Cultivating Good Habits梁实秋Liang Shiqiu🔥背景知识：梁实秋（1902-1987），北京人，原籍浙江杭县（今余杭），著名现代散文家、翻译家、教育家。《养成好习惯》的内容归根结底是向外国人宣讲为人之道，是青少年值得一读的品德修养篇。人的天性大致是差不多的，但是在习惯方面却各有不同，Men are about the same in human nature, but differ in habit. 🎈人的天性human nature🎈differ in habit也可写作are different in habit。习惯是慢慢养成的，在幼小的时候最容易养成，Habit is formed little by little, and most easily in one’s childhood. 🎈习惯「慢慢」养成，此处并非指「慢」而应理解为「从日常小事一点一滴做起」，译为formed little by little。请注意动词form的使用，指使(关系、习惯或想法)形成，(使)产生，同时也有「陶冶，培养」的意思如form one’s character/personality塑造某人的性格。一旦养成之后，要想改变过来却还不很容易。Once it is formed, it is difficult to break.🎈习惯的「改变」，这里应理解为「打破」长久固有的习惯，译为break远比change要准确，（使）摆脱，（使）戒除（习惯）所传达的感情更到位。例如说：清晨早起是一个好习惯，这也要从小时候养成，For example, the good habit of early rising also starts from one’s early life.🎈「清晨早起」译作early rising，有两点值得注意，一是省译清晨，既然说了是早起，不在早上起算什么早起，二是rise这个词，可以表示「起床」很多人从小就贪睡懒觉，一遇假日便要睡到日上三竿还高卧不起，平时也是不肯早起，往往蓬首垢面的就往学校跑，结果还是迟到，Many people, however, have been in the habit of sleeping late ever since they were kids. They won’t get up till late morning on holidays and even oversleep on work days. Children are often late for school though they make a rush even without washing up.🎈本段俗语、四字词及涉及中国特色的词汇稍多，对于一些不好翻译的四字词可采取「迂回战术」取其在语境中的意思，翻译的本质就是「传情达意」而并非字面对译。🎈「贪睡懒觉」译为sleeping late，如：Your headache comes from sleeping late（你的头疼是睡懒觉的结果）请注意这个短语是「睡懒觉、睡过头」，并非「熬夜晚睡」🎈「一遇假日便要睡到日上三竿还高卧不起」直译「三竿」的话会让外国人摸不着头脑，因此采取意译的方式译为They won’t get up till late morning on holidays。Till late已充分表达「日上三竿」即「很晚（起床）」的意思。在翻译实践中，要时刻谨记遵循译入语读者的习惯。🎈「蓬头垢面」意即「没有洗漱和整理」，也是不宜直译的一个词，现按意思译为without washing up（没有洗漱）。🎈「往往蓬首垢面的就往学校跑，结果还是迟到」可理解为一个让步句「尽管他们没有洗漱就往学校跑，仍旧是迟到」译为Children are often late for school though they make a rush even without washing up.请注意though的用法，英译时要懂得整理这样的逻辑关系并找到合适的连接词。这样的人长大了之后也常是不知振作，多半不能有什么成就。Such children, when they grow up, will often lack drive and most probably get nowhere.🎈「这样的人」指上句提到的「很多人」，此处指代明确，译作such children。🎈「不知振作」按「缺乏干劲」之意译为lack drive。🎈「不能有什么成就」译作get nowhere。nowhere一词值得模仿。类似的表达还有：他是个大人物/无名小卒。He is somebody/nobody.祖逖闻鸡起舞，那才是志士奋励的榜样。The story of Zu Ti rising at cockcrow to practise swordplay should be a good example for all men of resolve to learn from.🎈「闻鸡起舞」即「听见鸡叫就起来舞剑」译为rising at cockcrow to practise swordplay，另「祖逖」是带有中国特色的词汇，宜采用释义法或加注法，此处因为释义法会造成句子的冗杂，译者采取了加脚注的方法。🎈「志士」即「意志坚强者」译为men of resolve，resolve也可换为strong will、 determination、 aspiration。我们中国人最重礼，因为礼是行为的规范。We Chinese set great store by propriety because it is the accepted rules of social behavior.🎈「重礼」译作set great store by propriety 。其中， 「礼」译作propriety，即「社会及道德上普遍认同得体的行为做法」，如social propriety社交礼仪 ，a land of propriety礼仪之邦。又，set/put (great) store by sth是英文固定词组指「非常重视…，认为…极有必要」。冯骥才《富人区》他们很看重机会。Americans set great store by an opportunity.礼要从家庭里做起。姑举一例：为子弟者“出必告，反必面”，Propriety begins from the family. For example, children should keep their parents informed of their whereabouts.🎈为子弟者‘出必告，反必面’，在落笔翻译前首先需要对原文理解透彻，否则很难做到准确达意。如本段中的「为子弟者」应理解为「作为父母长辈的孩子」，「出必告，反必面」即「出门或回家必须向家长说一声」或「必须告知家长」。「告知」什么呢？原文没有直接点出，但不难理解，这里指的是「告知自己的去向及行踪（以免父母担忧）」，所以整句译为children should keep their parents informed of their whereabouts. Whereabouts意为「行踪」这一点点对长辈的起码的礼，我们是否已经每日做到了呢? That is the ABC of good manners on the part of children.🎈「起码的礼」即「基本的礼仪」译得很有意思the ABC of good manners。其中ABC作「基础知识」讲，意同basics或fundamentals，是英文的一个日常用法。🎈「我们是否已经每日做到了呢？」表面上是反问，实则是否定，译者将其的意思体现在了下文里，因此没有译出，保持了行文的简洁。🎈on the part of 就……而言；对……而言；由……所作出。例如This bill is not a compromise but a full-fledged capitulation on the part of the legislative branch to executive claims of power. 这个法案，并不是个妥协的产物，而是立法部门对行政部门抓权要求的全面投降。on the part of后的名词如果该名词是不定指的，或是这个所有主或主体在文字上比较长，或者虽然短但需要突出，则可以采取on the part of的形式。我看见有些个孩子们早晨起来对父母视若无睹，晚上回到家来如入无人之境，遇到长辈常常横眉冷目，不屑搭讪。Yet some children just ignore their parents when they get up in the morning or come back from school. They often pull a long face and refuse to converse when they meet their elders.🎈Yet此处是连词，用于引出颇令人惊讶地事实，理解为「可是却、却又」等。例句I don’t eat much, yet I am a size 16.我吃得并不多，但是却穿16码的衣服。🎈「视若无睹」和「如入无人之境」都表示「忽视父母」译为ignore their parents即可。另，这里英译时句式的调整也值得学习…ignore when…or…，简洁且流畅。🎈「横眉冷目，不屑搭讪译作pull a long face and refuse to converse（拉长着脸并不愿与之交谈），作为一名职业译员，平时应注意俗语或固定搭配的积累。这样的跋扈乖戾之气如果不早早的纠正过来，将来长大到社会服务，必将处处引起摩擦不受欢迎。If they continue to be so cocky and willful without correcting themselves as soon as possible, they will never get along well with other people some days as members of society. 🎈「跋扈乖戾之气」即「狂妄骄傲、任性」的意思，译作cocky and willful 🎈「将来长大到社会服务，必将处处引起摩擦不受欢迎」即「将来在社会上不能与他人和睦相处」，译为they will never get along well with other people some days as members of society. get along well with…英语固定搭配，是「与…和睦相处、相处融洽」的意思。我们不仅对长辈要恭敬有礼，对任何人都应维持相当的礼貌。We should be polite not only to our elders, but also to all people.🎈「恭敬有礼」即「对人有礼貌」，译作be polite to people，原文分开陈述对待「长辈」和「其他人」的态度，译文合并译为be polite to…, also…，适当调整句式译文更符合译入语表达习惯。大声讲话，扰及他人的宁静，是一种不好的习惯。It is a bad habit to talk loudly to the disturbance of others.🎈「大声讲话，扰及他人的宁静，是一种不好的习惯」译为It is a bad habit to talk loudly to the disturbance of others.其中to 表示「导致，致使」，表示引起某种后果。另，请注意「扰及他人」这里用disturbance（干扰，扰乱）名词形式，要比直接用disturb（打扰）动词形式要符合文体。在正式文体的英译时，可考虑多用名词形式，较严谨正式。我们试自检讨一番，在别人读书工作的时候是否有过喧哗的行为? Ask yourself if you ever made a lot of noise while others were at their studies or at work.🎈此处if意为「是否」我们要随时随地为别人着想，维持公共的秩序，顾虑他人的利益，不可放纵自己，We should be considerate of others at all times and places, caring for public order and interests and abstaining from self-indulgence.🎈「为别人着想」千万别望文生义译作thought about others, 根据上下文此句正确的理解应该是「做一个知书达理处处体恤别人的人」，译作be considerate更为贴切。🎈区分形近词considerate 体贴的considerable 相当多/大的🎈「不可放纵自己」译作abstaining from self-indulgence，使用的是一个形式上肯定而语义上否定的动词结构，abstain from sth.是「抑制…去做某事」，self-indulgence（自我放纵的行为）。在公共场所人多的地方，要知道依次排队，不可争先恐后的去乱挤。In crowded public places, you should line up and never push through to get ahead of others.🎈「人多」按「拥挤」之意译作crowded，修饰公共场所（public places）🎈line up指排成行、列队。🎈get ahead of others此处理解为「挤到别人前面」时间即是生命。我们的生命是一分一秒的在消耗着，我们平常不大觉得，细想起来实在值得警惕。Time is life. Our life is ticking away unnoticed minute by minute and second by second. It is certainly alarming when we come to think of it.🎈时间的「消耗」译作ticking away, tick是「钟表嘀嗒作响」很形象的表达。🎈「我们平常不大觉得」未译作从句，而是灵活处理为minute(和second)的修饰成分，十分简洁。🎈…by…结构表示「一个接一个one by one」。此处minute by minute和second by second就表示时间一分/秒钟一分/秒钟地逝去。🎈「细想起来实在值得警惕」这个短句译文出来成强调句式It is certainly alarming when…，而且独立为一句，充分突出这是值得「警惕」的事儿。我们每天有许多的零碎时间于不知不觉中浪费掉了。Every day we are unconsciously wasting many odd moments.🎈「零碎时间」译作odd moment，odd这里指「零碎的」我们若能养成一种利用闲暇的习惯，一遇空闲，无论其为多么短暂，都利用之做一点有益身心之事，则积少成多终必有成。We should acquire the habit of utilizing leisure time, and snatch every odd moment to do whatever is beneficial to our body and mind. That will enable us to achieve good results little by little. 🎈「利用闲暇」译作snatch every odd moment，snatch是抓住(机会)，抓紧时间(吃东西、休息等)，抽空做。如snatch a few minutes’rest 抓紧时间休息几分钟。🎈「有益身心」译作beneficial to our body and mind，be beneficial to sth.是「对…有益/有利」如be beneficial to our health对我们的健康有利。🎈「则积少成多终必有成」译文独立一句，起到总结。常听人讲过“消遣”二字，最是要不得，好像是时间太多无法打发的样子，People often talk most improperly about “seeking relaxation” as if they had more than enough time for them to while away.🎈讲起‘消遣’二字译为talk most improperly about “seeking relaxation”，此处「消遣」译为relaxation，其本意为「休息，娱乐」🎈「最是要不得」意即「是最不合适的」译为most improperly。🎈「时间太多」译作more than enough time远比too much time有语言色彩。 🎈「打发（时间）」译为while away，英文固定短语是「消磨，打发(时间)」的意思。其实人生短促极了，哪里会有多余的时间待人“消遣”? Life is, in fact, extremely short. How can you find so much surplus time for you to fool away?🎈此处「消遣」根据情景译为贬义色彩较明显的fool away（虚度时光，浪费时间），同样的表达根据不同的场景有不同的选词，注意借鉴。陆放翁有句云：“待饭未来还读书。” Lu Fangweng says in one of his poems, “Spend even the pre-meal odd moment in reading.” 🎈「有句云」即「曾经说过…」，这里根据具体译为…says in one of his poems。🎈「待饭未来还读书」即「饭前片刻也要用来读书」，译为Spend even the pre-meal odd moment in reading.我知道有人就经常利用这“待饭未来”的时间读了不少的大书。As far as I know, many people did snatch the odd moment before a meal to do a lot of reading.🎈did snatch意同snatched，但在语气上有所加强。古人所谓“三上之功”，枕上、马上、厕上，虽不足为训，其用意是在劝人不要浪费光阴。Our ancients recommended “three on’s”, that is, doing reading even while you are on a pillow, on a horse or on a nightstool. All that, though impracticable, serves the purpose of advising people not to waste time.🎈「三‘上’之功」可直译为 three on’s，因为之后有对这个词的具体解释。🎈「枕上、马上、厕上」根据上下文需要增译了doing reading even while you are …，充分照顾了译入语读者。🎈「虽不足为训」本作「虽不足效法」，但此处作者的意思是「现在无法实施」，故译为though impracticable。🎈「其用意是在……」译作serves the purpose of doing。吃苦耐劳是我们这个民族的标帜。Ours is a nation known for industry and self-denial.🎈「是…的标帜」即「因…而闻名」，译为be known for…。🎈「吃苦耐劳」译作industry and self-denial，industry除了「工业，产业」，这里是「勤奋，勤劳」的意思，self-denial是指「自我牺牲，克己忘我」古圣先贤总是教训我们要能过得俭朴的生活，Frugality has always been the teaching of our ancient sages and wise men.🎈这一句英译时把重点信息Frugality（俭朴）提前，作为主语展开后面的阐述，Frugality has always been …更突出「俭朴」的重要性。「古圣先贤」即「古代的圣人和智者」，译作ancient sages and wise men。「教训」词性转换，把原句的动词译成动名词the teaching of…(…的教诲）。所谓“一箪食，一瓢饮”，就是形容生活状态之极端的刻苦，所谓“嚼得菜根”，就是表示一个有志的人之能耐得清寒。A man of strong will should be able to endure Spartan living conditions.🎈「有志的人」译作A man of strong will，will这里是「意志」的意思。又，Spartan表示(生活方式)简朴的，清苦的。🎈大家能看到，此处参考译文和原文相比，内容上有大量「裁剪」。把中文简化一下：A就是B，C就是D，那么译文就是只译出了B和D。在我们面对古文难以下手时，这不失为一种「保命」的处理方式。恶衣恶食，不足为耻，丰衣足食，不足为荣，这在个人之修养上是应有的认识，It should not be regarded as a disgrace to live a simple life. Nor should it be regarded as a glory to live a luxurious life. That should be the correct understanding one needs for self-cultivation.🎈「…为耻，…为荣」译为It should not be regarded as a disgrace to…Nor should it be regarded as a glory to…，分别用disgrace和glory对应「耻」和「荣」🎈「恶衣恶食」即「勤俭朴实的生活」译作live a simple life，反之「丰衣足食」就是「奢侈的生活方式」译作live a luxurious life。🎈That should be the correct understanding one needs for self-cultivation相当于That should be the correct understanding （that） one needs for self-cultivation。 罗马帝国盛时的一位皇帝，Marcus Aurelius，他从小就摒绝一切享受，从来不参观那当时风靡全国的赛车比武之类的娱乐，Marcus Aurelius, emperor of the Roman Empire in its heyday, refused to enjoy all comforts of life from childhood and always kept away from amusements like the chariot race then in vogue and other fighting-skill competitions.🎈Marcus Aurelius, emperor of the Roman Empire in its heyday互为同位语。🎈此句中出现了两种表示「拒绝、不…」的表达，refused to enjoy…和kept away from…，体现了表达多样性，使译文不会过于单调。🎈then in vogue作race的后置定语。in vogue的意思是「风靡一时、流行」终其身成为一位严肃的苦修派的哲学家，而且也建立了不朽的事功。这是很值得钦佩的，He remained a life-long staunch Stoic philosopher and meanwhile distinguished himself by numerous exploits.🎈Stoic表示「对痛苦或困难能默默承受或泰然处之」🎈关于distinguish oneself（by）使出名，使受青睐的用法：If you distinguish yourself, you do something that makes you famous or important.例句They distinguished themselves at the Battle of Assaye.他们在阿瑟耶之战中一战成名。🎈这里的「事功」是指「功绩」，译作exploits，这个词除了我们熟知的「开发」还有「英勇行为，功绩」的意思。我们中国是一个穷的国家，所以我们更应该体念艰难，弃绝一切奢侈，尤其是从外国来的奢侈。Ours is a poor country, so it is even more necessary for us to see the tough conditions facing us and renounce all luxuries, especially those coming from abroad. 🎈「体念艰难」即「更应看到我们眼前的艰难处境」，译作see the tough conditions facing us 。其中，facing us（我们面临的）作conditions的后置定语。宜从小就养成俭朴的习惯，更要知道物力维艰，竹头木屑，皆宜爱惜。We should build up the habit of leading a thrifty life. We should bear in mind that all material resources are hard to come by and should be treasured, even including their odds and ends.🎈「养成习惯」在本文中共出现了两种译法：form/build up a habit🎈Leading a thrifty life即「勤俭的生活方式」，lead…life是「以…的方式生活，过…的生活」🎈「要知道」除了「懂得，明白」这里其实更想表达的是「我们都应铭记于心…」，所以译作We should bear in mind。又，将 … 记在心中；记住；考虑到：bear/keep… in mind或bear/keep in mind that …🎈「物力维艰」即「所有的资源及物料都得之不易」，译作all material resources are hard to come by，come by是「取得，得到」的意思。🎈这里把原句「更要知道物力维艰，竹头木屑，皆宜爱惜」中的「竹头木屑」放到句末，用even including连接，体现层次突出重点。 🎈「竹头木屑」译作odds and ends，odds这里指「零散的，碎的」，ends是「末端，端部」以上数端不过是偶然拈来，好的习惯千头万绪，“勿以善小而不为”。The above points have been picked by me at random. Good habits are too numerous to be dealt with one by one, but none, however, are too small to keep.🎈「以上数端」即「以上的观点」，译为The above points。🎈「偶然拈来」即「随意选取（的一部分）」，译作picked by me at random。🎈千头万绪：也说千端万绪。指头绪很多。形容事物纷繁复杂。现以numerous一词译出。🎈「勿以善小而不为」即「不要认为这些是小事而不去做」，译作none, however, are too small to keep。习惯养成之后，便毫无勉强，临事心平气和，顺理成章。Habit, once formed, will become your natural and spontaneous behaviour. 🎈None表示否定「没有任何」，这里说的是保持好的生活习惯所以用的keep（保持）🎈「毫无勉强，临事心平气和，顺理成章」即「自然，发自内心的行为」，译作natural and spontaneous behaviour，spontaneous（行为）「自然的，内心自发的」如spontaneous applause发自内心的掌声。充满良好习惯的生活，才是合于“自然”的生活。A life full of good habits will be a life conforming with the law of nature.🎈「…才是合于‘自然’的生活」即「…才符合自然规律」，译作conforming with the law of nature，作life的后置定语。其中，conform是「遵从，符合(法律或规则、规律等)」，law of nature是「自然规律」🔥必背词汇break v.使摆脱，使戒除习惯英义If you break a habit or if someone breaks you of it, you no longer have that habit.例句If you continue to smoke, keep trying to break the habit.如果你还在吸烟的话，就尽量戒除这个习惯吧。rush n.仓促，匆忙，急忙英义A rush is a situation in which you need to go somewhere or do something very quickly.例句Then there was the mad rush not to be late for school.然后就是匆忙往学校赶，以免迟到。drive un.精力，干劲，冲劲，决心英义If you say that someone has drive, you mean they have energy and determination.例句John will be best remembered for his drive and enthusiasm.约翰的魄力和热情最令人难忘。resolve n.决心，决意英义Resolve is determination to do what you have decided to do.例句This will strengthen the American public’s resolve to go to war.这会坚定美国公众诉诸战争的决心。whereabouts n. (人或物的)行踪，下落，所在之处英义If you refer to the whereabouts of a particular person or thing, you mean the place where that person or thing may be found.例句The police are anxious to hear from anyone who may know the whereabouts of the firearms.警方急盼任何可能知道这批武器下落的人提供线索。🔥重点表达天性human nature养成（习惯）formed little by little改变break睡懒觉 sleeping late日上三竿till late蓬首垢面without washing up闻鸡起舞rising at cockcrow to practise swordplay 志士men of resolve非常重视…set great store by sth.起码的礼the ABC of good manners视若无睹/如入无人之境 ignore 横眉冷目pull a long face 不屑搭讪refuse to converse跋扈乖戾之气 cocky and willful 恭敬有礼be polite to people为别人着想 be considerate不可放纵自己 abstaining from self-indulgence消耗ticking away零碎时间odd moment利用闲暇snatch every odd moment有益身心beneficial to our body and mind消遣 seeking relaxation时间太多more than enough time打发（时间）while away消遣fool away不足为训 impracticable其用意是在… serves the purpose of …是…的标帜be known for…吃苦耐劳industry and self-denial俭朴 frugality古圣先贤ancient sages and wise men教训 the teaching of…有志的人a man of strong will …为耻，…为荣regarded as a disgrace to…，regarded as a glory to…恶衣恶食live a simple life丰衣足食live a luxurious life个人之修养self-cultivation体念艰难see the tough conditions facing us俭朴leading a thrifty life获取come by竹头木屑 odds and ends勿以善小而不为None are too small to keep.毫无勉强natural and spontaneous 合于“自然”conforming with the law of nature🔥复盘测试天性 养成（习惯） 改变 睡懒觉 日上三竿蓬首垢面 闻鸡起舞 志士 非常重视… 起码的礼 视若无睹/如入无人之境 横眉冷目 不屑搭讪 跋扈乖戾之气 恭敬有礼 为别人着想 不可放纵自己 消耗 零碎时间 利用闲暇 有益身心 消遣 时间太多 打发（时间） 消遣 不足为训 其用意是在… 是…的标帜 吃苦耐劳 俭朴 古圣先贤 教训 有志的人 …为耻，…为荣 恶衣恶食 丰衣足食 个人之修养体念艰难 俭朴 获取 竹头木屑 勿以善小而不为 毫无勉强 合于“自然” 🔥表达对比「风靡一时、流行」有几种表达？他从小就摒绝一切享受，从来不参观那当时（风靡全国的）赛车比武之类的娱乐，… always kept away from amusements like the chariot race then in vogue and other fighting-skill competitions.不要只关心现在（流行）什么。 Don’t concern yourself merely with what’s fashionable.此习俗在此地已（流行）多年。 This custom has obtained here for many years.因为它想变得（流行）。 Well, because it wants to be popular.那个时候，声音是（流行的）主题。 At that time, sound was trending …
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