在此,把一些常見的中文俗語(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,說(shuō)話者通常要在臺(tái)上或高處,才有「人海」的感覺。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)楣肥撬麄冏類鄣膶櫸铮贿^(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) ; 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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