四,形容詞與比較級(jí)
形容詞的第三大難點(diǎn)即形容詞比較級(jí)的翻譯,說(shuō)到這里,很多小伙伴不以為然,不就是“比…更…”嗎,但是,你要相信考試的時(shí)候是不會(huì)出“this stick is longer than that one”這類(lèi)弱智句子的,下面我們一起來(lái)縷縷這些時(shí)常困擾著我們的比較級(jí)~
1, “比較級(jí)+than”結(jié)構(gòu),這類(lèi)句式比較常見(jiàn),在翻譯時(shí),要先翻譯than后面的內(nèi)容,如:
①M(fèi)arseilles has proved to be a better racial melting pot than Lyons.
事實(shí)證明,與里昂相比,馬賽是一個(gè)更好的種族大熔爐。
②She’s much happier performing live than in a recording studio.
與在錄音棚里錄音相比,她更喜歡現(xiàn)場(chǎng)表演。
2,more than 結(jié)構(gòu)
(1)譯為否定句 ?
The complexity of the human situation and justice of the social order demand for more fundamental changes in the basic structure of society itself than some politicians are willing to admit in their speeches.
人類(lèi)社會(huì)的復(fù)雜性和社會(huì)制度的不公正性,要求對(duì)社會(huì)基本結(jié)構(gòu)進(jìn)行改革,而一些政客很不愿意承認(rèn)這點(diǎn)。(本例選自錢(qián)歌川《翻譯的技巧》)
(2)譯為“與其說(shuō),,,倒不如說(shuō)”等同于not so much as,這個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)同樣要先翻than后面
He is more knave than fool.
與其說(shuō)他蠢,不如說(shuō)他壞。
His father is more kind than wise.
他的父親不是智者而是仁士。
(3)在more than+從句(從句中有can/could)中,意為“實(shí)在不能”,如:
①The problems of urban areas are far more than can be handled any short - term efforts.
城市地區(qū)的問(wèn)題是不可能短期內(nèi)解決的。
②That problem is more than I can work out.
我實(shí)在解不出那道題。
(4)置于動(dòng)詞前,表示用更強(qiáng)意義的動(dòng)詞也無(wú)妨,意為“豈止,深為,極其”。
She more than hesitated to give me a promise.
對(duì)于答應(yīng)那件事她豈止是猶豫。
3,no more than 結(jié)構(gòu)
(1)二者都不
This book is no more interesting than that one.
這兩本書(shū)都沒(méi)趣。
I can run no faster than he can.
我跑得不快,他跑得也不快。
有時(shí)可譯為 “正如A不…,B也不”,如:
A home without love is no more a home than a body with soul is a man.
正如一個(gè)沒(méi)有愛(ài)的房子不能稱(chēng)之為家一樣,一個(gè)沒(méi)有靈魂的肉體就不能稱(chēng)之為人。
A whale is no more a fish than a horse is.
正如馬不是魚(yú)一樣,鯨也不是魚(yú)。
(2)no more than 修飾數(shù)量時(shí),譯為“僅僅,只有” ,如:
①there is no more than eigth people in the room.
房間里只有8個(gè)人。
②The northward journey from Jalalabad was no more than 120 miles.
從賈拉拉巴德向北的旅程不到120英里。
(3)與not more than 區(qū)別
①?no?more?than?的意思是“僅僅”“只有”“最多不超過(guò)”,強(qiáng)調(diào)少。如:
?This?test?takes?no?more?than?five?minutes.?這項(xiàng)測(cè)驗(yàn)只要5分鐘。
②?not?more?than?為?more?than?(多于)的否定式,其意為“不多于,不超過(guò)如:Not?more?than?10?guests?came?to?her party.?來(lái)參加她派對(duì)的客人不超過(guò)十人。
????比較:She?has?no?more?than?three?cats.?她只有3只貓。(強(qiáng)調(diào)少)????
?She?has?not?more?than?three cats.?她至多有3只貓。(也許不到3頂帽子)????
③用于比較兩件事物時(shí),no more ... than 表示對(duì)兩者都否定,意為“同……一樣不”(=neither ... nor);而 not more ... than 指兩者雖都具有某種特征,但程度不同,意為“不如”、“不及”(= not so ... as)。
簡(jiǎn)單來(lái)說(shuō),not more … than表示“前不如后”,而 no more than如:
This book is not more interesting than that one.
這本書(shū)不如那本有趣。
This book is no more interesting than that one.
兩本書(shū)都不有趣。
3,less than 與no less than
(1)less than “不到,少于,…以?xún)?nèi)”
如:In less than seven days the infested plants had recovered.
不到7天時(shí)間,受蟲(chóng)害侵襲的植物就復(fù)原了。
(2)no less than
①多達(dá),不少于
There were no less than fifty wounded.
受傷者多達(dá)50人。
He is no less than fifty centimetres round the middle.
他的腰圍不小于五十公分。
②簡(jiǎn)直是
It is no less than robbery to charge so much.
要這么多錢(qián),簡(jiǎn)直是搶劫。
③與…一樣,不比…差
He is no less wise than you.
他和你一樣聰明。