成nil to nil. 79.在一次具有历史意义的表决中,北京赢得了申办奥运会的机会 In a historical vote,Beijing won the bid for the Olympics LIE]In a historic vote,Beijing won the bid for the Olympics. 注:historic表示"历史上著名的,有历史意义的”,而historical则表示“有关历史的,历史学的 你沿读过菲尔丁的经典长小说《汤姐斯》? Tiei Have you ever read fielding's classic novel tom jones? 81.未经允许,任何人不得入内。 me ome without permission 注:“任何」 .都不"是汉语中常用字的否定句式,而在英语中,ay构成的合成词及其所修饰的词语作主语时,谓语动词是不能 否定形式的。因此 any :not的用法 符合英语的表达习惯, 须用否定形式的主语+肯定形式的谓语替换。但是,ay 种事的入都是不实的 如果带有后置定语,那么其谓语也可以用否定形式。如:Anyone who does that atne6oodvdRtgeeactod 听到这个消息没有一个人不感到兴态 [Having heard the news,everybody felt excited. 汉中 像上面滑 ody :not的结表 的 表i达,即:There was nobody who did not feel excited或者The ody but felt excited 83.我是一个中国人。 注第En阁文提不道的E五的说 第 句文是不地道的 正确的说法应该去掉不定冠词,或者说I am a Chinese man。.同样,He is an English也没有 84.母狼为了保护幼起 同猎豹展开了殊死的搏斗。 whelps as to pro vhelps 生:汉语 一般用”公”、母"或”雌“、"雄"来区分动物的性别 而英语中,有一部分动物是雄雄各有其名,例如:COCk(公鸡)和 hen(母鸡),stag(雄鹿)和doe(雌鹿)等:而另一部分则是用male和female加以区分,如:male leopard(公 当然,也有例外的情况,如:bull elephant(公象)和cow elephant(母象),he 1 To mv my son know a thing or two about Italian [To my joy,my son knows something about Italian. 精明强干“的意思 [When do you want to get married?
成 nil to nil。 79. 在一次具有历史意义的表决中,北京羸得了申办奥运会的机会。 [误] In a historical vote, Beijing won the bid for the Olympics. [正] In a historic vote, Beijing won the bid for the Olympics. 注:historic 表示“历史上著名的,有历史意义的”,而 historical 则表示“有关历史的,历史学的”。 80. 你读没读过菲尔丁的经典长篇小说《汤姆.琼斯》? [误] Have you ever read Fielding's classical novel Tom Jones? [正] Have you ever read Fielding's classic novel Tom Jones? 注:classic 即可作形容词,表示“经典的,第一流的”,又可作可数名词,表示“经典作品”;而 classical 却是一个没有比较级和 最高级的形容词,常指“(建筑,文学,音乐等方面)古典的,传统的”。 81. 未经允许,任何人不得入内。 [误] Anybody can not come in without permission. [正] Nobody can come in without permission. 注:“任何.都不”是汉语中常用字的否定句式,而在英语中,any 构成的合成词及其所修饰的词语作主语时,谓语动词是不能 用否定形式的。因此,any . not 的用法不符合英语的表达习惯,须用“否定形式的主语+肯定形式的谓语”替换。但是,any 构成的合成词及其所修饰的词语作主语时,如果带有后置定语,那么其谓语也可以用否定形式。如:Anyone who does that isn't honest(干那种事的人都是不诚实的)。 82. 听到这个消息,没有一个人不感到兴奋。 [误] Having heard the news, nobody did not feel excited. [正] Having heard the news, everybody felt excited. 注:汉语中把主、谓语同时否定以表示肯定,但这不符合英语习惯,所以 nobody.not 的结构在英语中是不正确的。翻译这类 句子时,可像上面正确的译文那样,把主语和谓语都改成肯定形式;也可用“there be + 否定的主语 + 否定形式的定语从句”来 表达,即:There was nobody who did not feel excited 或者 There was nobody but felt excited. 83. 我是一个中国人。 [误] I am a Chinese. [正] I am Chinese. 注:第一句译文是不地道的,正确的说法应该去掉不定冠词,或者说 I am a Chinese man。同样,He is an English 也没有 He is English 或 He is an Englishman 好。 84. 母狼为了保护幼崽同猎豹展开了殊死的搏斗。 [误] The female wolf fights against the leopard so as to protect her whelps. [正] The she wolf fights against the leopard so as to protect her whelps. 注:汉语一般用“公”、“母”或“雌”、“雄”来区分动物的性别,而英语中,有一部分动物是雌雄各有其名,例如:cock(公鸡)和 hen(母鸡),stag(雄鹿)和 doe(雌鹿)等;而另一部分则是用 male 和 female 加以区分,如:male leopard(公 豹),female panda(母熊猫)等;当然,也有例外的情况,如:bull elephant(公象)和 cow elephant(母象),he wolf(公狼)和 she wolf(母狼)等。 85. 使我高兴的是,我儿子对意大利语也略知一二。 [误] To my joy, my son know a thing or two about Italian. [正] To my joy, my son knows something about Italian. 注:有些英语词语在字面上同汉语十分相似,但实则貌合神离,如果不求甚解很容易出错。例如,know a thing or two 就不 表示“略知一二”,而是“很有经验,精明强干”的意思。 86. 你希望什么时候成家呢? [误] When do you want to start a family? [正] When do you want to get married?
注:中文的"成家"是"结婚"的意思,而英文start a family的含义却是"生第一个孩子”,二者完全不是一回事。 87,宁做鸡头 不做同尾 图Better 注:每种语言中都有许多约定俗成的表达,没有什么道理好讲,但使用时则需遵照各自的语言习惯。中文是”鸡头“和“凤尾”比, 而英语中却要用”狗头“和“狮尾”。 83,海伦就 一只骄 的公鸡从来不爱指理别人 正Helen is as a eacock.and she neve 注:“孔雀“在中国人眼里是美丽和吉祥的象征 而公鸡因为常把头昂得高高地,尾巴翘到了天上,摆出一刷盛气凌人的架子,因 此成了“骄做"的化身 但西方文化不注重孔雀美丽的一面,认为它们很骄做,所以英美人在形容一个人骄做、狂妄和爱慕虚荣 时,就把他(她)比作peacock, That 因为 nali boy is as thin as a monk ey because of the lack of food [That Somali boy is as thin as a shadow because of the lack of food. 注:同二事物 在不的文化里可能起 可的联想 具有不同的内涵。 “种 用 这种事物作比喻,而在另一种语 as a ch 90.索菲娅望子成龙心切,给儿子报名参加了许多补习班。 [Sophia hopes to see her son become a dragon,therefore she enters his name for many classes of ary scho son will have a bright future,therefore she enters his name for many classes of 法翻译视的得贵整都者神圣和万能。但在西方人的印象中与是可拍的。《堡经》里就把龙省运设了军琴的象任、所以 91.由于街道的扩建,道路两旁矮小的房屋全部被拆除了 and sm widening. 德英著中,形容人质树等的高级买用形容男a和s动o但是指山壶、房足政其它建筑物的高场。我们适常用hg巾和 92,爸爸总爱发脾 105 ng his temper 注:like doing something表示"喜欢干某事", 一般用来说明某人的兴趣爱好:而be apt to do sth.则表示"常常发生某种行 为“或”容易发生某种变化”。根据原文的意思显然应该用后者。 93,欧文按捺不住激动的 大声喊道 我中奖了: egotReWnmgnlanoerhehetoeaend 注:exciting feeling这种搭配很不地道,虽然"振奋人心的消息"是exciting news,.“有趣的故事“是interesting story 但微动的心情"却要用名词形式excitement来表达。 丹尼斯自己不努 还老是眼 别人 rk hard.h eve red-eyed of othe
注:中文的“成家”是“结婚”的意思,而英文 start a family 的含义却是“生第一个孩子”,二者完全不是一回事。 87. 宁做鸡头,不做凤尾。 [误] Better be the head of a cock than the tail of a phoenix. [正] Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. 注:每种语言中都有许多约定俗成的表达,没有什么道理好讲,但使用时则需遵照各自的语言习惯。中文是“鸡头”和“凤尾”比, 而英语中却要用“狗头”和“狮尾”。 88. 海伦就像一只骄傲的公鸡,从来不爱搭理别人。 [误] Helen is proud as a cock, and she never talks to others. [正] Helen is proud as a peacock, and she never talks to others. 注:“孔雀”在中国人眼里是美丽和吉祥的象征,而公鸡因为常把头昂得高高地,尾巴翘到了天上,摆出一副盛气凌人的架子,因 此成了“骄傲”的化身。但西方文化不注重孔雀美丽的一面,认为它们很骄傲,所以英美人在形容一个人骄傲、狂妄和爱慕虚荣 时,就把他(她)比作 peacock。 89. 因为没有吃的,那个索马里的小男孩瘦得像猴子。 [误] That Somali boy is as thin as a monkey because of the lack of food. [正] That Somali boy is as thin as a shadow because of the lack of food. 注:同一事物,在不同的文化里可能引起不同的联想,具有不同的内涵。所以,在一种语言中用这种事物作比喻,而在另一种语 言中很可能会有不同的表达。这样的例子中英文还有很多,例如:as timid as a hare(胆小如鼠),as strong as a horse (力大如牛),as poor as a church mouse(一贫如洗)等。 90. 索菲娅望子成龙心切,给儿子报名参加了许多补习班。 [误] Sophia hopes to see her son become a dragon, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling. [正] Sophia hopes that her son will have a bright future, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling. 注:“龙”在中国人心目中象征着神圣和万能,但在西方人的印象中却是可怕的,《圣经》里就把“龙”描述成了罪恶的象征。所以 在翻译“望子成龙”时需要意译。 91. 由于街道的扩建,道路两旁矮小的房屋全部被拆除了。 [误] The short and small houses on both sides of the road have been demolished due to its widening. [正] The low and small houses on both sides of the road have been demolished due to its widening. 注:英语中,形容人或树等的高矮要用形容词 tall 和 short;但是指山峦、房屋或其它建筑物的高矮,我们通常用 high 和 low。 92. 爸爸总爱发脾气。 [误] Dad always likes losing his temper. [正] Dad is apt to lose his temper. 注:like doing something 表示“喜欢干某事”,一般用来说明某人的兴趣爱好;而 be apt to do sth.则表示“常常发生某种行 为”或“容易发生某种变化”。根据原文的意思显然应该用后者。 93. 欧文按捺不住激动的心情,大声喊道:“我中奖了!” [误] Owen couldn't hold back his exciting feeling, and he shouted, "I've got the winning number in the bond!" [正] Owen couldn't hold back his excitement, and he shouted, "I've got the winning number in the bond!" 注:exciting feeling 这种搭配很不地道,虽然“振奋人心的消息”是 exciting news,“有趣的故事”是 interesting story, 但“激动的心情”却要用名词形式 excitement 来表达。 94. 丹尼斯自己不努力,还老是眼红别人的成就。 [误] Denis himself doesn't work hard, however, he is always red-eyed of other people's achievements. [正] Denis himself doesn't work hard, however, he is always green-eyed of other people's achievements
注:中国人说 个人嫉妒用 但英 人则月 “眼绿“来形容 英语的gree 颜色之外还 嫉妒”的意思,又如 di 甲件多示色彩的2都有特的含义,e不能照学面去解比:Hega。me a black10oK(他恶限地验我 眼):She visits us once in a blue moon(她难得来看我们一次)等。 95,天零水 You should dri 注:“白开水"不是指"水的颜色是白色”,而是指"水中没有添加其他的东西“。而plan正是指"没掺杂其他东西的,单纯的”,所 以能确切表达原文的含义。 96对不志 我把课本 忘在家里了 k at ho [正sor I lef my extbook at home 注:原文中的忘"是指"落在家里"的意思,不能翻译成英文的forget,而应用表示"把.留在某地,丢下,落下"等的意思的 eave. 97 参加半决赛的 thall toar and is qualified to play in the half-finals ]The Chinese football team beat the Japanese team,and is qualified to play in the semifinals 注:sm-是英语里的一个前缓,表示"半”,例如 :automatic是"自动的”,那么semiautomatic就表示"半自动的": 半径”:monthly指"月刊",那么semi-monthly就表示"半月刊"。以上这 98.在自然灾害期间,绝大多数人都过着半饥半饱的生活。 Dung the mymoa o erY h 不足 eveloped(经济发 未到法定年龄 As for this matter,I am half-.believing,haf-doubting(对于这件事我是半信半疑的):This composition is half literary,.half vernacular(这篇文章写得半文不白的)。 99,汉语是我 的母语 e除了指"舌头”,还可以用来指"语言,方言”,如the Spanish tongue并非指"西班牙舌头”,而是指"西班牙语” ',英语里相应的表达是the gift of tonques 母语"在英语中用mother tonque表达,还可以说 parent language linguistic parent, 但nother language的说法却是不地道的. 我答县75 [My grandpa is getting on for seventy-five. 克赛 竞选”之忘 r9w 年竞选国会议员) *(1).push thirty[forty,etc.J已经快到三[四.]十岁了: You Wou d like 2getonfoomerdelt ds]快到(某时间),快(多少岁)
注:中国人说一个人嫉妒用“眼红”,但英美人则用“眼绿”来形容。英语的 green 除了表示颜色之外还有“嫉妒”的意思,又如:I was absolutely green (with envy) when I saw his splendid new car(我看到他那辆漂亮的新车非常眼红)。其实,英 语中许多表示色彩的词汇都有特殊的含义,不能照字面去理解。再比如:He gave me a black look(他恶狠狠地蹬了我一 眼);She visits us once in a blue moon(她难得来看我们一次)等。 95. 夏天要多喝白开水。 [误] You should drink more white boiled water in summer. [正] You should drink more plain boiled water in summer. 注:“白开水”不是指“水的颜色是白色”,而是指“水中没有添加其他的东西”。而 plain 正是指“没掺杂其他东西的,单纯的”,所 以能确切表达原文的含义。 96. 对不起,我把课本忘在家里了。 [误] Sorry, I forgot my textbook at home. [正] Sorry, I left my textbook at home. 注:原文中的“忘”是指“落在家里”的意思,不能翻译成英文的 forget,而应用表示“把.留在某地,丢下,落下”等的意思的 leave。 97. 中国足球队击败了日本队,从而取得了参加半决赛的资格。 [误] The Chinese football team beat the Japanese team, and is qualified to play in the half-finals. [正] The Chinese football team beat the Japanese team, and is qualified to play in the semifinals. 注:semi- 是英语里的一个前缀,表示“半”,例如:automatic 是“自动的”,那么 semiautomatic 就表示“半自动的”; diameter 指“直径”,那么 semi-diameter 就指“半径”;monthly 指“月刊”,那么 semi-monthly 就表示“半月刊”。以上这 些都跟 semifinal(半决赛)一样,是约定俗成的。 98. 在自然灾害期间,绝大多数人都过着半饥半饱的生活。 [误] During the natural calamity, most people were half hungry, half full. [正] During the natural calamity, most people were underfed. 注:under- 是一个英语前缀,表示“.不足的”,如:underdeveloped(经济发展不充分的),underage(未到法定年龄 的)等。所以,underfeed 表示“未喂饱的,食物不足的”。汉语中“半.半.”的结构可以翻译成 half.half.,例如: As for this matter, I am half-believing, half-doubting(对于这件事我是半信半疑的);This composition is half literary, half vernacular(这篇文章写得半文不白的)。 99. 汉语是我们的母语。 [误] Chinese is our mother language. [正] Chinese is our mother tongue. 注:tongue 除了指“舌头”,还可以用来指“语言,方言”,如 the Spanish tongue 并非指“西班牙舌头”,而是指“西班牙语”。 我们常说的有“语言天赋”,英语里相应的表达是 the gift of tongues。“母语”在英语中用 mother tongue 表达,还可以说 parent language 或 linguistic parent,但 mother language 的说法却是不地道的。 100. 我爷爷是奔75的人了。 [误] My grandpa is running for seventy-five. [正] My grandpa is getting on for seventy-five. 注:run for 有“竞赛,竞选”之意,如:run for Congress(竞选国会议员),run for the presidency(竞选总统)等。而 get on for 才表示“接近”,它通常用进行时态,后面一般跟年龄或者时间,如:It's getting on for midnight(快到半夜了) 等。 ***(1). push thirty[forty,etc.]已经快到三[四.]十岁了: She would like you to think so, but she's pushing thirty. You wouldn't think so to look at him, but he's pushing 40. (2). get on for[towards]快到(某时间),快(多少岁): It's getting on for nine o'clock. He must be getting on for forty now. Here you are getting on toward thirty
(3 .年龄的一些说法 “(常用 2)I'm twenty years old.(常用) 3)I'm twenty-.year-old.(不常用) I'm twenty years of age.(书面 en M 不田 Z)I come into the ad of wenty.(不常用) 8)I'm in my teens.(不常用) 在meens(不常用) 101.正如中国的一句俗话:"笨鸟先飞" [As an old Chinese saying goes, "Stupid birds have to start flying early. TIE]As an old Chinese saying goes,"Clumsy birds have to start flying early. 飞 常用 喻琪 差的人 umsy(笨拙 102.艾达把“发音”一词拼写错了,不过只是个笔误。 [Ida misspells the word "pronunciation",however,it is only a mistake of pen LiE]Ida misspells the word "pronunciation",however,it is only a slip of the pen 103.我们将口头对这一问题做个表决。 ,愿望”的意思 :又叫呼声表决”,即参 按 声环的公开式表出的强见 的 tice口.城 专来a,ce气o vote。 11有 正]Ned is lame in one leg 注:lame作"瘸的,骇的,残废的"讲, 一般用作表语,且其主语往往是人或动物,例如:g0lame(变成摘子),be lame 的 作定语时,它常表示站不住脚的,有缺陷的",例如:a lame excuse(站不由 105.我其里的病又犯了 My uncle has got another attack of stomach disease TiEl My uncle has got another attack of stomach trouble er/eye tro 106.奥尼尔是首位进入决赛的种子选手。 ]O'Neil is the first seed player to reach the final. [O'Neil is the first seed to reach the final
(3). 年龄的一些说法: 1) I'm twenty.(常用) 2) I'm twenty years old.(常用) 3) I'm twenty-year-old.(不常用) 4) I'm twenty years of age.(书面) 5) I'm aged twenty (years).(书面) 6) My age is twenty (years).(不常用) 7) I come into the age of twenty.(不常用) 8) I'm in my teens.(不常用) in one's early teens(不常用) 在十三四岁年纪 not yet out of one's teens(不常用) 还没有到20岁 101. 正如中国的一句俗话:“笨鸟先飞”。 [误] As an old Chinese saying goes, "Stupid birds have to start flying early." [正] As an old Chinese saying goes,"Clumsy birds have to start flying early." 注:“笨鸟先飞”常用来比喻那些能力差的人,因为做事怕落后,所以就提前行动。这里的“笨”并非 stupid(智力低下的,愚蠢 的)的意思,而用 clumsy(笨拙的,不灵巧的)更恰当。 102. 艾达把“发音”一词拼写错了,不过只是个笔误。 [误] Ida misspells the word "pronunciation", however, it is only a mistake of pen. [正] Ida misspells the word "pronunciation", however, it is only a slip of the pen. 注:与 mistake(错误,误会,过失)相比,slip 更侧重于由于不经意或疏忽而造成的错误,所以“口误”一般译为 a slip of the tongue,同样,“笔误”就翻译成 a slip of the pen。 103. 我们将口头对这一问题做个表决。 [误] We shall take an oral vote on this problem. [正] We shall take a voice vote on this problem. 注:voice 除了指“说话声,嗓音”之外,还有“(公开或正式表达出的)意见,愿望”的意思。voice vote 又叫“呼声表决”,即参 加表决者叫喊“同意”或“不同意”,按呼声响亮的一方决定。而 oral 则强调“以口头的方式”,例如:oral practice(口头练 习),oral examination(口试),oral report(口头汇报)等,但“口头表决”英语却没有 oral vote 之说,而习惯用 voice vote。 104. 内德有一条瘸腿。 [误] Ned has a lame leg. [正] Ned is lame in one leg. 注:lame 作“瘸的,跛的,残废的”讲,一般用作表语,且其主语往往是人或动物,例如:go lame(变成瘸子),be lame in/或 of one leg(一条腿跛的)。当 lame 用作定语时,它常表示“站不住脚的,有缺陷的”,例如:a lame excuse(站不住 脚的借口),a lame imitation(低劣的仿制品)。 105. 我舅舅的胃病又犯了。 [误] My uncle has got another attack of stomach disease. [正] My uncle has got another attack of stomach trouble. 注:英语同汉语一样,也有很多约定俗成的表达法。同样是“病”,心脏病可以说 heart disease,但胃病、肝病、眼病等就习惯 说成 stomach/liver/eye trouble。 106. 奥尼尔是首位进入决赛的种子选手。 [误] O'Neil is the first seed player to reach the final. [正] O'Neil is the first seed to reach the final
,所以这时不必再加player。.类似的词还有植物 107.因为玛吉请了三天病假,所以她必须把落下的课补上。 注:同样表示“弥补,补偿,补足”,m ake un 后面一船接且体的名司,如:make sed lesson(补里),a make Ip e aminati0n补老)签.而n f0r后而的多通登比较抽,加.。 ake for the lost time(弥补时间上的 损失),make up for one's defects(补其所短)等。 19对不起,因为交通忙 我迟到了20分钟 ecause of am twenty minutes late because c 注:busy的确可以作"繁忙"讲,如:the busy farming season(农忙季节),a busy day(繁忙的一天)等,但"交通繁 忙"却是约定俗成的说法,要用heavy形容traffic 而不是buSy。在大城市,交通一般都比较繁忙,尤其在rush hours(上 的高峰期,常常会出现t阳价camC交通塞)·如果要表达街上车特少可以说Tnere6e出8 the 109.在很久以前.这里曾经有宫殿 [There used to be a palace here before long [There used to be a palace here long before 地 恰恰相反,它的意思是"不久以后” 例如:Harry Porte long long,long ago,.表示”在很久很久以 110.你真是不要脸,居然干出这种事。 注:虽然-less 丰要附在名词或动词后面构成否定形容词】 表示"沿右,无不m.加.fearless(于思的) careless(不小d 的),doubtless(无疑的)等,但faceless的意思却是"姓名不详的,匿名的, 面的 ,而伤风败俗的, 无耻的,不要脸 的(人)"则要用shameless来表达,而sha meful ·般用来指"可耻的,丢脸的(行为)",例如:shameful conduct(可 耻的行为),a shameless exploiter(无耻的剥削者)。 111.你们必须擦亮眼睛,弄清楚事情的真相。 You the truth. [误You sho1 remove the scales from your eyes and find out the truth 行五 但它表示"先发制人"或“使某人君到自己的狂”而日这里的 要用单数形 112.瞧,树上有两只麻雀。 ere are two sparrows on the tree there are two sparrows in the tree 主:英语中,只有"长"在树上的东西才用介词o ,例如:There are lots of apples on the tree:其余均用介词in,例如 The primitive built houses in the tree(原始人在树上建房子)。本例句也不例外。. 3, 德在乡下有 一块莱地 s a pl 正Jude vegetable he countrys e countrys 为vegetable plot。.而不是eld.pot”指小块士地,小块地皮,:rent&eot但赛德 英语里fild的确可指"(一块)田地”,如:a ddy field(一块稻田),terraced fields(梯田)等,但"菜地"却习惯称
注:seed 的愿意是“种子,萌芽”,后被引申为“种子选手”,所以这时不必再加 player。类似的词还有“植物 人”(vegetable),它被翻译成英语时“人”字也不必译出。 107. 因为玛吉请了三天病假,所以她必须把落下的课补上。 [误] Since Maggie asked for a sick leave of three days,she should make up for her lost lessons. [正] Since Maggie asked for a sick leave of three days,she should make up her lost lessons. 注:同样表示“弥补,补偿,补足”,make up 后面一般接具体的名词,如:make up a missed lesson(补课),a makeup examination(补考)等;而 make up for 后面的名词通常比较抽象,如:make up for the lost time(弥补时间上的 损失),make up for one's defects(补其所短)等。 108. 对不起,因为交通繁忙,我迟到了20分钟。 [误] Excuse me, I am twenty minutes late because of the busy traffic. [正] Excuse me, I am twenty minutes late because of the heavy traffic. 注:busy 的确可以作“繁忙”讲,如:the busy farming season(农忙季节),a busy day(繁忙的一天)等,但“交通繁 忙”却是约定俗成的说法,要用 heavy 形容 traffic,而不是 busy。在大城市,交通一般都比较繁忙,尤其在 rush hours(上 下班的高峰期),常常会出现 traffic jam(交通阻塞)。如果要表达“街上车辆很少”,可以说 There is little traffic on the roads。 109. 在很久以前,这里曾经有座宫殿。 [误] There used to be a palace here before long. [正] There used to be a palace here long before. 注:不要想当然地以为 before long 是指“在很久以前”,恰恰相反,它的意思是“不久以后”,例如:Harry Porter will be published before long(《哈利.波特》不久就要出版了)。而 long before 才相当于 long,long ago,表示“在很久很久以 前”。 110. 你真是不要脸,居然干出这种事。 [误] You are so faceless that you should have done such a thing. [正] You are so shameless that you should have done such a thing. 注:虽然 -less 主要附在名词或动词后面构成否定形容词,表示“没有,无,不”,如:fearless(无畏的),careless(不小心 的),doubtless(无疑的)等,但 faceless 的意思却是“姓名不详的,匿名的,不露面的”。而“伤风败俗的,无耻的,不要脸 的(人)”则要用 shameless 来表达,而 shameful 一般用来指“可耻的,丢脸的(行为)”,例如:shameful conduct(可 耻的行为),a shameless exploiter(无耻的剥削者)。 111. 你们必须擦亮眼睛,弄清楚事情的真相。 [误] You should wipe your eye and find out the truth. [正] You should remove the scales from your eyes and find out the truth. 注:英语里确实有 wipe one's eye 这一短语,但它表示“先发制人”或“使某人看到自己的狂妄”,而且这里的 eye 要用单数形 式。而 scale 用作复数可比喻“障眼物”,英文的 remove the scales from one's eyes 才对应于中文的“擦亮眼睛”。 112. 瞧,树上有两只麻雀。 [误] Look, there are two sparrows on the tree. [正] Look, there are two sparrows in the tree. 注:英语中,只有“长”在树上的东西才用介词 on,例如:There are lots of apples on the tree;其余均用介词 in,例如: The primitive built houses in the tree(原始人在树上建房子)。本例句也不例外。 113. 裘德在乡下有一块菜地。 [误] Jude has a piece of vegetable field in the countryside. [正] Jude has a piece of vegetable plot in the countryside. 注:英语里 field 的确可指“(一块)田地”,如:a paddy field(一块稻田),terraced fields(梯田)等,但“菜地”却习惯称 为 vegetable plot,而不是 field。 plot 指“小块土地,小块地皮”,如:an experimental plot of cotton(一块棉花试验 田)