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1 每节课老师都会点名。 [误] The teacher will call our names in every period of class. [正] The teacher will call the roll in every period of class. 注解： 英语的“点名”是 call the roll，而 call one’s name(s)的意思是“谩骂某人”。roll有“名册”的意思，又如：remove sb's name from the roll（把某人除名）。 2 我不想听他那些空话。 [误] I don't want to hear his empty words. [正] I don't want to hear his hollow words. 注解： 虽然 empty 和 hollow 都有“空洞的”之意，但表达“空话”时，英语习惯用 hollow words 或 empty talk。 3 奥斯本名义上是个医生，但他整天都呆在股票交易所里。 [误] Osborne is a doctor by name only, but he stays in the stock exchange all day long. [正] Osborne is a doctor in name only, but he stays in the stock exchange all day long. 注解： by name 和 in name 虽然形似，但涵义却有区别。by name 相当于 by the name of，常放在专有名词之后，表示所说的人或事物的确实名称。例如：There was a great poet in China, Qu Yuan by name（中国有个伟大的诗人，名叫屈原）。而 in name 是贬义词，表示“名义上的”或“徒有虚名”。 4 你真是红光满面。 [误] Your face is all red. [正] You are in ruddy health. 注解： "红光满面"是说一个人身体很好，而 You face is all red 则指对方满脸通红，似乎“不好意思”或“牌窘境”，皮肤过敏也未可知，总之与原句不符。a ruddy complexion 虽然有“面色红润”的意思，但没能充分表达出汉语“身体健康，精力充沛”的意思。当然，除了第二句译文，还可以用 You look so healthy and full of pep 或 You look the very picture of health and energy 来表达。 5 你该吃晚饭了。 [误] It's time to eat your dinner. [正] It's time to have your dinner. 注解： 不是所有的“吃”字都能翻译为英语 eat 的，英语中有许多固定搭配，如：take one’s medicines (吃药)；lead an idle life (吃闲饭)；be very popular (吃香)；I hd some meat for lunch (午餐我吃了些肉)等。 6 宁做鸡头，不做凤尾。 [误] Better be the head of a cock than the tail of a phoenix. [正] Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. 注解： 每种语言中都有许多约定俗成的表达，没有什么道理好讲，但使用时则需遵照各自的语言习惯。中文是"鸡头"和"凤尾"比，而英语中却要用"狗头"和"狮尾"。 7 因为你没有吃的，那个索马里的小男孩瘦得像猴子。 [误] That Somali boy is as thin as a monkey because of the lack of food. [正] That Somali boy is as thin as a shadow because of the lack of food. 注解： 同一事物，在不同的文化里可能引起不同的联想，具有不同的内涵。所以，在一种语言中用这种事物作比喻，而在另一种语言中很可能会有不同的表达。这样的例子中英文还有很多，例如：as timid as a hare (胆小如鼠)，as strong as a horse (力大如牛)，as poor as a church mouse (一贫如洗)等。 8 爸爸总爱发脾气。 [误] Dad always likes losing his temper. [正] Dad is apt to lose his temper. 注解： like doing something 表示"喜欢干某事"，一般用来说明某人的兴趣爱好；而 be apt to do sth.则表示“常常发生某种行为”或“容易发生某种变化”。根据原文的意思显然应该用后者。 9 丹尼斯自己不努力，还老是眼红别人的成就。 [误] Denis himself doesn't work hard, however, he is always red-eyed of other people's achievements. [正] Denis himself doesn't work hard, however, he is always green-eyed of other people's achievements. 注解： 中国人说一个人嫉妒用"眼红"，但英美人则用"眼绿"来形容。英语的 green 除了表示颜色之外还有"嫉妒"的意思，又如：I was absolutely green (with envy) when I saw his splendid new car (我看到他那辆漂亮的新车非常眼红)。其实，英语中许多表示色彩的词汇都有特殊的含义，不能照字面去理解。再比如：He gave me a black look (他恶狠狠地蹬了我一眼)；She visits us once in a blue moon (她难得来看我们一次)等。 10 夏天要多喝白开水。 [误] You should drink more white boiled water in summer. [正] You should drink more plain boiled water in summer. 注解： "白开水"不是指"水的颜色是白色"，而是指"水中没有添加其他的东西"。而 plain 正是指"没掺杂其他东西的，单纯的"，所以能确切表达原文的含义。 |
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