句子:一個國家的興起與腐敗現(xiàn)象如同水火一樣是不相容的。
誤譯:The rise of a nation is as incompatible with corruption phenomenon as fire is with water.
正譯:The rise of a nation is as incompatible with corruption as fire is with water.
解釋:將“腐敗現(xiàn)象”字對字直譯為corruption phenomenon,有些累贅。譯為 corruption 就夠了。
“腐敗”的第一個意思是“腐朽變質(zhì)”,即“腐爛”。英語動詞可以譯為to decay, to rot;名詞可以譯為decay, rot;形容詞可以譯為decaying, decayed, rotting, rotten, putrid。例如:1. 后院的樹木好像在腐爛。The trees in the back yard seem to be decaying.2. 這些腐敗食物標(biāo)簽表明已遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過銷售截止日期。These rotten food labels are well past their sell-by date.3. 千萬不要吃腐敗的食物,因?yàn)樗芤饑?yán)重中毒。You can never eat putrid food, as it may cause intense poisoning.
“腐敗”的第二個意思是“思想陳舊或行為墮落”,即“腐朽”。英語可以譯為corrupt, decadent, musty。例如:4. 這個新任命的官員很快就變腐敗了。The newly appointed official soon became corrupt.5. 我們決不向腐敗思想做任何讓步。We will never make any concession to the musty ideology
“腐敗”的第三個意思是“制度、組織、機(jī)構(gòu)或措施混亂與黑暗”。英語形容詞可以譯為rotten, corrupt;名詞可以譯為 corruption。例如:6. 這個組織已腐敗透頂。The organization is rotten to the core. 7. 近年來,學(xué)術(shù)腐敗一直是中國學(xué)術(shù)界的一個熱門話題。In recent years, academic corruption has been a hot topic in the Chinese academic community.
“反腐倡廉”,英語可以譯為to combat corruption and build a clean government。例如:8. 反腐倡廉是順利進(jìn)行改革開放和現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)的一個重要保證。To combat corruption and build a clean government is an important guarantee for the smooth reform, opening-up and modernization drive. ▲
(本欄目供稿:王逢鑫教授)