由于两种语言文化的表达、表述的习惯不同,形成一些固定说法的格式不同,如下面的例子,翻译时只有死记硬背。这种死记硬背非常重要,是翻译的重要基本功之一。在过去的翻译书中技巧讲得很多,但也应该重视固定说法的背诵功底。
1、英汉词序错位
例如:
水火 fire and water
贫富 rich and poor
新旧 old and new
长短 short and long
细长 long and thin
男婴 baby boy
女婴 baby girl
冷热 hot and cool
凉爽 nice and cool
前后 back and forth
左右 right and left
软硬 hard and soft
轻重 heavy and light
晴雨 rain or shine
增损 loss and gain
水陆 land and water
饮食 food and drink
钢铁 iron and steel
死活 life and death
手臂 arms and hands
河流湖泊 lakes and rivers
山水 waters and mountains
中小型 small and medium
文艺 art and literature
衣食 food and clothing
唯一的 one and the only
同一的 one and the same
血肉 flesh and blood
此时此地 here and now
文武 military and civilian
三三两两 in twos and threes
敌我 ourselves and the enemy
物理化学 chemistry and physics
工农业 agriculture and industry
年月 month and year
田径(运动) track and field (events)
迟早 sooner or later,first and last
水土流失 soil erosion and water loss
新郎新娘 the bride and the bridegroom
手疾眼快 quick of eye and deft of hand
喜怒哀乐 anger, grief, joy and happiness
水乳交融 as well blended as milk and water
2、有一些情况汉英说法顺序差不多
例如:
上下 up and down
高低 high and low
老幼 old and young
父母 father and mother
夫妇 man and wife
黑白 black and white
(生活)沉浮 ups and downs
彻头彻尾 from head to foot
来龙去脉 from beginning to end
来来往往 come and go, back and forth
3、汉语习语中常有同义重复表达。如“徘徊”、“回环”、“温暖”、“思想”、“道路”等,英语中也有这种结构
例如:
time and tide 岁月
wear and tear 磨损
near and dear 亲近
lord and master 主人
wants and likes 喜好
the rank and file 百姓
