巧媳婦難為無米之炊：You can't get something out of nothing.
1998年1月3日
關于"用"的不同譯法
with sth.側重于用什么工具（常用一些）
in sth.常側重于用什么材料，但也能表示用工具或方式（常用）
by sth.側重于行為，采用的方式、手段等（常用）
to use（常用）
from 使用的角度（常用）
over sth.（不常用）
on sth.（常用）
怎樣翻譯“ Li is now with his wife in London; it is already four years since he was a bandmaster.”？
李和他愛人住在倫敦，他擔任樂隊指揮已經四年了。(Wrong)
（原因）since從句中的過去式聯系動詞was/were指一種狀態的結束。因此不是“已經擔任”而是“已經不擔任”，所以這句應譯為：
李和他愛人住在倫敦，他不擔任樂隊指揮已經四年了。(Right)
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1997年12月28日
1. 怎樣翻譯“我十點整會在那兒等你”？
I'll wait for you there at exactly ten o'clock. (Wrong)
（原因）當我們要強調延誤或者時間過去的概念時，可以用wait (for)，經常用以表示某人太早到，或者事物來遲。但是語氣中不含這層意思時，就要用expect，單純表示我們知道某事將會發生。所以這句應該譯為：
I'll expect you there at exactly ten o'clock. (Right)
2. 天下有一知己，可以不恨。
One dies without regret if there is one in the whole world who "knows his heart".
習語的翻譯途徑
1、 避而不譯，繞過難點；
36計走為上計：make oneself scarce
2、 用異語文化替代原語文化；
班門弄斧： Teach one's grandmother to suck eggs
3、 直譯加注，傳達形象；
東施效顰："Tung Shih imitaging His Shih"
* His Shih was a famous beauty in the ancient kingdomof Yueh. Tung Shih was an ugly girl who tried to imitate her ways."
4、 直譯，保持形象；
姜太公釣魚，愿者上鉤：Like Chiang Tai Kung fishing, they have case the line for the fish who want to be caught.
5、 直譯加意譯；
象藏著神燈的山洞為阿拉丁打開了門。
What a door of an Aladdin's cave it seemed to be..
6、在正文中引出典故情節.
怎樣問生肖或屬相
--您是屬什么的？
—Under what animal sign (or symbol) were you born?
or
—What animal sign were you born under?
—我屬豬。
— Mine is Boar.
or
I was born in the year of the Boar.
——明年是什么年？
—— What is next year's animal sign?
—— It's the Tiger.
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十二生肖譯名
鼠Rat 牛Ox 虎Tiger 兔Hare 龍Dragon 蛇Serpent/ Snake
馬Horse 羊Sheep 猴Monkey 雞Rooster 狗Dog 豬Boar
關于"年輕人"的一些譯法與區別
YA：young adult
the young: 〈總稱〉年輕人，青年
young blood:〈總稱〉年輕人，青年
young fellow-me-lad: 吊兒郎當的年輕人
young man: ①青年男子， 年輕人；②男朋友，未婚夫
young people: 12-24歲的青少年
young person: 14至17歲的未成年人
youngster: ①小伙子，年輕人②小孩，兒童
younker: ①小伙子，年輕人②小孩，兒童
youngling: 小伙子，年輕人
younger ：（常與物主代詞連用）幼者，小輩，年齡較小的人
springal: 小伙子，年輕人
stripling: 青少年
lad: 男青年
lass: 青年女郎
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常用諺語
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
A good beginning makes a good ending.
A jack of all trades is master of none.
A miss is as good as a mile.
A person is known by the company he keeps.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Actions speak louder than words.
All that glitters is not gold.
All's well that ends well.
Ask and you shall receive.
Ask no questions and hear no lies.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Don't burn your bridges behind you.
Don't change horses in midstream.
Don't cross the bridge till you come to it.
Doubt is the beginning, not the end, of wisdom.
Every man has a price.
Faith will move mountains.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Good fences make good neighbors.
Half a loaf is better than none.
He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
History repeats itself.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
It's an ill wind that blows no good.
It's not over till it's over.
It's the early bird that gets the worm.
It's the empty can that makes the most noise.
It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Many hands make light work.
Nature abhors a vacuum.
Never judge a book by its cover.
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Opposites attract.
Out of sight, out of mind.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Still waters run deep.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The pen is mightier than sword.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
Two heads are better than one.
Variety is the spice of life.
Waste not, want not.
What will be, will be.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You can't tell a book by its cover.
You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
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常用計量單位及換算方法
Conversion Table
溫度 Temperature
攝氏度-->華氏度：°F＝℃×1.8＋32
華氏度-->攝氏度：℃＝（0F—32）×5/9
to convert ℃ to 0F multiply by 1.8 and add 32
to convert 0F to ℃ subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9
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長度、距離及面積 Length, Distance & Area
英寸-->厘米 ×2.54 inches to centimeters ×2.54
厘米-->英寸 ×0.39 centimeters to inches ×0.39
英尺-->米 ×0.30 feet to meters ×0.30
米-->英尺 ×3.28 meters to feet ×3.28
碼-->米 ×0.91 yards to meters ×0.91
米-->碼 ×1.09 meters to yards ×1.09
英里-->公里 ×1.61 miles to kilometers ×1.61
公里-->英里 ×0.62 kilometers to miles ×0.62
英畝-->公頃 ×0.40 acres to hectares ×0.40
公頃-->英畝 ×2.47 hectares to acres ×2.47
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重量 Weight
盎司-->克 ×28.35 ounces to grams ×28.35
克-->盎司 ×0.035 grams to ounces ×0.035
磅-->千克 ×0.45 pounds to kilograms ×0.45
千克-->磅 ×2.21 kilograms to pounds ×2.21
英噸-->公斤 ×1016 British tons to kilograms ×1016
美噸-->公斤 ×907 US tons to kilograms ×907
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容積 Volume
英國加侖-->升 ×4.55 imperial gallons to liters ×4.55
升-->英國加侖 ×0.22 liters to imperial gallons ×0.22
美國加侖-->升 ×3.79 US gallons to liters ×3.79
升-->美國加侖 ×0.26 liters to US gallons ×0.26
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譯路通武漢漢口翻譯公司整理
2012.5.8