封口費

句子：這個礦主給記者們發封口費，使他們對這次礦難封口。

誤譯：The mine owner paid the journalists hush money, so as to close/ shut their mouth about the mine accident.

正譯：The mine owner paid the journalists hush money, so as to seal their mouth about the mine accident.

解釋：to close/shut ones mouth 的意思是“閉嘴”；而to seal ones mouth的意思是“當事人封別人的口”。在這句話里，礦主是當事人。他發封口費的目的是封別人的口。

“封口”的第一個意思是“封閉信封或容器開口的地方”。英語譯為 to seal。例如：我們寄信時要用膠水給信封封口。We must seal the envelope with glue before posting the letter.

“封口”的第二個意思是“傷口愈合”。英語可以譯為 to heal。例如：

我腿上的傷已經封口了。The wound in my leg has healed over.

“封口”的第三個意思是“堵住別人的嘴，不讓呼吸或說話”，也可以說“封嘴”。英語譯為to seal sb s mouth。例如：

綁匪用破布給不停叫喊的人質封住口。With rug, the kidnapper sealed the mouth of the hostage who had been crying.

“封口費”，英語譯為 hush money。例如：

他因為揭露了一個貪官給記者“封口費”的事實，而出了名。Because he exposed a corrupt official's offer of “hush money” to journalists, he became well known.

“封口”的第四個意思是“閉嘴不說，保持緘默”。英語譯為to close/ shut one s mouth about, to keep silent/quiet about。例如：

關于這個政治丑聞，他決定封口。He decided to close his mouth about this political scandal.

“封口”的第五個意思是“把話說死，不再改口”。也可以說“封嘴”或“封門”。英語譯為 to close/shut one s door to further compromise/negotiation。例如：

他沒有封口，還有商量的余地。As he hasnt shut the door to further compromise, there is still room for discussion.

“封口”的第六個意思是比喻“使規定的限度不突破”。英語譯為 to set it as the maximum limit。例如：

銀行給我們的貸款就是這20萬，已經封口了。The bank has made a loan of only two hundred thousand yuan to us and set it as the maximum limit.▲

（本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）