第七章 汉译英时词义的选择
第七章汉译英时词义的选择、搭配和引申
语言的形式和意义之间的关系粗略进行划分可以有三种：第一种类型指词语和意义一一对应，第二种类型指一词多义，第三种类型指多词同义。
在翻译的第一阶段，即理解阶段，应注意前两种类型。第一种类型，即一一对应型，如一些专有名词或外来词的翻译，无须再作阐述；而更应注意的是一词多义型，注意在理解词语和选择词义时应以上下文为参照系统，因为词句之间的相互关系基本可以决定词语的具体意义。而在翻译的第二阶段，即表达阶段时，应多考虑第三种类型，即多词同义型。在表达时，译者需要认真辨析英语中近义词的区别，分析词语搭配，选择准确的词语。
一、词语的选择
分析句子成分之间内在的逻辑关系，在上下文语境中正确理解汉语词语的内涵，同时根据词语在句中的上下文来确定词义，选择译词。如：
1、发展是硬道理。
Development is the absolute principle.
Development is the cardinal principle.
Development is the primary principle.
汉语中的“硬”字对应hard，但这里的“硬”并非与“软”相反，而是具有“最基本的，最重要的”含义，以上三个词都是可以体现该含义的选词，能够强调发展的重要性。
2、瑞金医院拥有雄厚的医疗技术、科研教学和管理方面的力量。
The Ruijin Hospital boasts sophisticated medical technology, well-qualified administration, research and teaching faculties.
“雄厚的力量”直译为strong force 与上下文搭配不当。因此“力量”省略未译，“雄厚的”选用了sophisticated 和well-qualified 来与下文修饰的名词搭配。
3、企业经济效益显著改善。
The economic performance of enterprises improved markedly.
4、生产生活条件明显改善。
Production and living conditions have remarkably improved.
“明显”一般对应obviously，然而obviously 强调“清楚、显而易见”，此句中该词有强调程度的作用，所以选用remarkably或markedly 更佳。
5、一个国家一定要有稳定的形势，才能把经济建设搞上去。
The stability is essential for the promotion of economic growth in a country.
The economic growth can only be promoted with the stability of the country.
Any country need a stable environment for its economic growth.
6、中国不搞扩张。
China does not pursue expansion.
7、搞好教师队伍建设。
We need to recruit a strong corps of capable teachers.
8、我们要搞好信息基础网络建设。
We will build information network infrastructure.
汉语中“搞”字用的频率不低，词义较泛，具体翻译时需要译出具体含义。
9、国企和外企的差距正在缩小。
The gap between the state-owned enterprises and the foreign-funded enterprises is narrowing.
英语中“差距”一般选用gap表示出距离，而且difference没有这样的语义。gap加大或缩小要符合英语的搭配习惯，就不能选用bigger, smaller, 而需要采用widening, narrowing.
10、低价电脑大潮在将近五个月的时间里刮遍了整个中国。
The trend of low-price computers (selling computers at low prices) has swept across China in about five months.
11、中国加入世贸组织后，人才市场会出现新的潮流。
There will be new trends in the labor market after China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“潮”可以应对“tide”，潮涨潮落这种自然现象中的潮水，或者与潮水相仿的比喻概念中也可以选用该词，如随波逐流（go with the tide），历史的潮流（the tide of history）；而表示趋势和动向英语习惯采用trend.
12、步入新世纪，我国农业出现一派新气象。
At the beginning of the new century, the agriculture in China is taking on a new look.
13、假日经济在我国已经呈现出广阔的发展前景。
The holiday economy promises remarkable growth.
The holiday economy holds great promise of growth.
The holiday economy has the prospect of remarkable growth.
14、春节、“五一”和“十一”三个长假期的拉动作用突出。
The influence of the long holidays of the Spring Festival, the Labor’s Day and the National Day is prominent.
15、财政收入稳步增长，国家财力进一步增强。
Reven ue increased steadily and the State’s financial resources grew strongly.
16、大力加强社会主义精神文明建设。
We should vigorously promote socialist cultural and ethic progress.
“精神”一般对应spiritual，但是spiritual具有宗教色彩，与汉语“精神”并不对等，所以译为cultural and ethic progress，含义体现得更为清楚具体。
17、实施科教兴国战略取得新进展。
Fresh progress was made in implementing the strategy of developing the country through science, technology and education.
18、西部大开发取得良好开端。
The development of the western region got off to a good start.
19、技术含量较高的新兴产业所占比重还不大。
The proportion of emerging industries making significant use of technological advances
is low.
20、工业生产呈现快速增长。
Fast growth was registered in industrial production.
21、人民代表大会制度是中国的根本政治制度。
The people’s congress system is China’s fundamental political system.
22、全国人民代表大会是最高国家权力机关。
The National People’s Congress (NPC) is the supreme organ of State power.
二、词语的搭配
1、电脑的普及为网络走进千家万户创造了条件。
The popularization of computer has paved the way for Internet’s entry into average families.
The popularization of computer has made it possible for Internet to enter into average families.
此句中“创造”的宾语为“条件”，译为create or invent conditions 不妥。这里创造条件是指作了充分准备，使之成为可能。若按字面译出，不符合英语表达习惯，给人以生硬的感觉。
2、为了保卫国家安全，维护祖国统一，我们必须不断增强国防实力。
We must build up our defense capability with a view to safeguarding our State security and national unity.
3、中国对外政策的宗旨，就是维护世界和平，促进共同发展。
The purpose of China’s foreign policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development.
4、我们要维护人民的权利。
We should maintain the people’s rights.
5、进一步维护社会稳定。
We need to better safeguard social stability.
6、联合国应维护正义，在维护世界和平促进发展方面起积极作用。
The U.N. should uphold justice and play a more active role in maintaining world peace and promoting development.
7、我们要维护香港的经济繁荣和社会稳定。
We should maintain the economic prosperity and social stability of Hong Kong.
根据上下文不同，“维护”有不同的译法：
维护统一：uphold unity
维护独立主权：uphold independence and sovereignty
维护国家荣誉：defend national honor
维护国家主权：defend state sovereignty
维护人民利益：safeguard the people’s interests
维护自尊：safeguard self-respect
维护世界和平与安全：maintain/ safeguard world peace and security.
大力
8、中国将继续大力发展对外贸易。
China will continue to develop its foreign trade vigorously.
9、中国政府大力发展经济，增强综合国力。
The Chinese Government spared no effort to develop the economy and enhance comprehensive national strength.
健康
10、中国经济将保持持续健康发展。
China will maintain sustained, rapid and sound economic growth.
11、社会经济健康发展。
The economy developed in a healthy way.
推进
12、我们必须在经济发展的基础上继续积极推进国防和军队的现代化。
We must continue to press ahead with the modernization of our national defense and the armed forces on the basis of economic development.
13、经济结构调整积极推进。
Economic restructuring was vigorously promoted.
环境
14、进一步改善投资环境。
We need to further improve the investment climate.
15、调整消费结构，改善消费环境。
We need to adjust the consumption pattern and improve the environment for consumption.
16、改善城乡居民生活环境。
More efforts should be made to improve the living environment of urban and rural residents.
积极
17、积极发展公共交通。
We need to energetically develop public transportation.
18、在国家实施西部大开发战略政策的积极推动下，西部地区投资增速加快。
Due to positive influence of the western development strategies set by the Central Government, investment in western areas increased rapidly.
19、中国政府将更加积极地推进全方位、多层次、宽领域的对外开放。
China will more vigorously promote all-directional, multi-tiered and wide-ranging opening-up.
20、积极开展资源回收利用，大力提高资源综合利用率。
We need to increase our recycling of resources in order to utilize our resources more effectively.
21、积极推动信息技术在各行业的广泛应用。
We need to extensively apply IT in enterprises in all industries.
22、我们将积极调整、发展第三产业。
We will be working vigorously to restructure and develop tertiary industries.
23、工业结构调整取得积极进展。
Significant progress was made in industrial structural adjustment.
24、东部地区要积极支持中西部地区发展。
The eastern region should actively support the development of the central and western regions.
25、积极发展各项社会事业。
We will energetically develop all social undertakings.
坚持
26、要坚持党的领导，必须改善党的领导。
To uphold the Party’s leadership calls for improving its leadership.
27、要坚持实践是检验真理的唯一标准。
We should take practice as the sole criterion for testing truth.
28、必须坚持四项基本原则，坚持改革开放。
We must stick to the Four Cardinal Principles and press ahead with reform and opening-up.
29、我们坚持奉行独立自主的和平外交政策。
We adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace.
30、坚持以公有制经济为主体，发挥国有经济主导作用。
We need to uphold the dominance of the public sector of the economy and let the State-owned sector play the leading role.
31、坚持不懈地打击制售假冒伪劣产品、偷税骗税、走私等违法犯罪活动。
We must persist in cracking down on criminal activities such as producing and marketing fake and shoddy goods, tax evasion, tax fraud, obtaining foreign currency through deception, and smuggling.
“坚持”在汉语中出现的频率很高。
坚持原则必须选用adhere to或stick to
坚持某行为必须选用persist in
坚持体现了拥护的含义必须选用uphold.
全面
32、全面提高教师的思想和业务素质。
We need to improve the overall quality of teachers.
33、我们必须全面贯彻干部队伍革命化、年轻化、知识化、专业化的方针。
We should implement, in an all-round manner, the principle of fostering a contingent of more revolutionary, younger, better educated and professionally more competent cadres.
34、我国已进入了全面建设小康社会、加快推进社会主义现代化的新的发展阶段。
China has entered a new development stage of building a well-to-do society in the whole country and accelerating the socialist modernization drive.
35、我们要不断推进人的全面发展。
We will constantly advance the all-round development of human beings.
36、经济体制改革全面推进。
Economic restructuring was extensively carried out.
37、科教加速发展，其他社会事业全面推进。
The development of science, technology and education was accelerated, and other social undertakings progressed in a comprehensive way.
38、APEC领导人承诺进行全面合作，确保经济与市场不受国际恐怖主义的干扰。
Leaders of APEC pledge to cooperate fully to ensure that international terrorism does not disrupt economies and markets.
39、中国已全面登上世界体育舞台，运动技术水平位居世界前列。
China has mounted the stage of world sport in all its sectors and joined the front ranks of sports internationally.
注意以上八句中“全面”的译文，根据上下文所搭配的词语不同，其选词都作了变化。
加强
40、加强生态建设和环境保护。
We should improve ecological conservation and strengthen environmental protection.
41、农田水利建设进一步加强。
Farmland irrigation construction was further enhanced.
42、加强国防和军队建设，是国家安全和现代化建设的重要保证。
Strengthening national defense and building up the armed services is an important guarantee for the security of the State and the success of the modernization.
43、大力加强（积极推进）社会主义精神文明和民主法制建设。
We should vigorously (energetically) promote socialist cultural and ethic progress and improve democracy and the legal system.
We should make great efforts to improve socialist culture and ethics, democracy and the legal system.
44、各国应加强经济技术的交流与合作。
Countries should step up their economic and technical exchanges and cooperation.
45、要加强水利、交通、能源等基础设施建设。
We must intensify construction of water conservation, transportation, energy and other infrastructure.
46、劳动就业工作进一步加强。
Work on employment was further strengthened.
47、我们要加强优生优育工作，提高人口素质。
Greater importance should be attached to prenatal and postnatal care to improve physical quality among population.
48、我们必须加强对农业耕地，水、森林、草原、矿产、海洋、生物等资源的管理和保护。
We must tighten our control over and protection of arable land, water, forests, grasslands, and mineral, sea and biological resources.
49、必须加强物质文明和精神文明建设。
We should speed up / quicken / accelerate both material progress and cultural and ethical progress.
50、总而言之，我们应拿出更多的财力加强高新技术的建设，加强现有企业技术改造。
In a word, we should pool more money to speed up the development of high and new technologies, and quicken the technological renovation in the enterprises.
注意以上11句中“加强”的译文，所搭配的宾语不同，选词也要相应作出变化。
促进
51、促进保险业持续、健康、有序发展。
Efforts will be intensified to promote sustained, sound and orderly development of the insurance industry.
52、促进创业投资发展。
We will encourage investment in new enterprises.
以上“促进”的译文。
实现
53、要实现人们思想和精神生活的全面发展。
Efforts must be made to bring about an all-round development of their ideology and cultural life.
54、实现祖国的完全统一，是全中国人民的共同愿望。
It is the shared aspiration of the entire Chinese people to achieve / realize the complete reunification of the motherland.
55、国有企业改革与脱困目标基本实现。
The targets set for the reform of State-owned enterprises and lifting those enterprises out of difficulty have been met.
56、国家加大对教育的投入，积极为公民实现受教育权利创造条件。
China has increased its investment in education to create favorable conditions for citizens to exercise their right to receive education.
以上的“实现”的译文。
57、社会保障事业进一步巩固提高。
The social security system was further consolidated and improved.
58、文艺事业较快发展。
Rapid progress was made in cultural and art undertakings.
cause对应的事业是一个奋斗的目标，不是以上两句中“事业”的含义，所以第一句和社会保障呼应，采用system；第二名选用undertakings。
增强
59、经济全球化趋势增强。
The economic globalization trend is gaining strength.
60、环境保护意识增强。
The general awareness of environmental protection was further enhanced.
61、国家财力进一步增强。
The State’s financial resources grew strongly.
62、要努力提高全民族的思想道德素质和科学文化素质。
Efforts must be made to upgrade the ideological and ethical standards of the entire
people, and improve their cultural and scientific levels.
63、马克思主义是我们立党立国的根本指导思想。
Marxism is the fundamental guiding principle for the consolidation of the Party and the development of the country.
64、反腐倡廉，既要治标，又要治本。
To combat corruption and build a clean government calls for efforts not just to address
the symptoms, but more importantly to tackle the root causes.
65、新形势、新趋势、新技术，促进了生产力的发展，促进了创造力的发挥，促进了
各国之间的合作与交流。
The new development, trends and technologies have helped expand productive forces,
given full play to creativity, and enhanced exchanges and cooperation among countries.
三个“促进”根据不同的宾语，选择了不同的动词。
三、词语的引申
成语、谚语或歇后语应完全理解其涵义，采取意译的方法，或者译为英语中意思相近的成语或谚语。对于汉语中比喻的说话或者意象，可以采取意译或者解释来处理。
1、各级党组织和领导干部都要旗帜鲜明地反对腐败。
Party organizations and leading cadres at all levels must take a clear stand to oppose corruption.
2、中国经济取得巨大发展，中国人民终于扬眉吐气了。
Chinese people feel proud and elated(使人兴奋，使人得意) for the great economic development in China.
3、千方百计扩大就业。
We should expand employment by all possible means.
4、中国是一个发展中国家，消除贫困任重道远。
China is a developing country, and it has a long way to go to shake off poverty.
5、互联网的出现令媒体感到措手不及。
The appearance of the Internet took the media by surprise.
6、今后五到十年，是中国经济和社会发展的重要时期，也是我国改革的攻坚阶段。
The coming five to ten years will be an important period for China’s economic and social development and also a crucial period for its reform.
7、参加上海全球财富论坛的代表一致看好中国市场。
Participants in the Shanghai F ortune Global Forum agree that China’s economy has great potential / holds great promise.
Participants in the Shanghai Fortune Global Forum agree that China’s market promises to be thriving.
8、中国是世界经济最活跃的地方之一，浦东是国际资本投资的热土。
China plays an active role in the world economy and Pudong runs hot with the international investment.
9、日益崛起的超市产业已经成为上海城乡居民生活的好帮手。
The rising supermarkets have conveniently served both the urban and rural residents in Shanghai in
their daily life.
10、20世纪90年代以来，美国的硅谷成了带动美国经济持续高速发展的发动机。
The Silicon Valley has promoted the steady rapid growth in American economy since the 1990s.
翻译练习：
1、农业生产结构调整力度加大。
2、经济结构调整积极推进。
3、坚持实施可持续发展战略。
4、必须全面深入地加强和改进党的建设。
5、坚持计划生育基本国策。
6、要加强农业和农村基础设施建设。
7、要保证人民群众依法管理好自己的事情，实现自己的愿望和利益。
8、中国执行改革开放政策，争取在五十年到七十年内发展起来。
9、我们是抱着积极参与，扩大共识，增进互信，加强合作的目的，与贵国领导人共同探讨双方未来的发展目标。
10、
要在和平共处五项原则的基础上，继续改善和发展同发达国家的关系。国与国之间应超越社会制度和意识形态的差异，相互尊重，友好相处。要寻求共同利益的汇合点，扩大互利合作，共同对付人类生存和发展所面临的挑战。对彼此之间的分歧，要坚持对话，不搞对抗，从双方长远利益以及世界和平与发展的大局出发，妥善加以解决，反对动辄进行制裁或以制裁相威胁。
要坚持平等互利的原则，同世界各国和地区广泛开展贸易往来、经济技术合作和科学文化交流，促进共同发展。
要积极参与多边外交活动，充分发挥我国在联合国以及其他国际组织中的作用。
要坚持独立自主、完全平等、互相尊重、互不干涉内部事务原则的基础上，同一切愿与我党交往的各国政党发展新型的党际交流和合作关系，促进国家关系的发展。
参考译文：
1. Structural adjustment for agricultural production was enhanced.
2. Economic restructuring was vigorously promoted.
3. We will adhere to a strategy of working for sustainable development.
4. We should adhere to the basic State policy on family planning.
5. We must strengthen and improve the Party building in an overall and profound manner.
6. We must step up the construction of agricultural and rural infrastructure.
7. It is essential to ensure that they properly manage their life according to law and realize their aspirations and interests.
8. By pursuing a policy of reform and opening to the outside world, China is striving to become developed within a 50-70 year period.
9. With the purpose of engaging in active participation, broadening common ground, promoting mutual trust and strengthening cooperation we explore together with you the objectives for the parties in the future.
10.
We should further improve and develop our relations with developed countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. All countries should respect each other and live together in amity regardless of their differences in social systems and ideologies. They should seek converging points in their common interests,
expand mutually beneficial co-operation and work together to take up the challenge facing mankind for survival and developments. They should persist in dialogue, not confrontation, in properly handling their differences by proceeding from their long-term interests and the overall task of promoting world peace and developments. We are opposed to imposing or threatening to impose sanctions without good reasons.
We should uphold the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and conduct extensive trade, economic and technological cooperation and scientific and cultural exchanges with all countries and regions to promote common development.
We should take an active part in multil ateral diplomatic activities and give full play to China’s role in the United Nations and other international organizations.
On the basis of the principles of independence, complete equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal aff airs, we should develop new types of inter-party relations of exchange and co-operation with all political parties of various countries which are ready to have contacts with our Party with a view to promoting state relations.