标题: 〖转帖〗The English Learner's Guide to Chinglish 中式英语之鉴 [打印本页] 作者: 水语清叶 时间: 2006-3-13 04:15
标题: 〖转帖〗The English Learner's Guide to Chinglish 中式英语之鉴
Sources:
1.《中式英语》 戴丹妮 主编
2.《翻译的技巧》 钱歌川 编著
3.《汉英词语翻译漫话》 陈忠诚 著
4.《现代英语用法词典》 张道真 编
5.《汉译英一语多说300例》 钱冠连 编
6.《英语惯用法大词典》 王福祯 徐达山 主编
7.《英语常见问题解答大词典》 赵振才 编著
8.《实用英语正误词典》本词典编写组 编
9. Dictionary of American Slang
---Compiled and Edited by Harold Wentworth and Stuart Berg Flexner
01.有他这颗扫帚星，什么事情都办不成。
[误] With a comet like him, nothing can be accomplished.
[正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished.
注：“扫帚星”是中国人对“慧星”（comet）的俗称，因其后面象拖着的一条像扫帚一样的长尾巴而得名。在中国古代，“扫帚星”被认为是灾难的预兆，并被用来比喻不吉利的人或事；祸根：（person or thing that is thought to bring）bad luck（to sb/sth）；curse。英语的 comet 虽然没有这层含义，但却有一个对应的说法，即 jinx。 例：There's a jinx on/Someone's put a jinx on this car: it's always giving me trouble. “这辆汽车上有什么妨人的东西，总给我找麻烦”。
02.萝卜青菜，各有所爱。
[误] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage.
[正] Tastes differ.
注：Tastes differ/vary 是句英语谚语，除此以外，原句还可翻译成 No dish suits all tastes 或 You can never make everyone happy 等。《新概念英语》第三册第23课的标题是：One man's meat is another man's poison，表达的很生动。 总之，应采取意译。
03.他一向嘴硬，从不认错。
[误] He has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault.
[正] He never says uncle.
注：say (cry) uncle: to give up or in; to surrender; to admit defeat. Mainly used by boys, as when fighting。主要是男孩们打架时的用语，当一方想制服另一方时，就用命令的口气说：“Say uncle!”这时，有的孩子为了表示不服输，就是不说。后来，say uncle 就成了“服输”的代名词，而 not say uncle 就相当于“嘴硬”了。
04.老师很喜欢这个嘴甜的小姑娘。
[误] The teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much.
[正] The teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.
注：中国人喜欢说“嘴甜”，但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的语言习惯。
05.同学们都很讨厌他，因为他经常拍老师的马屁。
[误] The student all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's ass.
[正] The students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's boots.
注：以前在欧洲，臣民见到国王与王后往往要葡匐到在，亲吻他们的靴子。后来，人们将 lick the boots 引申为“为了某种目的而讨好某人”，它与汉语的“拍马屁”含义一样。在美国英语中，“拍马屁”还有另一种说法，即 polish the apple，它典出以前的学生用擦亮的苹果来讨好老师。
06.你听说了吗？迈克把他的女朋友给甩了。
[误] Have you ever heard that Mike broke up with his girlfriend.
[正] Have you ever heard that Mike dumped his girlfriend.
注：break up with sb. 虽然表示“与某人分手了”，但并没说明是谁先提出来的。而 dump 的原意指“倾倒垃圾”，用在这里则表示像倒垃圾一样地甩掉。
07.我们要把祖国建设成为社会主义的现代化强国。
[误] We will build our motherland into a socialist modern powerful country.
[正] We will build our motherland into a modern powerful socialist country.
10.转战南北
[误] fight south and north
[正] fight north and south
注：在地理方位的表达习惯上，中英文有一定的区别。中国人习惯于先“东西”后“南北”，而且在涉及“南北”时，习惯于先说“南”，再说“北”，如：“南征北战”、“南来北往”等。而英美人与此正好相反，如“江苏在中国的东南部”英文是 Jiangsu is in the south-east of China, 而“新疆在中国的西北部”应译为 Xinjiang is in the north-west of China。
作者: 水语清叶 时间: 2006-3-13 04:15
11.人都是这山望着那山高，对自己的现状没有满意的时候。
[误] Almost all people think that the other mountain is higher than the one he's standing on. They never feel saisfied with what they've already got.
[正] Almost all people think that the grass is greener on the other hill. They never feel saisfied with what they've already got.
注：“这山望着那山高”是指人不满足于现状的心理，它在英语中已经有了现成的说法，即 the grass is greener on the other hill（他山的草更绿），因此我们借用即可，这样既方便又更有利于与西方人沟通。
12.北京申奥成功的消息令我们热血沸腾。
[误] Beijing's winning the bid for the Olympics makes our blood boil.
[正] Beijing's winning the bid for the Olympics makes us excited.
注：make one's blood boil 是指“激怒某人”，而非“使人激动”。英语中“使人激动”的说法除了 make one excited，还有较为口语化的 make one's spine tingle。
13.别听他们胡说八道，根本就没那回事。
[误] Don't listen to their babbling. Nothing of the sort.
[正] Don't be fooled by their babbling. Nothing of the sort.
注：原文中的“听”不能用 listen to 来表示，因为 listen to 指“听”的动作，而原文中的“别听”不是不让他“听”，而是劝告他“不要听信”，因此，用 not be fooled by 才更达意。
14.我们这儿的人都觉得他有婚外恋。
[误] Pepple around here all feel that he has affairs outside his own marriage.
[正] Pepple around here all feel that he is leading a double life.
注：affair 本身就指“私通”或“暧昧关系”，当然是“婚外”的事，所以 outside one's own marriage 无疑是多此一举了。英语中“有婚外恋”的地道说法应该是 lead a double life。
15.别看别人不把她当回事，在家里她可是父亲的掌上明珠。
[误] Although other people never take her seriousy, she is the pearl on her father's hand at home.
[正] Although other people never take her seriousy, she is the apple of her father's eye at home.
注：中英文常用不同的喻体表明相同的喻义，“掌上明珠”与 the apple of one's eye 就是一个很好的例子。这种情况我们一般应尊重各国文化和习俗，翻译时取目的语的固定说法，而不必直译，这有助于将意思更有效地传达给读者。the apple of one's eye 源自圣经《旧约》，当时人们用 apple 指人的瞳孔。尽管瞳孔现在已经用 pupil 来表示，不再是 apple 了，但这一用法却延续了下来。
16.都十点钟了。起床了，懒虫！
[误] It's ten o'clock. Get up, lazy worm!
[正] It's ten o'clock. Get up, lazy bones!
注：“懒虫”并非真是一条虫，只不过被用来形容人很懒惰罢了。英语里与之对应的说法是 lazy bones（懒骨头）。注意，这里的 bone 应以复数形式出现，也许是因为不会只有一根骨头懒吧！
17.我唯一的资本就是勤奋。
[误] My only capital is diligence.
[正] My only means to success is diligence.
注：原文的“资本”是借喻，实际指“可以依靠并取得成功的手段”。而英语的 capital 指 money used to produce more wealth or for starting a business，并没有中文那样的引申意思。所以，这里的“资本”不能与 capital 画等号。也有人用 advantage 来翻译“资本”，虽然不尽意，但至少可以让读者理解。
18.这家商店开辟了休息处，受到顾客的称赞。
[误] This department store has set up a resting-place, much to the customers' appreciation.
[正] This department store has set up a lounge, much to the customers' appreciation.
19.大家都怀疑汤姆是个间谍。
[误] Everyone doubts that Tom is a spy.
[正] Everyone suspects that Tom is a spy.
注：doubt 作“怀疑”讲，是“不相信”的意思；而 suspect 作“怀疑”讲，是指“对...有所察觉”。第一句译文犯了两个错误：首先，doubt 不能接 that 从句，只有not doubt that 和 doubt if/whether；其次，它所表达的意思是“大家对汤姆是间谍这件事表示怀疑”，即“大家不相信汤姆是间谍”，与原文的意思恰好相反。
20. 我们俩关系最好，他经常来我这儿蹲饭吃。
[误] We are best friends. He always comes here to have meals for free.
[正] We are best friends. He always comes here to bum meals off me.
注：第一句只表明“他常到我这儿来白吃白喝”，但朋友这间那种亲密关系没有体现出来。而 bum sth. off sb. 指向非常熟的朋友要一些不起眼的小东西，而朋友也不会介意还不还。
作者: 水语清叶 时间: 2006-3-13 04:16
21. 这个教授教得很烂。
[误] The professor teaches badly.
[正] The professor is so terrible.
注：有人认为第二句的意思是“这个教授很可怕”，其实不然。英语中 terible 意思很灵活，例如：feel terrible 指身体“不舒服”； The food is terrible 则是说食物“难吃极了”。而第一句纯属中文式的表达。
22. 我希望你不要拖我的后腿。
[误] I hope that you won't pull my leg.
[正] I hope that you won't hold me back.
注：pull one's leg 是“愚弄某人，开某人的玩笑”的意思，相当于 make fun of sb.。英语中与“拖后腿”相对应的表达是 hold sb. back 或 be a drag on sb. 等。
23. 学校里，那些长得人高马大的家伙常来找我的麻烦。
[误] At school, those big and strong guys always come to find my trouble.
[正] At school, those big and strong guys always come to pick on me.
注：find my trouble 是“发现我的难处”的意思，而英语中“找某人的麻烦”用短语 pick on sb. 它不仅表示“挑剔某人、找某人的碴”，而且还包含 tease（取笑、戏弄）或 bully（威胁、欺侮）的意思。
24. 原来如此。一经你解释我就明白了。
[误] So it is. I understand soon after your explanation.
[正] So that's how it is. I understand soon after your explanation.
注：So it is 的意思是“的确如此”，它是用来表示对对方观点的赞同的。例如：
A: It is a fine day today!
B: So it is.
而在表达恍然大悟时，英文要用 So that's how it is 或 So that explains it, 或更简单地道的说法 Oh, I see.
(3)《英汉大词典》p.1055：
We got lost in the woods. 我们在森林中迷路了。
(4) 张道真《现代英语用法词典》p.820-821：
He lost his bearing（迷失方向）in the strange city.
(5) 在...中迷路，迷失在...
We were lost in the forest.
We are lost in the woods.
* lost one'e way 迷路
She had lost her way.
Don't lost your way in the storm.
(6)《汉英大词典》上海交大版；金山词霸2005：
均收录了 get lost 为“迷路”；而“金山词霸2005”把“get lost”和“got lost”均列为“迷路”。但都没有例句。
有关迷路的常见说法：
1) to get lost（常用）
I wouldn't have gotten lost, if I had asked for directions.
要是我问过路，就不至于迷路了。
2) to lost one's way（正式）
The child had lost his way.
那个小孩迷路了。
3) to take the wrong road（不常用）
Finally we found ourselves having taken the wrong road.
最后，我们发觉我们迷路了。
4) to go the wrong way（常用）
I am we are going the wrong way.
恐怕我们走错路了。
5) so lose one's bearings（正式）
One might lose his bearings in an unfamiliar place.
一个人在不熟悉的地方最容易迷路。
6) can't find one's way（常用）
They went on in the desert until at last they couldn't find their way.
他们在沙漠里继续走，直到他们最后迷了路。
7) to stray（正式）
They strayed in the woods.
他们在森林中迷路了。
（to go astray：走入迷途，走上歧途）
Today I came across get lost in The Invisible Man ---H. G. Wells:
"I'm not trying to run away, I swear," protested Marvel tearfully. "I don't know these roads and I don't want to get lost."
=================================================================
26. 我没料到这个无耻的女人居然同她好友的丈夫调情。
[误] I had not expected that this shameful woman should flirt with her best friend's husband.
[正] I had not expected that this shameless woman should flirt with her best friend's husband.
注：shameful 通常指某事物是“可耻的，丢脸的”，而 shameless 表示 having or showing no feeling of shame; immodest or impudent,它一般用来指人“不知羞耻的，不要脸的”或“伤风败俗的”。原文也可译为：It's shameful that the woman should flirt with her best friend's husband.
27. 东施效颦。
[误] Doingshi imitates Xishi.
[正] The ugly imitates the beautiful in such a distorted way that the ugliness of the ugly becomes worse.
注：把原文按照字面意思直译过来，恐怕只有中国人能够理解。要想让外国人明白这个中国成语，就要对译文进行解释性加工了。同样，“情人眼里出西施”不是 Xishi is in the eye of the beholder，而是 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder。
28. 你不好好学习，还想去牛津上大学。这可真是个不切实际的幻想哟！
[误] You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an impractical illusion!
[正] You don't study hard, yet you want to go to Oxford. What an illusion!
29. 想让他答应这样的要求恐怕不大可能。
[误] I'm it is impossible for him to agree to such a request.
[正] I'm afreaid it is unlikely for him to agree to such a request.
注：impossible 表示“完全不可能”，所以与原文有出入。在英语中，probable 表示的可能性最大，其次是 possible，再次是 likely。而常用的句式为 it is probable/possible/likely for sb. to do sth.，或 sb. be likely to do sth.。
30. 一群蚂蚁
[误] a group of ants
[正] a colony of ants
注：表示群体时，group 通常指人或物，而 colony 才指生物群体。
The Chinglish Files have been featured in the U.K. newspaper "The Telegraph" and on the BBC radio program "The World Today."
Chinglish: The humorous version of English that appears (often in instructions for assembling or using products) after a translation from the original Chinese (or any other language) fails to come across in "normal" English.
The term Chinglish is a fusion of the "Chin" from Chinese and the "glish" from English. Chinglish is not a racist or bigoted term and should not be taken as such. If anything, The Chinglish Files are a way of poking fun at how difficult our flawed English language can be to translate at times. It is not intended as a dig at the intelligence or linguistic capabilities of other nations. Anyway, that's enough "serious" discussion already... time for some fun:
(a * indicates the more popular featured pieces of Chinglish - The newest pieces of Chinglish are at the bottom of the page)
作者: 水语清叶 时间: 2006-3-13 04:17
31. 最近的人口统计显示中国人口已超过12亿。
[误] The latest census shows that China's population has surpassed 1.2 billion.
[正] The latest census shows that China's population exceeds 1.2 billion.
32. 我每天都要在网吧里呆上10个小时，是个不折不扣的网虫。
[误] I spend 10 hours in the net bar every day, and I am indeed a net bug.
[正] I spend 10 hours in the net bar every day, and I am indeed a netter.
注：“网虫”要是直译成 net bug，很容易使人联想到计算机病毒，如：the millennium bug（“千年虫”病毒）。所以，英语中与之相应的说法是 netter/nettle。在《剑桥国际英语词典》里，对 netter/nettle 的解释是：regular user of Internet, perhaps one who spends too much time in this occupation。nethead 和“网虫”的意思差不多，它表示“网痴，网迷”；而 netizen 则可以用来指所有的网民，尤其是互联网的用户，它是由 net（网络）和 citizen（公民）组合而成的。还有一个时髦的词是 netsurfer，即“网上冲浪者”。
33. 每次考试来临的时候，约翰就变成了一只夜猫子，但这并不是一个好的学习方法。
[误] John becomes a night cat every time the examination is coming. However, this is not a good way to learn.
[正] John becomes a night owl every time the examination is coming. However, this is not a good way to learn.
注：owl 是“猫头鹰”的意思，即一种深夜不睡，睁一只眼，闭一只眼，准备随时捕捉田鼠的动物。英语中用 night owl 来比喻经常熬夜的人，就像我们习惯用“夜猫子”一样。不论叫你“夜猫子”还是 a night owl，“开夜车”（burn the midnight oil）总是免不了的。
34. 现如今，由于出国深造的人越来越多，“海龟（归）派”也不像原来那样吃香了。
[误] Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the overseas students are not so popular as before.
[正] Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the returnees are not so popular as before.
35. 在皎洁的月光下，那个花花公子在我耳边悄悄说着情话。
[误] The playboy whispered love words to my ear with a bright moon in the sky.
[正] The playboy whispered sweet nothings to my ear with a bright moon in the sky.
注： 因为“情书”是 love letter，“情歌”是 love song，所以不少人以为“情话”就应该是 love words，其实并非如此。英语中“情话”常用 lovers'prattle 或 sweet nothings 来表达。prattle 有“孩子话，废话”的意思，所以 lovers' prattle 指“恋人之间孩子气的废话”；sweet nothings 更是一目了然，有“甜蜜而不中用”的意思。
36. 比尔.盖茨平均每天工作15个小时，他简直就是一个工作狂。
[误] Bill Gates works 15 hours a day on average, and he is crazy about his work.
[正] Bill Gates works 15 hours a day on average, and he is a workaholic.
注： crazy 虽然可以作“疯狂的，狂热的”讲，但 be crazy about/on sth. 的意思却是“热衷于...，对...着迷”；be crazy for 也不行，因为它表示“渴望（某物）；迷恋（某人）”。可见，它们都与“工作狂”有一定区别。而 workaholic 是从 alcoholic（嗜酒成癖者）派生出来的，表示像酗酒者离不开酒精一样地离不开工作。现在人们将 -holic 作为一个后缀，表示“对...上瘾，嗜好...成癖”，并构成了许多新词。例如：movie-holic（嗜好电影成癖的人），telehokic（看电视成癖的人）等。
37. 给这们女士来杯威士忌，记在我的账上。
[误] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my bill.
[正] Whisky for this lady, and put it on my tab.
注： 我们可以说 Could we have the bill, please? （请给我们账单好吗？）或 pay the bill（埋单），但“记在某某的账上”却不用 bill，而要用 put...on one's tab 表示。tab 是“小纸片”的意思，因为过去小店的生意都是靠住在附近的老主顾，赊账时有发生，于是老板们通常把每个人的赊账情况记在各自的小纸片上，也就是 put...on one's tab，以防遗忘。渐渐地，该词组就成了一种习惯用法。
38. 哈罗得挥金如土，没有一点积蓄。
[误] Harold spends money like dirt, and has no savings.
[正] Harold spends money like water, and has no savings.
注： 英国是一个岛国，离不开水；而我们中国的许多地区深处内陆，人们的生活离不开土地。所以，英语中有许多习语与“水”有关，而汉语却常常拿“土”作比。这就是为什么同样是比喻花钱浪费，大手大脚，英语是 spend money like water，而汉语却是“挥金如土”。此外，英语中还有很多有关船和水的习语，例如：rest on one's oars（暂时歇一歇），keep one's head above water（奋力图存），be all at sea（不知所措）等等。
39. 这只表的价钱很贵。
[误] The price of the watch is dear.
[正] The watch is dear. /The price of the watch is high.
注： 以物品为主语时用 dear 或 cheap，以定价为主语时就说 high 或 low.
40. 昨天晚上我们玩得很愉快。
[误] We played very pleasantly last night.
[正] We enjoyed ourselves very much last night./ We had a good time last night.
注： 玩牌，打球，演戏之类就用 play，汉语这儿说的玩是指度过一个愉快的时候，最好译成 enjoy oneself 或 have a good time.
作者: 水语清叶 时间: 2006-3-13 04:18
41. 她和男朋友吵了一架，冒着大雨跑了出去。
[误] She quarreled with his boyfriedn and ran out in the big rain.
[正] She quarreled with his boyfriedn and ran out in the heavy rain.
注： 汉语中的“大”可以修饰很多名词，如“大风”、“大浪”、“湿气大”等，但在英语里却不能一一对应。例如，“大雨”就不能译成 big rain，因为那会被人误以为是雨点大，而不是雨大。英美人形容雨大习惯用“重”（heavy），heary rain（大雨），heavy clouds（云雾大），heavy moisture（潮气大）等，这也许是因为他们认为有些事物用重量来衡量比用体积更好吧。
42. 歌迷们冲进演员休息室，抢着同凯莉.米纳合影。
[误] The fans rushed into the rest room trying to take photos with Kylie Minogue.
[正] The fans rushed into the greenroom trying to take photos with Kylie Minogue.
43. 我感到很痛。
[误] I am painful.
[正] I feel great pain.
注：“我感到高兴”是 I am happy，“我感到累了”是 I'm tired，但“我感到很痛”却不是 I am painful。因为 painful 表示“使人痛苦的，让人疼痛或讨厌的”，它的主语往往不是人，而是事物或人体的某个部位，如：The foot is painful（脚痛），The lessons are painful（教训是惨痛的）等。所以没有 I am painful 这个说法，如果你非要这样说，别人会以为你全身带电或浑身长刺，别人碰了你就会疼，是你让别人痛苦，而不是你自己痛苦。
44. 亚洲四小龙。
[误] the Four Little Dragons of Asia
[正] the Four Little Tigers of Asia
45. 百里挑一。
[误] one in a hundred
[正] one in a thousand
注： “百里挑一”常被用来形容“很特别，很出众”或“与众不同”，one in a thousand 也有相同的含义。但值得注意的是，汉语用“百”，而英语则以十倍于百的 thousand 来夸张。同样，汉语的“十分感谢”或“万分感谢”，英语则说 a thousand thanks（千分感谢）或 thanks a million times（百万次的感谢）。
46. 周末许多人睡得很晚。
[误] Many people sleep late at weekends.
[正] Many people go to bed very late at weekends.
注： 第一句译文错在没弄懂 sleep 的真正含义。英语动词有短暂动词和持续动词之分，它们分别表示短暂动作和持续的动作或状态。sleep 是典型的持续动词，表示“在睡觉”。而汉语的“睡”既可表示“上床睡觉”的短暂动作，如：我昨天11点才睡；也可以表示“在睡觉”的持续动作和状态，如：他睡了整整10个小时。原文属于前一种情况，即表示“上床睡觉”的短暂动作，故应该使用 go to bed。
注： bottoms up 虽然只比 bottom up 多一个 s，但是两个词组的意思却相差十万八千里。bottoms up 里的 bottom 是指“（酒杯的）底部”，那么杯朝天就是“一饮而尽”的意思，而且因为干杯时肯定不止一人一饮而尽，所以要用复数；而 bottom up 表示“屁股朝天”。
48. 这个任务很危险，但总得有人去冒险。
[误] The task is really dangerous. But someone has to take the adventure.
[正] The task is really dangerous. But someone has to bell the cat.
注： adventure 指军事历险、探险旅行等惊险活动或投机活动。而 bell the cat 源自一个故事：一窝老鼠想在猫脖子上套一个铃铛，这样猫一来他们就会听到，并及时逃命。但主意虽好，却苦于没人去套这个铃铛（bell the cat）。后来，bell the cat 被人们反复引用，表示“为大家的事去承担风险”，并成了表示原文意思最贴切的英语习语。
49. 一辆白色轿车前来接新郎新娘去教堂。
[误] A white car turned up to take the groom and the bride to the church.
[正] A white car turned up to take the bride and the groom to the church.
注： 汉英两种语言均有各自固定的词序，因此，在翻译时要根据各自的语言习惯进行适当的调整，此处就是一个很好的例子。之所以将新娘放在前面，也许是西方文化中“女士优先”的又一体现吧！又如：“衣食住行”译成英语是 food, clothing, shelter and transportation; 同样，“左顾右盼”翻译成 look right and left。
50. 你去弄些水来。
[误] Go and bring some water.
[正] Go and fetch some water.