The Last lap ——He Weiguo🔥背景知识：《最后一圏》是著名散文家何为写于1993年的一篇随笔。作者引用作家萧乾的话，把人生的晚年比作马拉松长跑的最后一圈，鼓励老年人保持晚节，跑好最后一圈，力求老有所为，发挥余热。 🎈结合文章内容，题目中的「圈」更贴近于比赛、竞争中的圈，故译为lap，而非circle、ring、loop等等。70年代后期，收阅萧乾同志的一封信，他说“要跑好人生的最后一圈”。Back in the late 1970s, I received a letter from Xiao Qian, in which he said, I shouldn’t slacken off on this last lap of my life.” 🎈Xiao Qian (1910-1999) — famous writer, journalist and translator of literary works. 🎈Marathon — village of ancient Greece, on the east coast of Attica, some 25 miles northeast of Athens. 🎈「要跑好人生的最后一圈」译为I shouldn’t slacken off on this last lap of my life，是从反面叙述，其中slacken off是成语，作「松劲」「懈怠」解。此句也可译为I should make a success of this last lap of my life或I should acquit myself well on this last lap of my life等。当时怦然有所触动，一直记得这句话。I was deeply touched and have remembered his words to this day. 🎈「一直记得」即「记得」的状态延续到了「如今」，故选用现在完成时，译为have remembered …to this day.年前读他的《八十自省》一文，自谓“这一圈跑了大半，离终点不会太远了”。更是令人感慨万千，不胜惆怅。Last year, when I read his I’m an Octogenarian, in which he said, “Having covered more than half of this lap, I’m now close to the finishing line,” I was even more touched and seized with a feeling of sadness. 🎈「年前」有一年前和过年前的意思。此处取第一种释义，译为Last year。 🎈《八十自省》除译I’m an Octogenarian外，也可译为I’ve Completed My 80th Birthday。 🎈这一圈跑了大半→「跑了大半圈」译作Having covered more than half of this lap，其中cover用词非常灵活精巧。cover除了「覆盖」的基本义，还可以表示「行走(一段路程)」，例如It would not be easy to cover ten miles on that amount of petrol.就那么点儿汽油很难开10英里。此处同理。当然了，cover还有很多其他的释义，比如表示「钱足以支付，够付」的意思也非常常见，例如Those figures might not even cover the cost of breakages.那笔钱甚至都不够赔偿破损费。 🎈不胜惆怅→「惆怅啊，它追上我了/惆怅啊它围绕着我」译作was seized with a feeling of sadness。同理，如果用同样的结构表示「孤独感」，那么我们可以说was seized with a feeling of loneliness。算一下他的最后一圈，长达十余年，很长，也很有成绩，殊堪庆幸。To my great delight, however, his last lap, having lasted, as I figure out, for more than a decade now, is very long and fruitful. 🎈however承接上文，引领下文，表示两种相反情绪「不胜惆怅」「殊堪庆幸」的对比。 🎈as I figure out是插入语，其中figure out表示「弄懂、想出、理解」以他的坚毅顽强和旷达，其“终点”线设在21世纪，是完全可预期的。Judging by his strong will and broad-mindedness, the finishing line should undoubtedly be somewhere in the coming 21st century. 🎈Judging by/from 是现在分词作状语，这是固定用法，属于可允许的分词垂悬现象。再如Generally speaking，其逻辑主语均是说话人。 🎈垂悬分词(hanging participle)指的是在句子中做状语，但其逻辑主语不是句子的主语，又没有构成独立主格的动词现在分词或过去分词结构。目前，对这一语法现象的说法不一。 🎈是完全可预期的→毫无疑问会在（未来）实现/看到，现译作should undoubtedly be somewhere in the coming 21st century。其中coming一词还可与days/weeks…等搭配，表示未来（……的）日子里。从人生道路上的最后一圈，想到马拉松超长距赛跑。Meanwhile, the last lap of human life has reminded me of the marathon race. 🎈使某人想起某事remind sb. of sth. 🎈马拉松比赛the marathon race。其中，「马拉松」是由marathon一词音译过来的。古希腊人在马拉松地方战胜敌军，一名士兵为了迅速传递捷报，一鼓作气跑毕四万二千一百九十五米的路程，到了雅典后就力竭死去。According to legend, when the ancient Greeks defeated the invaders at Marathon, a Greek soldier is believed to have run non-stop from Marathon to Athens, a distance of 42,195 metres, to announce the Athenian victory at the battlefield. Unfortunately, after making the announcement, he dropped dead from exhaustion. 🎈「古希腊人在马拉松地方战胜敌军……」译为According to legend, when the ancient Greeks defeated the invaders at Marathon …，其中According to legend（据传说）是译文中的増译成分，原文虽无其词而有其意。 🎈non-stop①陆文夫《快乐的死亡》：……为这为那地频频举杯。……drinking nonstop to this and that②柔石《为奴隶的母亲》中两村的相隔有三十里路，可是轿夫的第二次将轿子放下肩，就到了。The two villages were thirty li apart, but the chair carriers reached their destination without making a single stop on the way. 🎈「四万二千一百九十五米」可译为42,195 meters或42.195 kilometers。 🎈「到了雅典（向人们传递消息）力竭死去」，故增译after making the announcement，也可将其看作实“到达雅典”的替换表达，即另一种说法。 🎈「力竭死去」译作dropped dead from exhaustion，其中from引导原因；drop dead强调「暴毙、突然死去、猝死」，比dead更为贴切。他带去胜利的信息，他又是长途跋涉的胜利者，He was not only the courier carrying news of the Greek victory, but also the winner of the record journey. 🎈句子中含「不仅……又/而且」的意思，可用表达not only……but also。 🎈「长途跋涉」译作the record journey。「长途跋涉」强调的是「路途遥远」，而record一词可作形容词表示「创纪录的」，结合语境，前所未有的距离必定称得上遥远。后人将这一距离的竞赛项目称为马拉松赛跑，作为纪念。Now the long-distance foot race of the same distance has been named after the Battle of Marathon to commemorate the legendary feat of the Greek soldier. 🎈以……命名 name after… 🎈「作为纪念」意即「纪念该希腊士兵的传奇功绩」，故译to commemorate the legendary feat of the Greek soldier。马拉松赛跑是考验人的意志和力量的竞技运动。The marathon race is a sports event testing man’s endurance and strength. 🎈「人的意志」本可译为man’s will，今根据上下文，按「人的耐力」译为man’s endurance，似更确切。长跑者在同一起跑线出发。一眼望不到尽头的跑道上，强者与弱者的差距逐渐拉开。Runners start from the same starting line and on the seemingly endless track the gap gradually widens between the strong and the weak. 🎈起跑线the starting line（可以和「终点线」一起记忆） 🎈强者与弱者the strong and the weak：the + adj.表示一类人。最后一圈是拼搏的时刻。The last lap always witnesses the runners going all out to win success. 🎈「最后一圈是拼搏的时刻」可译为The last lap always witnesses the runners going all out to win success或The last lap is always when the athletes exert themselves to the utmost to win the race。（建议大家积累witness在此处的用法）第一个到达终点的优胜者，迎来阵阵掌声和热烈欢呼，屏幕上闪耀着他创造的纪录。The first to reach the finishing line is showered with warm applause and acclamation while the new record he or she has created is flashing across the screen. 🎈「迎来阵阵掌声和热烈欢呼」译作is showered with warm applause and acclamation。其中，be showered with意为「（向…）抛撒、撒落…」。不得不说，shower一词用的绝妙！shower作动词的一种引申义「抛撒、撒落」，大家可以将其和「淋浴」联想在一起，真的是喷洒而下，奔涌而来，极具画面感。此处完美地体现了氛围的「热烈」然而，跑道上也有这样的场面：拖着疲惫不堪的双腿，苦苦挣扎着，摇摇欲坠几乎昏厥的身子，终于奋力冲过封锁线，那是多么激动人心的时刻！Nevertheless, we also see this moving scene: An exhausted runner, dragging a pair of weary feet and staggering as though about to fall into a faint, barely manages at long last to hit the finishing line after a desperate struggle. Oh, what a stirring moment! 🎈「跑道上也有这样的场面」一句将主语直接译作「跑道the track」也可以，那么译文的用法就类似于sth. witness(es) 某事发生。 🎈似乎，好像，仿佛 as if/though。He behaved as if nothing had happened.他表现得若无其事。 🎈给大家把长句的主干揪出来：An exhausted runner barely manages at long last to hit the finishing line。其中，barely manages表示勉强地努力着，非常形象地表达了「苦苦挣扎、奋力」之意。纵或是最后一名，也是一位胜利者，同样赢得热情的鼓励和赞许的掌声。He may be the last, yet he is also a winner. He likewise deserves spectators’ warm encouragement and approving applause. 🎈从表意来看，「也是一位胜利者」的强调重点不是「也」，而是「胜利者」。所以此处若译作also就大错特错了。又，yet作连词，用于引出颇令人惊讶的事实，意为「可是却，却又」人们为长跑者坚韧不拔的精神深深感动了。People are deeply moved by his tenacity. 🎈还记得上处「怦然有所触」译作了I was deeply touched吗？读文章不能边读边忘哦。人的一生好比马拉松赛跑。Human life can be likened to the marathon race. 🎈把A比作/比拟为B liken A to B人人都有最后一圈，这一圈通常属于人生道路漫长的老人。All people, especially the aged who have already seen much of life, have the last lap. 🎈季羡林《文学批评无用论》一切文学作品，特别是像《红楼梦》这样伟大的作品，内容异常地丰富…。All literary works, especially a monumental one like A Dream of Red Mansions, are extremely rich in content …”关于「especially…」：此处其不是同位语，也不是并列句的省略，传统语法会认为这是插入语，是对前面说的话中的某个词、短语或句子的补充解释；现代语法则把这种对某个词、短语或句子作解释补充的成分，称为补充语（supplement）。 🎈补充语包括插入语在内，但不限于插入语。非限制性定语、非限制性同位语、分词作状语等都囊括在补充语的项下。其特征是有逗号与句子隔开，其功能是对句子中的某个词、短语或整个句子做补充解释。补充语本身可以是名次词组、形容词词组，也可以是一个分句。补充语可以有标记词，如namely, such as, for example, especially等。七老八十的人，穿过艰难的世途，穿过芸芸众生，穿过重重障碍，于是到了人生的最后一圈。Septuagenarians and octogenarians are on the last lap of their lives after experiencing the twists and turns of life’s journey, meeting human beings of all descriptions and going through one obstacle after another. 🎈「艰难的世途」译为the twists and turns of life’s journey，其中twists and turns是成语，意为「曲折变化」「艰难」等。此句也可译为the difficult journey of life。 🎈芸芸众生human beings of all descriptions这一圈路程有长有短，跑得有快有慢。The last lap may be long or short; the runners may be fast or slow. 🎈此句处理为两个由分号连接的并列关系的句子，且译文may be long or short、may be fast or slow在格式上和原文「有长有短、有快有慢」保持对应。有的人稳健有力，从容不迫；有的人歪歪扭扭，步子不正；有的人拖拖沓沓，蹒跚不前。Some may run with firm and steady steps and self-possession; some may run very unsteadily and out of step; some may be sluggish and run with faltering steps. 🎈同理，积累「分号」的用法（通常涉及某一成分的重复，比如，此处「有的人……有的人……」等也有跑入歪道的人，或跑不快还要挡道的人，或不按竞赛规则乱跑的人，都是注定要失败的。What is worse, some may resort to dishonest practices; some, being slow themselves, may purposely stand in the way of others; some may run without adhering to the rules of the competition. Such people are doomed to failure. 🎈What is worse是增译成分，文中虽无其词而有其意，补充出来文章衔接会更自然。此外，注意对句子结构的把握：有……的人x3//他们都是注定要失败的。后半部分另起一句，进行总结是非常合理恰当的。 🎈遵守（规则、协议等）adhere to sth. 🎈诉诸、求助于、依靠resort to例句They felt obliged to resort to violence.他们觉得有必要诉诸暴力。 🎈注定、命定（通常接不好的事情）be doomed to例句Their plans seemed doomed to failure.他们的计划好像注定要失败。谁能跑好这最后一圈，谁就是胜利者。Whoever acquits himself well on the last lap is a winner. 🎈whoever引导名词性从句，不可与no matter who换用。 🎈表现好（或坏等）acquit oneself well/badly, etc.例句He acquitted himself brilliantly in the exams.他在考试中表现出色。🔥必背词汇lap cn.比赛中的一圈英义In a race, a competitor completes a lap when they have gone round a course once.例句On lap two, Baker edged forward.第二圈时，贝克悄然赶了上去。seize v.(通过暴力突然迅速地)夺取，攻占，控制英义When a group of people seize a place or seize control of it, they take control of it quickly and suddenly, using force.例句Troops have seized the airport and railroad terminals.军队已控制了机场和火车站。marathon cn.马拉松赛跑(全程26英里，约合42公里)英义A marathon is a race in which people run a distance of 26 miles, which is about 42 km.例句But, a women running a marathon is crazy.但，曾参与马拉松的女人称之疯狂。Athenian adj.雅典（人）的例句It’s an ancient Athenian random-selection device.它是古雅典的一种随机选择策略。tenacity un.坚韧，坚毅英义If you have tenacity, you are very determined and do not give up easily.例句Talent, hard work and sheer tenacity are all crucial to career success.事业要成功，才能、勤奋和顽强的意志都至关重要。🔥重点表达松劲、懈怠slacken off最后一圈the last lap怦然有所触动I was deeply touched一直记得这句话have remembered his words to this day终点线the finishing line起跑线the starting line不胜惆怅was seized with a feeling of sadness弄懂、想出、理解figure out坚毅顽强和旷达strong will and broad-mindedness使某人想起某事remind sb. of sth.马拉松比赛the marathon race力竭死去dropped dead from exhaustion长途跋涉the record journey以……命名 name after…竞技运动a sports event强者与弱者the strong and the weak向…抛撒、撒落…sb. be showered with sth.把A比作/比拟为B liken A to B曲折变化、艰难twists and turns芸芸众生human beings of all descriptions遵守（规则、协议等）adhere to sth.诉诸、求助于、依靠resort to注定、命定（通常接不好的事情）be doomed to表现好（或坏等）acquit oneself well/badly, etc.🔥复盘测试松劲、懈怠最后一圈怦然有所触动一直记得这句话终点线起跑线不胜惆怅弄懂、想出、理解坚毅顽强和旷达使某人想起某事马拉松比赛力竭死去长途跋涉以……命名竞技运动强者与弱者向…抛撒、撒落…把A比作/比拟为B 曲折变化、艰难芸芸众生遵守（规则、协议等）诉诸、求助于、依靠注定、命定（通常接不好的事情）表现好（或坏等）🔥表达对比「注定」有几种表达？……都是（注定）要失败的。Such people are doomed to failure.这个女孩是（注定）要有成就的。That little girl is destined for greatness.有些婚姻（注定要）终结的。Some marriages are meant to be annulled.有些人相信命运（是被注定的）。Some people believe that man’s destiny is predetermined.我们的孩子（注定）相遇。Well, our kids were bound to meet.
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