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常见中文俗语英译技巧辅导

<< 返回考试经验 2014-06-13来源:口译
常见中文俗语英译技巧辅导

  许多中国人爱用俗语、成语、俚语。由于中美两国文化、风俗、思想、习惯的差异,如果照字直译,或把单字?堆在一起?,老外听了,也许就会?满头雾水?、?迷迷糊糊?,成了他们所说的?只有你们中国人听得懂?的?中国英文?(Chinese English)。
  在此,把一些常见的中文俗语与一般老外的说法相对比较,或许可供有兴趣的读者参考。
  1.人山人海:有人直译为:People mountain people sea.
  这就是?中国英文?,老外很难理解。他们指?人多?时,通常只说:?There is a large crowd of people.?如果看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:?There is (was) a long movie line.?
  不过在诗词用语(poetic expression)里,老外也有使用:?a (the) sea of faces?,颇有咱们?人山人海?的味道。例如:
  Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片人山人海的听众, A先生发表一篇动人的演说。)
  Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。)
  可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有?人海?的感觉。因此,可以说:I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building.但在平地的人群中,就不说:?I saw the sea of faces.?也不说:?There is a sea of faces.?只说:?I saw a large crowd of people.?
  2.家家有本难念的经:有人译成:Every family cooking - pot has a black spot.(意思是:每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)
  这样说法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是:
  Many families have skeletons in the closet.(许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸)(骨骸就是指家丑)
  或者说:
  Every family has its own source of shame.(每个家庭都有自己的丑事)
  说白些,就是:
  Every family has its own problem.
  3.天下无不散的宴席:有人直译为:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
  老外听后,也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法,也许更易理解:
  All good things come to an end.(意思是:所有好的事情,总有结束的一天。)
  假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:
  Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart.(bosom friend 是指知心的好友)
  4.平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚:有人照字直译为:When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.
  这种说法,老外也会?一知半解?。美语里一般说法是:
  Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity.(要每天敬拜神,不是只在困难时。)
  对学生也可以说:
  If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming.


(责任编辑:秩名)