唱高調

句子：我們要尚務實，戒高調。

誤譯：We should advocate the realistic spirit and guard against making high tunes.

正譯：We should advocate the realistic spirit and guard against making high-sounding talks.

解釋：high tune指曲調高，是音樂術語。“戒高調”的意思是“不要光說不做的漂亮話”，與音樂無關。high-sounding 的意思是intended to sound important，能表達“唱高調”的比喻意義。

“高調”的第一個意思是“唱歌或說話比一般頻率高的音調”，即“高調門”。可以為 high tune, high tone, high pitch, high-pitched。如：

1. 這位歌手以她的高調門歌唱使我們驚嘆不已。The singer marveled us with her high-tune singing.

2. 這位歌手唱高調門的歌唱得非常好。The singer can sing high-pitched songs very well.

“高調”第二個意思是比喻“高昂的論調”，即“高格調”。可譯為lofty tone。如：3. 高格調是與生俱來的，不是教出來的。A lofty tone is innate, and does not come by teaching.

“高調”第三個意思是比喻“不切實際或光說不做的”。可譯為high-sounding。如：4. 我們對他的高調宣傳報道表示懷疑。We were all suspicious of his high-sounding publicity stories.

“唱高調”的意思是比喻“說得很漂亮，而實際上做不到或不準備去做”。可譯為to mouth high-sounding words, to say fine-sounding things, to affect a high moral tone, to utter high-flown words。如：5. 這個官員愛唱高調，卻很少辦實事。This official likes to mouth high-sounding words, but seldom does practical things.

“高調”第四個意思是比喻“引人注目的高姿態”。可譯為high profile。如：6. 他在這件事上一直保持高調。He has kept a high profile on this matter.▲

（本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）

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