氣 候

雙語加油站●跟我學

句子：人類正在遭受氣候變化帶來的危害。

誤譯：Humankind is suffering from the harm caused by weather change.

正譯：Humankind is suffering from the harm caused by climate change.

解釋：weather 的意思是“天氣”，指在一個特定地點和時間的大氣狀況，天氣是一個時刻(point of time)概念。而氣候是一個時段(period of time)概念。“氣候”的第一個意思是“一定地區里經過觀察所得到的概括性的氣象狀況”。可譯為climate(名詞)，climatic(形容詞)。如：1. 9月22日，胡錦濤在紐約出席聯合國氣候變化峰會開幕式并發表重要講話。On September 22, Hu Jintao attended the opening session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in New York and issued an important speech.

“氣候”的第二個意思比喻“社會動向”或“社會環境”。可譯為climate。如：2. 這個亞洲國家的政治氣候正在發生重大轉變。A great change is taking place in the political climate in this Asian country.

“成氣候”的第一個意思是比喻人“有成就”或“有發展前途”。可譯為to make achievements, to get somewhere。“不成氣候”或“成不了氣候”的意思是比喻人“沒有成就”或“沒有發展前途”。可譯為 to make no achievements, wont get anywhere, will get nowhere。如： 3. 人們普遍承認中國足球隊在短期內是難成氣候的。It is generally acknowledged that Chinese football teams can hardly get anywhere in a short period of time.

“成氣候”還比喻事物“流行”。可譯為to become prevalent, to become well received, to become popular。如：4. 我國網上書店已成氣候。In our country, online bookshops have become prevalent.▲

（本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）