1、汉译英小结:及物动词与不及物动词的译法英语动词可分为两大类不及物动词(intransitive verb)和及物动词(transitive verb) 。不及物动词基本可以独立使用,后面不接宾语,不用被动语态;而及物动词不能单独使用,后面必须接宾语才能做到语义完整。进行汉译英时,我们要随时注意汉英用法的区别。比如:1. 敲门:knock the door_ knock on the door, knock at the door2. 靠墙:lean the wall_ lean against the wall3. 想你:think you_ think of you, miss you4.
2、考虑问题:think the problem_ think of the problem, consider the problem 句型练习1. 这种情况不会延续下去。分析:我们通常不用查汉英词典就能想到延续可译为continue 或者 last(译文 1,2) 。若用 go on 则表达更为随意,主语用词可以做相应调整,把情况(situation)说成(things)(译文 3) 。此外,延续下去其实就是保持不变的意思,英语又可以采用系表结构remain unchanged (译文四) 。此外,还可以把通常为不及物动词的 exist 用作系动词,代替 remain(译文 5) 。(1) T
3、his situation will not continue.(2) This situation will not last.(3) Things will not go on like this.(4) This situation will not remain unchanged.(5) This situation will not exist unchanged.2. 多吃蔬菜对你的健康有好处。分析:对某人有好处既可译为 be good for someone或 be beneficial for someone(译文 1),也可译为及物动词 do someone good(译文
4、 2) 。或者换个说法,表达为促进健康(improve health)或使健康(make healthy) (译文 3,4) 。至于原文中另一个动词吃,则不妨省略不译,因为蔬菜是给人吃的,这一点不言自明。(1) Eating plenty of vegetables will be beneficial for your health.(2) Plenty of vegetables will do you a lot of good.(3) Plenty of vegetables will improve your health.(4) Plenty of vegetables will
5、make you healthy.3. 良药苦口,忠言逆耳。分析:原句苦口和逆耳的动词都可以选用 be(译文 1) ,但该动词表达力较弱,我们应该根据本句选择其它动词:良药是尝着(taste)苦口,而忠言是听着(sound)逆耳(译文 2) 。在原句所表达的两层意思中,以忠言逆耳为主,以良药苦口为辅,所以译文添加正如(just as ).(1) Honest advice is unpleasant just as good medicine is bitter.(2) Honest advice sounds unpleasant, just as good medicine tastes
6、bitter.4. 还有一个星期我们就要考试了。分析:考试 exam 可用 have, take, sit 等搭配(译文1,2) 。或者把句子换个说法,离我们考试只有一个星期的时间(译文 3) 。另外,away 不仅能够表示空间的距离,如村子里这儿只有两英里(The village is only two miles away),而且能表示时间的距离(译文4) 。(1) We will take our exam in just a week.(2) We will sit the exam in a week.(3) It is only a week before we will have
7、 the exam.(4) Our exam is only a week away.5. 有时忧愁能使一个人的头发在一夜之间变白。分析:翻译时若照搬原文句子结构,谓语应该是及物动词 make(译文 1)。如果我们换个说法 ,不说忧愁使头发变白,而说头发因忧愁变白,就省略原文动词使,只用不及物动词来翻译此句。(1) Sometimes worry can make a persons hair turn gray overnight.(2) Sometimes a persons hair may turn gray overnight because of worry.6.她长得很像我的一个
8、朋友。分析:汉英词典对像的解释有 take after,但因为它特指同一家族中后辈与前辈相像,所以在此不使用。我们可以把长得像译为 be like(in appearance), look like, resemble 等(译文 1,2,3) 。另外,我们还能把动词 resemble 转换成名词 resemblance,搭配上相应的及物动词, 表达为 bear resemblance to(译文 4)。(1) She is very much like a friend of mine in appearance.(2) She looks pretty much like a friend
9、of mine.(3) She closely resembles a friend of mine.(4) She bears a striking resemblance to a friend of mine.7. 这鸡汤真香。分析:本句谓语动词的选择取决于具体情形。如果说话者已经尝到了鸡汤,动词可选 be 或 taste(译文1,2);如果说话者闻到了香味,动词就改称smell(译文 3,4)。(1)This chicken soup is very delicious.(2)This chicken soup tastes really nice.(3)This chicken so
10、up smells so inviting.(4)This chicken soup smells so appetizing.8.法语里 爱 怎么说?分析:依照原文结构翻译,谓语是及物动词说(say)(译文 1)。换个说法,爱怎么说就是表示爱的词是什么(译文 2,3) 。(1) How do you say love in French?(2) What is the French word for love?(3) What is the word for love in French?9. 这年头,不少没文化的人发了财。分析:发财可用不及物动词,表达为 get rich 或become
11、rich(译文 1);也可用及物动词,表达为 make a fortune(译文 2)。要注意此处的没文化不是 culture,而是指受教育程度。(1) Nowadays, many poorly educated people have become rich.(2) These days many people with little education have made their fortune.10.听到被判死刑时,囚犯彻底绝望了。分析:听到被判死刑可译为 When he heard that he had been sentenced to death,但是比较罗嗦。比较容易想到
12、的简化方法是用分词后接从句,比如译为 Informed that he had been sentenced to death 或者 Learning that he had been sentenced to death.但是如果使用动词变名词的翻译窍门,就可以把他被判死刑(he was sentenced to death)变为名词结构 his death sentence,然后再搭配相应的介词短语 at the news of。再看一下谓语动词的选择。查汉英词典,绝望释义为 give up all hope 和 despair(译文 1,2).其实despair 更常作为名词,需要找相应
13、的动词来搭配。假如用 be in despair,指的是一直处于绝望中,不符合原文含义。要表达陷入绝望的意思,可以改为 go intodespair(译文 3).另外,假如谓语动词选用及物动词,表达也比较生动。(1)Learning of his death sentence, the prisoner gave up all hope.(2)Informed of his death sentence, the prisoner despaired.(3) At the news of his death sentence, the prisoner went into utter despair.(4) News of his death sentence drove the prisoner to despair.(5) At the news of his death sentence, the prisoner was filled with despair.