【翻译笔记】《围城》英译选句 - 天翻地覆
作者:沪江英语
来源:沪江英语
2011-12-21 08:20
原文:
那两天里,李妈对鸿渐言出令从。柔嘉想自己把方家种种全跟姑母谈过,幸亏她没漏出来,否则鸿渐更要吵得天翻地覆,他最要面子。(钱钟书 - 围城 )
翻译关键词:言出令从,漏出来(let out),raise cain(天翻地覆),要面子
译文:
For the next couple of days, Mama Li obeyed Hungchien’s every word. Jou-chia had considered telling her aunt everything about the Fangs herself. Fortunately, she hadn’t let anything out; otherwise, Hung-chien really would have raised cain. He was so concerned about saving face. (美 Jeanne Kelly, Nathan K.Mao <译> –Fortress Besieged)
翻译笔记:
言出令从
译为obey sb.’s every word,同义词是“惟命是从”。
漏出来(let out)
此处指“泄漏机密、秘密”,译为let out。如:
Keep this to yourselves – don’t let it out to the press.
这事你们要严守秘密,不要向报界透露。
It is time to let the secret out.
现在是公开这个秘密的时候了。
raise cain(天翻地覆)
* 形容大吵大闹,大叫大嚷;闹事,闹乱子。如:
As soon as the teacher left the kids raised cain.
老师一离开,小家伙们就闹翻天了。
* 找麻烦,发脾气。如:
If I’m late again, the boss will raise cain.
我再迟到,老板就要大发雷霆了。
要面子
过分顾及自己的体面,生怕被人看不起 concerned with saving face; watchful of reputation; sensitive about one’s pride 如:
他这个人很要面子。
He is touchy about his pride. or He hates being embarrassed.
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