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。Enough is enough, or we will die.
2. 不远处传来了提琴的声音，调子哀伤。Not far away from the sound of the fiddle, and that'll sorrow.
3. 在游廊的最左端，靠近一道门，坐着一位将近30岁的男子。Most of the veranda at the left, near a door, sits a nearly 30 years old man.
4. 他的书桌上放着带有细菌的小碟子。His desk is put a little dish of bacteria
5. 总之，是两点而不是一点。All in all, it was two and not a bit.
6. 花瓶里没有水了。The vase no water.
7. 要
很容易看得出来那作家是一位生手，刚从事写作。Very easy to see the writer is a beginning, just writing
8.
9. 不怕一万，就怕万一Ten thousand not afraid, afraid of one thousand.。
10. 还看不出来他能挑得起这副担子。Also see he can pick up the burden alone.
11. 去年
12. 必须认真做好建厂前的准备工作。The factory must do the preparing work before.
13. 应该教导儿童讲实话。Should teach children to tell the truth
14. 必须保证8小时的睡眠。Must ensure that eight hours of sleep.
15. 发现了错误，一定要改正。Find a mistake, must correct.
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、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
1、 我们是坐船去武汉的。
2、 玩弄她的感情是卑鄙的。
3、 这个故事好是好，就是长了点。
4、 这场火灾是他们不小心而引起的。
5、 满屋都是烟，连他衣服上都是烟味。
6、 他开办这家工厂完全是白手起家的。
7、 这本书我是有的，可是我一下找不到。
8、 这原来是破旧、窄小的一条旧街。
9、 这人真讨厌，总是死皮赖脸的缠着人家。
10、 既然要搞掉他，罗织罪名还不是易如反掌。
11、 今天开这个会啊，是想听听各方面的意见。
12、 不管怎么样，我是决意要完成这项任务的。
Keys:
1. We went to wuhan by chartered boat.
2. It was mean of him to play with her/affections.
3. It is a good story all right, but a bit too long.
4. The fire resulted from their carelessness.
5. Smoke filled the room; even his clothes smelled of smoke.
6. He built up his factory literally from nothing.
7. I have the book somewhere but I cannot lay my hands on it now.
8. This place was originally a narrow, shabby street.
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
水中捞月 fish in the air
乳臭未干 the smell of the baby
寿终正寝 die in the bed
一丘之貉 birds of a feather(flock together)
2、 直译法
蓬头垢面 with disheveled hair and dirty face
求同存异 see common ground while reserving differences
扑朔迷离 complicated and confusing
朴实无华 simple and unadorned
能者多劳 the abler a man, the busier he gets.
自力更生 regeneration through one’s own efforts
顺水推舟 push the boat with current
欺软怕硬 bully the weak and fear the strong
半途而废 give up halfway
口蜜腹剑 with honey on one’s lips and murder in one’s heart.
有钱能使鬼推磨
If you have money you can even make the devil turn your mill(serve for you).
十年树木百年树人
It takes ten years to grow trees but a hundred years to rear/cultivate people.
路遥知马力，日久见人心。
A long road tests a horse’s strength, while a long time proves one’s heart.
天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福
Storms gather without warning in nature, while bad luck befalls men overnight.
3、 意译法
畏首畏尾 over-cautious
不到黄河不死心
Not stop until one reaches one’s goal
独木不成林
One person cannot accomplish much.
4、 节译法
汉语习语中有些是对偶词组，往往前后两对含义相同
无影无踪 vanish without a trace
长吁短叹 sigh deeply
千真万确 be quite true
一朝一夕 overnight
根深蒂固 deep-rooted
不屈不挠 unswerving
自给自足 self-sufficient
经久耐用 durable
同心同德 with one mind
清规戒律 taboos (regulations)
油头粉面 high-painted
惊心动魄 soul-stirring
5、 直译加注法
东施效颦 Dongshi, an ugly woman, knitting her eyebrow in imitation of the famous beauty Xi Shi only to make herself uglier—blindly copying others and making oneself look foolish.
二、 汉语习语中数词的英译
1、 直译法
千金难买一笑
A thousand pieces of gold can hardly purchase a smile.
一寸光阴一寸金
An inch of time is an inch of gold.
一着不慎满盘皆输
One careless move loses the whole game.
百花齐放，百家争鸣
Let a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend.
听君一席话，胜读十年书
One evening’s conversation with a gentleman is worth more than ten-year study.
2、 保留部分数字
杀一儆百 punish one as an example to others
三心二意 two-minded
两面三刀 double-faced and tricky
十拿九稳 ninety percent sure
3、 省略法 （当数字是虚指时）
昙花一现 be a flash in the pan
一干二净 neat and tidy;
不三不四 dubious；inappropriate
百无聊赖 to be overcome with boredom
白问不厌 to serve patiently and tirelessly
三言两语 a few words
五谷丰登、五光十色、五湖四海、十万火急、才高八斗、千秋万代（throughout the ages）
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