Translation1. 中国是一个历史悠久的文明古国,也是一个充满时代生机的东方大国,拥有许多得天独厚的旅游资源。自然风光
旖旎秀美(picturesque),历史文化博大精深,目前已有29处被列为
世界文化和自然遗产地(the world cultural and natural heritage sites)。在改革开放的推动下,中国的现代化建设突飞猛进,城乡面貌日新月异。古代中国的辉煌灿烂与现代中国的蓬勃发展交相辉映,为发展国内外旅游创造了有利的条件。中国正努力同各国广泛开展合作,促进世界旅游业的发展。
As a country with a long history of civilization, China is a vast oriental nation which is full of modem vitality and endowed with many unique tourism resources. Owing to its picturesque natural scenery, long history and profound culture, 29 places in China have been listed as the world cultural and natural heritage sites. Thanks to the further push by the opening-up and reform, China's modem construction is surging ahead, and both the cities and the country are experiencing daily changes. The ancient glory of China and its modem boom add radiance and charm to each other and help create a favorable condition for developing tourism at home and abroad. China is making efforts to develop extensive cooperation with other countries and, contributing to global tourism growth.
[解析] 1.第1句中的3个分句都是围绕“中国”展开,以China为英文句的主语。“是一个历史悠久的文明古国”可译为as a country with a long history of civilization或处理为插入语的形式。“充满时代生机的”可与“拥有许多得天独厚的旅游资源”一并译为定语从句.修饰主句“中国是一个东方大国”。
2.第2句前两个分句与后一分句隐含因果关系,翻译时应使用表因果关系的关联词或短语,将前后分句连接起来。同理,第3句中的“在改革开放的推动下”是后面分句“中国的现代化建设……”的原因,可处理为原因状语。
3.倒数第2句中的“为发展国内外旅游创造了有利的条件”可处理为which引导的非限制性定语从句,修饰前面的内容,也可像参考译文那样译为并列句。汉语讲究铺陈,“辉煌灿烂”译为glory即可。
4.最后一句“中国正努力同各国广泛开展合作”中的“正努力”表明此句需用现在进行时态。
2.
中国的农民工
农民工(migrant workers)指在城市中从事非农业工作的
农业户口(agricultural-registered residence)工人。2013年中国的农民工总数达到2.63亿,他们主要就职于建筑业、第三产业和
劳动力密集型产业(labor intensive industry)。沿海地区各个领域的工人均以农民工为主,他们为经济的发展和城市的正常运行做出了巨大的贡献。但大量的农民工涌入城市工作也衍生了一系列的社会问题,如农民工子女受教育难、
空巢老人(empty nester)增加、工资水平低等。中国政府已采取措施,试图从根本上解决农民工平等就业和待遇公平等问题。
Migrant workers refer to the laborers with agricultural registered residence engaging in nonagricultural work in cities. In 2013, the number of migrant workers in China totalled 263 millions. They mainly work in the field of construction, the third industries and labor intensive industries. Migrant workers account for the majority of laborers in industries around coastal areas. They have made tremendous contributions to the economic development and the normal operation of cities. But with a large number of migrant workers swarming into cities, a series of social problems have also emerged, such as difficulty in the education of migrant workers' children, increased number of empty nesters and low income. Chinese government has taken measures, trying to solve such problems as fair employment and treatment of migrant workers in a fundamental way.
[解析] 1.第一句中的“农业户口工人”可译为the laborers with agricultural registered residence;修饰语“在城市中从事非农业工作的”则可处理为现在分词短语engaging in...,作后置定语修饰laborers。
2.第二句由两个分句构成,分明讲了农民工的人数和就业领域,二者联系不是很紧密,翻译时为避免句子过长,可拆译为两个句子。
3.第三句中“沿海地区各个领域的工人均以农民工为主”这句话可理解为“农民工占沿海地区各个领域工人的主要部分”,即翻译时将“农民工”作为主语,译成Migrant workers account for the majority of laborers in industries around coastal areas。
4.倒数第二句中“大量的农民工涌入城市工作也衍生了一系列的社会问题”如果直译,则主语“大量的农民工涌入城市工作”较长,因此可将“大量的农民工涌入城市工作”处理成with引导的独立主格结构,作伴随状语。“……衍生了一系列的社会问题”则可将“社会问题”作主语,理解为“社会问题出现或产生”,即a series of social problems have also emerged。
3. 中国
生肖(zodiac)是中国民间文化古老而又重要的组成部分,形象地折射出中国人民的丰富心理。中国生肖是按照中国传统的阴历来计算的。它由十二年一个轮回组成,每一年对应一种不同的动物。有关动物为什么代表该年有很多传说故事。无论如何,很可能是起源于古代人们对动物的崇拜。一个人出生在哪一年,他的生肖就是该年的动物。人们认为生肖会影响一个人的性格、行为,甚至命运。因此,市场上与生肖相关的物品也琳琅满目。
The Chinese zodiac is an ancient and important component of China's folk culture, which vividly reflects the rich psychology of Chinese people. The Chinese zodiac is calculated according to the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. It consists of a twelve-year cycle, with each year corresponding to a different animal. There are numerous legends concerning why animals represent each year. Anyway, most likely, it originated from people's worship of animals. A person's zodiac is the representative animal of that year in which he was born. It is believed that people's zodiac may affect their character, behavior, and even destiny. Therefore, there are a good range of items related to the zodiac in the market.
4.
承德避暑山庄
丞德避暑山庄(the Chengde Mountain Resort)是中国现存最大的
皇家园林(imperial garden),位于河北省东北部的承德市。整个工程开始于1703年,建设用了近九十年。避暑山庄原为清代皇帝避暑和从事各种政治活动的场所,见证了清朝二百多年的繁荣与衰败。山庄吸收了南北园林的精华,既有北方景色的壮观,又有南方景观的秀丽。由于存在众多的历史文化遗产,避暑山庄及周围寺庙成为了中国十大名胜之一。1994年,承德避暑山庄及周围寺庙被列入《
世界遗产名录》(
World Heritage List)。
The Chengde Mountain Resort, located in Chengde City, northeast of Hebei Province, is the biggest imperial garden existing in China. The whole project started in 1703 and it took nearly ninety years to construct it. Built for emperors of Qing Dynasty to avoid the summer heat and to conduct all kinds of political activities, the Resort witnessed the rise and fall of Qing Dynasty for over two hundred years. It absorbed the essence of Chinese gardens both in the south and the north, combining magnificent northern scenery with beautiful southern landscape. As there are many historical and cultural heritages, the Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples become one of the top ten scenic spots in China. In 1994, they entered the World Heritage List.
[解析] 1.第一句话的主语是“承德避暑山庄”,后跟两个谓语“是”和“位于”。为使句子结构紧凑,可以将“位于河北省东北部的承德市”译为分词结构located in Chengde City...,作为插入语置于主语the Chengde Mountain Resort之后,中间用逗号隔开。
2.第二句中的“建设用了近九十年”可用句型“it takes+时间+to do sth.”加以翻译,这样使行文显得更地道。
3.翻译第三句“避暑山庄原为……繁荣与衰败”时,可将“见证了清朝二百多年的繁荣与衰败”作为句子主干,把“避暑山庄原为清代皇帝避暑和从事各种政治活动的场所”处理成过去分词短语作状语,置于句首,即译为Built for emperors of Qing Dynasty to...。
4.“既有北方景色的壮观,又有南方景观的秀丽”可处理成现在分词短语combining...with...作状语,对主句“山庄吸收了南北园林的精华”作进一步说明。“壮观”和“秀丽”可分别译成形容词magnificent与beautiful。
5.最后一句为避免与the World Heritage List中的list重复,“被列为”没有翻译为list,而是译作enter,更为妥当。
5.
清明节
清明是我国二十四节气(solar term)之一,在每年农历的四月五日前后。清明过后,气温逐渐上升,雨水也增多,这是春耕播种的好时机。清明不仅是指引农耕的节气,也是举行祭祀的最重要节日。汉族和一些少数民族人民为祖先奉上祭品,为逝者扫墓。扫墓活动通常是在清明的前后十天这期间进行。从2008年开始,包括清明在内的一些传统节日在中国大陆地区被列为法定公众假日。如今,清明不仅是怀念、祭奠祖先与逝去的家人的日子,也是与亲友团聚,远足踏青的日子。
The Qingming Festival
As one of the 24 solar terms in China, Qingming falls around the fifth day of the fourth lunar month. After the festival, it is a good time for spring plowing and sowing with a rise in temperature and an increase in rainfall. Qingming is not only a solar term to guide farm work, but also the most important day to sacrifice. The people of Han nationality and some ethnic minorities at this time offer sacrifices to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the deceased. Tomb-sweeping is usually done during the phase of 10 days before and after Qingming. Since 2008, several traditional festivals including Qingming Festival have been set aside as legal public holidays in mainland China. Today, Qingming is not only a time to cherish the memory of the ancestors and the departed family members and to hold a memorial ceremony for them, but also a moment to reunite with friends and family or a chance to have a spring outing.
6.
上海博物馆
上海博物馆位于人民广场的南侧,是一座大型的中国古代艺术博物馆。它的陈列面积为2800平方米,馆藏珍贵文物12万件,其所收藏的
青铜器(ancient Chinese bronze)、
陶瓷(ceramics)、书法、绘画等质量精湛,在国内外享有盛誉。上海博物馆创建于1952年,发展迅速,在文物收藏、保护、研究、展出以及与其他机构的文化交流方面均有不俗的成就。1992年上海市政府作出决策,开始在市中心建造新馆。新的上海博物馆设有11个专馆和3个展览厅。目前,它正以崭新的面貌迎接着八方来客。
Shanghai Museum, situated in the south of the People's Square, is a large museum of ancient Chinese art. It has a display area of 2800 square meters and possesses a collection of 120000 precious cultural relics. Its high-quality collections of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings are specially celebrated both at home and abroad. Founded in 1952, the museum has developed very rapidly and distinguished itself in aspects of cultural relic acquisition, conservation, research, exhibition, and cultural exchanges with other institutes. In 1992, according to the decision of the Shanghai municipal government, the work to build a new museum in the city center started. The new Shanghai Museum has eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. Now it welcomes the visitors from all over the world with a brand-new look.
[解析] 1.第一句中,“位于人民广场的南侧”可翻译为后置定语修饰主语“上海博物馆”,故译为situated in the south of the People's Square,situated也可用located代替。
2.第二句较长,可分为两个句子进行翻译。第一句为“它的陈列面积为2800平方米,馆藏珍贵文物12万件”,可将其译为It has a display area of 2800 square meters and possesses a collection of 120000 precious cultural relics,剩余内容可翻译为第二句。
3.末句中的“八方来客”指的是世界各地的客人,故可翻译为the visitors from all over the world。
7. 中国园林(the Chinese garden)是经过三千多年演变而成的独具一格的园林景观(landscape)。它既包括为皇室成员享乐而建造的大型花园,也包括学者、商人和卸任的政府官员为摆脱嘈杂的外部世界而建造的私家花园。这些花园构成了一种意在表达人与自然之间应有的和谐关系的微缩景观。典型的中国园林四周有围墙,园内有池塘、假山(rockwork)、树木、花草以及各种各样由蜿蜒的小路和走廊连接的建筑。漫步在花园中,人们可以看到一系列精心设计的景观犹如山水画卷(scroll)一般展现在面前。
The Chinese garden has become a landscape of unique style after an evolution for more than 3 000years. It includes not only the large gardens built as entertainment venues for the royal family, but also the private gardens built as secluded retreats for scholars, merchants and retired government officials. These gardens have constituted a miniature designed to express the harmonious relationship between man and nature. A typical Chinese garden is surrounded by walls, and in the garden there are ponds, rockwork, trees, flowers and all kinds of buildings linked by winding trails and corridors. Strolling around the gardens, people may feel that a series of well-designed scenery come into sight just like a landscape scroll.
[解析]
1. 第一句中,“三千多年演变”可以译成an evolution for more than 3000 years;“独具一格的”可以用形容词unique来表达,也可以用短语of unique style 来表达。
2. 第二句中,“既……也……”可以套用固定结构not only…but also…来表达;“为皇室成员享乐而建造的”可转译成更为地道的表达built as entertainment venues for the royal family;同样,“为摆脱嘈杂的外部世界而建造的”也可进行类似的处理。
3. 第三句中,长定语“一种意在表达人与自然之间应有的和谐关系的”可以使用定语从句表达。为了使行文简洁,可以简化成过去分词结构,即designed to express…。
4. 第四句中,“四周有围墙”用被动句式译出,更符合英语的表达习惯,故译作is surrounded by walls;“园内有……”应该使用there be句型译出,考虑到表语部分较长,可以将状语部分in the garden提前至句首;长定语“由蜿蜒的小路和走廊连接的”可以用定语从句译出或直接简化成过去分词结构,即linked by winding trails and corridors。
5. 第五句中,“漫步在花园中”译成前置状语,但是需要使用现在分词结构;“展现”一词可以用短语come into sight表达。
8. 每个人从呱呱坠地起,便有了自己的姓名,然后带着它进入各种社会活动,使之起到代表自我的作用。中国是世界上最早使用姓氏的国家。中国人的姓名文化,是中华民族物质生活和精神生活的重要组成部分。它在政治、文化及社会活动等诸领域中,都发挥着极其重要的作用。中国人的名字既是家族血脉传承的符号,也是社会发展和时代变迁的记录仪,带有鲜明的时代烙印,因此从一个人的名字中便可以大致推断出他的年龄。
Everyone has gained a name since he or she comes to the world, and then bears it in various social activities, making it represent oneself. China is the first country in the world to use surnames. The Chinese name culture is an important part of the material and spiritual life of the Chinese nation. It plays an extremely vital role in a variety of fields including politics, culture and social activities. The name of the Chinese is not only the symbol of the bloodline of the family, but also the recorder of social development and the changes of the times. With a distinctive mark of the time, the age of a person can be roughly inferred from his or her name.
9. 中国水运发展的历史源远流长。中国拥有众多河流,较长的海岸线,提供了优越的水上运输条件。早在商朝的时候帆船就出现了。
春秋战国(the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring states Period)时期,水上运输已经十分频繁。隋朝
大运河(the Grand canal)纵贯南北,长达1700多公里,为南北水运提供了很大的便利。宋代将指南针用于航海,这是我国古代航海技术上一项重大发明。明朝,郑和七次下西洋,访问了30多个国家。在其中一次航行中,他到达了非洲东海岸。中国水运史对中华文明的形成和发展起到了巨大的作用。
The water transport of China has a long history. China boasts many rivers and long coastlines, thus providing favorable water transport conditions. As early as the Shang Dynast), sailing boats appeared. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was frequent water transport. The Grand Canal of the Sui Dynasty running through the north to the south was reaching more than 1,703 kilometers, providing great convenience for north-south water transport. The compass was used for navigation in the Song Dynasty, which is an important invention in the ancient navigation technology of China. In the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He sailed across seas seven times and visited more than 30 countries, reaching the east coast of Africa during one of his voyages. The history of Chinese water transport has played a huge role in the formation and development of Chinese civilization.
10. 中国房价问题近年来一直是社会热门话题。大中型城市房价一直居高不下且呈逐渐上涨的趋势。有的年轻人根本买不起房,有的则成为了房奴(mortgage slaves)。房奴是近几年出现的社会流行词。顾名思义,房奴的意思是房屋的奴隶。这些人为买房而向银行借贷款,然后用一生的精力来偿还。据某房地产网站的调查,中国约32%的人月供占到了收入的50%以上,成为了名副其实的房奴。他们在享受有房的心理安慰的同时,也承受着巨大的精神压力,生活质量大为下降。
Chinese housing prices have been hot social topics in recent years. House prices in medium-and-large cities keep high, with the trend of further going up. Some young people simply cannot afford purchasing any house, while others become mortgage slaves. Mortgage slaves (or house slaves) are a new buzzword that emerged in the society in recent years. Just as the name suggests, house slaves refer to people who are enslaved to mortgage for their houses. These people borrow loans from banks to buy a house and then repay the loans with their lifetime efforts. According to survey by a real estate website, about 32% of Chinese people paid over 50% of their income as monthly mortgage payment, so they indeed became slaves of the house. While they seem to enjoy some psychological comfort that they have their own houses, they have to bear tremendous stress, with quality of life dropped down significantly.