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一些關(guān)于中國(guó)俗語(yǔ)的美式說(shuō)法
發(fā)起人:eging  回復(fù)數(shù):0  瀏覽數(shù):5028  最后更新:2018/4/14 22:39:07 by eging

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2018/4/14 22:39:22
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一些關(guān)于中國(guó)俗語(yǔ)的美式說(shuō)法
我們?cè)S多中國(guó)人愛(ài)用俗語(yǔ)、成語(yǔ)、俚語(yǔ)。由于中美兩國(guó)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(tīng)了,也許就會(huì)「滿頭霧水」、「迷迷糊糊」,成了他們所說(shuō)的「只有你們中國(guó)人聽(tīng)得懂」的「中國(guó)英文」(Chinese English)。

在此,把一些常見(jiàn)的中文俗語(yǔ)與一般老外的說(shuō)法相對(duì)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(guó)英文」,老外很難理解。他們指「人多」時(shí),通常只說(shuō):「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到電影院門(mén)前大排長(zhǎng)龍,也只說(shuō):「There is (was) a long movie line.」

不過(guò)在詩(shī)詞用語(yǔ) (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(tīng)眾, A先生發(fā)表一篇?jiǎng)尤说难菡f(shuō)。)

Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林頓總統(tǒng)站在講臺(tái)上看到人山人海的人群揮手向他致意。)

可見(jiàn),說(shuō)話者通常要在臺(tái)上或高處,才有「人?!沟母杏X(jué)。因此,可以說(shuō):I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不說(shuō):「I saw the sea of faces.」也不說(shuō):「There is a sea of faces.」只說(shuō):「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(shuō)法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。不過(guò)老外最常的說(shuō)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(shuō):

Every family has its own source of shame. (每個(gè)家庭都有自己的丑事)

說(shuō)白些,就是:

Every family has its own problem.

3. 天下無(wú)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(tīng)后,也許很難體會(huì)其中意義。如果按照美語(yǔ)說(shuō)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(shuō):

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(shuō)法,老外也會(huì)「一知半解」。美語(yǔ)里一般說(shuō)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(duì)學(xué)生也可以說(shuō):

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?ài)的寵物,不過(guò)老外倒有相近的說(shuō)法:

He applied bait-and-switch factics in business. (他經(jīng)商的策略是先引誘顧客來(lái),再改變貨物的品質(zhì)。)

(Bait-and- switch 當(dāng)名詞用) (也可不用連字號(hào))

This store uses bait and switch policy.

或者簡(jiǎn)單的說(shuō):

Let the buyer be aware! (讓消費(fèi)者提高警覺(jué)) ; 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(shuō)法,中文味道嫌重,老外未必理解。不過(guò)他們倒有類似的說(shuō)法:

A word once let go cannot be recalled.

或者說(shuō):

You can not take back what you have said. (你說(shuō)出的話,就不能再收回來(lái)。)

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(tīng)了,恐怕不能完全理解。最好說(shuō)成:

Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心說(shuō)話,會(huì)帶來(lái)麻煩); 或

The less said the better. (說(shuō)的愈少愈好)

甚至也可以說(shuō):

Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (閉嘴少說(shuō),張眼多看。)

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