这个问题问的好,之前翻译的时候,我也很容易陷入一种思维怪圈,因为英汉两者之间的语法逻辑不同,完全是两套不一样的系统,按照汉语的逻辑去翻译英文或者将汉语转化成英文就容易出错。其中,最容易入坑的莫过是否定词的英汉转化。
比如 All the answers are not right.在翻译的时候,很容易按照中文的逻辑,一个个字眼对应下来翻译成“所有的答案都不对”,正确的译法是“不是所有的答案都是对的”如同汉语一样,英语中也会使用双重否定的手段去表达一些含义,否定词组成的各种短语彼此之间很类似,很容易会造成意义上或多或少的差异,比如这个句子曾经就难倒我了。He is no more able to read English than I am。不是“他比我更读不懂英文”而是“他跟我都读不懂英文”这里我列出了一些平常容易混淆的点:
(1)no less than VS not less than 大达VS不少于,至少
There were no less than fifty wounded. 受伤者多达50人。
There were not less than fifty wounded. 受伤者约50人。
(2)anything but VS nothing but 绝对不,一点也不VS除……外;什么也没有;只有
The wood bridge is anything but safe.那座桥一点也不安全。
I can do nothing but obey it.我只能服从。
(3)not...any more than VS no more...than 同...一样不
He is not a poet any more than I am.我不是一个诗人,他也不是一个诗人。
He is no more able to read German.他和我一样都不懂德语。
(4)nothing like VS nothing like so...as.. 没有什么能比得上VS远远不像..那样
There is nothing like leather for shoes.做鞋用皮革再好不过了。
This book is nothing like as difficult as I expected.这本书远没有我想象的那么难懂。
(5)no more than VS not more than 只不过,仅仅VS不超过,至多
He felt no more than five dollars in the bag.他的袋子里只剩下五美元。
I have not more than five dollars in the bag.我的口袋里的钱最多五美元。
(6)for anything VS if anything 绝不VS若有任何不同的话
I won't go there for anything.我决不去那里。
If anything,my new job is harder than my old one.要说有什么不同的话,我的新工作反而比就工作要难些。
(7)all but VS but for 几乎,除..以外其余都是VS要不是
All but the children thought that the trip exciting.除了小孩,大家都认为这次旅行是激动人心的。
But for the rain we should have a pleasant journey.要不是下雨,我们的旅行本来是愉快的。
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