漢譯英最易翻錯(cuò)的句子(3)

字號(hào):

11.那本書毫無價(jià)值可言。
    [誤] That book is invaluable.
    [正] That book is valueless.
    注:invaluable 和 valueless 一個(gè)是在形容詞 valuable(有價(jià)值的)之前加上否定形容詞前綴 in-;另一個(gè)是在名詞 value(價(jià)值)的后面加上否定形容詞 -less,但它們的意思卻剛好相反。invaluable 是指“非常貴重的,無價(jià)的”(highly valuable, precious),其同義詞是 priceless;valueless 的意思卻是“毫無價(jià)值的”,相當(dāng)于 worthless。現(xiàn)將這兩個(gè)詞用在同一個(gè)句子中,以便區(qū)別:The book that he considered valueless proved invaluable to us(他認(rèn)為毫無價(jià)值的那本書對(duì)我們來說卻是無價(jià)之寶)。
    12. IBM公司一直處在電腦行業(yè)的前沿。
    [誤] IBM is always in the front line of computer industry.
    [正] IBM is always at the cuttting edge of computer insustry.
    注: front line 是“前線,第一線”的意思,常指危險(xiǎn)或艱苦的地方。例如:Many doctors are in the front line of the fighting against SARS(許多醫(yī)生戰(zhàn)斗在抗擊“非典”的第一線)。at the cutting edge 早出現(xiàn)在20世紀(jì)50年代,它初指“銳器的鋒利部位”,現(xiàn)在常隱喻“處在(高科技的)前沿。
    13. 一位有經(jīng)驗(yàn)的教師曾經(jīng)說,上課之前他覺得如臨大敵,上課時(shí)他是如履薄冰,只有上完課后他才會(huì)如釋重負(fù)。
    [誤] An experienced teacher once said that before class he felt as if faced with a formidable enemy, in class he felt like walking on ice, and only after class would he feel relieved.
    [正] An experienced teacher once said that before class he felt as if faced with a formidable enemy, in class he felt like walking on eggs, and only after class would he feel relieved.
    注: 中文的“如履薄冰”是比喻一個(gè)人“做事十分小心謹(jǐn)慎或戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢”,而英語的類似說法卻是 walk on eggs 或 tread on eggs,要注意中英文喻體的不同。
    14. 我有一個(gè)舒適的家。
    [誤] I have a cozy family.
    [正] I have a cozy home.
    注: family 和 home 雖然翻譯成漢語時(shí)都是“家”,但它們?cè)谟⒄Z中卻不是同義詞。family 主要指家庭成員;而 home 主要指居住地,即“住宅”。原文中用“舒適的”來修飾“家”,顯然是指“舒適的房子”。如果原文是“我有一個(gè)和睦的家”,就應(yīng)該翻譯成 I have a harmonious family 了。
    15. 每節(jié)課老是都會(huì)點(diǎn)名。
    [誤] The teacher will call our names in every period of class.
    [正] The teacher will call the roll in every period of class.
    注: 英語的“點(diǎn)名”是 call the roll,而 call one’s name(s)的意思是“謾罵某人”。rool 有“名冊(cè)”的意思,又如:remove sb.’s name from the rool(把某人除名)。