丰子恺《渐》 -英语技巧与实例-英汉互译实用教程

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Gradualness
丰子恺
Feng Zikai
🔥背景知识:丰子恺(1898-1975),浙江崇德县石门镇人,是我国“五四”新文化运动后很早从事散文写作的一个先驱作家。《渐》是他1925年在上海一个中学任教时写的第一篇散文。语言朴素自然,干净流利,内容富于哲理,流露出他早期作品中的佛教出世思想。英译时略有删节。
🎈题目《渐》也可译为Gradual Change,现译为Gradualness,只用一字,和原文一致,较为可取。

使人生圆滑进行的微妙的要素,莫如“渐”;造物主骗人的手段,也莫如“渐”。
The subtle factor that makes life endurable is “gradualness”. It is by this “gradualness” that the Creator deceives all humans.
🎈「使人生圆滑进行的微妙的要素」的意思必须结合上下文来理解,大体上指「使人感到,人生在世,日子还算好过」,所以不宜直译为to make life smooth。现译为to make life endurable,其中endurable的意思是「可忍受的」。此句也可译为to make life a lot easier for us。
🎈「莫如‘渐’」即「是渐」,故译为is “gradualness”。后一句「造物主骗人的手段,也莫如‘渐’」意即「造物者通过‘渐’来骗人」则采用强调句,译为It is by this “gradualness” that the Creator deceives all humans.

在不知不觉之中,天真烂漫的孩子“渐渐”变成野心勃勃的青年;慷慨豪侠的青年“渐渐”变成冷酷的成人;血气旺盛的成人“渐渐”变成顽固的老头子。
Through the process of imperceptible gradual change, innocent kids become ambitious youths, chivalrous youths become unfeeling grownups, aggressive grownups become mulish old fogeys.
🎈「在不知不觉之中」中含有「渐渐」的意思,故译为Through the process of imperceptible gradual change,imperceptible意即无法察觉的,感觉不到的。所以后面的「渐渐」就没有译出,使译文达到地道简洁的目的。

因为其变更是渐进的,一年一年地,一月一月地,一日一日地,一时一时地,一分一分地,一秒一秒地渐进,
Since the change takes place by slow degrees — year by year, month by month, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, 
🎈「其变更是渐进的」意即「变化是慢慢发生的」,故译为the change takes place by slow degrees。词组by slow degrees意即慢慢地。
例句
Perfection is attained by slow degrees, it requires the hand of time. 
臻于完美不能一蹴而就,需要时间的帮助。

犹如从斜度极缓的长远的山陂上走下来,使人不察其递降的痕迹,不见其各阶段的境界,而似乎觉得常在同样的地位,恒久不变,又无时不有生的意趣与价值,
you feel as if you were permanently your same old self always seeing much fun and meaning in life, like one, walking a long, long way down an extremely gentle mountain slope, hardly perceives its degree of incline or notices the altered scenes as he moves along.
🎈「犹如从斜度极缓的长远的山陂上走下来,使人不察其递降的痕迹…」译为like one, walking a long, long way down an extremely gentle mountain slope, hardly perceives its degree of incline…,其中like相当于as,作「如同」解。此用法虽不够标准,但已日渐常用。walking a long, long way down an extremely gentle mountain slope为非谓语动词作伴随状语,此句谓语动词为perceives。
🎈「似乎觉得常在同样的地位,恒久不变」译为you feel as if you were permanently your same old self,采用意译「仿佛还是原来的自己」,较简洁灵活。
🎈「又无时不有生的意趣与价值」译为always seeing much fun and meaning in life,为非谓语动词作伴随状语。
🎈此句句子很长,动笔翻以前先理清主干意思,再逐步添入信息。适当改变句子结构,比如可以像译文一样用一些破折号这样的符号,长短句结合,而不是一直使用and,but,while等复合句或者一些长难句。

于是人生就被确实肯定,而圆滑进行了。
You thus take a positive view of life and find it endurable.
🎈「人生就被确实肯定」即「对人生持有一种肯定的态度」,故译为take a positive view of life。
🎈「圆滑进行了」此「圆滑」跟上文一样是「可以忍受的」意思,故译为find it endurable。

假如昨夜的孩子今朝忽然变成青年;或朝为青年而暮忽成老人,人一定要惊讶,感慨,悲伤,或痛感人生的无常,而不乐为人了。
Suppose a kid suddenly became a young man overnight, or a young man suddenly became an old man in a matter of hours from dawn till dusk, you would definitely feel astonished, emotionally stirred and sad, or lose any interest in life due to its transience.
🎈overnight和in a matter of hours为增译成分,文中虽无其词却有其意。
🎈「不乐为人」即「因这转瞬即逝的变化而失去生活的乐趣」,故译为lose any interest in life due to its transience。

故可知人生是由“渐”维持的。
Hence it is evident that life is sustained by “gradualness”.
🎈「故可知」换种理解方式就是「这是证明人生是由‘渐’维持的证据」,故译为Hence it is evident that。It是形式主语,真正主语是life is sustained by “gradualness”。

这在女人恐怕尤为必要:歌剧中,舞台上的如花的少女,就是将来火炉旁边的老婆子,
This “gradualness” is particularly crucial to women. Beautiful young ladies starring in an opera or stage show will someday end up becoming grannies moping their remaining years away around a fire.
🎈根据上文可知,「这」指的是gradualness。
🎈「歌剧中,舞台上的如花的少女」指「歌剧中,舞台上的漂亮女演员」,译为Beautiful young ladies starring in an opera or stage show,其中starring(扮演主角)是译文中的必要增译成分,也可用performing(表演)代替。starring in an opera or stage show作为后置定语修饰Beautiful young ladies。
🎈「就是将来火炉旁边的老婆子」译为will someday end up becoming grannies moping their remaining years away around a fire,其中end up doing sth是短语,作「以…告终」解,someday作「总有一天」解。「就是将来」如译为will in the future become…,稍显平淡,不如will someday end up becoming…有力。译文用grannies moping their remaining years away around a fire代替grannies sitting around a fire,能更好地表达老婆子衰老无力的样子,其中稍有增译,但并不超越原意。

这句话骤听使人不能相信,少女也不肯承认,
This may at first sound incredible and young ladies may refuse to accept it as true.
🎈「不肯承认」即「拒绝把这句话当成真的」,故译为refuse to accept it as true。

实则现在的老婆子都是由如花的少女“渐渐”变成的。
Fact is, however, all aged women you meet today have without exception “gradually” evolved from beautiful young ladies of yesterday.
🎈「老婆子」换了另一种说法「上了年级的女性」,故译为aged women。
🎈「都是由如花的少女渐渐变成的」译have without exception “gradually” evolved from beautiful young ladies of yesterday,其中增译了without exception毫无疑问,增强了语气;也增译了of yesterday,昨日的如花少女,形成时间上的对比。

人之能堪受境遇的变衰,也全靠这“渐”的助力。
It is also due to this “gradualness” that one is able to reconcile himself to his reduced circumstances.
🎈「也全靠这“渐”的助力」根据语气,将此句处理为强调句,故译为It is also due to this ‘gradualness’ that…
🎈「堪受境遇的变衰」即「可以接受自己变糟的情况」,故译为be able to reconcile himself to his reduced circumstances,reconcile为妥协之意,透露出无奈之情。reduced circumstances为固定表达,意为「情况变差,生活拮据」
例句
They are the descendants of emperors and kings and are now living in reduced circumstances
他们是帝王的后代,但是现在境况大不如前了。

巨富的纨袴子弟因屡次破产而“渐渐”荡尽其家产,变为贫者;贫者只得做雇工,雇工往往变为奴隶,奴隶容易变为无赖,无赖与乞丐相去甚近,乞丐不妨做偷儿……这样的例,在小说中,在实际上,均多得很。
Fiction and reality abound with instances of a good-for-nothing young man from a wealthy family “gradually” ruining his family by repeated business failures and becoming in turn a poor wretch, a hired labourer, a slave, a rogue, a pauper and a thief…
🎈「巨富的纨袴子弟……乞丐不妨做偷儿」都是所举的例子,所以译文可以由「这样的例,在小说中,在实际上,均多得很」引出这些例子,故译为Fiction and reality abound with instances of ,abound with意即「充满」
例句
The Yucatan Peninsula abounds with such gifts.
这份礼物遍布尤卡坦半岛。
🎈「贫者只得做雇工,雇工往往变为奴隶,奴隶容易变为无赖,无赖与乞丐相去甚近,乞丐不妨做偷儿」为纨绔子弟的变换过程,由富人变为贫者,变为雇工,变为奴隶,变为无赖,变为乞丐,最后成为小偷,故译为becoming in turn a poor wretch, a hired labourer, a slave, a rogue, a pauper and a thief…,其中in turn为最终的意思。

因为其变衰是延长为十年二十年而一步一步地“渐渐”地达到的,在本人不感到甚么强烈的刺激。
Since it is a process of “gradual” change covering, say, ten to twenty years, he doesn’t experience any terrible emotional shock at all.
🎈「因为其变衰是延长为十年二十年而一步一步地‘渐渐’地达到的」译为Since it is a process of ‘gradual’ change covering, say, ten to twenty years,其中say作「例如」「比如说」解,等于let’s say,是文中的增益成分。covering, say, ten to twenty years为非谓语动词作伴随状语。

故虽到了饥寒病苦刑笞交迫的地步,仍是熙熙然贪恋着目前的生的欢喜。
Therefore, in spite of all the intense sufferings — hunger, cold, illness, imprisonment, torture, he continues to cling to the present life.
🎈「虽到了饥寒病苦刑笞交迫的地步」其中涉及的「饥寒病苦刑笞交迫」都属于痛苦,故译者此处先提出all the intense sufferings这一个大类,然后再一一举例hunger, cold, illness, imprisonment, torture。
🎈「仍是熙熙然贪恋着目前的生的欢喜」意即「仍贪恋着现在的生活」,故译为he continues to cling to the present life,cling to意即to be unwilling to get rid of sth, or stop doing sth 不愿放弃;坚持
例句
Throughout the trial she had clung to the belief that he was innocent. 在整个审判中,她都坚持相信他是清白的。 
假如一位千金之子忽然变了乞丐或偷儿,这人一定愤不欲生了。
On the other hand, however, if the wealthy young man were all of a sudden reduced to begging and thieving, he would definitely feel too aggrieved to go on living.
🎈「忽然变了」译为were all of a sudden reduced to,be reduced to doing sth有「沦为…」之意。
🎈「乞丐或偷儿」进行了词性转化,由名词转为动词begging and thieving。
🎈「愤不欲生」意即「气愤地不想活下去了」,故译为feel too aggrieved to go on living,too..to结构表达「太…以至于不能…」之意。

这真是大自然的神秘的原则,造物主的微妙的工夫!阴阳潜移,春秋代序,以及物类的衰荣生杀,无不暗合于这法则。
“Gradualness” is really the mysterious law of Mother Nature, the subtle artifice of the Creator! The unnoticed mutual replacement of opposites, the change of the four seasons and the survival or extinction of species — all is imperceptibly governed by this law.
🎈「这」此处没有用代词this,而是将其具体化,译为Gradualness。
🎈「工夫」此处意即「技巧」,渐是造物主的一种技巧,故译为artifice。
🎈「阴阳潜移」意即「事物对立面的暗中相互替换」,故译The unnoticed mutual replacement of opposites。
🎈「春秋代序」中的「春秋」指「四季」,全句的意思是「一年四季以次相代」,故译the change of the four seasons。
🎈「物类的衰荣生杀」可按「物类的生存与灭绝」的意思译为the survival or extinction of species。
🎈「无不暗合于这法则」意即「所有的一切都受到该法则的影响」,故译为all is imperceptibly governed by this law,其中be governed by意为「支配,控制,影响」
英义
If a situation or activity is governed by a particular factor, rule, or force, it is controlled by that factor, rule, or force.
例句
Marine insurance is governed by a strict series of rules and regulations…
关于海险有一系列严格的规章制度对其作了规定。

由萌芽的春“渐渐”变成绿阴的夏;由凋零的秋“渐渐”变成枯寂的冬。
Budding spring “gradually” changes into verdant summer; withered autumn “gradually” changes into bleak winter.
🎈萌芽的春 budding spring
绿阴的夏 verdant summer
凋零的秋 withered autumn
枯寂的冬 bleak winter

我们虽已经历数十寒暑,但在围炉拥衾的冬夜仍是难于想像饮冰挥扇的夏日的心情;反之亦然。
Though we have gone through several dozen years, yet on a winter night, when we sit around a fire or lie in bed, we can hardly imagine how we would feel on a summer day consuming cold drinks and fanning ourselves busily, and vice versa.
🎈「经历数十寒暑」即「过了数十年」,故译为go through several dozen years。
🎈「拥衾」中的「拥」作「围裹」,「衾」作「被子」解,因此「拥衾」的原意是「裹着被子」,文章中作「上床睡觉」解,不宜直译为cover ourselves with a quilt,应译lie in bed。
🎈「难于想像饮冰挥扇的夏日的心情」译为can hardly imagine how we would feel on a summer day consuming cold drinks and fanning ourselves busily,其中consuming cold drinks and fanning ourselves busily为非谓语动词作伴随状语。

然而由冬一天一天地,一时一时地,一分一分地,一秒一秒地移向夏,由夏一天一天地,一时一时地,一分一分地,一秒一秒地移向冬,其间实在没有显著的痕迹可寻。
The gradual change from winter to summer, or from summer to winter takes place day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, without leaving any marked traces in between.
🎈「由冬……移向冬」简化一下这个很长的句子,就是「由冬向夏,由夏向东的变化逐渐发生」,故译为The gradual change (from winter to summer, or from summer to winter) takes place (day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second)。
🎈in between 介于两者之间
例句
She was at that in-between age, neither a girl nor a woman.
她的年龄介于两者之间,既不是女孩也不是妇女。

昼夜也是如此:傍晚坐在窗下看书,page上“渐渐”地黑起来,
The same with daylight gradually fading into night. When you sit by your window reading a book towards the evening, you’ll find the words on each page “gradually” becoming blurred. 
🎈「昼夜也是如此」即「白天逐渐变为黑夜亦是如此」,故译为The same with daylight gradually fading into night.
🎈towards the evening:傍晚,towards为「接近某个时间」
🎈「page上“渐渐”地黑起来」即「page上的字逐渐模糊起来」,故译为you’ll find the words on each page ‘gradually’ becoming blurred

倘不断地看下去,(目力能因了光的渐弱而渐渐加强)几乎永远可以认识page上的字迹,即不觉昼之已变为夜。
But if you keep on reading, with the words still legible (due to the gradual strengthening of your eyesight in the deepening twilight), you’ll be unconscious of daylight already transformed into night.
🎈「几乎永远可以认识page上的字迹」意即「page上的字永远是可辨认的,清楚的」,故译为with the words still legible,此处为独立主格结构。
🎈already transformed into night为非谓语动词作伴随状语,修饰daylight。

黎明凭窗,不瞬目地注视东天,也不辨自夜向昼的推移的痕迹。
Likewise, when at dawn you stand intently gazing out of a window into the eastern horizon, you never feel the transition from night to day.
🎈此句和傍晚读书不觉已天黑一个意思,故译者在开头增译了Likewise同样地。
🎈「不瞬目地注视东天」即「专心地看着东边」,故译为stand intently gazing out of a window into the eastern horizon。
🎈「不辨自夜向昼的推移的痕迹」译为you never feel the transition from night to day,其中「痕迹」并未译出,因为翻译并不是逐字逐字的过程,其意思已经暗含在字里行间了。

儿女渐渐长大起来,在朝夕相见的父母全不觉得,难得见面的远亲就相见不相识了。
While parents living together with their children all the time never perceive their gradual growth, they may fail to recognize, however, a distant relative whom they have not seen for quite some time.
🎈living together with their children all the time做为后置定语修饰parents
🎈whom they have not seen for quite some time为定语从句修饰a distant relative

往年除夕,我们曾在红蜡烛底下守候水仙花的开放,真是痴态!
I remember how, on each New Year’s Eve, we used to sit by a red candle to eagerly wait for our narcissus to come into full bloom. How silly we were!
🎈「往年除夕」即「每年除夕」,故译为on each New Year’s Eve。
🎈「真是痴态」意即「我们多傻啊」,此句译为感叹句How silly we were。

倘水仙花果真当面开放给我们看,便是大自然的原则的破坏,宇宙的根本的摇动,世界人类的末日临到了!
If the narcissus had really come into bloom in our presence at our desire, it would have meant the violation of the law of Nature, the weakening of the foundation of the universe, and the last day of humanity!
🎈「倘水仙花果真当面开放给我们看」译为If the narcissus had really come into bloom in our presence at our desire,其中at our desire虽无其次却有其意,根据上一句可知我们渴望水仙花在我们面前开放。

“渐”的作用,就是用每步相差极微缓的方法来隐蔽时间的过去与事物的变迁的痕迹,使人误认其为恒久不变。
Through bit-by-bit change, “gradualness” conceals from notice the lapse of time and the change of things, so that people are misled into believing that everything remains the same eternally.
🎈「用每步相差极微缓的方法」即「用极小的变化」,译为through bit-by-bit change。
🎈「隐蔽时间的过去与事物的变迁的痕迹」译为conceal from notice the lapse of time and the change of things,其中conceal from意即「隐藏」,lapse为「时间间隔」

这真是造物主骗人的一大诡计!
What a trick the Creator is playing on humans!
🎈骗人的一大诡计 play a trick on humans

这有一件比喻的故事:
Here is a story by way of illustration.
🎈此句意即「这有一件例子」,by way of意为通过,illustration意为实例,例证。

某农夫每天朝晨抱了犊而跳过一沟,到田里去工作,夕暮又抱了它跳过沟回家。每日如此,未尝间断。
There was a farmer who would jump over a ditch holding a calf in his arms on his way to work in the fields every morning and also on his way back home every evening.
🎈「犊」即「小牛」,故译为calf。
🎈拓展关于牛的不同表达
steer: 阉公牛;肉用公牛
bull:未阉割的牛
ox:(阉割的)公牛
cow:母牛;奶牛;菜牛;肉牛
cattle:牛总称
moggy:母牛,小牛(英方言)
moo-cow :哞哞叫的牛
calf: 小牛
beef cattle: 肉牛
🎈who would jump over a ditch为定语从句,修饰a farmer。holding a calf in his arms为非谓语动词作伴随状语,同样修饰a farmer。
🎈「每日如此,未尝间断」通过every morning和every evening已表达出含义,无需重复再译。

过了一年,犊已渐大,渐重,差不多变成大牛,但农夫全不觉得,仍是抱了它跳沟。
A year later, the calf had grown bigger and heavier, almost like a cow, but the farmer, insensible to its increasing weight, continued the same old daily routine.
🎈「仍是抱了它跳沟」避免重复翻译为jump over a ditch holding a calf in his arms,因此译为continued the same old daily routine,重复日常活动,使译文地道简洁。
🎈insensible to its increasing weight可理解为定语从句的简化形式,完整形式为who was insensible to its increasing weight。

有一天他因事停止工作,次日再就不能抱了这牛而跳沟了。
One day, however, he didn’t go to work for some reason. And starting from the next day, he was no longer able to carry his calf in his arms in jumping over the ditch.
🎈此句中暗含了转折“但是”,故译文中译出了however。
🎈「次日」即「从第二天开始」,故译为start from the next day。

造物的骗人,使人留连于其每日每时的生的欢喜而不觉其变迁与辛苦,就是用这个方法的,人们每日在抱了日重一日的牛而跳沟,不准停止。
The Creator uses the same trick to make you so obsessed with life that you become oblivious to its changeableness and hardships. You are kept jumping over the ditch nonstop day after day with the growing calf in your arms.
🎈「使人留连于其每日每时的生的欢喜」意即「使人喜欢生活」,故译为「make you so obsessed with life」,so用到的结构是so….that,如此……以至于。
🎈「日重一日的牛」译为the growing calf;「抱着」由动词转为介词词组in your arms。

自己误以为是不变的,其实每日在增加其苦劳!
While you suppose wrongly that life is immutable, you are in fact putting heavier burdens on yourself from day to day.
🎈「自己误以为是不变的」意即「你误以为生活是一成不变的」,故译为you suppose wrongly that life is immutable。

我觉得时辰钟是人生的最好的象征了。
I think the clock is most symbolic of life.
🎈人生的最好的象征be most symbolic of life

时辰钟的针,平常一看总觉得是“不动”的,其实人造物中最常动的无过于时辰钟的针了。
It normally seems to be “still” at first sight, but, of all things artificially made, it is the most busy with its hands moving all the time.
🎈「平常一看总觉得是‘不动’的」意即「一看似乎平常是不动的」,故译为normally seems to be “still” at first sight。
🎈「其实人造物中最常动的无过于时辰钟的针」译为it is the most busy with its hands moving all the time,hand是指针的意思,其中with its hands moving all the time为独立主格,表原因,因为针始终在摆动,所以它是最常动的。

日常生活中的人生也如此,
The same is true of life.
🎈也如此:The same is….

刻刻觉得我是我,似乎这“我”永远不变,实则与时辰钟的针一样地无常!
We are apt to think that we are forever our own selves and unchangeable, while in fact we are ever-changing like the hands of a clock.
🎈首先根据上下文意思补充主语「我们」we。
🎈「刻刻觉得我是我,似乎这‘我’永远不变」意即「容易觉得我们永远是我们自己,并且永不改变」,故译为We are apt to think that we are forever our own selves and unchangeable。
🎈「无常」即「一直在变化」,故译为ever-changing。

一息尚存,总觉得我仍是我,我没有变,还是留连着我的生,可怜受尽“渐”的欺骗!
Alas, as long as we are alive, we are completely fooled by “gradualness” into believing that we will always remain the same and unchangeable, and therefore becoming only too ready to hold on to this life!
🎈「一息尚存」即「只要还活着」,故译为as long as we are alive。
🎈「还是留连着我的生」意即「还是留恋着生活」,故译为becoming only too ready to hold on to this life。Ready意为愿意的。

“渐”的本质是“时间”。
“Time” is the essence of “gradualness”.
🎈……的本质 be the essence of 

一般人对于时间的悟性,似乎只够支配搭船、乘车的短时间;对于百年的长期间的寿命,
Ordinary people have only a superficial understanding of time. They seem to know it only as regards such small matters as boarding a train or boat, but not in things concerning a lifetime.
🎈「一般人对于时间的悟性」译为Ordinary people have only a superficial understanding of time.此处a superficial understanding是对时间悟性的补充成分,普通人对时间的理解是浅薄的。
🎈it指的是对于时间的悟性。
🎈as regards意为「关于,至于」

他们不能胜任,往往迷于局部而不能顾及全体。
They see the trees, but not the wood.
🎈see the trees, but not the wood是成语not to see the wood for the trees(见树不见林/只见细节不见全面)的变体。

试看乘火车的旅客中,常有明达的人,有的宁牺牲暂时的安乐而让其坐位于弱者,以求心的太平(或博暂时的美誉);
Take the passengers of a train for example. Often some passengers are sensible and considerate enough to offer their own seats to the elderly or handicapped so that they themselves can enjoy peace of mind or momentary public praise.
🎈「试看乘火车的旅客中」即「那火车中的旅客举个例子」,故译为take the passengers of a train for example。
🎈「有明达的人」进行了偏正呼唤,译为有人是明智的some passengers are sensible and considerate enough to。
🎈「宁牺牲暂时的安乐」此处未译出,因为这指的便是让座offer their own seats to the elderly or handicapped。
🎈此处弱者也包含了老者,故译为the elderly or handicapped,the+形容词代表一类人。
🎈争先下车 fall over one another in getting off the train

有的见众人争先下车,而退在后面,或高呼“勿要轧,总有得下去的!”“大家都要下去的!”
Some, when they see other passengers falling over one another in getting off the train, purposely make room by staying behind, or call out, “Don’t squeeze! We’ll all make it! Nobody will be left behind!”
🎈「见众人争先下车」译为they see other passengers falling over one another in getting off the train,其中fall over one another意为争先恐后。
🎈fall over yourself to do sth忙不迭地做某事,急着做某事〔尤指一般不做的事〕
英义
to be very eager to do something, especially something you do not usually do
例句
People were falling over themselves to help her.
人们在尽力帮她。
🎈「而退在后面」译为purposely make room by staying behind,其中purposely make room是暗含之意,退在后面是为了获得更多的空间。
🎈「大家都要下去的」采用了正说反译,译为Nobody will be left behind没有人会被落下。

然而在乘“社会”或“世界”的大火车的“人生”的长期的旅客中,就少有这样的明达之人。
But few will be as sensible and considerate when making the long journey of life on board a big “social” or “global” train.
🎈「少有这样的明达之人」进行了偏正转换,很少人是明达的few will be as sensible and considerate。

所以我觉得百年的寿命,定得太长。
Therefore, I wish man would live a much shorter life.
🎈此句意即「我希望人不用活的那么长」,未按原文进行直译,译为I wish man would live a much shorter life。

像现在的世界上的人,倘定他们搭船乘车的期间的寿命,也许在人类社会上可减少许多凶险残惨的争斗。而与火车中一样地谦让,和平,也未可知。
If their lifespan could become as brief as the time they spent on a train or a boat, human society would probably witness far less bitter strife, and people would be as polite and modest as on the train.
🎈「像现在的世界上的人,倘定他们搭船乘车的期间的寿命」意即「如果现在人的寿命和搭船乘车的时间一样短」,故译为If their lifespan could become as brief as the time they spent on a train or a boat,they spent on a train or a boat为定语从句修饰the time。
🎈「也许在人类社会上可减少许多凶险残惨的争斗」译为human society would probably witness far less bitter strife,其中witness意为「见证」,如例句Recent years have witnessed a growing social mobility. 近年来人们的社会流动性越来越大,该词还可以用see来代替。

然人类中也有几个能胜任百年的或千古的寿命的人。
However, we do have among us a few who know how to correctly view life.
🎈根据前文,我认为人的寿命不必那么长的原因是普通人不够明达,所以此处「有几个能胜任百年的或千古的寿命的人」就是那些明达的人,能够「正视生命」的人,故译为a few who know how to correctly view life。

那是“大人格”,“大人生”。他们能不为“渐”所迷,不为造物所欺。
They are great, indeed! They refuse to be fooled by “gradualness” or the Creator.
🎈「不为“渐”所迷,不为造物所欺」其中「迷」「欺」为一个意思,故译为They refuse to be fooled by “gradualness” or the Creator。
🔥必背词汇
chivalrous    adj. (尤指对女人)彬彬有礼的,殷勤的,体贴的 
英义
polite, kind and behaving with honour, especially towards women 
例句
He was handsome, upright and chivalrous.
他长相英俊,为人正直,风度翩翩。
mulish    adj. 执拗的;顽固的 
英义
unwilling to change your mind or attitude or to do what other people want you to do
例句
Belinda’s face took on a mulish expression.
贝琳达脸上显露出倔强的神情。
fogey   n. 老顽固;守旧落伍的人:
英义
a person with old-fashioned ideas that he or she is unwilling to change
例句
He sounds like such an old fogey !
他说话听起来真是个老顽固!
mope    v.〔尤因对所处境遇不满〕(在某处)没精打采地闲荡,忧郁地徘徊
英义
to move around: a place in a sad, slow way, especially because you feel unhappy about the situation you are in
例句
She spends her days moping around the house.
她成天在房子里没精打采地瞎晃悠。
good-for-nothing     adj.懒人;无用之人
英义
a person who is lazy and has no skills
例句
an idle good-for-nothing 
游手好闲的懒虫 
aggrieved    adj. 愤愤不平的; 感到委屈的; 愤恨的
英义
angry and sad because you think you have been unfairly treated
例句
an aggrieved tone of voice
委屈的口吻
verdant   adj.〔土地〕长满青翠草木的
英义
verdant land is thickly covered with fresh green plants
例句
verdant fields葱茏的田野
legible    adj. 清晰可读的;清楚的
英义
clear enough to read
例句
legible handwriting 
清楚易读的笔迹 
lapse   n.  (两件事发生的)间隔时间 
英义
a period of time between ten things that happen
例句
After a lapse of one months we met up again. 
相隔六个月之后我们又相遇了。 
immutable  adj. 不可改变的;永恒不变的
英义
that cannot be changed; that will never change 
例句
 …the eternal and immutable principles of right and wrong.
永恒不变的对错法则
🔥重点词组
使人生圆滑进行 make life endurable
在不知不觉之中 through the process of imperceptible gradual change
天真烂漫的孩子 innocent kids
变成野心勃勃的青年 become ambitious youths
慷慨豪侠的青年 chivalrous youths
变成冷酷的成人 become unfeeling grownups
血气旺盛的成人 aggressive grownups
变成顽固的老头子 become mulish old fogeys
一年一年地 year by year
从斜度极缓的长远的山陂上走下来 walk a long, long way down an extremely gentle mountain slope
察觉其递降的痕迹 perceive its degree of incline
看见其各阶段的境界 notice the altered scenes as he moves along
无时不有生的意趣与价值 always see much fun and meaning in life
对……尤为必要 be particularly crucial to
舞台上的如花的少女 beautiful young ladies starring in an opera or stage show
就是将来火炉旁边的老婆子 end up becoming grannies moping their remaining years away around a fire
不肯承认 refuse to accept it as true
堪受境遇的变衰 be able to reconcile himself to his reduced circumstances
巨富的纨袴子弟 a good-for-nothing young man from a wealthy family 
荡尽其家产 ruin his family
变为贫者  become a poor wretch
感到任何强烈的刺激 experience any terrible emotional shock
仍是熙熙然贪恋着目前的生的欢喜 continue to cling to the present life
忽然变了乞丐或偷儿 be all of a sudden reduced to begging and thieving
愤不欲生 feel too aggrieved to go on living
大自然的神秘的原则 the mysterious law of Mother Nature
造物主的微妙的工夫  the subtle artifice of the Creator
阴阳潜移 the unnoticed mutual replacement of opposites
春秋代序 the change of the four seasons
物类的衰荣生杀 the survival or extinction of species
暗合于这法则 be imperceptibly governed by this law
萌芽的春 budding spring
绿阴的夏 verdant summer
凋零的秋 withered autumn
枯寂的冬 bleak winter
已经历数十寒暑 go through several dozen years
围炉拥衾 sit around a fire or lie in bed
难于想像饮冰挥扇的夏日的心情 hardly imagine how we would feel on a summer day consuming cold drinks and fanning ourselves busily
反之亦然 vice versa
其间实在没有显著的痕迹可寻 without leaving any marked traces in between
傍晚坐在窗下看书 sit by your window reading a book towards the evening
不觉昼之已变为夜 be unconscious of daylight already transformed into night
不瞬目地注视东天 stand intently gazing out of a window into the eastern horizon
不辨自夜向昼的推移的痕迹 never feel the transition from night to day
往年除夕 on each New Year’s Eve
曾在红蜡烛底下守候水仙花的开放 used to sit by a red candle to eagerly wait for our narcissus to come into full bloom
大自然的原则的破坏 the violation of the law of Nature
宇宙的根本的摇动 the weakening of the foundation of the universe
世界人类的末日临到了 the last day of humanity
用每步相差极微缓的方法 through bit-by-bit change
隐蔽时间的过去与事物的变迁的痕迹 conceal from notice the lapse of time and the change of things
恒久不变 remain the same eternally
骗人的一大诡计 play a trick on humans
跳过一沟 jump over a ditch
抱了犊 hold a calf in his arms
到田里去工作 work in the fields
使人留连于其每日每时的生的欢喜 make you so obsessed with life
不觉其变迁与辛苦 become oblivious to its changeableness and hardships
每日在增加其苦劳 put heavier burdens on yourself from day to day
人生的最好的象征be most symbolic of life
与时辰钟的针一样地无常 be ever-changing like the hands of a clock
受尽“渐”的欺骗 be completely fooled by“gradualness”
迷于局部而不能顾及全体 see the trees, but not the wood
让其坐位于弱者 offer their own seats to the elderly or handicapped
求心的太平(或博暂时的美誉)enjoy peace of mind or momentary public praise 
乘“社会”或“世界”的大火车 on board a big “social” or “global” train
不为“渐”所迷,不为造物所欺 refuse to be fooled by “gradualness” or the Creator
🔥复盘测试
重点词组
使人生圆滑进行 
在不知不觉之中 
天真烂漫的孩子 
变成野心勃勃的青年 
慷慨豪侠的青年 
变成冷酷的成人 
血气旺盛的成人 
变成顽固的老头子
一年一年地
从斜度极缓的长远的山陂上走下来 
察觉其递降的痕迹
看见其各阶段的境界
无时不有生的意趣与价值 
对……尤为必要 
舞台上的如花的少女 
就是将来火炉旁边的老婆子 
不肯承认
堪受境遇的变衰
巨富的纨袴子弟
荡尽其家产 
变为贫者
感到任何强烈的刺激 
仍是熙熙然贪恋着目前的生的欢喜 
忽然变了乞丐或偷儿
愤不欲生
大自然的神秘的原则
造物主的微妙的工夫 
阴阳潜移 
春秋代序 
物类的衰荣生杀
暗合于这法则 
萌芽的春
绿阴的夏 
凋零的秋 
枯寂的冬
已经历数十寒暑 
围炉拥衾 
难于想像饮冰挥扇的夏日的心情 
反之亦然 
其间实在没有显著的痕迹可寻 
傍晚坐在窗下看书 
不觉昼之已变为夜 
不瞬目地注视东天
不辨自夜向昼的推移的痕迹 
往年除夕 
曾在红蜡烛底下守候水仙花的开放 
大自然的原则的破坏 
宇宙的根本的摇动 
世界人类的末日临到了 
用每步相差极微缓的方法 
隐蔽时间的过去与事物的变迁的痕迹 
恒久不变
骗人的一大诡计
跳过一沟 
抱了犊 
到田里去工作 
使人留连于其每日每时的生的欢喜 
不觉其变迁与辛苦
每日在增加其苦劳 
人生的最好的象征
与时辰钟的针一样地无常
受尽“渐”的欺骗 
迷于局部而不能顾及全体 
让其坐位于弱者
求心的太平(或博暂时的美誉)
乘“社会”或“世界”的大火车
不为“渐”所迷,不为造物所欺 
🔥表达对比
关于「成为」的不同译法
 
在不知不觉之中,天真烂漫的孩子“渐渐”变成野心勃勃的青年;慷慨豪侠的青年“渐渐”变成冷酷的成人;血气旺盛的成人“渐渐”变成顽固的老头子。
Through the process of imperceptible gradual change, innocent kids become ambitious youths, chivalrous youths become unfeeling grownups, aggressive grownups become mulish old fogeys.
歌剧中,舞台上的如花的少女,就是将来火炉旁边的老婆子,
Beautiful young ladies starring in an opera or stage show will someday end up becoming grannies moping their remaining years away around a fire.
实则现在的老婆子都是由如花的少女“渐渐”变成的。
Fact is, however, all aged women you meet today have without exception “gradually” evolved from beautiful young ladies of yesterday.
假如一位千金之子忽然变了乞丐或偷儿,这人一定愤不欲生了。
On the other hand, however, if the wealthy young man were all of a sudden reduced to begging and thieving, he would definitely feel too aggrieved to go on living.
由萌芽的春“渐渐”变成绿阴的夏;由凋零的秋“渐渐”变成枯寂的冬。
Budding spring “gradually” changes into verdant summer; withered autumn “gradually” changes into bleak winter.
黎明凭窗,不瞬目地注视东天,也不辨自夜向昼的推移的痕迹。
Likewise, when at dawn you stand intently gazing out of a window into the eastern horizon, you never feel the transition from night to day.
过了一年,犊已渐大,渐重,差不多变成大牛,但农夫全不觉得,仍是抱了它跳沟。
A year later, the calf had grown bigger and heavier, almost like a cow, but the farmer, insensible to its increasing weight, continued the same old daily routine.

未经允许不得转载:帕布莉卡 » 丰子恺《渐》 -英语技巧与实例-英汉互译实用教程

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