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句子:60年前隨著新中國的成立,中國人民開始當家做主。
誤譯:With the founding of New China 60 years ago, the Chinese people started to be masters.
正譯:With the founding of New China 60 years ago, the Chinese people started to be masters of their own country.
解釋:master的意思是 a person who is able to control sth,即“主人”。但是,to be masters沒有說明做誰的主人?!爱敿易鲋鳌睂嶋H上是“做自己國家或自己命運的主人”。“做主”的第一個意思是“做主人”?!爱敿易鲋鳌?,就是“當家做主人”。英語可以譯為 to become masters of ones own country, to become masters of ones own destiny。例如:1. 當西藏廢除了腐朽、黑暗的封建農(nóng)奴制的時候,百萬農(nóng)奴掙脫了枷鎖,當家做主了。When the decadent and dark feudal serfdom was abolished in Tibet, one million serfs were unshackled and became masters of their own destiny.
“做主”的第二個意思是當事人自己“對某件事情負完全責任并做出決定”。如果強調(diào)“負責任”,英語可以譯為 to take the responsibility 或on ones own responsibility;如果強調(diào)“做決定”,英語可以譯為to decide, to make the decision, to have the final say。例如:2. 這件事,我來做主。Ill take the responsibility for this matter.
3. 我們是否做這個工作,我可做不了主。I am not in a position to decide whether well do this work.
4. 我們女兒的婚姻大事由她自己做主。Our daughter has the final say in choosing the man she wants to marry.
“做主”的第三個意思是當事人“支持別人”或“為別人撐腰”。英語可以譯為 to back up, to support。例如:
5. 當官不為民做主,不如回家賣紅薯。If I didnt back up the common people as an official, I would rather go back home to become a small pedlar selling sweet potatoes. ▲
(本欄目供稿:王逢鑫教授)