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表示倍数减少的英语表达方法

<< 返回考试心得 2012-10-29来源:口译
(一)a is n times as small (light,slow,…)as b. a is n times smaller (lighter, slower,…) than b. 以上两句均应译为:a的大小(重量,速度,……)是b的1/n[或a比b小(轻,慢,……)(n-1)

(一)a is n times as small (light,slow,…)as b.

a is n times smaller (lighter, slower,…) than b.

以上两句均应译为:a的大小(重量,速度,……)是b的1/n[或a比b小(轻,慢,……)(n-1)/n].

e.g. The hydrogen atom is near1y l6 times as light as the oxygen atom. 氢原子的重量约为氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子约轻15/16)。

e.g. This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper. 这种薄膜比普通纸张要薄一半(即是普通纸厚度的1/2)。

注:当相比的对象b很明显时,than/as b常被省去。

(二)decrease n times/n——fold

decrease by n times

decrease by a factor of n

以上三式均译为:减少到1/n[或:减少(n-1)/n].

decrease常被reduce,shorten,go/slow down等词替代。

e.g. Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times. 新型晶体管的开关时间缩短了1/3(即缩短到2/3)。

e.g. When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by ten times. 电压升高9倍,电流强度便降低9/10(即90%)。

e.g. The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5. 该设备误差概率降低了4/5.

(三)there is a n-fold decrease/reduction… 应译为:减至1/n [或:减少(n一1)/n].

这个句型还有其它一些形式,

e.g. A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed. 发现迅速减少到1/7.

e.g. The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight. 这些产品的主要优点是重量减轻了1/2.

英语在表述或比较倍数时,无论使用什么句型(除了不含倍数词的again句型外)都包括基础倍数在内,因此都不是净增或净减n倍,而是净增或净减n-1倍。



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