翻译技巧:汉译英最易翻错的句子(10)
(发布时间: 2008-9-9 13:43:57 来自:)

    46. 你希望什么时候成家呢?

  [误] When do you want to start a family?

  [正] When do you want to get married?

  注:中文的“成家”是“结婚”的意思,而英文 start a family 的含义却是“生第一个孩子”,二者完全不是一回事。

  47. 宁做鸡头,不做凤尾。

  [误] Better be the head of a cock than the tail of a phoenix.

  [正] Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

  注:每种语言中都有许多约定俗成的表达,没有什么道理好讲,但使用时则需遵照各自的语言习惯。中文是“鸡头”和“凤尾”比,而英语中却要用“狗头”和“狮尾”。

  48. 海伦就像一只骄傲的公鸡,从来不爱搭理别人。

  [误] Helen is proud as a cock, and she never talks to others.

  [正] Helen is proud as a peacock, and she never talks to others.

  注:“孔雀”在中国人眼里是美丽和吉祥的象征,而公鸡因为常把头昂得高高地,尾巴翘到了天上,摆出一副盛气凌人的架子,因此成了“骄傲”的化身。但西方文化不注重孔雀美丽的一面,认为它们很骄傲,所以英美人在形容一个人骄傲、狂妄和爱慕虚荣时,就把他(她)比作 peacock。

  49. 因为没有吃的,那个索马里的小男孩瘦得像猴子。

  [误] That Somali boy is as thin as a monkey because of the lack of food.

  [正] That Somali boy is as thin as a shadow because of the lack of food.

  注:同一事物,在不同的文化里可能引起不同的联想,具有不同的内涵。所以,在一种语言中用这种事物作比喻,而在另一种语言中很可能会有不同的表达。这样的例子中英文还有很多,例如:as timid as a hare(胆小如鼠),as strong as a horse(力大如牛),as poor as a church mouse(一贫如洗)等。

  50. 索菲娅望子成龙心切,给儿子报名参加了许多补习班。
 
  [误] Sophia hopes to see her son become a dragon, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling.

  [正] Sophia hopes that her son will have a bright future, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling.

  注:“龙”在中国人心目中象征着神圣和万能,但在西方人的印象中却是可怕的,《圣经》里就把“龙”描述成了罪恶的象征。

更多翻译资格考试相关信息请关注:

2008全国翻译资格等级考试网上辅导方案
2008年全国翻译资格等级考试下半年考试时间:11月8日,9日
全国翻译资格等级考试常见问题及解答
全国翻译资格等级考试大纲汇总 
翻译资格等级考试用书推荐 

 

新闻搜索
新闻热点
周排行
月排行
考试专题
网校动态
网上书店