中式英语之鉴100句 01
有他这颗扫帚星,什么事情都办不成
[误] With a comet like him, nothing can be accomplished
[正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished
注:“扫帚星”是中国人对“慧星”(comet)的俗称,因其后面象拖着的一条像扫帚一样的长尾巴而得名
在中国古代,“扫帚星”被认为是灾难的预兆,并被用来比喻不吉利的人或事;祸根:(person or thing that is thought to bring)bad luck(to sb/sth);curse
英语的 comet 虽然没有这层含义,但却有一个对应的说法,即 jinx
例:There's a jinx on/Someone's put a jinx on this car: it's always giving me trouble
“这辆汽车上有什么妨人的东西,总给我找麻烦”
萝卜青菜,各有所爱
[误] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage
[正] Tastes differ
注:Tastes differ/vary 是句英语谚语,除此以外,原句还可翻译成 No dish suits all tastes 或 You can never make everyone happy 等
《新概念英语》第三册第 23课的标题是:One man's meat is another man's poison,表达的很生动
总之,应采取意译
他一向嘴硬,从不认错
[误] He has always got a hard mouth and never admit