A 翻譯是一門藝術
Q.1 The latest manifestation of concern over “sinification”is the Hong Kong government’s plan to introduce“national education” into local schools at the behest ofBeijing. 中文怎樣翻譯才好?22
Q.2 「今天勞工處陳先生上午十時到地盤巡查,他對地盤有以下意見」、「以上項目必須在四十八小時內完成及呈報」這兩句,我試譯了做英文,文法有沒有錯?23
Q.3 有入場券寫 Please use public transport in coming tothe stadium。介系詞為什麼用 in 而不是 to 或 for?24
Q.4 《聖經.新約》的 The Letter of James,中文為什麼譯做《聖雅各書》?James 不是應譯做「詹姆斯」嗎?25
Q.5 「江湖」兩字,是不是很難譯做英文? 26
Q.6 電視報道英女王登基六十週年慶典,把 Hip, hip,hooray 譯做「嗨,嗨,萬歲」,正確碼?28
Q.7 美國國務卿希拉莉談LGBT人權問題的講詞,有兩句我不明白,先生可以解釋一下嗎?29
Q.8 昂山素姬說:I accept responsibility for what I did and what I am, and so must my sons. 有報紙譯作「面對昨日今日之事,我義無反顧一力承擔,我的兒子也務必如此」,語氣是不是太強了?30
Q.9 「熟能生巧」常見譯做 Practice makes perfect,對嗎?31
Q.10 「犬儒主義」和「鄉愿主義」英文怎樣翻譯?意思是什麼?32
Q.11 「為人辯冤白謗是第一天理」一語,那「白謗」是什麼意思?全句英文可以怎樣說?33
Q.12 常見「白色恐怖」和「紅色恐怖」二詞,意思是相同的嗎?英文有沒有同義詞?34
Q.13 坊間哪一本英漢詞典是編譯兼善的?梁實秋的《遠東英漢大詞典》怎樣?35
Q.14 英國盛大慶祝女王登基, 新聞報道說 Q u e e n Elizabeth humbled by diamond jubilee,報刊或譯做「女王感謙卑」, 改為「感到卑微」或「受之有愧」會不會好一點?36
Q.15 「我愛聽雨」英文可不可譯做 I like to listen the sound of the rain?「簡陋的房子」是不是 an ugly house?37
Q.16 John is sitting here with me and he sends / will send / is sending your ill daughter his best regards 這一句,哪個選擇正確?38
Q.17 「先發制人」和「以靜制動」英文怎樣說? 39
Q.18 「貌合神離」英文怎樣翻譯? 40
Q.19 先生以「窮通信是由天定」為題,意思是什麼?英文可以怎樣翻譯?41
Q.20 Every cloud has a silver lining 意思似是「每一朵雲都有一條銀線」,為什麼報紙記者譯做「黑暗之中總有一線光明?」又 line 為什麼變做 lining?42
Q.21 「真善美」怎樣翻譯? 43
Q.22 「才」字怎樣譯? 44
Q.23 「食色性也」譯做 To feed and to seed, that is human可以嗎?45
Q.24 莎士比亞名劇《王子復仇記》膾炙人口的句子 To be, or not to be,香港學者何文匯譯做「忍辱偷生,還是一死了之?」先生認為怎樣?46
Q.25 有論者認為,英文可以說 one of the best writers,中文卻不可直譯「最出色的作者之一」,先生同意嗎?48
Q.26 Fa ce the mus i c 是「承擔錯誤行為的後果」或「接受懲罰」的意思嗎﹖49
Q.27 我翻譯以下句子,第一位上司把 Having joined 改為Joined,第二位保留 Having joined,卻把 been 字刪去,修改正確嗎?Having joined the government in 1990 and been transferred to the ABC Department in 1999, I am currently attached to the DEF Team.80
Q.28 Sooner said than done 可不可解作「坐言起行」? 52
Q.29 要說器量小、動不動惱恨人家,英文有什麼形容詞可用?53
Q.30 「如無意外」英文怎麼說? 54
Q.31 「明天或明天之前,我都不可能做完」這一句,可不可以譯做 I can’t finish it on or before tomorrow?55
Q.32 劉家傑說, thous ands 是「成千上萬」, 因為九十九萬九千九百九十九仍可稱 thousands,先生同意嗎?56
Q.33 下雨時,問打傘者可不可以送我過馬路,英文怎麼說?57
Q.34 廣東話「笑到見牙唔見眼」,英文有傳神譯法嗎? 58
Q.35 Since the days “gay” meant happy 一語,先生譯做「自從 gay 不再解作『歡樂』之後」,為什麼不是「自從 gay 解作『歡樂』之後」?59
B 查了字典還是很難懂
Q.36 說「受歡迎」, 怎樣決定什麼時候用形容詞welcome,什麼時候用動詞 be welcomed?62
Q.37 Out of 和 out 有什麼分別? 64
Q.38 Leung Ka Wing has changed his story yet again 這一句,是說「梁家榮再次改口」還是「梁家榮未有改口」?65
Q.39 讀報見到 Tsang Holds on Tight to Peg 這標題,內文說 Hong Kong should not be looking at delinking itsdollar from the greenback。Hold on 是「繼續」還是「堅持」?Delink 一字,字典不載,是正式的英文嗎?66
Q.40 有兒童故事書談到一個頑皮學生大衛,書中一句說:David! You’re tardy! 這 tardy 應怎樣翻譯,才能和late 分別?68
Q.41 《教協報》最近有「支聯會譴責中國政府白色恐怖」報道。「白色恐怖」一詞是不是出自英文,有什麼典故?69
Q.42 喬布斯名言 Stay hungry, stay foolish 是什麼意思?怎樣翻譯才好?又 from strength to strength 是不是「再接再厲」?70
Q.43 狄更斯著作 The Uncommercial Traveller 第一章有以下一句:No chamermaid loves me, no waiter worshipsme, no boots admires and envies me. 句中 boots 一字,查字典不見適合的解釋,是比喻還是什麼?72
Q.44 Timidness / timidity 和 timorousness 意思有什麼分別?73
Q.45 查字典,bimonthly 可以指「一個月兩次」或「兩個月一次」,然則閱讀時,怎樣才可知道是哪個意思?74
Q.46 以下一句,句中 once 之後一截是什麼意思?I always enjoy beef Wellington, and Suzanne canproduce a pastry that doesn’t flake when cut and meat that’s so tender that once one has finished a first helping, Oliver Twist comes to mind.75
Q.47 前港督彭定康的告別講詞有以下一句,是什麼意思?All that is a reminder that sometimes we should remember the past the better to forget it.76
Q.48 我今年中學畢業, 科技大學來函邀我出席 mas s session,意思是什麼?78
Q.49 讀電郵,見到 I hope this email will find you well 這一句,find 的意思是什麼?80
Q.50 Upcoming、forthcoming、incoming 三字,可以通用嗎?81
Q.51 寫一個男人跳樓,我以 Person Falling from Height 作標題,但上司認為事情已成過去,故應寫作 Person Fallen from Height。我的一位美國朋友則建議寫作A Man Fell from Height。究竟哪個寫法正確?82
Q.52 「候任行政長官」英文是不是可稱為 pre - chi e f executive、chief executive to-be、chief executive elect、chief executive designate 或 incoming chief executive?84
Q.53 以下兩句意思有什麼分別?u I haven’t seen you for ages. v I haven’t seen you in ages.85
Q.54 大作《聽講英語 Easy Way》有例句說:You have surpassed yourself with this culotte。This culotte 是不是應改為 this pair of culottes?86
Q.55 英文老師說,both sides(雙方面)和 two sides(兩方面)用法不同究竟兩者有什麼分別?87
Q.56 以下兩句先生可以解釋一下嗎? u E i the r the British Bribery Act, or the law of the country with the best chance of getting a conviction, should be used to prevent double jeopardy. v A loophole remains unplugged.88
Q.57 梁實秋主編的英漢詞典有以下一句:This is not a book for prudes。句中 prudes 之前可不可以加 the?89
Q.58 大陸人遊香港, 我常見他們插隊, 認為是劣根性,請問「劣根性」英文是什麼?又「吝嗇」是miserly、tight-fisted 等,「節儉」英文怎麼說?90
Q.59 Happy 和 delighted 都是說「高興」,意思有什麼分別?91
Q.60 Vague、ambiguous、obscure 三字,都有「模糊」含義,可以通用嗎?要說歌詞含蓄細膩,三字之中應用哪一個?92
Q.61 Salaries and income taxes are less inevitable than the old canard about death and taxes would have you believe 這一句,是什麼意思?Would have you 這說法是怎麼用的?94
Q.62 Relation 和 relationship 有什麼分別? 96
Q.63 Fare 和 fee 兩字的用法,有什麼分別? 98
Q.64 除了佛教、道教的廟宇,基督教等其他宗教的廟宇可不可以叫 temple?倫敦似乎有街道名為Temple Place,跟宗教有關嗎?100
Q.65 寫會議紀錄,說到某 company(公司),應算是複數還是單數名詞?101
Q.66 奧威爾 Politics and the English Language 文中的pure wind 是什麼意思?102
Q.67 Out of nothing at all 一語是什麼意思? 103
Q.68 「公民」英文叫 ci t izen, 但 ci t izen 似應指 ci ty(城市)居民,「市民」怎麼變成「公民」?104
C 容易弄錯的文法問題
Q.69 有人說 Time hangs heavy,但修飾動詞 hang,不是應用副詞(adverb)heavily 嗎?108
Q.70 先生說過,which 可以指前面整個子句(clause)所說的事。That 也可以這樣用嗎?110
Q.71 Something 和 some things 有什麼分別? 111
Q.72 教師語文能力評核(基準試)報告指出,有教師寫Hong Kong people is creative。句中的 is 當然應改為are。但假如我「有心分裂祖國」,把 Hong Kong people 當作一個民族,用 is 可不可以?112
Q.73 I have put one in the post for you today 一語,是什麼意思?113
Q.74 先生曾說梁振英 I am not saying I was not touched 是「雙重否定」句法,但也有人認為不是,說I don’t know nothing(我什麼都不知道)這種句法才是「雙重否定」。114
Q.75 以下兩句, 為什麼 idea 之後, 一句不用 of, 另一句卻用?u Alice had no idea what Latitude was. v She doesn't seem to have any idea of what I'm talking about.116
Q.76 小女是某幼稚園中國舞隊員,表格上課外活動欄,以下寫法哪個選擇正確?Members / Dancers of the Chinese / Oriental Dance Team 117
Q.77 英文歌 “Same Old Lang Syne” 有幾句看不懂,可以談談嗎?118
Q.78 舍妹的作業紙有 Ice floats at the water surface(冰浮在水面上)一語。Float 不是應和 on 連用的嗎?120
Q.79 先生談過 an / the ailing Kangxi(病中的康熙帝)這寫法。但有網上英文教師指出 a / an 根本不可以用,而且言之成理,先生如何回答?122
Q.80 Art、arts 兩字,有什麼分別? 124
Q.81 先生說過,名字之前假如有形容詞,則可冠以 a、an 或 the。126
Q.82 讀英文報紙見到 There is more than meets the eye 一語,意思是什麼?能否解釋一下 more than meets的文法?127
Q.83 有中學校刊說:Students are encouraged to do volunteer work outside school。句中的 school 應是指學校這棟建築物,而不是「學業」,然則要不要加冠詞 the?128
Q.84 His success was due to his diligence。due to 可不可用owing to 或 because of 取代?130
Q.85 梁振英談到六四悼念晚會,說 I am not saying I was not touched,這種雙重否定句法,英文似不常見,
可不可以談談?132
Q.86 有英文補習社傳單說:Is your child between 5-13 years of age and needs help with their English? 句子似有兩個文法錯誤,先生認為怎樣?134
Q.87 稅務局叫 Inland Revenue Department,但 inland 應是指「內地」,和稅務有什麼關係?136
Q.88 We wanted to reach a small village and knew we must be near 這一句,說過去的事,怎麼用 must?Must不是現在式動詞嗎?137
Q.89 調查報告中,以下一句哪個選擇正確?The complainant alleged that Inspector Chan assaulted
/ had assaulted him inside the interview room on the morning of 20 April.138
Q.90 She is gone、I am finished / done、You are beat等說法,用的是現在完成式(present perfect tense)還是被動語態(passive voice)?140
Q.91 有英文補習教師公開稱讚一位少女說: S h e possesses pulchritude which is beyond compare。這
一句文法正不正確?選美會上說恰不恰當?142
Q.92 On / at / in the farm(在農場)這說法,三個介系詞是不是都可以用?144
Q.93 Jasper White is one of those rare people who believes in ancient myths。believes 是不是應改為 believe?146
Q.94 People whose job it is to save lives usually work with a sense of urgency 這一句,it 字似是多餘的,可以刪去嗎?148
Q.95 He spent the whole day glued to the goggle box,句中的 glued 是動詞還是形容詞?如是動詞,一句怎麼可以有兩個動詞?149
Q.96 以下填充題的答案是什麼?Put one’s best forward. It means “do one’s very best”.150
Q.97 Everyone who wants to can take part in the game這一句,英文老師或說正確,或說不正確,哪個說法才對?151
Q.98 This pet shop is the best hotel for pets which you can find in London,which 之前加一逗點,會不會清楚一點?152
Q.99 先生說:「關係子句(relative clause)的 that、who 等主詞和連用的完整動詞(full verb),往往可
用 ing / ed 動詞或形容詞取代。」可否舉例說明?154
Q.100 小女做英文作業,寫到 on Mid-Autumn Festival(中秋節那天)。老師把 on 改為 at,那樣改對不對?記得有書本說,節日假期只有一天,用on;不止一天,用 at。156
Q.101 英文歌 “The Rose” 有一句說:Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed。Some say love, it is... 是不是應改為 Somebody said love is...?157
Q.102 “I believe my breath will get long next, my memory’s getting so much so,” said Mr Omer 這一句,見狄更斯名著 David Copperfield 第二十一回,意思是什麼?又兩子句(clause)之間為什麼沒有連接詞?158
Q.103 讀過一篇文章以 meet the requestion 說「符合要求」,但最近查字典,沒有 requestion 一字。究竟這說法對不對?160
Q.104 You will be glad you came 據說是「你一定會慶幸自己來了」的意思,說的是未發生的事。「來了」既還未發生,為什麼用過去式的 came?161
Q.105 An aircraft pilot flew in low, firing at anything was still alive,論文法正不正確?162
Q.106 文法書說,「Who / which / that +完整動詞(full verb) 」, 可用 ing 動詞取代。但請看以下一句:They stormed the pier, demanding a halt to its demolition。句中的 demanding,明顯不等於 which / that demanded,這 demanding 一字是不是錯用了?164
Q.107 廣告以「加班機」比喻補習班,說 We are aimed at securing good exam results of our passengers,該如何改正?166
Q.108 說物品的生產地,我小時候學的英文說法是 made in;但是,今天常常見到 product of 或 produce of 這兩個說法,和 made in 有分別嗎?168
Q.109 Would you oppose smoking? 和 Would you be opposed to smoking? 這兩句,哪一句正確?170
Q.110 外籍老闆發通告說 Our office will move to...,又說My email address will change to...。另一老闆是香港人,認為以上兩句應改為 Our office should be moved to... 以及 My email address will be changed to...。究竟哪兩句正確?171
Q.111 讀書見到以下一句: I ran breathles s into the kitchen。動詞 ran 為什麼不是用副詞(adverb) breathlessly 修飾,而是用形容詞 breathless?172
Q.112 有英籍同事說,「參加交流」英文不可說 to go on an exchange,必須說 to go on a student exchange / an exchange programme,對嗎?173
D 生活上遇到的英語難題
Q.113 英文習作有以下填充題:Peter said he (sleep)since last night。老師的答案是 had been sleeping,對嗎?176
Q.114 先生說,寫書評,敘述書中故事,一般用簡單現在式動詞。但假如原文兩三種時式並用,那怎麼辦?178
Q.115 為什麼 He is slow with the mouse、He is good on the computer 這兩句,同樣是指「使用」,卻一說with,一說 on?179
Q.116 As there is only one validly nominated candidate for the constituency, the candidate has been declared elected. 句中declared elected 二字文法正確嗎?候選人沒有對手而當選, 英文可不可以說 The candidate has been uncontestedly elected?180
Q.117 名曲 “Que Sera Sera” 說:Whatever will be, will be / The future’s not ours to see。第二句的 ours 代表什麼?全句文法正確嗎?182
Q.118 中四英文課本有以下句子:“I am thinking of going to Japan,” Lisa said to me. “Would you like to come with me?” 麗莎既是邀人一起「去」(go)日本,為什麼不說 go with me 而說 come with me?184
Q.119 讀書見到以下一句:I’m sorry to hear that you have to leave the company two days later。句中的 two days later 可不可以改為 in two day’s time?185
Q.120 評論詩歌所用過去式動詞全被教師改為現在式,例如以下一句,had captured 改為captures,那樣改正不正確?The poem “Island” had captured the feelings of Hong Kong people facing the upcoming 1997 handover.186
Q.121 有數學課本說:Given that Jack answers correctly to a question, find the probability that...(假設傑克正確回答了這個問題,請計算……有多大可能)。這一句文法有沒有錯?188
Q.122 The most common reason for having them enrol in such activities is to boost the children’s confidence. 那enrol 是不是應改為 enrolled?189
Q.123 理工大學網上教材談到 i t i s because 和 thi s i s because 的用法,有以下一條公式,先生認為對不對?To give an effect first, then explain the cause, use “this is because”(先說結果,後講原因,就用 this is because)。190
Q.124 先生說,解釋事情的原因,應該用 this is because 還是 it is because,「得看和上文是否呼應,無公式可循」。理工大學在網上列出五條公式,先生認為怎樣?192
Q.125 喬布斯叫人 Think different(思想要與眾不同),那different 是不是應改為 differently?194
Q.126 According to the schedule, the next train arrives / will arrive at 10pm(根據時間表,下一班火車晚上十時抵達)這一句,應用 arrives 還是 will arrive?195
Q.127 Steve leaves a company that only he could have built 這一句,could have built 可不可改為 could build?196
Q.128 When we were discussing the causes of the war, Mr Chan walked / was walking into the classroom 這一句,哪個選擇正確?198
Q.129 先生說 This is / was the first(或 second、third 等)time that somebody...(這是某人第一次……)之後,動詞應用完成式,然則 This is / was the last time that somebody 則怎樣?老師說可用現在式過去式或完成式動詞,對嗎?200
Q.130 Mr Wong was absent that night and hence he was unaware of the incident,把 hence 之後 he 字或 he was 兩字刪去,可以嗎?201
Q.131 u They lost $40 each. v We each have our own car. 這兩句可不可改寫為 They each lost $40 以及 We have our own car each?202
Q.132 有運動用品手冊說:Whatever your sport, the new X is the perfect partner for your training。Whatever your sport 之後,是不是應加動詞 is?203
Q.133 《傲慢與偏見》有以下兩句: u Lady Cather ine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. v She was not used to have her judgement controverted. Object to 和 be used to 之後,不是應用 ing 動詞的嗎?204
Q.134 The next time you go, bring your phone with you. The next time 和 next time 有什麼分別?又這一句有兩個子句(clause),為什麼不用連接詞?206
Q.135 小女的英文練習有以下填充題:People who need to go to hospital very quickly sometimes go helicopter。標準答案是 in,為什麼不是 by?207
Q.136 「酒後勿駕駛」If you drink, don’t drive。但 Drink是現在式動詞,和中文「酒後」似不相稱,If you drink 改為 If you have had drink 是不是較合適?208
Q.137 有外國人打電話來,要告訴他「我是代表公司說的,我們已經下班,請在辦公時間再打電話來」,英文可不可以這樣說?I am for behalf of the Branch of Bambi (HK) Limited. Our company is closed now. Please call here from 9am to 5pm for office hour.209
Q.138 陳奐仁紅館演唱會海報上,有歌星陳奕迅一句捧場話:Hanjin can’t sing to save his life. Do come and see for yourselves。第二句的 for 是不是應改為 by?210
Q.139 餐廳用的平底無柄直身塑膠杯,英文叫什麼?又巴士車長是 bus driver 還是 bus captain?212
Q.140 我查詢本地某大學一個課程的入學條件, 收到回信說:A bachelor’s degree more than meets the minimum requirement. More than 兩字可以這樣用嗎?213
Q.141 OK 的由來214