词语的翻译
一、认真辨析词义
多义词
歧异词
同义词
反义词
多义词
1. 我们找个安静点的地方好好聊聊。
Let’s find a quiet place where we can have a good talk.
Let’s find somewhere quiet so we can have a good talk.
2. 箱子里已经没有地方了。
There is no more space in the chest.
There is no room left in the chest.
3. 你希望留在部队还是到地方上去？
Do you wish to stay in the army or to transfer to a civilian unit?
Would you like to stay in the army or leave for a non-military unit?
4. 我国的一项基本国策是发展乡镇企业。
It’s part and parcel of our national policy to develop enterprises in villages and towns.
It is an integral part of our national policy to promote the growth of township and village enterprises.
5. 我们要根据形势的发展来调整政策。
We must make adjustment in our policy in response to changes in the situation. We have to adjust our policy to the changing situation.
6. 请大家积极参与单位的体制改革。
Everyone is called on to take an active part in the systematic reform of one’s work unit. You are all encouraged to play an active role in the systematic reform of our unit.
7. 他总是以积极态度处理各种问题。
He takes a positive attitude in dealing with all kinds of problems.
He approaches various problems with a positive frame of mind.
8. 请别客气.
Please don’t stand on ceremony.
Please don’t be so polite.
Please make yourself at home.
Please don’t bother.
Please, we don’t want to put you to trouble.
9. 他客气而冷淡地接待了我们.
He received us politely but coolly.
He received us with civility but no warmth.
He received us with cool politeness.
He received us with polite indifference.
10. 对他这种人就是不能客气.
You cannot afford to go soft on a man like him.
You must not be too soft when dealing with someone like him.
You must be tough with people like him.
Don’t give in easily when dealing with someone like him.
11. 他说自己才疏学浅, 这只不过是中国人的客气罢了.
He says that he is a man of little learning and talent. That is merely self-depreciation, considered as politeness by the Chinese.
When he says he has little learning or talent, he is only being modest in accordance with the Chinese rules of politeness.
By describing himself as lacking in talent and learning, eh is only being modest like a typical Chinese.
He describes himself as incompetent and unlearned. That is merely typical Chinese modesty.
同义词的区分
General/Specific
Degree (Deep/Shallow)
Coverage (wide/narrow)
Abstract/Concrete
同义词
农业是国民经济的基础. （广义）
这些年来, 我国的农业林业畜牧业和渔业都得到了相应的发展. （侠义）
我们要破除迷信, 解放思想.
当前我们应努力克服个人主义和享乐主义各种错误思想.
他那八十高龄的母亲已于上月去世. （褒义）
臭名昭著的麦卡锡终于一命呜呼哀哉! （贬义）
二、认真选词用词
1. 词汇的感情色彩
注意词义的广狭
注意词义的轻重
注意词义的褒贬
注意词义的强弱
2. 词汇的文体色彩
intimate — casual—consultative —formal —
Frozen
3. 词语的搭配
美丽
美丽、好看、漂亮、中看、受看、入眼、顺眼、英俊、俊俏、俊美、绝色、冰肌玉骨、面如冠玉、花容月貌、国色天香、秀色可餐、倾国倾城等。
死亡
亡、卒、陨、崩、亡故、过世、仙逝、归西、牺牲、献身、永别、没了、完蛋、毙命、送命、暴卒、阵亡、夭折、早逝、升天、坐化、羽化、圆寂、回老家、玩儿完、粉身碎骨、溘然长逝、寿终正寝、呜呼哀哉、驾鹤西游、百年之后、三长两短、以身许国、马革裹尸、玉殒香
三、习语汉译英
习语的范围
成语: “人们长期以来习用的、形式简洁而意思精辟的、定性的词组或短句。汉语成语大多由四个字组成。” （陈文伯）
set phrases; idioms
2. 惯用语：idioms
3. 俗语: “通俗流行之语”或“约定俗成广泛通行之语” sayings
4. 谚语: “在群众中间流传的固定语句, 用简单通俗的话反映出深刻的道理。” proverbs 歇后语：由前后两部分构成，前一部分多为比喻，后一部分说明喻义。two-part allegorical sayings 格言警句: maxim
习语的特点
习语集中反映一个民族或文化的特色
习语是各种修辞手段的集中表现
习语是语言中独立的、不规则的、固定的成分。
第一、二两点对译者的要求是什么？
第三点对译者的要求是什么？
第一、二两点要求译者尽量保持原文的民族形式和风格，因此直译（不是死译和硬译）往往是必要的。
第三点要求译者不要把习语当作普通语句来处理，须避免字字对译。
习语翻译的指导思想
“直译基础上的意译”
陆殿扬：“Translate literally, if possible, or, appeal to free translation.” (如果可能，就直译；否则就意译）
奈达：功能对等（Functional Equivalence: not only the equivalent content of message, but, in so far as possible, an equivalence of the form);
改变形式的五个条件
直译会导致意义上的错误时；
引入外来语形成语义空白（Semantic Zero），读者有可能自己填入错误的意义时；
形式对等引起严重的意义晦涩时；
形式对等引起作者原意所没有的歧义时；
形式对等违反译入语的语法或文体规范时。
习语汉译英的原则
形象性原则
简练性原则
不可滥用字面意义直译法
尽量少用意译法和直译加注法
习语翻译的基本方法
1. 直译法：在不违背译文语言规范以及不 引起译文读者错误理解的情况下，在译文中保留原文成语的形象、修辞手段和民族特色
2. 同义习语借用法: 有些习语在内容形式和色彩上都符合, 可借用
3. 意译法: 无法直译, 也无法借用时, 则意译
4. 直译兼意译:部分直译, 部分意译, 直意参半法
5. 省略法: 四字重叠词组因追求音韵美, 前后两部分意义相同或相近时, 只需译出一部分或只译其意义, 可以不考虑重叠的部分。
6. 增添法：为了更清楚地表达原意，有时要结合上下文，在译文中增添一些说明。
7. 还原法：有些习语源于外语，翻译时可使之还原。
8. 直译加注法：有些习语包含历史典故，含有中国文化色彩，如果不作一番解释，英语读者将很难理解其确切含义。
9. 粗俗语回避法：对于粗俗语，通常采用回避的方法，即借用英语同义习语或意译等方法来处理。
不能直译的习语
眉飞色舞
死译：His eyebrows are flying and his countenance is dancing
改译：To beam with joy
粗枝大叶
With big branches and broad leaves
To be crude and careless
无孔不入
To get into every hole
To take advantage of every weakness
扬眉吐气
To raise the eyebrow and let out a breath
To feel proud and elated
归化？异化？你来选择
竭泽而渔
To drain a pond to catch all the fish
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
打草惊蛇
To stir up the grass and alert the snake
Wake a sleeping dog
易如反掌
As easy as turning over one’s hand
As easy as falling off a log
4. 直译兼意译
无亲无故 without a single relative or friend to help her out
斩草除根 pluck up the evil by the roots
风餐露宿 braving the wind and dew
贼眉鼠眼 to behave stealthily like a thief
辗转反侧 to toss and turn restlessly
跃跃欲试 eager to have a try
狼吞虎咽 to wolf sth. Down
5. 省略法
能工巧匠 skilled craftsman
称兄道弟 to call each other brothers
赤手空拳 to be bare-handed
自吹自擂 to blow one’s own trumpets
心慈手软 soft-hearted
安家落户 to make one’s home
抛头露面 to make one’s own appearance
愁眉苦脸 to pull on a long face
长吁短叹
Sighing deeply
千真万确
Quite true
油嘴滑舌
Glib tongue
断子绝孙
Ah Q, may you die sonless.
沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。
Her beauty would put the flowers to shame.
6. 增添法
树倒猢狲散
Once the tree falls, the monkeys on it will flee helter-shelter. (meaning 慌慌张张） 借香敬佛
borrowing joss-sticks from a neighbor and burning them before Buddha for your own sake.
惊弓之鸟
A bird starteld by the mere twang of a bow-string
螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole lurking behind itself. 风声鹤唳，草木皆兵
be scared by the sigh of the wind or the cry of the cranes, fearing ambush at every tree and tuft of grass
个人自扫门前雪， 不管他人瓦上霜。
Sweep the snow from your own front door; leave the frost on the other man’s roof to thaw. Mind your own business; poke not your nose into other people’s business.
木已成舟
The wood is already made into a boat --- what’s done is done.
井水不犯河水
Well water and river water leave each other alone --- stay out of things that don’t concern you.
7. 还原法
牵着鼻子走 lead/be led by the nose
火中取栗 cat’s paw/to pull the chestnut out of the fire
武装到了牙齿 be armed to the teeth
象沙丁鱼罐头一样packed like sardines/jammed together like sardines 夹着尾巴跑了run away with their tails between their legs 战争贩子war monger
死硬派 die-hards
强权政治 power politics
8. 直译加注法
司马昭之心，路人皆知。
毛遂自荐
世外桃源
画龙点睛
画蛇添足
三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮。
班门弄斧
9. 粗俗语回避法
我要去就是王八蛋。
I’ll be damned if I’ll go.
他妈的，雨真大。
Blast it! What a heavy rain!
真该死，我没赶上末班车。
Oh, hell. I’ve missed the last train.
你可以滚蛋了。
You can go to the devil!
词语的翻译
一、认真辨析词义
多义词
歧异词
同义词
反义词
多义词
1. 我们找个安静点的地方好好聊聊。
Let’s find a quiet place where we can have a good talk.
Let’s find somewhere quiet so we can have a good talk.
2. 箱子里已经没有地方了。
There is no more space in the chest.
There is no room left in the chest.
3. 你希望留在部队还是到地方上去？
Do you wish to stay in the army or to transfer to a civilian unit?
Would you like to stay in the army or leave for a non-military unit?
4. 我国的一项基本国策是发展乡镇企业。
It’s part and parcel of our national policy to develop enterprises in villages and towns.
It is an integral part of our national policy to promote the growth of township and village enterprises.
5. 我们要根据形势的发展来调整政策。
We must make adjustment in our policy in response to changes in the situation. We have to adjust our policy to the changing situation.
6. 请大家积极参与单位的体制改革。
Everyone is called on to take an active part in the systematic reform of one’s work unit. You are all encouraged to play an active role in the systematic reform of our unit.
7. 他总是以积极态度处理各种问题。
He takes a positive attitude in dealing with all kinds of problems.
He approaches various problems with a positive frame of mind.
8. 请别客气.
Please don’t stand on ceremony.
Please don’t be so polite.
Please make yourself at home.
Please don’t bother.
Please, we don’t want to put you to trouble.
9. 他客气而冷淡地接待了我们.
He received us politely but coolly.
He received us with civility but no warmth.
He received us with cool politeness.
He received us with polite indifference.
10. 对他这种人就是不能客气.
You cannot afford to go soft on a man like him.
You must not be too soft when dealing with someone like him.
You must be tough with people like him.
Don’t give in easily when dealing with someone like him.
11. 他说自己才疏学浅, 这只不过是中国人的客气罢了.
He says that he is a man of little learning and talent. That is merely self-depreciation, considered as politeness by the Chinese.
When he says he has little learning or talent, he is only being modest in accordance with the Chinese rules of politeness.
By describing himself as lacking in talent and learning, eh is only being modest like a typical Chinese.
He describes himself as incompetent and unlearned. That is merely typical Chinese modesty.
同义词的区分
General/Specific
Degree (Deep/Shallow)
Coverage (wide/narrow)
Abstract/Concrete
同义词
农业是国民经济的基础. （广义）
这些年来, 我国的农业林业畜牧业和渔业都得到了相应的发展. （侠义）
我们要破除迷信, 解放思想.
当前我们应努力克服个人主义和享乐主义各种错误思想.
他那八十高龄的母亲已于上月去世. （褒义）
臭名昭著的麦卡锡终于一命呜呼哀哉! （贬义）
二、认真选词用词
1. 词汇的感情色彩
注意词义的广狭
注意词义的轻重
注意词义的褒贬
注意词义的强弱
2. 词汇的文体色彩
intimate — casual—consultative —formal —
Frozen
3. 词语的搭配
美丽
美丽、好看、漂亮、中看、受看、入眼、顺眼、英俊、俊俏、俊美、绝色、冰肌玉骨、面如冠玉、花容月貌、国色天香、秀色可餐、倾国倾城等。
死亡
亡、卒、陨、崩、亡故、过世、仙逝、归西、牺牲、献身、永别、没了、完蛋、毙命、送命、暴卒、阵亡、夭折、早逝、升天、坐化、羽化、圆寂、回老家、玩儿完、粉身碎骨、溘然长逝、寿终正寝、呜呼哀哉、驾鹤西游、百年之后、三长两短、以身许国、马革裹尸、玉殒香
三、习语汉译英
习语的范围
成语: “人们长期以来习用的、形式简洁而意思精辟的、定性的词组或短句。汉语成语大多由四个字组成。” （陈文伯）
set phrases; idioms
2. 惯用语：idioms
3. 俗语: “通俗流行之语”或“约定俗成广泛通行之语” sayings
4. 谚语: “在群众中间流传的固定语句, 用简单通俗的话反映出深刻的道理。” proverbs 歇后语：由前后两部分构成，前一部分多为比喻，后一部分说明喻义。two-part allegorical sayings 格言警句: maxim
习语的特点
习语集中反映一个民族或文化的特色
习语是各种修辞手段的集中表现
习语是语言中独立的、不规则的、固定的成分。
第一、二两点对译者的要求是什么？
第三点对译者的要求是什么？
第一、二两点要求译者尽量保持原文的民族形式和风格，因此直译（不是死译和硬译）往往是必要的。
第三点要求译者不要把习语当作普通语句来处理，须避免字字对译。
习语翻译的指导思想
“直译基础上的意译”
陆殿扬：“Translate literally, if possible, or, appeal to free translation.” (如果可能，就直译；否则就意译）
奈达：功能对等（Functional Equivalence: not only the equivalent content of message, but, in so far as possible, an equivalence of the form);
改变形式的五个条件
直译会导致意义上的错误时；
引入外来语形成语义空白（Semantic Zero），读者有可能自己填入错误的意义时；
形式对等引起严重的意义晦涩时；
形式对等引起作者原意所没有的歧义时；
形式对等违反译入语的语法或文体规范时。
习语汉译英的原则
形象性原则
简练性原则
不可滥用字面意义直译法
尽量少用意译法和直译加注法
习语翻译的基本方法
1. 直译法：在不违背译文语言规范以及不 引起译文读者错误理解的情况下，在译文中保留原文成语的形象、修辞手段和民族特色
2. 同义习语借用法: 有些习语在内容形式和色彩上都符合, 可借用
3. 意译法: 无法直译, 也无法借用时, 则意译
4. 直译兼意译:部分直译, 部分意译, 直意参半法
5. 省略法: 四字重叠词组因追求音韵美, 前后两部分意义相同或相近时, 只需译出一部分或只译其意义, 可以不考虑重叠的部分。
6. 增添法：为了更清楚地表达原意，有时要结合上下文，在译文中增添一些说明。
7. 还原法：有些习语源于外语，翻译时可使之还原。
8. 直译加注法：有些习语包含历史典故，含有中国文化色彩，如果不作一番解释，英语读者将很难理解其确切含义。
9. 粗俗语回避法：对于粗俗语，通常采用回避的方法，即借用英语同义习语或意译等方法来处理。
不能直译的习语
眉飞色舞
死译：His eyebrows are flying and his countenance is dancing
改译：To beam with joy
粗枝大叶
With big branches and broad leaves
To be crude and careless
无孔不入
To get into every hole
To take advantage of every weakness
扬眉吐气
To raise the eyebrow and let out a breath
To feel proud and elated
归化？异化？你来选择
竭泽而渔
To drain a pond to catch all the fish
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
打草惊蛇
To stir up the grass and alert the snake
Wake a sleeping dog
易如反掌
As easy as turning over one’s hand
As easy as falling off a log
4. 直译兼意译
无亲无故 without a single relative or friend to help her out
斩草除根 pluck up the evil by the roots
风餐露宿 braving the wind and dew
贼眉鼠眼 to behave stealthily like a thief
辗转反侧 to toss and turn restlessly
跃跃欲试 eager to have a try
狼吞虎咽 to wolf sth. Down
5. 省略法
能工巧匠 skilled craftsman
称兄道弟 to call each other brothers
赤手空拳 to be bare-handed
自吹自擂 to blow one’s own trumpets
心慈手软 soft-hearted
安家落户 to make one’s home
抛头露面 to make one’s own appearance
愁眉苦脸 to pull on a long face
长吁短叹
Sighing deeply
千真万确
Quite true
油嘴滑舌
Glib tongue
断子绝孙
Ah Q, may you die sonless.
沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。
Her beauty would put the flowers to shame.
6. 增添法
树倒猢狲散
Once the tree falls, the monkeys on it will flee helter-shelter. (meaning 慌慌张张） 借香敬佛
borrowing joss-sticks from a neighbor and burning them before Buddha for your own sake.
惊弓之鸟
A bird starteld by the mere twang of a bow-string
螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole lurking behind itself. 风声鹤唳，草木皆兵
be scared by the sigh of the wind or the cry of the cranes, fearing ambush at every tree and tuft of grass
个人自扫门前雪， 不管他人瓦上霜。
Sweep the snow from your own front door; leave the frost on the other man’s roof to thaw. Mind your own business; poke not your nose into other people’s business.
木已成舟
The wood is already made into a boat --- what’s done is done.
井水不犯河水
Well water and river water leave each other alone --- stay out of things that don’t concern you.
7. 还原法
牵着鼻子走 lead/be led by the nose
火中取栗 cat’s paw/to pull the chestnut out of the fire
武装到了牙齿 be armed to the teeth
象沙丁鱼罐头一样packed like sardines/jammed together like sardines 夹着尾巴跑了run away with their tails between their legs 战争贩子war monger
死硬派 die-hards
强权政治 power politics
8. 直译加注法
司马昭之心，路人皆知。
毛遂自荐
世外桃源
画龙点睛
画蛇添足
三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮。
班门弄斧
9. 粗俗语回避法
我要去就是王八蛋。
I’ll be damned if I’ll go.
他妈的，雨真大。
Blast it! What a heavy rain!
真该死，我没赶上末班车。
Oh, hell. I’ve missed the last train.
你可以滚蛋了。
You can go to the devil!