一些關(guān)于中國俗語的美式說法 | |
發(fā)起人:eging 回復(fù)數(shù):0 瀏覽數(shù):5273 最后更新:2018/4/14 22:39:07 by eging |
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eging 發(fā)表于 2018/4/14 22:39:22
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一些關(guān)于中國俗語的美式說法 我們許多中國人愛用俗語、成語、俚語。由于中美兩國文化、風(fēng)俗、思想、習(xí)慣的差異,如果照字直譯,或把單字「堆在一起」,老外聽了,也許就會(huì)「滿頭霧水」、「迷迷糊糊」,成了他們所說的「只有你們中國人聽得懂」的「中國英文」(Chinese English)。
在此,把一些常見的中文俗語與一般老外的說法相對比較,或許可供有興趣的讀者參考。 1. 人山人海:有人直譯為:People mountain people sea. 這就是「中國英文」,老外很難理解。他們指「人多」時(shí),通常只說:「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到電影院門前大排長龍,也只說:「There is (was) a long movie line.」 不過在詩詞用語 (poetic expression) 里,老外也有使用:「a (the) sea of faces」,頗有咱們「人山人?!沟奈兜?。例如: Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望著一片人山人海的聽眾, A先生發(fā)表一篇?jiǎng)尤说难菡f。) Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林頓總統(tǒng)站在講臺上看到人山人海的人群揮手向他致意。) 可見,說話者通常要在臺上或高處,才有「人海」的感覺。因此,可以說:I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不說:「I saw the sea of faces.」也不說:「There is a sea of faces.」只說:「I saw a large crowd of people.」 2. 家家有本難念的經(jīng):有人譯成:Every family cooking - pot has a black spot. (意思是:每個(gè)家庭的鍋?zhàn)佣加泻谏奈埸c(diǎn)) 這樣說法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。不過老外最常的說法是: Many families have skeletons in the closet. (許多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑) 或者說: Every family has its own source of shame. (每個(gè)家庭都有自己的丑事) 說白些,就是: Every family has its own problem. 3. 天下無不散的宴席:有人直譯為:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last. 老外聽后,也許很難體會(huì)其中意義。如果按照美語說法,也許更易理解: All good things come to an end. (意思是:所有好的事情,總有結(jié)束的一天。) 假如是指好友最后也有分別的一天,那么可以說: Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友) 4. 平時(shí)不燒香,臨時(shí)抱佛腳:有人照字直譯為:When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha. 這種說法,老外也會(huì)「一知半解」。美語里一般說法是: Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神,不是只在困難時(shí)。) 對學(xué)生也可以說: If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功,考試就不會(huì)形成壓力。) 5. 掛羊頭,賣狗肉:有人照字直譯為:He advertises mutton, but sells dog's flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheep's head at the shopfront and sells dog meat. 這兩種譯法,恐怕老外都難理解,尤其談到「狗肉」,他們更會(huì)「反感」,因?yàn)楣肥撬麄冏類鄣膶櫸?,不過老外倒有相近的說法: He applied bait-and-switch factics in business. (他經(jīng)商的策略是先引誘顧客來,再改變貨物的品質(zhì)。) (Bait-and- switch 當(dāng)名詞用) (也可不用連字號) This store uses bait and switch policy. 或者簡單的說: Let the buyer be aware! (讓消費(fèi)者提高警覺) ; 或 Say one thing and do another. 6. 一言既出,駟馬難追:有人譯成: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. 這兩種說法,中文味道嫌重,老外未必理解。不過他們倒有類似的說法: A word once let go cannot be recalled. 或者說: You can not take back what you have said. (你說出的話,就不能再收回來。) 7. 禍從口出,言多必失:有人譯為:The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil. 老外聽了,恐怕不能完全理解。最好說成: Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心說話,會(huì)帶來麻煩); 或 The less said the better. (說的愈少愈好) 甚至也可以說: Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (閉嘴少說,張眼多看。) |
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