中式英语之鉴100句（十一）

何航

90. 索菲娅望子成龙心切，给儿子报名参加了许多补习班。
[误] Sophia hopes to see her son become a dragon, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling.
[正] Sophia hopes that her son will have a bright future, therefore she enters his name for many classes of supplementary schooling.
注：“龙”在中国人心目中象征着神圣和万能，但在西方人的印象中却是可怕的，《圣经》里就把“龙”描述成了罪恶的象征。所以在翻译“望子成龙”时需要意译。
91. 正如中国的一句俗话：“笨鸟先飞”。
[误] As an old Chinese saying goes, "Stupid birds have to start flying early."
[正] As an old Chinese saying goes,"Clumsy birds have to start flying early."
注：“笨鸟先飞”常用来比喻那些能力差的人，因为做事怕落后，所以就提前行动。这里的“笨”并非 stupid（智力低下的，愚蠢的）的意思，而用 clumsy（笨拙的，不灵巧的）更恰当。
92. 爸爸总爱发脾气。
[误] Dad always likes losing his temper.
[正] Dad is apt to lose his temper.
注：like doing something 表示“喜欢干某事”，一般用来说明某人的兴趣爱好