更大范围内用于泛指呢.下例中的 George 就是任何普通人的通称: 3) According to the latest government figures, 43 percent of the work force consists of females. Why are so many women choosing the career route I believe it's because they want their own identities and satisfaction that comes with personal achievement. They are not content to settle for being "George's wife". ---"New Rules for the Marriage Game", Reader's Digest, 1982, p.91 例中的 "George's wife"如果译作"张婶","王嫂",似乎是可以的. George 之用于泛称(而不是指某一个真的名叫"乔治"的人),亦见于习语"by George": 4) by George! an exclamation of mild surprise, determination, etc. ---WNWD 在下列美国俚语中,George 也是用于泛指的,请看: 5) Let George do it[美俚]让别人去干吧. ---《新汉英词典》 George 在这则俚语中竟成了"我"以外的所有人的通称了,其属泛指自更不待言了. 所以,至少在一定上下文中,似乎不妨把"老王卖瓜......"之类的老王(而不是真正的老王)译成 Grorge,把 George's wife 之类的 George (而不是,比如说,George Schults 之类的确有其人的 George)译成老王. 最后,关于 George 再说一个真实的故事.美国前国务卿黑格辞职不干后由舒尔茨接任,而舒尔茨的名字恰好是 George,正好应了"Let George do it"这句俚语.请看里根在乔治.舒尔茨宣誓就职时讲的几句话: 6) Reagan [at swearing-in of George Schults as Secretary of State to replace Haig]: "I am reminded of the saying, 'Let George do it.' George, I'll have a few things for you to do." ---Time, December 27, 1982, p.26

190. 车速越来越快了.
[误] The speed of the car is getting faster and faster.
[正] The speed of the car is getting higher and higher.
注: fast 不能与 speed 连用,其固定搭配是 high.可以说 The car is getting faster and faster,但只能说 Our car is driving on the highway at an extremely high speed.

191. 他掌权以后立刻露出了本来面目.
[误] He showed his true face as soon as he got the power in his hand.
[正] He showed his true colors as soon as he got the power in his hand.
注: 注意,这里的 colors 要用复数,而且这一短语带有很强的贬义.再看下面的句子:She finished the work in flying colors(她出色地完成了任务).这里的 colors 指"彩旗",而飘扬的彩旗可是胜利的标志噢!

192. 敌人对我们又打又拉.
[误] The enemy striked and pulled us.
[正] The enemy used both the carrot and the stick towards us.
注: 英语里常用借代的修辞手法.又如:Pen is mightier than sword.

193. 不就是一篇论文吗,小菜一碟.
[误] Just a paper It's a small plate of dish.
[正] Just a paper It's a piece of cake/as easy as a pie.
注: 我们用"小采一碟"表示"不成问题",而英美人更习惯用蛋糕和派.这是典型的由文化差异引起的语言差异.

194. 我不信你会傻到帮他背黑锅.
[误] I don't believe you are foolish enough to carry the black pan for him.
[正] I don't believe you are foolish enough to hold the bag for him. 注: 这里的 bag 相当于 blame 或 responsibility,所以短语 hold the bag 指"代人受过",与我们的"背黑锅"意思相同.

195. 不管别人怎么对你,我永远是支持你的.
[误] No matter how others may treat you, I'll always support you. [正] No matter how others may treat you, I'll be always on your side. 注: support 一般指经济或行动上比较实在的帮助和支持,而 on one's side 则侧重于观点,立场等精神上的支持和一致.因此,这里用 on one's side 更符合愿意.

196. 她受丈夫的影响,成了不吃肉,只消费蔬菜,蛋和奶的素食者.
[误] Influenced by her husband, she changed into a vegan having eggs and milk only.
[正] Influenced by her husband, she changed into a vegetarian having eggs and milk only.
注: vegan 是"严格的素食主义者",他们不仅不吃肉,而且连动物的副产品也不吃.而并不忌讳蛋和牛奶的"素食者"应用 vegetarian.

197. 你是在杀鸡取卵.
[误] You are killing the hen for her eggs.
[正] You are killing the goose that lays golden eggs.
注: "杀死生金蛋的鹅"典出一个广为流传的故事:一位农夫得到了一只会生金蛋的鹅,但因为嫌每天只得一个金蛋速度太慢了, 于是贪得无厌的农夫在妻子的怂恿下杀了那只鹅,想取出它肚子里所有的金蛋,结果反而彻底断了自己的财路.现在,人们用 kill the goose that lays golden eggs 比喻"目光短浅"或"得不偿失",正是中文"杀鸡取卵"的意思.

文本来源：佛山商务英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语