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翻译技巧:汉译英最易翻错的100句(11)

51.那本书毫无价值可言。

[误] that book is invaluable.
[正] that book is valueless.

注:invaluable 和 valueless 一个是在形容词 valuable(有价值的)之前加上否定形容词前缀 in-;另一个是在名词 value(价值)的后面加上否定形容词 -less,但它们的意思却刚好相反。invaluable 是指“非常贵重的,无价的”(highly valuable, precious),其同义词是 priceless;valueless 的意思却是“毫无价值的”,相当于 worthless。现将这两个词用在同一个句子中,以便区别:the book that he considered valueless proved invaluable to us(他认为毫无价值的那本书对我们来说却是无价之宝)。

52. ibm公司一直处在电脑行业的前沿。

[误] 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“前线,第一线”的意思,常指最危险或最艰苦的地方。例如:many doctors are in the front line of the fighting against sars(许多医生战斗在抗击“非典”的第一线)。at the cutting edge 最早出现在20世纪50年代,它最初指“锐器的锋利部位”,现在常隐喻“处在(高科技的)最前沿。

53. 一位有经验的教师曾经说,上课之前他觉得如临大敌,上课时他是如履薄冰,只有上完课后他才会如释重负。

[误] 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”是比喻一个人“做事十分小心谨慎或战战兢兢”,而英语的类似说法却是 walk on eggs 或 tread on eggs,要注意中英文喻体的不同。

54. 我有一个舒适的家。

[误] i have a cozy family.
[正] i have a cozy home.

注: family 和 home 虽然翻译成汉语时都是“家”,但它们在英语中却不是同义词。family 主要指家庭成员;而 home 主要指居住地,即“住宅”。原文中用“舒适的”来修饰“家”,显然是指“舒适的房子”。如果原文是“我有一个和睦的家”,就应该翻译成 i have a harmonious family 了。

55. 每节课老是都会点名。

[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: 英语的“点名”是 call the roll,而 call one's name(s)的意思是“谩骂某人”。rool 有“名册”的意思,又如:remove sb.'s name from the rool(把某人除名)。