句子:講排場(chǎng),擺闊氣,是這個(gè)地區(qū)的流行病。
誤譯:Waste and extravagance is an epidemic disease in this area.
正譯:Waste and extravagance is an evil social practice in this area.
解釋?zhuān)篹pidemic disease 的意思是a large number of cases of a particular disease happening at the same time in a particular community,指的是“人與人之間的傳染病”,不是“社會(huì)弊病”。
“流行病”的第一個(gè)意思是“能在較短時(shí)間內(nèi)廣泛蔓延的傳染病”。英語(yǔ)可以譯為pandemic, epidemic, epidemic disease。
例如:
1. 這位世界衛(wèi)生組織專(zhuān)家指出這場(chǎng)流行性感冒仍然對(duì)世界健康狀況構(gòu)成長(zhǎng)久的威脅。The WHO expert points out that the pandemic flu remains a constant threat to the health status of the world.
“流行病”的第二個(gè)意思是比喻“廣泛流傳的社會(huì)弊病”。英語(yǔ)可以譯為bad social practice, evil social practice, social malpractice, social ill。例如:
2. 傳播名人八卦新聞已經(jīng)成為一種網(wǎng)絡(luò)盛行的流行病。Spreading celebrity gossip news has become a social malpractice prevailing on the Internet.
“流行”的第一個(gè)意思是“廣泛流傳”。英語(yǔ)可以譯為prevalent。例如:
3. 這個(gè)流行一時(shí)的說(shuō)法已經(jīng)過(guò)時(shí)了。This once prevalent way of saying has become out of mode.
“流行”的第二個(gè)意思是“時(shí)尚而盛行”。英語(yǔ)可以譯為fashionable, in fashion, in vogue。例如:
4. 牛仔褲在青年和中年人中間依然十分流行。Jeans are still in fashion among the young people and middle-aged adults.
“流行歌曲”,可以譯為 popular song, pop song。例如:
5. 這個(gè)老人在年輕時(shí)就開(kāi)始喜歡流行歌曲。The old man began to love popular songs when he was young.
“流行色”,可以譯為 fashion colour, trend colour, trendy colour。例如:
6. 綠色是今年夏季的服裝流行色。Green is the fashion colour in clothing for this summer. ▲
(本欄目供稿:王逢鑫教授)