老外不懂的“中式英语”如何翻译

1. 有他这颗扫帚星，什么事情都办不成。

[正] With a jinx like him, nothing can be accomplished.

2.萝卜青菜，各有所爱。

[误] Some prefer radish but others prefer cabbage.

[正] Tastes differ。

注：Tastes differ/vary是句英语谚语，除此以外，原句还可翻译成 No dish suits all tastes 或 You can never make everyone happy 等。此外，我们还可以这样说：One man's meat is another man's poison. 总之，应采取意译。

3.他一向嘴硬，从不认错。

[误] He has always got a hard mouth and never admit a fault.

[正] He never says uncle.

4.老师很喜欢这个嘴甜的小姑娘。

[正] The teacher likes this honey-lipped little girl very much.

注：中国人喜欢说“嘴甜”，但 honey-lipped 更符合英美人的语言习惯。

5.人都是这山望着那山高，对自己的现状没有满意的时候。

[正] Almost all people think that the grass is greener on the other hill. They never feel satisfied with what they've already got.

注：“这山望着那山高”是指人不满足于现状的心理，它在英语中已经有了现成的说法，即 the grass is greener on the other hill(他山的草更绿)，因此我们借用即可，这样既方便又更有利于与西方人沟通。

6.转战南北

[误] fight south and north

[正] fight north and south

注：在地理方位的表达习惯上，中英文有一定的区别。中国人习惯于先“东西”后“南北”，而且在涉及“南北”时，习惯于先说“南”，再说“北”，如：“南征北战”、“南来北往”等。而英美人与此正好相反

7.这个教授教得很烂。

[正] The professor is so terrible.