?

原文:

鴻漸和辛楣照例說這小孩長得好,養(yǎng)得胖,討論他像父親還是像母親。這些話在父母的耳朵里是聽不厭的。鴻漸湊近他臉捺指作聲,這是他唯一娛樂孩子的本領。(錢鐘書 - 圍城 )

翻譯關鍵詞:resemble,捺指作聲,本領

譯文:

Hung-chien and Hsin-mei dutifully remarked on how nice and well-fed the baby was and discussed whether he resembled his mother or his father. These are the sort of remarks parents never tire of hearing. Hung-chien went up close to its face and snapped his fingers. This was his only skill in amusing a child.?(美 Jeanne Kelly, Nathan K.Mao <譯> –Fortress Besieged)

翻譯筆記:

resemble

resemble并不陌生,但是用的時候必須注意它現(xiàn)在只用作及物動詞,后面沒有to哦。如:
He resembles his brother.
他像他的兄弟。
resemble each other in appearance or nature ?在外表或本性方面彼此相像

捺指作聲

其實就是我們常說的“打榧子”和“打響指”,我們常把這個動作譯為snap。
* snap作不及物動詞,fingers snapped,發(fā)劈啪聲
If I hit upon the right name, her fingers snapped.
如果碰巧我把名字說對了,她的手指便啪地打一個榧子。
* snap作及物動詞,snap one’s fingers,捻(手指)發(fā)劈啪聲
She snapped her fingers to get the child’s attention.
她打榧子叫孩子注意聽。

本領

“本領”在口語里也常稱為“本事”,常用skill; ability; capability來翻譯。如:
本領大 ?highly skilled; very capable
掌握專業(yè)本領 ?master the skills needed for one’s occupation

(本文由滬江原創(chuàng),轉(zhuǎn)載請注明出處)

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