The Ancient City萧乾Xiao Qian初冬的天，灰黯而且低垂，简直把人压得吁不出一口气。It was early winter. The gloomy and low sky made one feel suffocating.Q：「简直把人压得吁不出一口气」该怎么翻译？🎈「简直把人压得吁不出一口气」在这里的意思为「让人感到窒息」，因此可以直接使用英文中相对应的单词suffocating来表达。🎈译文将原文中的「初冬」单独译成一句It was early winter，在开篇就给出全文的时间北京，使读者有一种身临其境的代入感。前天一场雪还给居民一些明朗，但雪后的景象可不堪了！A fall of snow a couple of days before had brought to the city dwellers a touch of brightness, but now what an ugly scene reigned!Q：「雪后的景象可不堪了」该怎么翻译？🎈「雪后的景象可不堪了」在这里的意思是「雪后的场景让人觉得不堪入目」，因原文作者使用了感叹的语气，在翻译时也应使用感叹句来表示，即what an ugly scene reigned，其中reigned意为「居于统领地位」，相比于was，这一表达更为传神。🎈原文中的「一些明朗」可以理解为「些许明朗」，因此翻译时在brightness前加上量词结构a touch of，意为「少量，一点」。峭寒的北风将屋檐瓦角的雪屑一起卷到空中，舞过一个圈子以后都极善选择地向路人脖项里钻。The raw wind sent the snow on the tiles along the eaves whirling in the air in tiny bits and adroitly making its way down the necks of the pedestrians by way of their collars.Q：「都极善选择地向路人脖项里钻」该怎么翻译？🎈「都极善选择地向路人脖项里钻」在这里的意思为「灵巧地向路人脖子里钻」，因此可以翻译为adroitly making its way down the necks of the pedestrians by way of their collars，其中by way of their collars意为「通过他们的衣领」，是根据对原文内容的理解添加出来的。街道为恶作剧的阳光弄成泥淖，残雪上面画着片片践踏的痕迹。The streets had become slushy by exposure to the prankish sun, and the thawing snow was dotted with traces of footsteps.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈原文是作者对于雪景的形象化描述，其中「街道为恶作剧的阳光弄成泥淖」的意思是街道在阳光的照射下变得泥泞不堪，因此可以翻译为The streets had become slushy by exposure to the prankish sun，这里的by exposure to是对原文语意的具体化。🎈「残雪上面画着片片践踏的痕迹」形象描绘了街道地面的残雪上布满脚印的场景，因此可以翻译成the thawing snow was dotted with traces of footsteps。飞机由一个熟悉的方向飞来了，洪大的震响惊动了当地的居民。他们脸上各画着一些恐怖的回忆。A plane appeared out of the blue from a direction only too familiar to the local inhabitants, roaring to the alarm of everybody, on whose face was written memories of some previous horrors.Q：「飞机由一个熟悉的方向飞来了」该怎么翻译？🎈根据对上下文的理解，「熟悉的方向」是指当地居民所熟悉的方向（即东北），因此可以翻译为from a direction only too familiar to the local inhabitants。同时，根据后文的内容可知，飞机是突然出现的，因此在翻译时增译了out of the blue。🎈译文最后的定语从句on whose face was written memories of some previous horrors还原之后为memories of some previous horrors was written on their face。爬在车辙中玩着泥球的孩子们也住了手，仰天望着这只奇怪的蜻蜓，像是意识出一些严重。Kids, who had been crawling about over ruts playing a game of small clay balls, now stopped to look up at the strange dragonfly in the sky, subconsciously feeling that something ominous was going to happen.Q：「像是意识出一些严重」该怎么翻译？🎈根据上下文，「像是意识出一些严重」的意思是孩子们自己意识到会有什么不好的事情发生，因此可以翻译成subconsciously feeling that something ominous was going to happen，其中subconsciously意为「下意识地，本能地」。🎈原文中的「玩着泥球」在翻译时处理成playing a game of small clay balls可以让国外读者明白玩泥球指的是一种游戏。及至蜻蜓为树梢掩住，他们又重新低下头去玩那肮脏的游戏了。However, they soon lowered their heads again to bury themselves in the messy game as soon as the dragonfly disappeared from view behind the treetops.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈从语意来看，相比于上文，这一句出现了转折，因此翻译时添加转折连词however可以将这一层语意体现出来。🎈原文中「及至…，他们就…」，类似于英文中的…as soon as…句型，意为「一…就…」，在这一句型中，主句和从句的谓语动词保持时态一致。那是一只灰色的铁鸟。对这古城，它不是完全陌生的。That was a gray iron bird by no means a stranger to the ancient city.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈原文两句话的主语都是「铁鸟」，因此在翻译时可将这两句合成一句，显得行文紧凑连贯。其中by no means a stranger to the ancient city其实是一个省略了which is的定语从句。大家都知道它还有伙伴们，无数的，随在背后。这只是只探子。Everybody knew it was a scout with a multitude of “buddies” right behind it.Q:「探子」该怎么翻译？🎈在这里，「探子」是一个口语化的表达，可以理解为「侦察兵、侦查员」，在英文中有scout与之相对应。另外，前文所说的「伙伴们」也是一个生动形象的表达，翻译成buddies则有着同样的表达效果。它展着笔直的翅膀，掠过苍老的树枝，掠过寂静的瓦房，掠过皇家的御湖，环绕灿烂的琉璃瓦，飞着，飞着。With its straight wings spread out, it swept past sturdy old trees, quiet tile-roofed dwellings and lakes of imperial gardens, and circled over dazzling glazed tiles. It kept flying and flying.Q：文中出现多个动词在翻译是该怎么处理？🎈在中文里，一个主语之后可以有多个谓语平行出现，每个谓语孰轻孰重则需要根据具体语意来判断。英文的句子结构更类似于树状结构，通常主语之后只会接一两个主要的谓语动词，其余次要的动词都会处理为分词、不定式等结构。在本句中，「展着笔直的翅膀」相比于「掠过」和「环绕」属于一个次要信息，因此处理成由with引导的独立主格结构，即With its straight wings spread out，表明这只铁鸟在飞行时的状态。古城如一个臃肿的老人，盘着不能动弹的腿，眼睁睁守着这一切。The ancient city, like a clumsy old man sitting there with his numbed legs crossed, looked on helplessly in face of what was taking place before him.Q：「眼睁睁守着这一切」该怎么翻译？🎈结合文章的写作背景及前文内容，这里的「眼睁睁守着」可以理解为这座城市面对眼前所发生的一切是无可奈何的、无助的，因此可以翻译为looked on helplessly in face of what was taking place before him，其中helplessly一词可以很传神地表达出这种无可奈何的情绪。城门低暗的洞口正熙熙攘攘地过着商贾路人，一个个直愣着呆呆的眼睛，“莫谈国事”的唯一社会教育使他们的嘴都严严封闭着。The dark low archway of the city gate was thronged with tradesmen and pedestrians passing to and fro, each staring blankly ahead. Acting on the public warning “No discussing state affairs”, people had learned to keep their mouth closely shut.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈这一句原文较长，翻译前根据语意进行意群划分，将译文处理为两句话。在第一句中，「洞口正熙熙攘攘地过着商贾路人」在翻译时可以不以人为主语的主动语态来呈现，而是转换思路，使用was thronged with来表示城门口熙熙攘攘的场景。「一个个直愣着呆呆的眼睛」是指商贾路人经过城门口时的神情状态，可以处理为分词形式，表伴随状态。🎈「‘莫谈国事’的唯一社会教育」中的「社会教育」实际上指的是一种公众约定俗成的告诫，因此翻译成the public warning更恰当。又要有变乱了。Yes, trouble seemed to be brewing.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈原文含有推测的语气，在这里可以使用seem，比was更能体现这层语意。「有变乱」可以理解为有不好的事情即将发生，brew有「（不好的事）即将来临，酝酿」的意思，用在此处最合适不过。🎈译文开头的yes有「没错，的确」的意味，用在此处其强调语意的作用。他们也不知道是谁和谁，反正腌菜说不上得多备些的。随手还不能忘记为家里的灶王请下几股高线香，为的是保佑一家老少平安。But they knew not the trouble was between whom and whom. Maybe they should store up more pickled vegetables just in case, and remember to burn joss sticks before the image of the kitchen god at home so as to get a blessing from heaven on all their folks.Q：「反正腌菜说不上得多备些的」该怎么翻译？🎈「反正腌菜说不上得多备些的」的意思为「也许得多备些腌菜，以防万一」，因此翻译成Maybe they should store up more pickled vegetables just in case，其中just in case表「以防万一」，将原文中暗含的这层语意在译文中表现出来。🎈But they knew not the trouble was between whom and whom中的knew not相当于did not know，这种在否定句中省略助动词的用法常见于古体英语中，在现代英语中较为少见。🎈「为家里的灶王请下几股高线香」是一种中国传统民俗，若直译则会使外国读者产生困惑，因此翻译出其实际意思即可，即burn joss sticks before the image of the kitchen god at home，指在灶王的画像前烧香。阳光融化了城角的雪，一些残破的疤痕露出来了。As the snow began to thaw under the sun, the corners of the city wall revealed scars of war.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「阳光融化了城角的雪」可以理解为「雪在阳光下消融」，即the snow began to thaw under the sun，更符合英文表达习惯。🎈the corners of the city wall revealed scars of war中出现了wall和war押头韵现象，这样做可以使句子读起来朗朗上口，富有节奏感。那是历史的赐予！历史产生过建筑它的伟人，又差遣捣毁它的霸主。That was something left on it by history. History had sent great men to build the wall, and history had also sent tyrants to destroy it.Q：「历史产生过建筑它的伟人，又差遣捣毁它的霸主」该怎么翻译？🎈「历史产生过建筑它的伟人，又差遣捣毁它的霸主」的意思是「历史既产生过建造古城的人，同时也产生过破坏它的人」，因此可以翻译History had sent great men to build the wall, and history had also sent tyrants to destroy it，其中sent有「派遣，安排去」的意思，符合原文语意。翻译时两次出现主语history是为加强语气，起到一定的强调作用。在几番变乱中，它替居民挨过刀砍，受过炮轰。Again and again, it had, in time of turmoil, suffered knife-cuts and bombardment for the sake of the common people.Q:这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「挨过刀砍，受过炮轰」指的是古城所遭受的磨难，因此可以使用英文中已有的对应动词suffer来表达。另外，「刀砍」和「炮轰」可直接翻译为名词形式，即knife-cuts and bombardment。🎈译文将Again and again置于开头位置，是为了起到强调作用，以体现古城为人民所受苦难之多，增强表达效果。面前它又面临怎样一份命运，没有人晓得。Now, nobody could tell what kind of fate was in store.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈原文中的「面前」是指「现在，当下」的意思，故可直接翻译为now。🎈what kind of fate was in store中的in store意为「即将发生」。原文还可以译为what kind of fate was awaiting it.横竖居民是如潮似地向城里灌了。那是极好的晴雨表，另一个征服者又窥伺起这古城的一切。Anyway the local people were surging like a tide into the city for shelter. A perfect barometer it was indeed — another conqueror was eyeing the ancient city greedily.Q：「横竖居民是如潮似地向城里灌了」该怎么翻译？🎈「横竖」是一个口语表达，意为「不过，反正，不管怎样」，因此可以翻译为anyway。译文部分的for shelter是对原文暗含语意的增译，指明了居民涌向城里的目的是为了在此定居扎根。🎈A perfect barometer it was indeed是一个倒装句，这样的表达要比正常语序更能起到增强表达效果的作用。古城自己仍如一位臃肿的老人，低头微微喘息着，噙着泪守着膝下这群无辜的孩子——The ancient city, like a clumsy old man bending low and gasping feebly, continued to watch over the group of innocent kids around him, his eyes brimming with tears.Q：a clumsy old man bending low and gasping feebly和his eyes brimming with tears中的现在分词有何区别？🎈在a clumsy old man bending low and gasping feebly中，现在分词结构bending low and gasping feebly作后置定语修饰前面的名词man，这一小句的完整形式应该为a clumsy old man who is bending low and gasping feebly。而his eyes brimming with tears在全文中是一个独立主格结构，因逻辑主语his eyes与谓语动词brim之间是主动关系，因此使用现在分词形式。🔥必背单词reign v.称王，支配，主宰 英义If you say that a person reigns in a situation or area, you mean that they are very powerful or successful. 例句Connors reigned as the world No. 1 for 159 consecutive weeks. 康纳斯连续159周排名世界第一。adroit adj.（尤指待人接物）精明的，干练的，机敏的英义skilful and clever, especially in dealing with people 例句an adroit negotiator 谈判老手brew v.（不愉快的事）即将来临，酝酿英义(usually used in the progressive tenses) if sth unpleasant is brewing or brewing up , it seems likely to happen soon 例句At home a crisis was brewing. 家中一场危机正在酝酿。thaw v. 天气暖和得使冰雪融化（或解冻）英义when it thaws or is thawing , the weather becomes warm enough to melt snow and ice 例句It’s starting to thaw. 天气转暖，冰雪开始融化了。ominous adj.预兆的；恶兆的；不吉利的英义suggesting that sth bad is going to happen in the future 例句There were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead. 不祥的阴霾在头顶上汇聚。slushy adj.融雪覆盖的;满是雪泥的英义slushy ground is covered in dirty, wet snow. 例句Here and there a drift across the road was wet and slushy. 路上不时会有吹聚起的积雪，泥泞而湿滑。prankish adj.爱开玩笑的，恶作剧的英义naughtily or annoyingly playful 例句a prankish boy 爱开玩笑的小男孩🔥重点表达峭寒的北风 the raw wind画着片片践踏的痕迹 was dotted with traces of footsteps玩着泥球 playing a game of small clay balls像是意识出 subconsciously feeling that不是完全陌生的 by no means a stranger to无数的 a multitude of展着笔直的翅膀 With its straight wings spread out盘着不能动弹的腿 sitting there with his numbed legs crossed熙熙攘攘 was thronged with 直愣着呆呆的眼睛 staring blankly ahead保佑一家老少平安 get a blessing from heaven on all their folks挨过刀砍，受过炮轰 suffered knife-cuts and bombardment没有人晓得 nobody could tell窥伺 eye greedily噙着泪 brimming with tears🔥复盘测试峭寒的北风画着片片践踏的痕迹玩着泥球像是意识出不是完全陌生的无数的展着笔直的翅膀盘着不能动弹的腿熙熙攘攘直愣着呆呆的眼睛保佑一家老少平安挨过刀砍，受过炮轰没有人晓得窥伺噙着泪🔥对比表达有关「熙熙攘攘」的不同说法中文标志和总是熙熙攘攘的唐人街一看便知Chinese expatriates and their businesses are easily identifiable, marked by Chinese-language signs and often clustering in China-towns纽约皇后区法拉盛熙熙攘攘的唐人街，是这个全国地下网络的中心。 The epicenter of this national underground is the bustling Chinatown in Flushing那里能看到楼下熙熙攘攘的街道全景 with its panoramic view of the street hustle below城门低暗的洞口正熙熙攘攘地过着商贾路人 The dark low archway of the city gate was thronged with tradesmen and pedestrians passing to and fro
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萧乾《倘若我是一个日本人》 
爱是一颗心遇到另一颗心（出处+配图） 
