梁遇春《谈“流浪汉”》 -英语翻译教程-中英双语赏析

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谈“流浪汉”

梁遇春

当人生观论战已经闹个满城风雨，大家都谈厌烦了不想再去提起的时候，我一天忽然写一篇短文，叫做《人死观》。这件事实在有些反动嫌疑，而且该挨思想落后的罪名，后来仔细一想，的确很追悔。前几年北平有许多人讨论Gentleman，这字应该要怎么样子翻译才好，现在是几乎谁也不说这件事了，我却又来喋喋，谈那和“君子”Gentleman正相反的“流浪汉”Vagabond，将来恐怕免不了自悔。但是想写文章，哪能够顾到那么多呢？

Gentleman这字虽然难翻，可是还不及Vagabond这字那样古怪，简直找不出适当的中国字眼来。普通的英汉字典都把它翻做“走江湖者”，“流氓”，“无赖之徒”，“游手好闲者”……，但是我觉得都失丢这个字的原意。Vagabond既不象走江湖的卖艺为生，也不是流氓那种一味敲诈。“无赖之徒”、“游手好闲者”都带有贬骂的意思，Vagabond却是种可爱的人儿。在此无可奈何的时候，我只好暂用“流浪汉”三字来翻，自然也不是十分合式的。我以为Gentleman，Vagabond这些字所以这么刁钻古怪，是因为它们被人们活用得太久，原来的意义已消失。于是每个人用这个字时候都添些自己的意思，这字的涵义越大，更加好活用了。因此在中国寻不出一个能够引起那么多的联想的字来。本来Gentleman、Vagabond这二个字和财产都有关系的，一个是拥有财产，丰衣足食的公子，一个是毫无恒产，四处飘零的穷光蛋。因为有钱，自然能够受良好的教育，行动举止也温文尔雅，谈吐也就蕴藉不俗，更不至于跟人铢锱必较，言语冲撞了。Gentleman这字的意义就由世家子弟一变变做斯文君子。所以现在我们不管一个人出身的贵贱，财产的有无，只要他的态度是温和，做人很正直，我们都把他当做Gentleman。一班穷酸的人们被人冤枉时节，也可以答辩道：“我虽然穷，却是个Gentleman。”Vagabond这个字意义的演化也经过了同样的历程。本来只指那班什么财产也没有，天天随便混过去的人们。他们既没有一定的职业，有时或者也干些流氓的勾当。但是他们整天随遇而安，倒也无忧无虑，他们过惯了放松的生活，所以就是手边有些钱，也是胡里胡涂地用光，对人们当然是很慷慨的。他们没有身家之虑，做事也就痛痛快快，并不象富人那种畏首畏尾，瞻前顾后。酒是大杯地喝下去，话是随便地顺口开河，有时也胡诌些有趣味的谎语。他们万事不关怀，天天笑呵呵，规矩的人们背后说他们没有责任心。他们与世无争，既不会桌上排着一斗黄豆，一斗黑豆，打算盘似地整天数自己的好心思和坏心思，也不会皱着眉头，弄出连环巧计来陷害人们。他们的行为是胡涂的，他们的心肠是好的。他们是大个顽皮小孩，可是也带了小孩的天真。他们脑里存了不少奇奇怪怪的幻想，满脸春风，老是笑迷迷的，一些机心也没有。……我们现在把凡是带有这种心情的人们都叫做Vagabond，就是他们是王侯将相的子孙，生平没有离开家乡过也不碍事。他们和中国古代的侠客有些相像，可是他们又不像侠客那样朴刀横腰，给夸大狂迷住，一脸凶气，走遍天下专为打不平。他们对于伦理观念，没有那么死板地痴痴着。我不得已只好翻做“流浪汉”，流浪是指流浪的心情，所我所赞美的流浪汉或者同守深闺的小姐一样，终身未出乡里一步。

谈“流浪汉”

梁遇春

About Vagabonds

—By Liang Yuchun

🎈vagabond n.流浪汉，漂泊者

a person who has no home or job and who travels from place to place

当人生观论战已经闹个满城风雨，大家都谈厌烦了不想再去提起的时候，我一天忽然写一篇短文，叫做《人死观》。这件事实在有些反动嫌疑，而且该挨思想落后的罪名，后来仔细一想，的确很追悔。

When the hectic discussions about the outlook on life fell out of fashion, I wrote on a whim an essay on the Outlook on Death. My thoughts might be labeled as erroneous or even reactionary and after thinking it over I did come to regret my decision.

🎈hectic adj. 忙碌的；繁忙的

very busy; full of activity

to lead a hectic life生活十分忙碌

a hectic schedule安排很满的日程表

🎈心血来潮，一时冲动on a whim

🎈outlook n. ①总的态度，观点②展望，前景

人生观outlook on life

世界观world outlook

精神面貌spiritual / mental outlook

…的前景，对…的展望 the outlook/prospects for…

前几年北平有许多人讨论Gentleman，这字应该要怎么样子翻译才好，现在是几乎谁也不说这件事了，我却又来喋喋，谈那和“君子”Gentleman正相反的“流浪汉”Vagabond，将来恐怕免不了自悔。

Similarly, a few years ago, there were heated discussions over the translation of gentleman in Beiping and almost no one is interested in it today. Yet I tactlessly decided to dwell on the opposite of gentleman — that is, Vagabond. I may regret this choice later.

🎈 tactlessly    adv. (言行)未经考虑的，冒失的，没分寸的

in a way that shows you are not being careful to avoid upsetting someone

🎈老是想着，唠叨（尤指最好应忘记的事）dwell on/upon sth

例句

You made a mistake, but there’s no need to dwell on it.

你是错了，不过不必老是想着这事儿。

但是想写文章，哪能够顾到那么多呢？

However, when I resolved to write this, how could I take all eventualities into account?

🎈下决心… resolve to do sth

丰子恺《给我的孩子们》

我的孩子们！憧憬于你们的生活的我，痴心要为你们永远挽留这黄金时代在这册子里。

My darling children! I so look forward to your future and I resolve to save your golden times in my paintings.

🎈eventuality n.（尤指令人不快的）可能发生的事情，可能出现的结果

例句

We were prepared for every eventuality.

我们已做好准备应付任何可能出现的情况

Gentleman这字虽然难翻，可是还不及Vagabond这字那样古怪，简直找不出适当的中国字眼来。

Gentleman is hard to translate, yet it is not so weird as vagabond. No suitable Chinese equivalent can be found.

🎈辨析

queer: 指一种无法解释的怪诞，强调事物的奇特和不可思议。

odd: 通常指不规律、偶尔出现的人或事物，往往令人困惑或奇怪。

funny: 较通俗用词，指奇怪得滑稽可笑或反常。

crazy: 多指与众不同的行为、外表或人与物本身，含荒唐可笑或神经不正常的意味。

curious: 通常指非常特别或能引起注意、研究或探索的奇特。

peculiar: 侧重令人奇怪的或独一无二的特性，也指性格特征方面显著的与众不同之处。

strange: 普通常用词，含义广泛，指陌生新奇、奇怪、奇怪或不自然的人或物。

eccentric: 指偏离常规的怪异或怪癖。

quaint: 指古色古香，会人感到既奇怪又有趣。

singular: 通常指异常或奇特，暗含不同于一般。

weird:怪诞，荒诞的奇异。

普通的英汉字典都把它翻做“走江湖者”，“流氓”，“无赖之徒”，“游手好闲者”……，但是我觉得都失丢这个字的原意。

In ordinary English-Chinese dictionaries, the word is translated into zou jianghu zhe (one wandering from place to place and earning a living by peddling or fortune-telling, liumang (rogue), wulai zhi tu (a scoundrel), and youshou haoxian zhe (a loafer), yet these translations do not capture the essence of the word’s original meaning.

🎈把……翻译成…… translate…into…

🎈谋生earn a living

算命fortune-telling

🎈rogue n.骗子，恶棍，流氓

a man who is dishonest and immoral

scoundrel n.无赖；恶棍

a man who treats other people badly, especially by being dishonest or immoral

loafer n.虚度光阴者，游手好闲者，浪子，二流子

a person who wastes their time rather than working

Vagabond既不象走江湖的卖艺为生，也不是流氓那种一味敲诈。“无赖之徒”、“游手好闲者”都带有贬骂的意思，Vagabond却是种可爱的人儿。在此无可奈何的时候，我只好暂用“流浪汉”三字来翻，自然也不是十分合式的。

A vagabond does not live as a circus performer nor cheat like a scoundrel. Both the words ‘scoundrel’ and ‘loafer’ are derogatory terms, but the term “vagabond” demands respect. Right now I have no alternative but to translate it into liulanghan, though this is still inaccurate.

🎈 derogatory adj. 贬低的，贬义的

showing a critical attitude towards sb

derogatory remarks/comments贬斥的言辞/评论

🎈 别无选择只能做某事have no alternative but to do sth

例句

许杰《炎夏小记》

本来，就应该到什么地方去消夏；但是，钱没有办法,只能躲在这小楼上。

As a matter of course, I should go away to escape the summer heat, but as I am pressed for money, I have no alternative but to stay at home.

我以为Gentleman，Vagabond这些字所以这么刁钻古怪，是因为它们被人们活用得太久，原来的意义已消失。于是每个人用这个字时候都添些自己的意思，这字的涵义越大，更加好活用了。因此在中国寻不出一个能够引起那么多的联想的字来。

To my way of thinking, words like gentleman and “vagabond” are too elusive because they have been used so creatively for such a long time that they have lost their pure meanings. When using these words, each person brings his own interpretation and experience to the original, and as the meanings multiply, we become more creative in using them.

🎈我认为，依我看，依我之见 to my way of thinking

🎈 elusive adj.难以描述的difficult to find, describe

吴组湘《谈癖》

何谓癖？严格的定义倒似乎不容易下。

What does idiosyncrasy mean? A precise definition seems elusive.

🎈interpretation n. 理解，解释，说明

the particular way in which sth is understood or explained

例句

It is not possible for everyone to put their own interpretation on the law.

不可能让每个人自行阐释法律。

🎈 multiply也可替换为diversify

本来Gentleman、Vagabond这二个字和财产都有关系的，一个是拥有财产，丰衣足食的公子，一个是毫无恒产，四处飘零的穷光蛋。

In the beginning, the words “gentleman” and “vagabond” were associated with assets—the former is a dandy who enjoys a huge fortune and lives an affluent life while the latter is a poor wretch who has no real estate and drifts along aimlessly.

🎈associate有「联想」之意，即associate是在脑海中主动将物体之间建立connection，体现主观性（区分connect）

🎈dandy n. 时髦男子，注重打扮的男人

A dandy is a man who thinks a great deal about his appearance and always dresses in smart clothes.

🎈affluent adj. 富有的，富裕的

affluence n. [U] (fml.) 富有，富裕

富裕的家庭affluent families

富裕的西方国家affluent Western countries

近义词 rich/wealthy/affluent/prosperous/well-off/well-to-do/privileged]

因为有钱，自然能够受良好的教育，行动举止也温文尔雅，谈吐也就蕴藉不俗，更不至于跟人铢锱必较，言语冲撞了。Gentleman这字的意义就由世家子弟一变变做斯文君子。

Since the gentleman is wealthy, he is naturally well educated, gentle and refined; he does not haggle over pennies or use strong language. With the passage of time, the word “gentleman”，which previously referred to a descendant of an influential family, has now come to denote any refined person.

🎈受过良好教育的 well-educated

未受过（良好）教育的 ill-educated

🎈refined adj. 有礼貌的，优雅的，有教养的

(of a person 人) polite, well educated and able to judge the quality of things; having the sort of manners that are considered typical of a high social class

refine v. 提炼；改良

refinement n. 精炼，文雅

🎈锱铢必较haggle over every penny

讲价haggle over prices with sb或bargain with sb

🎈随着时间流逝With the passage of time/ As time goes on

所以现在我们不管一个人出身的贵贱，财产的有无，只要他的态度是温和，做人很正直，我们都把他当做Gentleman。一班穷酸的人们被人冤枉时节，也可以答辩道：“我虽然穷，却是个Gentleman。”

Today, regardless of his social status or wealth, as long as he is good-mannered and upright, the person is called Gentleman. Even when destitute pedants feel unfairly treated, they may say, “I am not rich, but I am a gentleman.”

🎈社会地位（高/低） (high/low) social status

🎈贫穷的

impoverished/destitute/poor/deprived/ disadvantaged/underprivileged

贫民学院the institute for the destitute

欠发达国家/地区underdeveloped countries / regions

Vagabond这个字意义的演化也经过了同样的历程。本来只指那班什么财产也没有，天天随便混过去的人们。他们既没有一定的职业，有时或者也干些流氓的勾当。

The meaning of “vagabond” has also gone through similar changes. At the start, the word referred to a person who possessed no wealth and muddled through life, or to a person who did not have a regular job and occasionally played some mean tricks.

🎈一开始，最初 at the start/in the beginning

🎈胡乱应付过去;勉强蒙混过关 muddle through

例句

庐隐《中学时代生活的回忆》

一年复一年的我们这样生活着，混过四年毕业书骗到手，我的中学生活也就告了结束。

That was how I managed to muddle through year after year until I got the diploma at the end of four years, thus concluding my high school life.

🎈做缺德事，干不好的勾当 play a mean trick

但是他们整天随遇而安，倒也无忧无虑，他们过惯了放松的生活，所以就是手边有些钱，也是胡里胡涂地用光，对人们当然是很慷慨的。他们没有身家之虑，做事也就痛痛快快，并不象富人那种畏首畏尾，瞻前顾后。

Now, by “vagabond” we mean a person who takes the world as it is and has few worries. Since he is inured to the carefree life, he carelessly squanders all the money he has. Naturally he can be generous to his friends, because he has no family to provide for. Unlike overcautious wealthy people, he acts boldly and resolutely.

🎈by prep.说某词语或某一番话

……指的是什么？What do you mean by…?

🎈随遇而安takes the world as it is

🎈对令人不快的事物司空见惯的;习惯于…的 be inured to sth

使习惯于，使适应于（不愉快的事物）inure sb/yourself to sth

例句

Doctors become inured to death.

医生们已经能坦然面对死亡。

🎈挥霍，浪费

1）squander

例句

He had squandered his chances to win.

他白白浪费了获胜的机会。

2）fritter away

例句

I seem to fritter my time away at coffee mornings.

我似乎把时间全都浪费在咖啡早茶会上了。

🎈赡养，供养 provide for

注意区分 provide sth for sb、provide sb with sth

许杰《炎夏小记》

当然，我们买了叫哥哥，是要供给它生活费的。

Of course, we have to provide for these singing grasshoppers.

酒是大杯地喝下去，话是随便地顺口开河，有时也胡诌些有趣味的谎语。他们万事不关怀，天天笑呵呵，规矩的人们背后说他们没有责任心。

Often he drinks his fill, shoots his mouth off, and even makes up interesting stories. Since he cares about nothing in the world and is full of mirth all day long, the scrupulous people may say behind his back that he has no sense of responsibility.

🎈喝个饱drink one’s fill

信口开河 shoot one’s mouth off

🎈mirth n. [U] 欢笑，欢乐

happiness, fun and the sound of people laughing

例句

The performance produced much mirth among the audience.

这场演出使观众笑声不断。

🎈整天，全天，成天all day long

例句

It irks me to stay at home all day long.

一天到晚呆在家里使我感到厌烦。

🎈背着某人 behind one’s back

吴组湘《谈癖》

但背后她必想方设法，甚至冒甚大危险，偷食此拒而不要的东西。

Then, behind their backs, she would try every means possible to secretly eat what she had earlier refused.

🎈责任感the sense of responsibility

独立感the sense of independence

自由感the sense of freedom

方向感the sense of direction

幽默感the sense of humor

正义感the sense of justice

自豪感the sense of pride

荣誉感the sense of honor

成就感the sense of accomplishment

优越感the sense of superiority

自卑感 the sense of inferiority

他们与世无争，既不会桌上排着一斗黄豆，一斗黑豆，打算盘似地整天数自己的好心思和坏心思，也不会皱着眉头，弄出连环巧计来陷害人们。

He bears no ill will against anybody, so he does not count his good or bad moods by ticking them off on an abacus, nor does he knit his brows scheming to frame others.

🎈对某人没有恶意 bear no ill will against sb

🎈拨动算盘（珠）tick off abacus (beads)

例句

吴伯箫《夜谈》

买卖家正拨动着算盘珠响，口角飞沫，毫厘忽的计较者，在彼此勾心斗角的耍着聪明。

Business people tick off their abacus beads while haggling over every penny in a dance of saliva spray, trying to outsmart each other.

🎈皱眉头 knit one’s forehead/eyebrows/brows

🎈scheme v. 密谋，秘密策划，图谋

算计某人 scheme against sb [诬陷某人frame sb]

谋划（做）某事scheme (to do) sth

他们的行为是胡涂的，他们的心肠是好的。他们是大个顽皮小孩，可是也带了小孩的天真。他们脑里存了不少奇奇怪怪的幻想，满脸春风，老是笑迷迷的，一些机心也没有。……

He is scatterbrained in action, but kind in heart. Like a mischievous, innocent child, he has plenty of weird fantasies; he is all smiles, and harbors no trick.

🎈harbor v. 怀有，心怀（尤指反面感情或想法）

to keep feelings or thoughts, especially negative ones, in your mind for a long time

（对……）怀恨在心harbor a grudge (against sb)

我们现在把凡是带有这种心情的人们都叫做Vagabond，就是他们是王侯将相的子孙，生平没有离开家乡过也不碍事。他们和中国古代的侠客有些相像，可是他们又不像侠客那样朴刀横腰，给夸大狂迷住，一脸凶气，走遍天下专为打不平。

Today, we refer to whoever has this kind of mindset as vagabond, regardless of whether he was born of royal blood. He is somewhat like a Chinese swordsman, yet he doesn’t carry a sword, nor assume an air of a killer, nor search the land to fight for justice.

🎈情绪，心境，心态

1）mindset

2）frame of mind

3）state of mind

🎈有皇室血统，出身名门 be born royal blood

blue-blooded adj. 有贵族血统的；出身名门的

from a royal or noble family

名门贵族blue-blooded aristocrats

🎈装出……的样子 assume an air of…

其中，assume指“装出（某种样子）”，air指“神态，腔调，样子“。

例句

丰子恺《车厢社会》

……他会指着远处打官话拒绝他……

……he would assume the air of a bureaucrat, rejecting the newcomer…

他们对于伦理观念，没有那么死板地痴痴着。

For one more thing, he does not hold firm to any rigid moral principles.

🎈坚守（原则等）

1）hold firm to sth

2）stick to

我不得已只好翻做“流浪汉”，流浪是指流浪的心情，所我所赞美的流浪汉或者同守深闺的小姐一样，终身未出乡里一步。

As a result, I cannot but translate “vagabond” into liulanghan in which liulang refers to the vagrant state of mind. So, some of the vagabonds I am about to extol are those who, like damsels living in the seclusion of their boudoirs, have never ventured out to see the world.

🎈damsel n.少女，姑娘 a young woman who is not married

boudoir n.女人的卧室，闺房a woman’s bedroom or private sitting room

🎈seclusion n.[U]清静，隐居，与世隔绝

the state of being private or of having little contact with other people

岛上的幽僻宁静the seclusion and peace of the island

🎈重点表达

心血来潮，一时冲动on a whim

人生观outlook on life

老是想着，唠叨（尤指最好应忘记的事）dwell on/upon sth

下决心… resolve to do sth

把……翻译成…… translate…into…

谋生earn a living

算命fortune-telling

别无选择只能做某事have no alternative but to do sth

我认为；依我看；依我之见to my way of thinking

受过良好教育的 well-educated

锱铢必较haggle over every penny

讲价haggle over prices with sb或bargain with sb

随着时间流逝With the passage of time/ As time goes on

社会地位social status

一开始，最初 at the start/in the beginning

胡乱应付过去;勉强蒙混过关 muddle through

做缺德事，干不好的勾当 play a mean trick

随遇而安takes the world as it is

对令人不快的事物司空见惯的;习惯于…的 be inured to sth

赡养；供养 provide for

喝个饱drink one’s fill

信口开河 shoot one’s mouth off

整天，全天，成天all day long

背着某人 behind one’s back

责任感the sense of responsibility

对某人没有恶意 bear no ill will against sb

拨动算盘（珠）tick off abacus (beads)

皱眉头 knit one’s forehead/eyebrows/brows

诬陷某人frame sb

（对……）怀恨在心harbor a grudge (against sb)

装出……的样子 assume an air of…

未经允许不得转载：帕布莉卡 » 梁遇春《谈“流浪汉”》 -英语翻译教程-中英双语赏析