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1、中文:
转战南北
翻译:
[误] fight south and north
[正] fight north and south
注释:
在地理方位的表达习惯上,中英文有一定的区别。中国人习惯于先“东西”后“南北”,而且在涉及“南北”时,习惯于先说“南”,再说“北”,如:“南征北战”、“南来北往”等。
而英美人与此正好相反,如“江苏在中国的东南部”英文是 jiangsu is in the south-east of china,
而“新疆在中国的西北部”应译为 xinjiang is in the north-west of china。
2、中文:
他一向嘴硬,从不认错。
翻译:
[误] he has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault.
[正] he never says uncle.
注释:
say (cry) uncle: to give up or in; to surrender; to admit defeat. mainly
used by boys, as when fighting。主要是男孩们打架时的用语,当一方想制服另一方时,就用命令的口气说:“say
uncle!”这时,有的孩子为了表示不服输,就是不说。
后来,say uncle 就成了“服输”的代名词,而 not say uncle 就相当于“嘴硬”了。
3、中文:
他一向嘴硬,从不认错。
翻译:
[误] he has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault.
[正] he never says uncle.
注释:
say (cry) uncle: to give up or in; to surrender; to admit defeat. mainly
used by boys, as when fighting。主要是男孩们打架时的用语,当一方想制服另一方时,就用命令的口气说:“say
uncle!”这时,有的孩子为了表示不服输,就是不说。
后来,say uncle 就成了“服输”的代名词,而 not say uncle 就相当于“嘴硬”了。
4、中文:
1. 老师很喜欢这个嘴甜的小姑娘。
翻译:
[误] the teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much.
[正] the teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.
注释:
中国人喜欢说“嘴甜”,但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的语言习惯。
2.同学们都很讨厌他,因为他经常拍老师的马屁。
[误] the student all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's
ass.
[正] the students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's
boots.
注释:
以前在欧洲,臣民见到国王与王后往往要葡匐到在,亲吻他们的靴子。后来,人们将 lick the boots
引申为“为了某种目的而讨好某人”,它与汉语的“拍马屁”含义一样。
在美国英语中,“拍马屁”还有另一种说法,即 polish the apple,它典出以前的学生用擦亮的苹果来讨好老师。 |
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