第六讲:词语省略

第六讲 词语省略

第一节 重复省略

一、四字成语

汉语许多描写性文章，如旅游景观的介绍等，往往使用华丽的辞藻和形容词，尤其是四字成语。这些词语或成语往往有同义反复的倾向，而无多大实际意义，大多是出于讲究声韵对仗，渲染气氛等方面考虑。如“甜言蜜语”、“千姿百态”、“深思熟虑”、“唉声叹气”、“争先恐后”、“咬牙切齿”等都是同义反复。但英语的风格追求的是简洁明快。因此在翻译中，要适当减词，不能把汉语行文中堆砌的辞藻和形容词一一搬到英语中。

1. 不仅有历代文人墨客的题咏，而且有美味佳肴和漂亮的工艺品。

It boasts large number of poems and inscriptions in its praise left behind by scholars and

men of letters through the centuries, delicious food and pretty handicrafts.

“美味佳肴”，其中的“美”和“佳”是一个意思，不必译出，只需用一个大意上对应的形容词来翻译就可以了。

2. 满树金花，芳香四溢的金桂；花如白雪，香气扑鼻的银桂；红里透黄，花多味浓的紫砂桂；花钯似银，季季有花的四季桂，竞相开放，争妍媲美。进入桂林公园，阵阵桂花香扑鼻而来。

The Park of Sweet Osmanthus is noted for its profusion of osmanthus, the trees all in

blossom drawing attention with their different colors and pervading the whole garden with their

fragrance.

分析一下，字面上重复就“香气扑鼻”和“桂花香扑鼻”。意思上重复有“芳香四溢”和“香气扑鼻”，“竞相开放”和“争妍媲美”。除此之外，还有“金”、“银”颜色多次重复。因此英语不能这样翻译，只能重新组织。对照一下，英语译文简洁多了。

3. 因为他们很注意处理各方面的关系，所以八面玲珑，到处有缘。

Sensitive in their dealings with others, they are well liked everywhere.

“八面玲珑，到处有缘”是一个意思，只要译出一个就可以了。

4. 海峡两岸的中国人都是骨肉同胞，手足兄弟。

The Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are of the same flesh and blood.

“骨肉同胞，手足兄弟”说的是一回事，因此要省掉一个，如按字面译出，就显得累赘，不合英语的表达。

5. 他虽然带着五七分酒意，却装做十分醉的，前颠后堰，东倒西歪。

He was not really drunk, but pretended he was intoxicated and staggered along.

6. 正沿着建设有中国特色的社会主义道路，满怀信心，昂首阔步迈向二十一世纪。

Our people are advancing confidently towards the 21st century along the road to socialism

with Chinese characteristics.

7. 务必要继续发扬艰苦奋斗的优良传统，提倡勤俭，崇尚节约。

It is imperative to carry on the fine tradition of hard work and encourage frugality.

8. 使人民感到我们真心诚意搞改革开放。

This would convince the populace that we were whole-heartedly committed to the

reform.

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把“真心诚意”翻译成“sincerely and whole-heartedly”，就是同义反复，完全可以去掉一个。

9. 我们就是要有这个雄心壮志！

We must have this ambition.

“雄心”和“壮志”是意义重复，英语中没有必要照样翻译成aspiration and ambition

10. 中国共产党人为此进行了长期不懈的努力。

The Chinese communists have made unremitting efforts to that end.

既然是“长期”就是“不懈”，不要全部译出。

二、一般词语

不仅是四字成语，其他平行性词语，也是汉语追求韵律和工整的修辞手段，英译时要省略相同意义的词。

1. 这儿的峡谷又是另一番景象：谷中急水奔流，穿峡而过，而树木葱茏，鲜花繁茂，碧草萋萋，活脱一幅生机盎然的天然风景画。各种奇峰异岭，令人感受各异，遐想万千。

It is another gorge through which a rapid stream flows. Threes and flowers and grass thrive

on the banks, a picture of natural vitality. The weird peaks give birth to a fertile imagination.

这个句子里“葱茏”、“繁茂”、“萋萋”是一个意思，英语可以合译；“奇峰异岭”也是重复；而“感受各异，遐想万千”又是同一意思，英语就是a fertile imagination。

2. 多数中国人依然关心世事，注重人情，而这些在佛教看来都是虚幻的。

For most Chinese remained concerned with affairs of the world, especially human

relationship, which Buddhists considered as illusion.

“关心”和“注重”是一个意思，没有必要都翻译出来，用一个be concerned with就可以了。

3. 孔子的家里十分穷，但是他从小就认真读书，刻苦学习。

His family was very poor, but he worked hard at is studies even in early childhood.

“认真读书，刻苦学习”是一回事，可以合并起来译。

4. 要坚定信心勇于探索，大胆实践。

We should be firm in determination and bold in exploration and practice.

“勇于”和“大胆”是一个意思，可以用一个意思表达。

5.（国际形势的变化怎么看？）国际上议论纷纷，国内也有各种意见。

比较两个译文：

a. There has been much discussion about this worldwide and also various views concerning

it at home.

b. There have been various opinions on this question both at home and abroad.

这个句子的意思实际上就是“国内外有不同意见”。困此译文a比译文b更符合英语的表达。

6. 出现问题也容易纠正和改正。

And when problems arise, they can easily put right.

7. 五年来新增就业3555万人。

As many as 35.55 million jobs have been created for urban residents in the past five

years.

不说Newly created。

8. 中国饮茶的风尚，到了第七世纪的唐代，已经相当盛行了。

By the Tang dynasty in the seventh century, tea-drinking had become very popular in

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China.

这里的“风尚”就是“流行和习惯”， 和“盛行”有同样的意思。如果此句照字面意思翻译成“the Chinese prevailing custom of drinking tea was in vogue” 就是同义反复了， 因为prevailing = in vogue。

9. 家庭中最有损于健康的因素为夫妻间的无休止的日夜争吵和猜疑。

What most affects personal health in a family is the endless quarrels and suspicions

between husband and wife.

汉语里说“无休止的日夜争吵和猜疑”是可以的，但英语译成“endless and

day-and-night quarrels”就是语义重复了。因为endless 中已包括day and night 的意思，用一个就可以了。

10.（光绪二十六年，八国联军攻占北京。）慈禧太后弃城而走，直逃到西安。

Empress Dowager of Cixi abandoned the capital and fled all the way to Xi’an.

这里的“走”和“逃”用fled就可以了。

第二节 习惯省略

英语习惯简洁的表达，对上下文已清楚的信息往往予以省略。因此对汉语中重复的意思，要根据英语表达习惯，采取简化表达。如“我的英语水平提高了”和“大楼的质量不好”如译成：The level of my English has improved.和The quality of the building is poor.都不是英语。应改为：My English has improved. 和The building is not well built.因为英语这样的表达已含有“英语水平”和“大楼质量的意思。

一、动词

1. 他家里很穷，没有什么衣服可穿，也没有什么东西可吃。

His family was so poor that they did not have enough food and clothing.

按字面意思照译：His family was very poor and they did not have enough clothing to wear

and enough food to ear就显得累赘。因为they did not have enough food and clothing的表达已经包括没有什么衣服可穿，没有什么东西可吃的意思了，没有必要再加上to wear, to eat。

2. 医生给了她一些治疗感冒的药。

The doctor gave her some medicine for her cold.

这样译已足够了，没有必要把动词“治疗”译出，成为give her some medicine for curing

her cold。

3. 搞好社会治安，是关系对人民群众生命财产安全和改革、发展、稳定的大事。

Sound public security is of prime importance for the safety of people’s lives and property as

well as the reform, development and stability.

在这个上下文里，“搞好社会治安”和“好的社会治安”是一个意思，只是动作和状态的区别。同样，“多吃蔬菜对你的健康有好处”，eating plenty of vegetables 和是一个的，应译成：Plenty of vegetables will do you a lot of good.

4. ……鼓励国内外投资者到中西部投资。

比较两个译文：

a. … … encouraging both Chinese and overseas investors to invest in the central and western

regions.

b. … … encouraging both Chinese and overseas investments in the central and western

regions.

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汉语可以说“投资者到中西部投资”，英语在同一个句子里用“investors，又用invest 就不妥当，因此译文 b 较好。

5. 不过，中国人有种奇异的本领，能够同时信奉两种相互抵触的宗教。

However, the Chinese had the peculiar ability to believe in the two conflicting religions at the

same time.

“本领”和“能够”实际上也是一个意思，可以合在一起用have an ability to 译出。

二、名词

汉语一些主谓结构翻译成英语时，谓语形容词往往含有整个主谓结构句子意思。这样这个结构中的主语名词意思就可以省略。

1. 由于各种各样的原因，他们常常感到心情压抑，事业受挫。

They often feel depressed and frustrated fro a variety of reasons.

depressed 已包括“心情压抑”的意思了，没有必要把“心情”译出。同样，frustrated 在这个上下文也有了“事业受挫”的意思，可以省略“事业”。

2. 这本杂志内容有趣，文字浅显，立即畅销全国。

The magazine has gained immediate nationwide popularity at once as it is interesting and

easy.

当interesting, easy 和the magazine 搭配时，已经有了“内容”和“文字”的意思了，再译成it is interesting in content and easy in language 就没有必要了。

3. 教师给孩子们上的课， 节奏要快，内容要有趣，因为这些孩子们是在看电视和玩电脑游戏的环境长大的。

The teachers have to make lessons fast-moving and entertaining for children are raised on

television and computer games.

同样，把“教师给孩子们上的课， 节奏要快，内容要有趣”译成When teachers give children

lessons, the rhythm of teaching should be fast and the content should be entertaining 都显得累赘，因为fast, entertaining 在teachers give children lessons 这个上下文里已经有了“节奏”和“内容”的意思，就没有必要再用rhythm 和content了。

4. 自此而下，江面宽阔，水流平缓，一叶轻舟，顺流而下，沿江景色，饱览无遗。

Down from here, the river becomes wide and calm. If you take a light skiff down the stream,

you will drink in the beauty along the river.

wide and clam 和river搭配有了“江面”、“水流”的意思。

5. 建立办事高效、运转协调、行为规范的行政管理体系。

To establish a high efficient, well-coordinated and standardized administrative system.

“高效”一般总是对“办事”来说的， “协调”就是指“运转”，“规范”也有了“行为”意思，因此都可省略。

三、范畴词

英语中有些抽象名词往往已含有汉语中一些表示状态、品质的范畴概念。如“他在我不知道的情况下私自拿走了那东西”， 在翻译中就无须把“情况”译出：He took it away without

my knowledge. 再如unemployment = 失业现象/ 失业问题，housing = 住房问题，emergency

= 紧急状况，solution= 解决方法，complacency = 自满情绪，tension = 紧张局势，stability =

稳定局面。在汉译英时，要省译问题、状况、看法、局面、气氛、现象这些汉语的范畴词。

1. 我们一定要逐步顺利解决沿海同内地贫富差距。

We can gradually bridge the gap between coastal and inland areas.

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英语认为“贫富差距”本身就问题，没有必要译成“solve the problem regarding the wealth

gap”， 完全可简洁地译出。

2. 国家要加大对中西部地区的支持力量。

The state will increase its support for the central and western parts. (or increase its investment

for…)

“加大支持力量”这么译，实际上就是“increase the support”没有必要译成“increase the

degree of the support”，也没有这样的搭配。

3. 与此同时，各学校正采取步骤纠正教学和科研不平衡的状况。

Meanwhile colleges and universities are taking measures to redress the imbalance between

teaching and research.

4. 但是在表面平静的生活下面一直有一种不满和不安的情绪。

But there always was dissatisfied restlessness under the placid surface of life.

5. 这个会议的召开表明十年社会动荡局面的结束。

The meeting signified an end to the social unrest, which lasted for ten years.

6. 我可感觉到在他的家中有一种紧张的气氛。

I could sense a certain tension in his household.

7. 在工作中，大家都必须杜绝浪费和低效率的现象。

It is necessary to put an end to waste and inefficiency in our work.

四、副词

汉语中还有这样一些修饰词加动词的结构，如“顺利进行”、“胜利完成”、“热烈欢迎”、“坚决支持”、“努力做到”、“认真执行”、“广泛开展”、“严重破坏”、“大力支持”、“切实加强”等。就英语来说动词前这些修饰语不一定都要翻译出来，这是困为英语中一些动词本身就含有修饰语的意思，再来强调，效果反而适得其反。

1. 我们要进一步简化手续，及时地、积极地吸收外资。

We must simplify procedures and take prompt action to suck in capital.

如在simplify前加上further，在suck前加上vigorously，文字反而显得累赘，而省去这些修饰语并不影响意思的表达。

2. 我们要进一步开创外交工作的新局面。

We shall open new vista in diplomatic work.

但英语认为“开创新局面”就已包括了“进一步”意思，没有必要译“进一步”。

3. 中国政府将采取更加有力的措施，进一步健全耕地保护制度，切实加强基本农田保护。

Chinese government will adopt more effective measures to improve the land preservation

system and strengthen the protection of basic farmland.

三个副词，只有“更加”翻译了出来，其他两个省略。像“切实”、“积极”等副词在英语中一般都不需要翻译出。如“要切实把教育摆在优先发展的地位。”应翻译成：We must see

to it that education is given a strategic priority.

4. 大气污染不仅影响了环境，而且严重损害了人的健康，大大缩短了人的寿命。

Air pollution does more than affect our environment; it cripples and shortens the lives of

human beings.

cripple 和shorten已经有了“严重”、“大大”的意思，没有必要再译出。

5. 没有人可以否认，几百万的私人小企业大大地推动了国家的经济。

No one can deny that millions of small private enterprises have fuelled the nation’s economy.

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动词fuel已包含了“大大地”意思。

6. 要认真做好思想教育工作。

Stress must be lain on ideological education.

汉语当中的一些套话“认真搞好”、“认真抓好”、“认真做好”在翻译中没有必要按字面把“认真”译出。

7. 采取一系列措施，全面提高综合生产能力。

A series of measures will be adopted to increase China’s comprehensive grain production

ability.

“一系列”中已含有“全面”的意思，“全面”没有必要翻译出来。

8. 全民健身运动广泛开展。

The nationwide physical fitness campaign was carried forward.

同样，“全民”已经包括了“广泛”的意思，用了nationwide后，extensively 就不必用了。

练 习

改 革 开 放

放眼今天的中国，市场商品丰富多彩，居民的衣、食、住、行条件显著改善。而所有这一切，都源于20年前开始的改革开放。

多少年来，中国人就盼望能过上好日子，希望人人有足够的食物，有保暖的衣服和有好的房子。然而要做到这一点实在太难了，原因是中国人太多，底子太薄了。特别是，在中国，如何建设社会主义，没有现成的模式可遵循。那怎么办？中国人上下求索，穷尽思维，终于在1978年，亦即20年前找到了一条建设有中国特色的社会主义道路。这就是现在众所周知的对内改革，对外开放。12亿人口有9 亿在农村的中国，事实上是一个农业大国，改革首先发生在农村，那就一点也不奇怪了。从农村开始，继而推及城市、企业，乃至方方面面。至今，这场改革还在进行之中。

译文：

Reform and Opening to the World

In today’s China, shops are well stocked with a rich variety of articles and goods and people

are much better off than before in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. All this is

brought on by 20 years of reform and opening to the world.

For many years the Chinese had longed for a good life with adequate food, warm clothes and

comfortable home. But it is a formidable task to achieve the aim even in a socialist society given

China’s huge population and poor economic base. And there is no existing model to follow in

history as to how. The Chinese searched relentlessly until 1978 when they found a way, that is, to

build socialism with Chinese characteristics --- the well-known policy of reform and opening to

the outside world.

China is an agricultural country where 9 billion people --- three quarters of its population ---

live in rural area. It comes no surprise that reform started in the countryside, then spread to the

cities, enterprises and other fields. The reform shows no signs of slowing down.

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