托福写作中的俗语翻译


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托福写作备考过程中,托福写作句型的积累非常重要。有许多同学选择在托福写作中加入我国俗话,不过,由于我国式翻译过分隐晦,评分者或许不能完全了解其间的意思。下面,辛达托福代报为我们收拾7个我国俗话的英文翻译,期望对我们有所帮助。

1. 摩肩接踵:有人直译为:People mountain people sea.

这便是「我国英文」,老外很难了解。他们指「人多」时,一般只说:「There is a large crowd of people.」假如看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:「There is (was) a long movie line.」

不过在诗词用语 (poetic expression) 里,老外也有使用:「a (the) sea of faces」,颇有咱们「摩肩接踵」的滋味。例如:

Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片摩肩接踵的听众, A先生宣布一篇动人的讲演。)

Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到摩肩接踵的人群挥手向他致意。)

可见,说话者一般要在台上或高处,才有「人海」的感觉。因此,可以说:I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不说:「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说:「There is a sea of faces.」只说:「I saw a large crowd of people.」

2. 家家有本难念的经:有人译成:Every family cooking - pot has a black spot. (意思是:每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)

这样说法,辛达托福代报认为老外恐怕不能充沛了解。不过老外最常的说法是:

Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸便是指家丑)

或者说:Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)

说白些,便是:Every family has its own problem.

3. 天下无不散的宴席:有人直译为:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.

老外听后,也许很难领会其间含义。假如按照美语说法,也许更易了解:

All good things come to an end. (意思是:所有好的事情,总有结束的一天。)

假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:

Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知己的好友)

4. 平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚:有人照字直译为:When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.

这种说法,老外也会「一知半解」。美语里一般说法是:

Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神,不是只在困难时。)

对学生也可以说:If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (假如你每天刻苦,考试就不会构成压力。)

5. 挂羊头,卖狗肉:有人照字直译为:He advertises mutton, but sells dog's flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheep's head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.

这两种译法,恐怕老外都难了解,尤其谈到「狗肉」,他们更会「反感」,因为狗是他们最爱的宠物,不过老外倒有相近的说法:

He applied bait-and-switch tactics in business. (他经商的战略是先引诱顾客来,再改变货物的质量。)

(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)

This store uses bait and switch policy.

或者简略的说:Let the buyer be aware! (让顾客提高警觉) ; 或 Say one thing and do another.

6. 一言既出,驷马难追:有人译成:One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.

这两种说法,中文滋味嫌重,老外未必了解。不过他们倒有类似的说法:

A word once let go cannot be recalled.

或者说:You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话,就不能再收回来。)

7. 言多必失,言多必失:有人译为:The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.

老外听了,恐怕不能完全了解。最好说成:

Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话,会带来费事); 或 The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)

乃至也可以说:Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说,张眼多看。)

以上便是辛达托福代报分享的7个我国俗话的英文翻译,这些俗话的正确翻译多半是曲意,不是按照字面意思来翻译的。我们在托福备考过程中,运用其他俗话的时候也需要留意,最好从意思上去翻译我国俗话。