邵洵美《我的书斋生活》 -英语技巧与实例-英汉互译实用教程

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我的书斋生活(节录)

My Private Library
邵洵美
Shao Xunmei
 
🔥背景知识:邵洵美(1906-1968),浙江余姚人,20世纪30年代上海文化界名人,为人热情豪爽,是中国现代文学史上卓有影响的诗人、作家、评论家、翻译家、出版家。1968年,他在“文化大革命”中不幸去世,后虽彻底平反,其名字和作品当今仍知者寥寥。所著《我的书斋生活》一文原载1935年6月20日《时代图书半月刊》第8卷第1期。
 
🎈题目「我的书斋生活」可译为My Study或My Private Library,后者除「我的书斋」外,也可指「我的藏书」
 
你们简直可以说,洵美是生活在书斋里的:会客室里是书,卧房里是书,楼梯边上也是书,连三层楼上的洗澡间里也是书。
You may as well call me a bookworm. I have books everywhere in my home – in the drawing room and the bedroom, on either side of the staircase, and even in the bathroom on the third floor.
🎈「你们简直可以说,洵美是生活在书斋里的」整句话理解为「你们不妨说,洵美是个书虫」,译为You may as well call me a bookworm。
🎈bookworm指「在书斋埋头学习的人」在此意为「生活在书斋的人」
工作狂 workaholic
🎈「简直可以说」即「不妨说」译为may as well(做…倒也无妨)
🎈bedroom卧室
bathroom浴室、洗澡间
the waiting room of XX station指候车厅
the changing room更衣室
the fitting room试衣间
the dining room餐厅
the guest room客厅
 

所以一定要我指出哪一间是书斋,那可不容易。
So it’s next to impossible for me to point out exactly where my study is.
🎈it’s next to impossible译为「…简直是不可能的」,其中next to意为「几乎,近乎」,此部分也可译为nearly impossible。
🎈「书斋」即「书房」,译作study。
 

也许在我卧房隔壁的一间最像,中间有只书桌,可是书桌上又堆满了书,没有地方摆稿纸,也没有地方摆砚台,
Maybe it’s the room next to my bedroom. In the middle of it stands nothing but a desk piled high with lots of books so that there is practically no room for me to place my writing paper and the inkstone.
🎈next to my bedroom作room的后置定语。
🎈「中间有只书桌」译作In the middle of it stands nothing but a desk…。译文为倒装结构:地点状语置于句首,且主语为名词时,句子完全倒装,将整个谓语动词或整个谓语部分放在主语前面。又,「有只书桌」按「只有书桌」之意译作了…stands nothing but a desk,其中nothing but意为「仅仅、只有」,意同only或merely,增强了表达效果,更符合「书虫」的人物设定。
🎈a desk piled high with lots of books:piled high with lots of books作desk的后置定语。其中,be piled high with…表示…堆的老高。
🎈稿纸/信纸writing paper
砚台the inkstone
 

我又不会用钢笔写文章。
The inkstone is indispensable to me because I always use a writing brush instead of a pen in doing my writing. 
🎈「我又不会用钢笔写文章」按「砚台是我必须的,因为我写文章只用毛笔,不会用钢笔」理解,意译为The inkstone is indispensable to me because I always use a writing brush instead of a pen in doing my writing.
🎈毛笔a writing brush
钢笔 a pen
 

用钢笔写,我总嫌太滑,太快;它几乎不容你思想。
I find the pen too slippery and moving a bit too fast, thus leaving little time for me to do more thinking.
🎈thus是增译成分,点明逻辑关系,将分号前后的句子紧密衔接起来。
🎈find+宾语+宾语补足语的结构中,宾补可以是
①形容词
I found the text difficult to understand.
课文很难理解
②名词或代词
I find it a boring film.
是部无聊的片子
③副词
Mary hurried there, only to find them/all out.
发现他们都出去了
④介词短语
When he woke up, he found him in hospital.
在医院里
⑤不定式
They find the Chinese people to be happy and cheerful.
发现中国人很幸福快乐
⑥现在分词
We found him waiting to receive us.
发现他正等着迎接我们
⑦过去分词
The old man found his hometown much changed.
发现故乡变化很大
 

我喜欢毛笔,它总伴着你,有时也许比你快一步,可是你总追得到。
I prefer the writing brush because I can always keep pace with it. Though it sometimes may also move along a bit too fast, yet I can always catch up.
🎈「它总伴着你」意即「它总和你思维的步调一致」译为I can always keep pace with it.
🎈赶上,追上,跟上catch up
例句
I stopped and waited for her to catch up.
我停住脚步,等她追上来。
🎈移动一下,向前移动move along
例句
Let’s move along a bit.
让我们稍稍挪一下地方。
 

这个小房间里还有两只安乐椅;一个书架,里面是我最心爱的书籍,不肯借人的。
There are only two armchairs in the room plus a bookcase holding my most favorite books, which are not to be borrowed by anybody.
🎈安乐椅:外形类似于扶手椅,是带有扶手的一种座椅。其与扶手椅的不同一般体现在组成其靠背与座垫的材质较柔软,同时其落座感和依靠感较优。此处简约概括处理为armchairs。
🎈plus此处意为「外加」等于and
🎈向某人借……borrow sth from sb
借……给某人lent sth to sb

 
墙上只有一张水仙画,浅淡的笔姿给你一种清高的空气;
Hanging on the wall is a painting of narcissi done with light touches of ink imparting an air of moral superiority.
🎈Hanging on the wall is a painting…是倒装结构:英语中,有些倒装是出于语法上的需要,非用倒装语序不可,具有强制性;有些则是为了达到某种修辞效果,如强调、平衡、衔接等。
🎈narcissi是narcissus(水仙花)的复数形式。
🎈「浅淡的笔姿」即「淡淡的墨迹」,译为light touches of ink
🎈「清高」即「清白高洁」主要是道德上的操行清高,因此译为moral superiority。
 

偶然在看书的时候想到自己不久要穷得不成个样子,它就会显示给你一个最伟大的希望——
Occasionally, while I am reading, I suddenly realize I’ll soon face penury. Then the painting will cheer me up with bright hopes.
🎈penury是不可数名词,表示「赤贫(非常贫困)」
方志敏《清贫》
我今天确实是(一个铜板也没有/身无分文)。
I’m really penniless.
例句
Not a penny to my name. 
我的名下没有一分钱,即我身无分文。
🎈「它就会显示给你一个最伟大的希望」意即「它会让你看到光明的未来并使你振作」,译为Then the painting will cheer me up with bright hopes

 
所以有几个晚上,我简直就呆对着这张画。
On several nights, I just sat in this room staring at it blankly.
🎈「我简直就呆对着这张画」即「我就只是直直地盯着这幅画」译为I just sat in this room staring at it blankly. 现在分词短语staring at it blankly作伴随状语。
 

这个小房间,长不满十五尺,宽不满十尺,关于现代诗的书籍,我都放在里面:
The little room is about 5 meters in length and 3 meters in width. I keep all books on modern poetry there.
🎈「不满」可按「大约,左右」来理解,译为about
🎈「长不满十五尺,宽不满十尺」译为The little room is about 5 meters in length and 3 meters in width。三尺等于一米,因此15尺=5米,10尺=3米,单位换算也是翻译的一个必备技能。此外,这个表示「长…宽…」的固定句式也是需要记住的。
 

书架里放不下,便放在桌子上;桌子上放不下,便堆在椅子里;椅子里放不下,便叠在地上。
Then the bookcase is full, I put them on the desk. Then the desk is full, I pile them up on the chairs. When the chairs are full, I pile them up on the floor.
🎈「书架里放不下,便放在桌子上;桌子上放不下,便堆在椅子里;椅子里放不下,便叠在地上」原文句式相同,两两对仗,译者亦采用结构相同的英文来译,最大限度地体现了原文的风格。又,这三句原文是有逻辑关系在里面的,故译文选用then、when等词对逻辑也进行了相应处理。
 

理由是我从不整理我的书籍,买到了新书就随便放,看过了又随便丢;
I never sort them out. I lay aside casually new acquisitions as well as books I’ve just finished reading. 
🎈把…分类,整理sort out
例句
Sort out all your bills, receipts, invoices and expenses as quickly as possible and keep detailed accounts.
尽快整理好你所有的账单、收据、发票和开支,并记好账目明细。
🎈「买到了新书就随便放,看过了又随便丢」译为I lay aside casually new acquisitions as well as books I’ve just finished reading。其中把「随便放」和「随便丢」都译为lay aside casually.此外,将「新书」译为new acquisitions(新获得的事物),此用法在《虎》中也有体现,译者将「后来父亲房内多了一张虎皮椅垫」译为From then on, my father had a new acquisition in his room—namely, the tiger-skin chair cushion,中a new acquisition较something new确切,前者能更加确切地表达「新增添的东西」

 
假使为了写一篇文章,需要参考时,每每费半个一个钟头去寻觅。
Consequently, it often takes me couple of hours to hunt down a book for reference when I am writing.
🎈Consequently是增译成分,点明逻辑,衔接上下文。
🎈hunt down a book for reference即「找某本书作为参考」,译者将原句「需要参考时,每每费半个一个钟头去寻觅(书)」合译为一句。其中,hunt down/out意为「搜寻,寻找(某物)」
 

通常一个人有了这许多放书的房间,他便总会为他们取许多雅致的名字: 什么室,什么斋,什么楼之类。一半当然为了借这个机会可以写些大字,叫做匾的人刻好了挂起来;一半也是为自己或是家人找书的时候容易辨别。
Generally speaking, with so many rooms for storing books, one will assign to each an elegant name, to be inscribed on a horizontal board hung above the door, partly for show and partly for convenience.
🎈为…取(…)名字即assign to …an(…)name。
🎈「一半当然为了借这个机会可以写些大字,叫做匾的人刻好了挂起来;一半也是为自己或是家人找书的时候容易辨别」即「一半为了装饰,一般为了方便」,意译为partly for show and partly for convenience。
 

我却懒得花这种心思,所以像上面所说的那个房间,我们便叫作“楼上书房”。楼下的叫作“楼下 书房”;三层楼的叫作“三层楼书房”。
I, nevertheless, have never been in a mood for doing the same. I just call the above-mentioned room “Upstairs Study”, the room downstairs “Downstairs Study” and the bathroom on the third floor “Third-floor Study”.
🎈「我却懒得花这种心思」意为「我却无心这样做」,意译为I, nevertheless, have never been in a mood for doing the same. 其中doing the same代指上文提到的「取雅致的名字」
🎈upstairs和downstairs可作形容词,也可作副词。
 

我平时读书写文章,都在夜间,所以坐在“楼上书房”的机会多,因为它最近我的卧室, 
Since I usually read and write at night, you’ll often find me sitting in the “Upstairs Study” because it is close to my bedroom. 
🎈「所以坐在‘楼上书房’的机会多」译为you’ll often find me sitting in the “Upstairs Study”,这种译法我们很难想到,采用第二人称可以拉近与读者之间的距离,更加凸显原作风格。
 

倦了,跨几步便到床上。
When I feel drowsy, I can easily reach my bed only a few steps away.
🎈「跨几步便到床上」按「到距我只有几步之遥的床上」之意译作can easily reach my bed only a few steps away。
 

但是当我准备要全夜写文章的时候,便只能待在“楼下书房”了。那时候两个大房间里只有我一个人,咳嗽,刮洋火,便不会闹醒人家;
But you’ll find me in the spacious “Downstairs Study” instead when I’m to spend the whole night writing. There I can cough or strike a match without disturbing my folks in their sleep.
🎈instead和instead of都有「代替,而不是」之意,但用法不同:
instead作副词,意为「代替、反而、却」,修饰整个句子,位于句首或句末。
例句
Why not play football instead?
instead of是介词短语,意为「代替,而不是」,后面跟名词、代词、介词短语或动词ing形式。
例句
He is going to England instead of France.
🎈「洋火」即「火柴」,「刮洋火」即「打火柴」,因此译为strike a match。
 

天亮了,自己燉杯牛奶,或是走到对面弄堂里买些油豆腐,谁都不会觉得讨厌。
At daybreak, I will heat up milk for myself or walk to an alley on the opposite side of the street to buy some fried bean curd for breakfast – all done without making a nuisance of myself.
🎈「谁都不会觉得讨厌」即「也不会碍别人的事」或「也不会使自己成为碍事的人」,译为all done without making a nuisance of myself.其中make A of B意为「使B成为A」。又,all指代破折号之前的「热牛奶」「去弄堂买豆腐」等事情,done without making a nuisance of myself.是后置定语。
 

白天总是不在家的时候多,一回家便得寻了书读;
I’m seldom at home in the daytime. But, I’ll start reading soon after I come back.
🎈白天in the daytime
 

书拿到手,电话又来了。
Then I’ll be suddenly interrupted by phone calls from editor-friends asking for my contributions.
🎈from editor-friends asking for my contributions是结合背景或者上下文的增译成分,使表意更准确丰富,帮助读者更好地理解文章。
 

朋友又喜欢要我写文章,因为我最明白编辑的痛苦,要二三千字我总肯为他赶写。
They know that I, out of compassion for editors, will never decline to dash off an article of two to three thousand words.
🎈「因为我最明白编辑的痛苦,要二三千字我总肯为他赶写」即「出于对编辑的同情,我…」译为They know that I, out of compassion for editors, will never decline to dash off an article of two to three thousand words.其中decline to do表示拒绝做某事,never decline to 双重否定表肯定。又,dash off 意为「匆匆把…写好,匆匆完成」
🎈out of在不同语境中可以有不同的译法。此处,out of意为「出于」「由于」,后面的名词由具体事物转为某种心态或条件。
out of fear出于害怕 
out of habit按照习惯 
out of pity出于怜悯心
out of curiosity出于好奇
 

我是无论如何脱离不了我的书斋的了。
At any rate, I’m inseparable from my library.
🎈「无论如何」有多种译法,如:in any case; anyhow; as it may; at all events; at any rate; by all possible means; by hook or by crook; however it may be; on all accounts; on every account; under all circumstances; under [in] any circumstances; whatever happens,等,可根据语境选择不同的表达。
 

但是除非在我读书或是写文章到了出神的时候,我总会感觉到这几间书斋没有一间是舒服的。
But none of my three studies makes me feel comfortable except when I’m completely absorbed in reading or writing.
🎈「读书或是写文章到了出神的时候」译为I’m completely absorbed in reading or writing.
 

我理想的书斋是一个极大的房间,里面要能容下二十个书架,冬天有热水汀;夏天有冷气。
My ideal study should be roomy enough for holding twenty bookcases and have air-conditioning.
🎈「冬天有热水汀(指增高室内温度的暖气装置),夏天有冷气」 即调温设备或空气调节设备,概括地译作have air-conditioning。
 

我希望有一只最大的书桌,上面可以尽我把书籍纸张乱堆,中间还可以留一些地方安置笔砚稿纸之类。
And there should be a large desk there with enough space for books and writing paper to be jumbled up in piles on either side and for writing brush, inkstone, writing paper and so on to be placed in the middle.
🎈there should be a large desk there:第一个there与should be构成there be句型,第二个there是地点副词,表示「(在)这里」
🎈jumbled up in piles表示「杂乱地堆在一起」
 

这个当然是我的奢望:我既没有财力去得到那样大的书斋,我也没有才力去写出什么大文章来,
This is of course nothing but my wishful thinking. I have neither money to own such a roomy study, nor talent for creating masterpieces. 
🎈wishful thinking如意算盘,痴心妄想(当然,此处译文并不具贬义色彩)
例句
His claims to be a millionaire are just wishful thinking.
他声称要成为百万富翁的想法不过是一厢情愿。
 

不过希望也是一种安慰,同时还是一种鼓励。
Nevertheless, the extravagant hope brings me consolation all the same. It’s sort of encouragement too.
🎈此处「奢望(希望)」换取了另一种表达the extravagant hope。
🎈即使这样,仍然 all the same。 
例句
All the same, more could be done.
即使这样,也并非无可作为。

 
但是,无论如何,我白天是写不出文章的。
But, anyway I can’t work efficiently in the daytime. 
🎈anyway是副词,表示「无论如何、不管怎么说」
🎈「我白天是写不出文章的」这里又是一个「写不出文章」,此处宜理解为「不能有效工作」译为I can’t work efficiently in the daytime.
 

“楼上书房”的光线太大,多待了会头痛,用了太厚的窗帏又会闷气。
The “Upstairs Study” is too much lit up by the sun, so that I get a headache after staying there a bit too long. And a thick window curtain would only make the room stuffy. 
🎈「光线太大」即「光照过于充足」译为 too much lit up by the sun。too much表示程度。
 

“楼下书房”事实上又是会客间,我的客人又多,文章写到一半,来了几个朋友,反而大家不舒服。
The “Downstairs Study” is in fact a drawing room-cum-study. I have frequent visitors. When they call, I have to break off writing to the discomfort of both parties.
🎈「‘楼下书房’事实上又是会客间」即「楼下书房既是会客间又是书房」译为The “Downstairs Study” is in fact a drawing room-cum-study.其中cum是介词,一般用以构成复合词,作「兼作」解。
🎈「我的客人又多」译为I have frequent visitors,络绎不绝的客人。
🎈「反而大家不舒服」译为to the discomfort of both parties。其中to 表示「导致,致使」,表示引起某种后果,在《养成好习惯》中也有类似表达:大声讲话,扰及他人的宁静,是一种不好的习惯译为It is a bad habit to talk loudly to the disturbance of others.
 

我写文章还有一个坏习惯,和吃饭一样不能停,一停了就吃不下;
I’m in the bad habit of finishing my article at one go like when I eat a meal. Once interrupted, I just can’t resume eating.
🎈at one go意为「一口气,一举,一下」
例句
Modernization of a vast country like China cannot be done at one go.
在中国这样一个幅员广大的国家里,要实现四个现代化,不可能一蹴而就.
 

有一次写一篇关于现代诗的文章,中间来了一个朋友,到现在还没有把它续完。
Once, while writing an article on modern poetry, I was interrupted by a friend visiting. As a result, the article remains unfinished even today.
🎈while writing an article on modern poetry :while引导时间状语从句,因为主从句主语一致,且从句谓语中有be动词,故从句省略主语和be动词。
 

所以假使有什么副刊编辑要我写那种分期登载的长篇小说,他一定会受累。
Therefore, a newspaper editor would inevitably end up in trouble if he should entrust me with the job of writing a serialized novel for his supplement.
🎈entrust表示「委托、交付」
常用搭配
entrust B with A
entrust A (to) B
例句
He entrusted his nephew with the task.
He entrusted the task to his nephew.
他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
🎈「分期登载的长篇小说」可以为a serial novel,或 a novel to appear in instalments, a novel to be published in serial form。
🎈「他一定会受累」这里的「受累」并不是指「劳累」而是「陷入麻烦」,因此译为end up in trouble。
 

但是夜里写文章,一忽便会天亮;一天不睡,三天都不能使精神恢复,我于是时常头痛。
But, when I write at night, the day seems to break sooner than I think. And one sleepless night will make me feel tired for three days on end and often suffer from a headache.
🎈「但是夜里写文章,一忽便会天亮」意为「在夜里写作,总会觉得天亮得特别早」或「总觉得不一会儿天就亮了」译为But, when I write at night, the day seems to break sooner than I think。
🎈on end表示「连续地、不断地」
例句
He would disappear for weeks on end.
他常常是连续几周不见人影。
 

去找医生,他们总是皱紧了眉头叹口气。
When I go to see a doctor, he will just sigh with a frown. 
🎈原文「皱紧了眉头叹口气」是两个动作皱眉+叹气,而译文运用词性转化的技巧,将「叹气」用一个with结构处理为了with a frown,值得借鉴。
 

“三层楼书房”现在已放了一个床,我的表弟睡在里面,所以我除了寻书便不常去了。
As to the “Third-floor Study”, a bed has now been placed there for my younger male cousin. So I seldom go there unless when I need a book.
🎈至于,关于 as to/for
例句
As to tax, that will be deducted from your salary.
至于税款,将从你薪水中扣除。
 

事实上,我已不应当对我的书斋发什么牢骚,虽然不大,可是究竟容得下我。况且他们也不算对不起我,
In fact, I shouldn’t have complaints about my studies. Small as they are, they are tolerable. 
🎈「发牢骚」即「抱怨」,译为have complaints about…
🎈Small as they are:as引导让步状语从句时,句子要倒装,通常是把从句中的表语、状语或谓语动词放在句首。
例句
Much as I like English, I’m going to choose civil engineering as my major.
虽然我很喜欢英语,但我还是打算选土木工
🎈「虽然不大,可是究竟容得下我。况且他们也不算对不起我…」中, 「容得下我」即「能容忍我」,「不算对不起我」即「能满足我的基本需求」,意思有所重叠,译文中采用意译法处理,把后两句合二为一,只取一个意思,译为Small as they are, they are tolerable.此句也可译为Though small ,they serve my purpose fairly well.
 

自从去年秋天搬到此地,真名假名的文章,将近十五万字了。
Since I moved to the present lodgings in the autumn of last year, I’ve produced writings, under my real name or a pseudonym, totaling about 150,000 words.
🎈pseudonym:前缀pseudo- 用于构成形容词和名词表示「假」「伪」「冒牌」,如pseudonym(假名、笔名);pseudoscience(伪科学)。
 
🔥必背词汇
bookworm      cn.书虫,书迷,书呆子
英义
If you describe someone as a bookworm, you mean they are very fond of reading.
例句
For bookworms, however, every day may seem like World Book Day.
不过对于书虫们来说,天天都是“世界读书日”。
 
armchair        cn.扶手椅
英义
An armchair is a big comfortable chair which has a support on each side for your arms.
例句
She was sitting in an armchair with blankets wrapped round her.
她坐在扶手椅中,身上裹着毯子。
 
impart      v.传授,告知
英义
If you impart information to people, you tell it to them.
例句
I am about to impart knowledge to you that you will never forget.
我会向你传授让你终生牢记的知识。
 
🔥重点表达
简直可以说  may as well
那可不容易  it’s next to impossible
稿纸  writing paper
砚台  inkstone
毛笔  writing brush
浅淡的笔姿   light touches of ink
清高moral superiority
不满about
随便放lay aside casually
新书new acquisitions
为…取…名字   assign to …an…name
懒得花这种心思   have never been in a mood for…
楼上书Upstairs Study
刮洋火 strike a match
谁都不会觉得讨厌all done without making a nuisance of myself
无论如何At any rate
出神completely absorbed in
光线太大 too much lit up by the sun
反而大家不舒服 to the discomfort of both parties
不能停  at one go
受累  end up in trouble 
分期登载的长篇小说 a serialized novel
一忽便会天亮  the day seems to break sooner than I think
牢骚  complaints 
此地  present lodgings
假名  pseudonym
 
🔥复盘测试
简直可以说    
那可不容易     
稿纸   
砚台  
毛笔   
浅淡的笔姿      
清高          
不满
随便放  
新书
为…取…名字   
懒得花这种心思      
楼上书房            
刮洋火               
谁都不会觉得讨厌       
无论如何    
出神        
光线太大             
反而大家不舒服      
不能停           
受累                    
分期登载的长篇小说    
一忽便会天亮                
牢骚   
此地   
假名  
 
🔥表达对比
「无论如何」有几种表达?
我是(无论如何)脱离不了我的书斋的了。 
At any rate, I’m inseparable from my library.
(反正)最终没有进行抽签。 
But in any case, no lots were drawn.
不用说你也知道,能用来把羊群从这个地方赶到那个地方,(不管怎么赶)。
Well, you know, you move sheep from point A to point B with it, by hook or by crook.
他(无论如何)都要去那儿。
He must go there on all accounts.

未经允许不得转载:帕布莉卡 » 邵洵美《我的书斋生活》 -英语技巧与实例-英汉互译实用教程

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