原文:

那女人平日就有一种孤芳自赏、落落难合的神情--大宴会上没人敷衍的来宾或喜酒席上过时未嫁的少女所常有的神情--此刻更流露出嫌恶,黑眼镜也遮盖不了。(钱钟书 - 围城 )

翻译关键词:孤芳自赏,落落难合,敷衍

译文:

Ordinarily the young woman had a rather conceited, aloof expression, much like that of a neglected guest at a large party or an unmarried maiden at a wedding feast. At that moment her distaste for the child surfaced so much so that not even her sunglasses could hide it. (美 Jeanne Kelly, Nathan K.Mao <译> –Fortress Besieged)

翻译笔记:

孤芳自赏

* 这一词有贬义的意味,一般指一个人自命清高,自以为是。译为:conceited; narcissistic
傲慢的,自大的snooty
The officer is so conceited that when I pointed out his mistakes, it really put his nose out of joint.
这个警官特别孤芳自赏,当我指出他的错误时,差点把他的鼻子气歪了。
 
落落难合
* 形容事情很很难做到,遥遥无期,也可形容一个人孤僻,不合群(正是文中含义)。文中译为:aloof
不爱交际的,不与人亲近的 unsociable
Never stand aloof from the masses.
千万不可脱离人群。

敷衍

* 指做事不认真不负责,只做表面功夫。译为:perfunctory。文中译为neglected有忽视的意思
敷衍了事 palter
The threat of a neglected cold is for doctor what the threat of purgatory is for priest.
对感冒敷衍了事构成的威胁对于医生来说,正如对牧师而言地狱对他所构成的威胁。

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