在翻譯過程中,我們常常遇到一些中國特色的表達,只在我們國家才會有的詞匯和習慣用語,對于老外來說,他們沒有這樣的語言背景,那么對這些情況,我們該如何翻譯呢?在此,杭州翻譯公司來舉一些常見的例子:
1. 有他這顆掃帚星,什么事情都辦不成。[誤] With a comet like him, nothing can be accomplished. [正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished. 杭州翻譯公司注:“掃帚星”是中國人對“慧星”(comet)的俗稱,因其后面拖著一條像掃帚一樣的長尾巴而得名。在中國古代,“掃帚星”被認為是災難的預兆,并被用來比喻不吉利的人或事;禍根:(person or thing that is thought to bring)bad luck(to sb/sth);curse。英語的comet 雖然沒有這層含義,但卻有一個對應的說法,即jinx。
2.蘿卜青菜,各有所愛。[誤] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage. [正] Tastes differ. 杭州翻譯公司注:Tastes differ/vary .是句英語諺語,除此以外,原句還可翻譯成 No dish suits all tastes.或 You can never make everyone happy. 等。此外,我們還可以這樣說:One man's meat is another man's poison. 總之,應采取意譯。
3.他一向嘴硬,從不認錯。[誤] He has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault. [正] He never says uncle. 杭州翻譯公司注:say (cry) uncle: to give up or in; to surrender; to admit defeat. Mainly used by boys, as when fighting. 這句話主要是男孩們打架時的用語,當一方想制服另一方時,就用命令的口氣說:“Say uncle!”這時,有的孩子為了表示不服輸,就是不說。后來,say uncle 就成了“服輸”的代名詞,而 not say uncle 就相當于“嘴硬”了。
4.老師很喜歡這個嘴甜的小姑娘。[誤] The teacher likes this sweet-mouthed little girl very much. [正] The teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much. 杭州翻譯公司注:中國人喜歡說“嘴甜”,但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的語言習慣。
5.同學們都很討厭他,因為他經常拍老師的馬屁。[誤] The students all dislike him because he often pats the teacher's ass. [正] The students all dislike him because he often licks the teacher's boots. 杭州翻譯公司注:以前在歐洲,臣民見到國王與王后往往要親吻他們的靴子。后來,人們將 lick the boots 引申為“為了某種目的而討好某人”,它與漢語的“拍馬屁”含義一樣。在美國英語中,“拍馬屁”還有另一種說法,即 polish the apple,源于以前的學生用擦亮的蘋果來討好老師。
舉的例子是我們比較常見的口頭表達,多一些用心,就能達到對方更好的理解水平。

