當家做主

雙語加油站●跟我學

句子：60年前隨著新中國的成立，中國人民開始當家做主。

誤譯：With the founding of New China 60 years ago, the Chinese people started to be masters.

正譯：With the founding of New China 60 years ago, the Chinese people started to be masters of their own country.

解釋：master的意思是 a person who is able to control sth，即“主人”。但是，to be masters沒有說明做誰的主人。“當家做主”實際上是“做自己國家或自己命運的主人”。“做主”的第一個意思是“做主人”。“當家做主”，就是“當家做主人”。英語可以譯為 to become masters of ones own country, to become masters of ones own destiny。例如：1. 當西藏廢除了腐朽、黑暗的封建農奴制的時候，百萬農奴掙脫了枷鎖，當家做主了。When the decadent and dark feudal serfdom was abolished in Tibet, one million serfs were unshackled and became masters of their own destiny.

“做主”的第二個意思是當事人自己“對某件事情負完全責任并做出決定”。如果強調“負責任”，英語可以譯為 to take the responsibility 或on ones own responsibility；如果強調“做決定”，英語可以譯為to decide, to make the decision, to have the final say。例如：2. 這件事，我來做主。Ill take the responsibility for this matter.

3. 我們是否做這個工作，我可做不了主。I am not in a position to decide whether well do this work.

4. 我們女兒的婚姻大事由她自己做主。Our daughter has the final say in choosing the man she wants to marry.

“做主”的第三個意思是當事人“支持別人”或“為別人撐腰”。英語可以譯為 to back up, to support。例如：

5. 當官不為民做主，不如回家賣紅薯。If I didnt back up the common people as an official, I would rather go back home to become a small pedlar selling sweet potatoes. ▲

（本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）