從零開始學(xué)翻譯(3)——選擇正確的詞義

字號(hào):

英語(yǔ)中,一個(gè)單詞有多種意義是普遍的現(xiàn)象,也是翻譯的難點(diǎn)。多多巫會(huì)不定期地把學(xué)習(xí)過程中遇到的具有典型意義的這類單詞都整理出來,和大家分享,希望能對(duì)你有所幫助:)
    1. can
    It can be pretty cold in shanghai, even in early spring.
    即使是早春,上海有時(shí)候仍然會(huì)相當(dāng)冷。
    這里的“can”,不是“可以”、“能夠”的意思,而是作“有時(shí)會(huì)”解,表示偶然發(fā)生的可能性。“can”的這種用法常與表示頻率、時(shí)間的狀語(yǔ)連用。
    2. company
    Don't yawn in company.
    別在客人面前打呵欠。
    “company”的意思是“社交場(chǎng)合”、“客人面前”。
    “company”還常作“伙伴”、“朋友”和“交往”解。
    Don't judge a man by the company he keeps.
    不要以其所交朋友斷定其為人。
    I enyoy your company.
    我樂于與你交往。
    3. market
    “market”做動(dòng)詞時(shí)意思為“宣傳”、“推銷”、“出售”。
    You've got to learn how to market yourself in this world.
    在這個(gè)世界上,你必須學(xué)會(huì)如何自我推銷。
    4. really
    He looks a fool, but he is really clever.
    他看上去呆頭呆腦,實(shí)際上很聰明。
    5. represent
    “represent”用在繪畫、塑像等藝術(shù)作品時(shí),常作“描繪和表現(xiàn)形象”講。
    The painting represents a storm at sea.
    這幅畫描繪的是一場(chǎng)海上風(fēng)暴。
    6. settle
    “settle”還有“支付,結(jié)算”的意思。
    We still have that telephone bill to settle.
    我們還有那筆電話費(fèi)要付。
    7. manage
    The ground crew of the airline regularly managed to lose luggage.
    這家航空公司的地勤人員老是做出丟失行李的事來。
    “manage”這里含有諷刺的意思,有“竟然會(huì)這么做”、“竟然做得出來”的內(nèi)涵。
    8. trim
    The government decided to trim its military budget.
    政府決定削減軍事預(yù)算。
    “trim”在這里的意思是“削減、減少”。
    練習(xí)
    “stuff”這個(gè)詞有許多意思,口語(yǔ)中用得很多,你都掌握了嗎?
    1. He has got all the stuff ready for building his new house.
    2. Quite a lot of stuff has been stolen.
    3. My stuff is packed.
    4. What stuff he writes!