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汉英翻译技巧
第一节
汉语无主语句的英译处理
一、
祈使句对应为祈使句
e.g.
小心轻放。
Handle with care.
量体裁衣，
看菜吃饭。
Fit the dress to the figure and fit the
appetite to the
dishes.
宁为鸡首，
不为牛后。
Better be the head of an ass than the
tail of a horse.
二、
采用英语的被动结构译出
采用英语被
动结构翻译的汉语无主语句一般的情况：一是某些表示事物
存在的无主语句；二是有些句
子突出宾语部分，在翻译时可以不用补出
主语而用原句中的宾语来充当主语。
e.g.
这儿将修建更多的居民大楼。
More apartments will be built here.
利用发电机，可以将机械能转变为电能。
The mechanical energy can be changed
back into
electrical energy by a
generator.
在合同中，详细地规定了双方必须履行的各种条件。
In
the
contract,
all
kinds
of
conditions
which
both
sides
should
follow
were laid down in
detail.
没有爱心，就无法了解人生。
Life cannot be understood without much
charity.
三、
采用倒装语序
e. g.
地下埋藏着大量的金银。
Hidden underground is a wealth of gold
and silver.
随着一声吼叫，忽的从树林里窜出一只老虎来。
Following the roar, out rushed a tiger
from among the bushes.
山里住着个老和尚。
In the
mountain lived on an old monk.
四、
采用
THERE BE
结构
例句：没有顺利，无所谓困难；没有困难，也无所谓顺利。
Without
facility,
there
would
be
no
difficulty;
without
difficulty,
there
would also be no
facility.
剩下的时间不多了。
There
is very little time left.
萝卜白菜，各有所爱。
There
is no accounting for taste.
无水则无鱼。
Without
water there would be no fish.
楼下有人想和你说话。
There
is a man downstairs who wants to speak to you.
you are wanted
downstairs.
五、
采用
IT
作主语译出
例句：要解决问题，还必
须做系统、周密的调查工作和研究工作。
In
order
to
solve
the
problem
it
is
necessary
to
make
a
systematic
and
thorough investigation
and study.
与自然作斗争，倍感快乐。
It is a great joy to battle against
nature.
活到老学到老。
It is never too old to learn.
子曰：学而时习之，不亦说乎？有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？
Confucius said, is it not a pleasure
after all to practice in due time what
one has learnt? Is it not a delight
after all to have friends come from afar?
六、增添适当的代词或名词充当主语
例句：
知彼知己，百战不殆。
If
you
know
your
enemy
and
yourself,
you
can
fight
a
hundred
battles
without peril.
不入虎穴，焉得虎子。
If one
does not enter the tiger
’
s
den, how can he get a
tiger
’
s cub.
六、
因文制宜，区别对待
例句：未经审批
机关批准，合同中不得规定禁止接受方在合同期满后继
续使用技术的条款。
Unless
approval
has
been
obtained
from
the
examining
and
approving
organ,
a
contract
shall
not
include
provisions
prohibiting
the
recipient
from
continuing
to
use
the
technology
after
the
expiry
of
the
contract
term.
由于英语被接受为联合
国的官方语言之一，这就使英语在国际外交场合
使用得更为广泛了。
The
use
of
English
in
international
diplomacy
is
strengthened
by
its
acceptance
as one of the official languages of the U.N.
说明白了一切，就再无奥妙可言了。
It will leave nothing in obscurity;
everything is seen.
Exercises:
1.
要适可而止，否则就要完蛋。
2.
不远处传来了提琴的声音，调子哀伤。
3.
在游廊的最左端，靠近一道门，
坐着一位将近
30
岁的男子。
4.
他的书桌上放着带有细菌的小碟子。
5.
总之，是两点而不是一点。
6.
花瓶里没有水了。
7.
要
8.
很容易看得出来那作家是一位生手，刚从事写作。
9.
不怕一万，就怕万一。
10.
还
看不出来他能挑得起这副担子。
11.
去
年
12.
必
须认真做好建厂前的准备工作。
13.
应
该教导儿童讲实话。
14.
必
须
保证
8
小时的睡眠。
15.
发
现了错误，一定要改正。
第二节、汉语“是”字句的英译处理
一、
表示“等同”
例句：他最佩服的就是你。
Of
all the people, you are the one he admires most.
二、
表示“类属”
例句：这台机器是进口的。
The
machine was imported from abroad.
他是来找你的。
He is
here to see you.
三、
表示“事物状态”
例句：要是旧社会，遇上这样大的水灾，早已是哀鸿遍野了。
If a flood of such magnitude had hit
the land in the old days, the stricken
area would have been a scene of
desolation and despair.
你现在是身不由己，只能听他的。
You have to listen to him whether you
like it or not.
四、
表示“存在”
例句：她满脸是泪，默不作声。
She was soundless and her cheeks were
bathed in tears.
别看他长得胖，其实浑身是病。
Despite his stout build, he suffers
from all sorts of diseases.
五、
在两个类似结构中表示“区别”
，转换为英语相对的对比结构。
例句：他是他，我是我，我们谁也管不着谁。
We have our own wills, he and I,
neither is the other
’
s
master.
昨天是昨天，今天是今天，情况是不断变化的。
Events
are
moving
very
fast;
what
was
true
yesterday
may
not
be
so
today.
这个人言行不一，说是说，做是做。
This
man
’
s
deeds
do
not
match
his
words;
he
never
practices
what
he
preaches.
敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。
A
friend is a friend, a foe is a foe; one must be
clearly distinguished from
the other.
六、表示“让步”
，用适当的副词或
者让步句型来体现。
例句：书是好书，可惜贵了点。
It
is true that this is a good book, but
it
’
s a bit too expensive.
他的本意是好的，只是措辞不当。
He meant well, but he
didn
’
t put across his ideas
properly.
你就是有天大的本事，恐怕也施展不开。
However
capable
you
are,
you
probably
can
do
nothing
in
this
circumstance.
这房子老是老，但离商店近，采购方便。
Indeed, the house is old, but as it is
close to the stores, it is convenient for
shopping.
六、
表示“强调”
，一般转换为强调句式
例句：是谁教你这样做的？
Who
told you to do so?
是这位解放军战士救了你。
It
was this PLA man who saved you.
我写的信是给她的，不是你。
It
was to her that I wrote a letter, not to you.
七、
表示“凡是”
，由英语习惯句型决定。
例句：是人都会犯错误。
Every
man is liable to error. / No one is free from
error.
是孩子他都喜欢。
He loves all children.
正如一句话所说，是亲三分像。
As
an old saying goes, blood is thicker than water.
是重活他都抢着干。
Whenever there is a tough job, he is
always the first to do it.
八、
表示“恰当”
例句：屋里的家具放得都不是地方。
The furniture in the room is arranged
exactly where it should not be.
你来得正是时候。
You have
come just in the nick of time. / You
can
’
t have come at a better
come.
她穿的裙子很是漂亮。
The dress looks very beautiful on her.
九、
表示“选择”或“疑问”
例句：你是看电视还是听音乐？
他不是出国了么？
十、表示
“确认”
，有强调的意思，
一般通过助动词、<
/p>
副词或短语来体现。
例句：她爸爸是不同意她和汤姆来往的。
Her father does disapprove of her
having anything to do with TOM.
这件事他是不知道。
He
certainly doesn
’
t know this.
这孩子是可爱。
The child
is lovely indeed.
我不是不懂，只是不想说。
It
is not that I didn
’
t
understand, but that I
didn
’
t want to say anything.
十一、表示“特征”
，一般直译。
例句：马克思主义的基本原理是普遍适用的。
The fundamental tenets of Marxism are
universally applicable.
本领高强的人，往往是谦虚好学的。
Men of capability are often modest and
show a desire to learn.
作战时他总是身先士卒，故能所向披靡。
He
was
always
at
the
head
of
his
men
in
battle,
and
so
his
army
was
invincible.
练习题
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12
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Keys:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
We went to
wuhan by chartered boat.
It was mean of him to play with
her/affections.
It is a
good story all right, but a bit too long.
The fire resulted from
their carelessness.
Smoke
filled the room; even his clothes smelled of
smoke.
He built up his
factory literally from nothing.
I have the book somewhere but I cannot
lay my hands on it now.
This place was originally a narrow,
shabby street.
我们是坐船去武汉的。
玩弄她的感情是卑鄙的。
这个故事好是好，就是长了点。
这场火灾是他们不小心而引起的。
满屋都是烟，连他衣服上都是烟味。
他开办这家工厂完全是白手起家的。
这本书我是有的，可是我一下找不到。
这原来是破旧、窄小的一条旧街。
这人真讨厌，总是死皮赖脸的缠着人家。
既然要搞掉他，罗织罪名还不是易如反掌。
今天开这个会啊，是想听听各方面的意见。
不管怎么样，我是决意要完成这项任务的。
9.
The
man
is
quite
a
nuisance;
he
keeps
pestering/bothering
others/me shamelessly.
10.
Now that they have decided to get rid
of him, charges can easily
be framed.
11.
Look
！
We
are
holding
this
meeting
today
to
make
sure
that
different opinions are put forward
freely.
12.
I mean to accomplish the
task, come what may happen.
汉语习语的英译处理
习语是人们在语
言发展过程中，经过长期的社会实践提炼出来的短语
或者短句，是语言的精华。
从广义上讲，汉语习语包括成语、谚语、俗语、歇后语等。具体特点<
/p>
表现在：
1
、习语本身是修辞手段的集中
体现，如谐音等来增加美感，
如“嘴上没毛，办事不牢”
，
“吃得苦，耐得烦；不怕死，霸得蛮”
；英
语中的“
by hook or by
crook
”
, as red as a
rose
。
2
、习语是语言中独
立、
不规则而固定的因素。
如
“露出马脚”
不能说成
“露
出猪脚”
，
“雪
中送炭”不能说成“雪
中送煤”
。
基于上述特点，翻译过程中必须注意：
1
、
尽量保
存原文的民族特色和风格，在可能的情况下以直译为
主。
2
、
不能把习语当做普通语句处理，注意修辞美感。
一、
汉语习语英译的常用方法
1
、
英语同义句借用法
A:
借用意义和形象相同或相似的
B:
借用意义相同但形象不同的
例如：
A:
随大流，
swim with the tide
以牙还牙
a tooth for
a tooth
隔墙有耳
walls have ears
一文不名
without a
penny to one
’
s name
绞尽脑汁
to rack
one
’
s brain
针锋相对
give tit for
tat
时时刻刻
every
now and then
千钧一发
hung by a thread
浑水摸鱼
to fish in
troubled water
如坐针毡
a bed of thorns
谋事在人，成事在天
Man
proposes, God disposes
星星之火可以燎原
Little
chips light great fire.
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳
Once
bit, twice shy.
空中楼阁、君子协定、事实胜于雄辩、有其父必有其子、
B:
半斤八两
six of one
and half a dozen of the other
无足轻重
of no account
锦囊妙计
ace in the hole/sleeve
非公莫入
no admittance
徒劳无益
hold a candle to the sun
茫然若失
be all adrift