通过这个小例子,我们可以看出,在翻译这种与动物有关的比喻性句子(metaphoric sentence)时,我们一定要考虑西方文化的因素,避免用中国人的习惯说法代替西方人的习惯说话。由于这个问题并不是一个很重要的问题,一般的英语教科书上很可能没有介绍,因此我特意收集了一些常用的形容词与动物的搭配,供初学者朋友们参考,请看: [本文来自: wWw.YouTheme.cn ]
as blind as a bat (像蝙蝠一样盲目)
as hungry as a bear (像熊一样饥饿)
as busy as a beaver (像河狸一样忙碌)
as busy as a bee (像蜜蜂一样忙碌)
as songful as a bird (像鸟一样动听)
as angry as a bull (像公牛一样愤怒)
as changeful as a chameleon (像变色龙一样多变)
as bald as an eagle (像鹰一样秃顶)
as sly as a fox (像狐狸一样狡猾)
as tall as a giraffe (像长颈鹿一样高)
as silly as a goose (像鹅一样愚蠢)
as fast as a hare (像野兔一样快)
as playful as a kitten (像小猫一样喜欢嬉戏)
as gentle as a lamb (像小羊一样温和)
as brave as a lion (像狮子一样勇敢)
as stubborn as a mule (像骡子一样顽固)
as wise as an owl (像猫头鹰一样聪明)
as quick as a rabbit (像兔子一样快)
as slow as a snail (像蜗牛一样缓慢)
as graceful as a swan (像天鹅一样优美)
as slow as a turtle (像乌龟一样缓慢)
as hungry as a wolf (像狼一样饥饿)
最后我还想再补充一句:上面的搭配,并不是固定不变的,比如bull(公牛)这种动物,经常跟angry(愤怒)搭配,但它也可以跟mad(疯狂)、strong(强壮)等搭配,因此初学者朋友们千万不要搞教条,一定要灵活运用。
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