8、人都是这山望着那山高,对自己的现状没有满意的时候。
[误]Almost all people think that the other mountain is higher than the one he's standing on.They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.
[正]Almost all people think that the grass is greener on the other hill.They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.
注:“这山望着那山高”是指人不满足于现状的心理,它在英语中已经有了现成的说法,即the grass is greener on the other hill(他山的草更绿),因此我们借用即可,这样既方便又更有利于与西方人沟通。
9、转战南北。
[误]fight south and north.
[正]fight north and south.
注:在地理方位的表达习惯上,中英文有一定的区别。中国人习惯于先“东西”后“南北”,而且在涉及“南北”时,习惯于先说“南”,再说“北”,如:“南征北战”、“南来北往”等。而英美人与此正好相反,如“江苏在中国的东南部”英文是Jiangsu is in the southeast of China,而“新疆在中国的西北部”应译为Xinjiang is in the northwest of China.
10、这个教授教得很烂。
[误]The professor teaches badly.
[正]The professor is so terrible.
注:有人认为第二句的意思是“这个教授很可怕”,其实不然。英语中terrible意思很灵活,例如:feel terrible指身体“不舒服”;The food is terrible则是说食物“难吃极了”。而第一句纯属中文式的表达。