原文：

那孩子做了两年的传达，老于世故，明白来客分两类：低声下气请求“对不住，请你如何如何”的小客人，粗声大气命令“小孩儿，这是我的片子，找某某”的大客人。今天这一位是属于前类的，自己这时候正忙，没工夫理他。（钱钟书 - 围城 ）

翻译关键词：老于世故，低声下气，fall into sth.，反身代词作同位语

译文：

Having been a messenger for two years, the boy was an old hand at dealing with people and knew that callers fell into two categories: the unimportant ones who requested meekly, “Excuse me, would you please do such and such,” and the big customers who ordered gruffly, “Kid, here’s my card. Go get so-and-so.” The one here today belonged to the former category. As he himself was now busy, he had no time to pay attention to the caller.  (美 Jeanne Kelly, Nathan K.Mao <译> –Fortress Besieged)

翻译笔记：

老于世故

表示有社会经验，有善于策略地和沉着地处理各种情况的能力。译为an old hand at dealing with people; versed in the ways of the world; worldly-wise; sophisticated; know what one is about等。

低声下气

形容说话恭顺小心，忍气吞声的样子。译为meekly; speak humbly under one’s breath; meek and subservient ; obsequious等。如：
低声下气地乞求施舍    humbly beg for alms

fall into sth.

可以分为；能够分成  如：
My talk falls naturally into three parts.
我的谈话可以自然分成三个部分。

反身代词作同位语

反身代词作同位语时，一般具有强调的作用。反身代词作同位语时在句子中的位置较为灵活。如：
She saw it herself. / She herself saw it.
她亲眼所见。
The president himself will attend the opening ceremony.
总统要亲自出席开幕典礼。

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