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老外如何表達"過去"

wii168 發表於: 2011-7-11 10:48 來源: ADJ網路控股集團


  句子:他在整理祖父的老宅時,發現了許多過去的東西。

  誤譯:When he tidied up his grandfather's old house, he found many former things.

  正譯:When he tidied up his grandfather's old house, he found many old things.

  解釋:former 用來修飾事情,不修飾具體的實物。former things指“過去的事情”。而“過去的東西”就是“老物件”,要譯為 old things 或 old objects。

 

 

  “過去”的第一個意思是“說話時或某一特定時刻以前的時間”。名詞譯為 past, bygones。形容詞譯為 past, last, former, previous, old。副詞譯為 in the past, formerly, previously。

 

例如:

 

  1. 這個失足青年下定決心與過去決裂。The juvenile delinquent made up his mind to break with his past.

  “過去”的第二個意思是“時間流逝或消逝”。英語可以譯為 to pass, to lapse, to tick away。例如:

  2. 自從我們上次見面,五年已經過去了。Five years have passed/lapsed since we last saw each other.

  “過去”的第三個意思是“反應或作用逐漸消失”。英語可以譯為 to wear off。例如:

  3. 她用冷水洗了洗臉,困勁兒頓時就過去了。She washed her face with cold water, and her sleepiness wore off instantly.

 

  “過去”的第四個意思是指“離開或經過說話人或被敘述對象的所在地,向另一個地點去”。表示空間概念。譯為 to go over,to walk over, to pass by, to go further。例如:

  4. 再過去是一個大池塘。When you go further, you'll see a large pond.

  “過去”的第五個意思是“過世”,是委婉語。可以譯為 to pass away