句子:有網民爆料說這個在網上炫富的年輕女子是個“富二代”。
誤譯:A netizen revealed that the young woman who had flaunted wealth on the web was the rich second-generation.
正譯:A netizen revealed that the young woman who had flaunted wealth on the web was the daughter of a first-generation wealthy man.
解釋:“富二代”是“富一代的子女”,可以指全體人,也可以指個別人。但是generation 的意思是 all the people who were born at about the same time,指“一代人”,而不指“一個人”。rich second-generation的意思是“富裕的二代”,指一個群體。這句話的“富二代”指“一個人”,不能譯為 the rich second-generation。
“二代”的第一個意思是“第二代”,表示序列。英語可以譯為second- generation。例如:
1. 最近走紅的超級球星林書豪是個成功的二代華裔美國人。Basketball superstar Jeremy Shu-How Lin, who has recently become popular, is a successful second-generation Chinese American.
“二代”的第二個意思是“第一代人的子女組成的群體”?!案欢薄ⅰ案F二代”、“官二代”和“星二代”,英語分別譯為the rich second-generation, the poor second-generation, officials second-generation, celebrities second-generation。例如:
2. “貧二代”無權無勢,是社會的弱勢群體。Being without power and influence, the poor second-generation is a social vulnerable group.
“二代”的第三個意思是“特定群體的人的個別子女”?!案欢?、“窮二代”、“官二代”和“星二代”,英語分別譯為 offspring of a rich man/a poor man/an official/a celebrity。例如:
3. 有些“富二代”不思進取,游手好閑,坐吃山空,結果破產了。Some offspring of the rich people are not eager to make progress, but just idle about and spend without earning, thus ending in bankruptcy.
4. 這個“星二代”因吸毒而被拘留數日。The offspring of a film star was held in custody for a few days for taking drugs. ▲
(本欄目供稿:王逢鑫教授)
環球時報2012-03-26