Mr. Postman师陀Shi Tuo邮差先生走到街上来，手里拿着一大把信。Mr. Postman would walk up the street with a bundle of letters in his hand.Q:Mr. Postman would walk up the street…中的would是表达「将会」的意思吗？🎈根据原文内容可知，「走到街上来，手里拿着一大把信」是对邮差工作内容的描述，因此在这里使用would是引出过去常见的情况，意为「总是，老是」，而不是表达一般的将来意义。在这小城里他兼任邮务员，售票员，但仍旧有许多剩余时间，每天戴上老花眼镜，埋头在公案上剪裁花样。Working in a small town as postman-stamp seller, he still had lots of spare time. Every day he would sit bending over his desk scissor-cutting flower patterns, wearing a pair of glasses for farsighted old people.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈原文的后两个小句是描述邮递员在工作之外的剩余时间里所做的事情，我们可以从这里对原文进行切分，分为两个意群进行翻译。🎈根据原文语意，Working in a small town as postman-stamp seller是由现在分词短语来充当让步状语成分，表达「尽管…」之意。🎈原文中的「售票员」是指卖邮票的人，因此译作stamp seller，按照字面直译为ticket seller则不妥。「老花眼镜」即「远视眼镜」，可译作presbyopic glasses，但不够通俗，译作a pair of glasses for farsighted old people则更贴合本文文体。因此——再加上岁月的侵蚀，他的脊背驼了。All this, plus age, had given him a bent back.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈这一句的意思是邮差先生工作和剩余时间所做的事情再加上岁月的侵蚀使他的脊背驼了，因此可译作All this, plus age, had given him a bent back.其中all this指代上文提到的Working in a small town as postman-stamp seller以及scissor-cutting flower patterns。当邮件来到的时候他站起来，他念着，将它们拣出来，然后小心的扎成一束。When the mail arrived, he would stand up, run his eyes over it, pick out the letters he was to deliver, and carefully bundle them up.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈原文是对邮件来到的时候邮差先生所做的一系列连贯动作的描述，直接翻译成几个动词stand up、run his eyes over it、pick out以及bundle them up，可以体现动作的一气呵成，符合原文语意。“这一封真远！”碰巧瞥见从云南或甘肃寄来的信，他便忍不住在心里叹息。“This letter is from a real far place!” he could not help sighing inwardly when he happened to catch sight of a letter from a remote province, such as Yunnan or Gansu.Q：「这一封真远！」怎么翻译？🎈这一句是口语通俗说法，是指信件寄来的地址很远，翻译时要将这一意思表达完整，即This letter is from a real far place!其中「真远」本应译作really far，在这里译作real far，real为副词，等于really，较贴合口语。他从来没有想到过比这更远的地方。其实他自己也弄不清云南和甘肃的方位——谁教它们处在那么远，远到使人一生不想去吃它们的小米饭或大头菜呢？He had never thought of a place farther than that, though he himself had no clear idea at all where it was located.Who was to blame for its being so far away that people had to deny themselves, for life, the pleasure of eating, say, millet in Gansu or salted turnip in Yunnan?Q：「谁教它们…」该怎么翻译？🎈这是一句中文口语表达，是指是因为谁它们才处在那么远的地方，可译作Who was to blame for its being so far away that…，其中was to blame for意为对…负有责任。🎈people had to deny themselves, for life, the pleasure of eating, say, millet in Gansu or salted turnip in Yunnan?中的the pleasure of eating…是根据原文语意进行的补充，有增强表达效果的作用。现在邮差先生手里拿着的是各种各样的信。从甘肃和云南来的邮件毕竟很少，它们最多的大概还是学生写给家长们的。Mr. Postman was now carrying various kinds of letters in his hand. Few, however, came from Gansu or Yunnan. Most of them were probably sent by students to their parents.Q：原文该怎么翻译？🎈原文两句呈总-分结构，后一句相当于详细介绍「各种各样的信」的种类。因此，「从甘肃和云南来的邮件毕竟很少」可译作Few, however, came from Gansu or Yunnan.其中few是指few of them，however有加强语气的效果。「它们最多的大概还是学生写给家长们的」可译作Most of them were probably sent by students to their parents.其中them是指上一句中的various kinds of letters。“又来催饷了，”他心里说：“足够老头子忙三四天！”“Here’s another letter pressing for the allowance,” said he to himself. “It’ll take the poor old man at least three or four days to raise the money.”Q：「又来催饷了」怎么翻译？🎈结合上文，这是一种幽默表达，因为「饷」字在过去指薪金，所以这句话的意思为「又来要钱了」，故可译作Here’s another letter pressing for the allowance，但译作Here’s another letter pressing for pay则不妥当。🎈「足够老头子忙三四天！」是指筹钱这件事足够老头子忙几天，翻译时要将这一意思具体呈现，译作It’ll take the poor old man at least three or four days to raise the money.他在空旷的很少行人的街上走着，一面想着，如果碰见母猪带领着小猪，便从旁边绕过去。While walking on the deserted open street, he reminded himself that in case he met a sow approaching with her piglets following close behind he must take care to skirt round them.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「他在空旷的很少行人的街上走着」与后面的「一面想着」几乎同时发生，且在全句中处于次要地位，因此翻译时可以处理为时间状语形式，即While walking on the deserted open street。小城的阳光晒着他花白了的头，晒着他穿皂布马褂的背，尘土极幸运的从脚下飞起来，落到他的白布袜子上，他的扎腿带上。The small town sun was shining down on his greying head and on the back of his black mandarin jacket. The dust kicked up from under his feet was lucky enough to settle on his white socks and leg wrappings.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈根据原文内容，翻译时可以分为两句，主语分别为「小城的阳光」和「尘土」。🎈The small town sun was shining down…这一句的原文所描述的是当时正在发生的状况，因此时态为过去进行时。🎈The dust kicked up from under his feet…中dust与kick up之间为动宾关系，所以用过去分词短语来修饰dust，这一修饰成分的完整形式为that was kicked up from under his feet。在这小城里他用不着穿号衣。As a small town postman, he was not liveried.Q：「穿号衣」怎么翻译？🎈「穿号衣」指的是穿工作制服，名词livery指旧时仆人、侍从穿的制服，号衣。「穿号衣」译作was liveried是将livery这一名词动词化，表达简洁生动。一个学生的家长又将向他诉苦，“毕业，毕我的业！”A father would grumble to him again about his own student-son, “Hum, to see him finish school… I’ll be finished myself!”Q：「毕业，毕我的业！」该怎么翻译？🎈原文中的「毕业」是一处双关语，这句话的意思为「等到他毕业了，那我就完蛋了」，可译作Hum, to see him finish school… I’ll be finished myself!其中finish对应原文中的「毕业」，也是双关语。另外，Hum（哼）表示不满，是译文中的添加成分，用来衬托原有的语气。他将听他过去听过无数次的，一个老人对于他的爱子所发的这种怨言，心里充满善意，他于是笑了。Mr. Postman listened smilingly to the poor old man’s oft-repeated well-meaning complaints about his beloved son.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈这一句的意思为「他笑着听这位老人说那些自己已经重复过无数次但却充满爱意的怨言」，可译作Mr. Postman listened smilingly to the poor old man’s oft-repeated well-meaning complaints about his beloved son.其中oft-repeated意为重复多次的，oft是副词，同often。这些写信的人自然并不全认识他，甚至没有一个会想起他，但这没有关系，他知道他们，他们每换一回地址他都知道。Of course, not all senders knew him and none would even think of him. But that didn’t matter, for he knew about them all and he also knew when they had a new address.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「但这没有关系」在原文起到过渡的作用，因此翻译时可以从这里切分，翻译为两句。🎈not all senders knew him and none would even think of him”中not all为部分否定，而none则为全部否定。🎈「他知道他们，他们每换一回地址他都知道」是对前面的「但这没有关系」的解释，可译作for he knew about them all and he also knew when they had a new address，是一个由for引导的原因状语从句。邮差先生于是敲门，门要是虚掩着，他走进去。Mr. Postman knocked at a door, and stepped inside if it was left ajar.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「门要是虚掩着」在全句中属于一个条件，因此在翻译时可以处理为条件状语从句，即if it was left ajar，其中ajar意为半开的，微启的。“家里有人吗？”他大声在过道里喊。“Anybody at home?” he called loudly from the passageway.Q：「家里有人吗？」该怎么翻译？🎈这是一句口语表达，若翻译为Is there anybody at home?则不够通俗，不符合英文中口语表达的特点，因此译作Anybody at home?更好。他有时候要等好久。最后从里头走出一位老太太，她的女婿在外地做生意，再不然，她的儿子在外边当兵。As was often the case, he had to wait quite a while. Finally an old lady emerged. Perhaps her son-in-law was doing business elsewhere, or perhaps her son had gone soldiering somewhere.Q：「他有时候要等好久」该怎么翻译？🎈根据上下文可知，「他有时候要等好久」实际上指的是一种通常会出现的状况，因此按照字面将「有时候」译作sometimes则不妥当，译为As was often the case更符合原文语意。一条狗激烈的在她背后叫着。她出来的很仓促，两只手湿淋淋的，分明刚才还在做事。A dog behind her was barking furiously.The old lady had come out in a hurry. She must have been busy with household chores, as witness her hands still dripping wet with water.Q：「分明刚才还在做事」该怎么翻译？🎈这一句是根据前文而进行的推测，可译作She must have been busy with household chores，其中must have been…表示对过去事实的肯定猜测。另外，household chores是根据原文内容所做的补充，更有助于读者理解译文。“干什么的？”老太太问。“What’s up?” she inquired.Q：「干什么的？」该怎么翻译？🎈这是一句常见的口语表达，可译作What’s happening?，但不如译作What’s up?更加切合口语。邮差先生告诉她：“有一封信，挂号信，得盖图章。”老太太没有图章。“A letter,” Mr. Postman answered, “a registered one. You’re required to stamp your seal here.”The old lady didn’t have a seal.Q：「有一封信，挂号信，得盖图章。」该怎么翻译？🎈这句口语表达中有一些内容被省略，在翻译时为了帮助读者理解，需要进行补充，应当译作A letter,…, a registered one. You’re required to stamp your seal here.其中You’re required to stamp your seal here.对应原文中的「得盖图章」，对原文内容进行了必要的补充。“那你打个铺保，晚半天到局子里来领。这里头也许有钱。”“有多少？”“我说也许有，不一定有。”“Then you have to find a shop guarantor for yourself and come later to the post office for the letter. Maybe there’s money in it. ”“How much?”“I said ‘maybe.’ Can’t tell if there is any money in it.”Q：原文该怎么翻译？🎈「打个铺保」的意思是让老太太去找一家有印章的商店先帮自己盖章，「铺保」是旧时称以商店名义出具证明所做的保证，即在保单上该有商店的图章。因此可译作find a shop guarantor，简洁明了。🎈「晚半天到局子里来领」中的「晚半天」其实是一处虚指，在翻译时无需按照字面进行直译，译作come later to the post office for the letter即可。🎈「我说也许有」译作I said ‘maybe.’贴合口语对话风格。你能怎么办呢？对于这个好老太太。邮差先生费了半天唇舌，终于又走到街上来了。What else could he do with this good old lady? After doing a lot of explaining, Mr. Postman was finally on his way down the street again.Q：「费了半天唇舌」该怎么翻译？🎈根据上文的内容，这里是指邮差先生给老太太做了很多的解释，因此可译作doing a lot of explaining，表达简洁地道。🎈「你能怎么办呢？对于这个好老太太」有「你还能拿这个好老太太怎么办呢」的意思，因此译作What else could he do with this good old lady?比较地道，符合原文语意。小城的阳光照在他的花白头顶上，他的模样既尊贵又从容，并有一种特别风韵，看见他你会当他是趁便出来散步的。With the top of his greying head bathed in the small town sunlight, he looked dignified and calm with a characteristic bearing of his own. People would probably think he was out taking a walk at his leisure.Q：「有一种特别风韵」该怎么翻译？🎈这里可以理解为邮差先生有着自己独有的气质特点，可译作with a characteristic bearing of his own，若按照字面将「风韵」译出则不妥当，有失原文语意。说实话他又何必紧张，他手里的信反正总有时间全部送到，那么在这个小城里，另外难道还会有什么事等候他吗？In fact, he had no need for hurrying at all. He had plenty of time to finish delivering all the mail in his hand. Could there be anything urgent in this town calling for his prompt attention?Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「说实话他又何必紧张」意即他没有必要紧张，可译作he had no need for hurrying at all。🎈「另外难道还会有什么事等候他吗？」可以理解为「难道还会有什么要紧的事情需要他赶紧去处理吗？」翻译时需要将这层语意补充出来，即译作Could there be anything urgent in this town calling for his prompt attention？虽然他有时候是这样抱歉，他为这个小城送来——不，这种事是很少有的，但愿它不常有。Yes, once in a while, to his great regret, he did deliver a letter with a bit of unhappy news. It was very seldom though, and he wished it would never happen again.Q：「他为这个小城送来——」该怎么翻译？🎈根据上下文可知，这里指的是送来不好的消息，故译作he did deliver a letter with a bit of unhappy news。“送信的，有我的信吗？”正走间，一个爱开玩笑的小子忽然拦住他的去路。“Hey, any letter for me?” a playful youngster suddenly stopped him.Q：「送信的」怎么翻译？🎈这里同样是一处口语词，是对邮差先生的一种随意称呼，再结合后文对说话人性格的交代，译作Hey要比Mr. Postman更符合语境和人物性格特点。在翻译时，有时也需要结合特定的对象来考虑用词。“你的信吗？”邮差先生笑了。“你的信还没有来，这会儿正在路上睡觉呢。”“Your letter?” Mr. Postman smiled. “It hasn’t arrived yet. For this moment it’s dozing on its way.”Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈根据上文可知，这一句是邮差先生对于年轻人的玩笑话的回应，但有一点幽默成分，如「这会儿正在路上睡觉呢」。在翻译时可以将其保留下来，译作For this moment it’s dozing on its way.符合原文所要体现的对话风格。邮差先生拿着信，顺着街道走下去，没有一辆车子阻碍他，没有一种声音教他分心。Mr. Postman kept on walking along the street with the mail in his hand. Not a vehicle in sight, nor a noise within hearing.Q：「没有一辆车子阻碍他，没有一种声音教他分心」该怎么翻译？🎈原文句子结构整齐，翻译时也应尽量保持一致，可译作Not a vehicle in sight, nor a noise within hearing.前后分句对称，既简洁又顺口。若按照字面用there be句型进行直译，则会使表达稍显逊色。阳光充足的照到街岸上、屋脊上和墙壁上，整个小城都在寂静的光耀中。The sun was beating down on sidewalks, roofs and walls. The whole town was immersed in a silent brilliance.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「阳光充足的照到…」译作The sun was beating down on…，其中beat意为直射，照射，体现出了原文中的「充足的照到」的语意，若用动词shine直译则略显平淡。🎈「整个小城都在寂静的光耀中」译作The whole town was immersed in a silent brilliance.其中be immersed in有「沉浸」之意，符合原文所要表达的语意。他身上要出汗，他心里——假使不为尊重自己的一把年纪跟好胡子，他真想大声哼唱小曲。为此他深深赞叹：这个小城的天气多好！He felt like sweating. Were it not for his age and long beard, he said to himself, he would break out humming a tune. He gasped with admiring wonder, “What a beautiful day!”Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「他心里——假使不为尊重自己的一把年纪跟好胡子，他真想大声哼唱小曲。」这一句可以理解为「他心想：如果不是因为自己的一把年纪和胡子，他就会大声哼唱小曲」，可译作Were it not for his age and long beard, he said to himself, he would break out humming a tune.其中Were it not for意为「如果没有…」，是非真实条件从句，表达发生可能性不大的情况。🔥必背词汇skirt v.环绕…的四周；位于…的边缘；沿…的边缘走英义to be or go around the edge of sth. 例句I skirted around the field and crossed the bridge.我沿着田边走，又经过了那座桥。ajar adj.半开；微启英义slightly open 例句I’ll leave the door ajar.我让门半开着。bearing n.姿态；举止英义the way in which you stand, walk or behave 例句Her whole bearing was alert.她整个人保持着戒备状态。doze v.打瞌睡；打盹儿；小睡英义to sleep lightly for a short time 例句In one room, young mothers weave while babies doze in their laps.在一间屋子里，年轻的母亲们在织布，而她们的孩子就在她们膝上打盹。gasp v.透不过气；气喘吁吁地说英义to have difficulty breathing or speaking 例句He came to the surface of the water gasping for air.他浮出水面急促地喘着气。🔥重点表达一大把 a bundle of老花眼镜 glasses for farsighted old people剪裁花样 scissor-cut flower patterns埋头在 sit bending over瞥见 catch sight of催饷 press for the allowance空旷的很少行人的街 the deserted open street绕过去skirt round皂布马褂 black mandarin jacket扎腿带 leg wrappings诉苦 grumble to虚掩着 be left ajar当兵 go soldiering湿淋淋的 dripping wet with water费了半天唇舌 do a lot of explaining哼唱小曲 hum a tune🔥复盘测试一大把老花眼镜剪裁花样埋头在瞥见催饷空旷的很少行人的街绕过去皂布马褂扎腿带诉苦虚掩着当兵湿淋淋的费了半天唇舌哼唱小曲🔥表达对比有关「诉苦」的不同说法我忘记了什么是羞耻，这样诉苦时，好像一点也不觉得难为情。 I ignored all propriety and poured out my complaints without feeling ashamed.奴才总不过是寻人诉苦。 What a slave did was just to look for someone to listen to his own grievances.难得有两次他向朋友诉苦，朋友总是将他取笑了一番说：“至少你们不用另外找搭子。 On the rare occasions when he tried to tell somebody he was unhappy, the listener would guffaw.一个学生的家长又将向他诉苦，“毕业，毕我的业！”A father would grumble to him again about his own student-son, “Hum, to see him finish school… I’ll be finished myself!”
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师陀《邮差先生》 
爱是一颗心遇到另一颗心（出处+配图） 
