數字“三”的英譯（下）

文/陳德彰

數字“三”的英譯（下）

文/陳德彰

下面舉一些漢語典故和經典古文的引例和其英譯，筆者加上了簡單的點評，供大家參考。

1.道生一，一生二，二生三，三生萬物。

The Tao begets the One, the One consists of Two opposites (the Yin and the Yang), the Two begets the Three, and the Three begets all things of the world.

【點評】這是道家經典《道德經》中的名言，講述開天辟地。其中的“一”“二”“三”不是平常意義上的數字，故用大寫。

2.鑿井者，起于三寸之坎，以就萬仞之深。

A deep well is dug starting with a shallow pit.

【點評】這里的“三寸”和后面的“萬仞”相對，通過對比說明一個哲理，故沒有具體譯出。

3.夫戰，勇氣也。一鼓作氣，再而衰，三而竭。

Fighting is a race of courageous spirit. With the first roll of drums, the spirit of the soldiers is inspired; with the second roll, it will decline; with the third roll,it will die out.

【點評】這里的“鼓”是動詞，意為“擊鼓”，而“一”“再”“三”都是副詞，表示一個過程。但英語不像漢語那樣多用動態，而是多用靜態，故用序數詞將“一鼓”譯為the first roll of drums。

4.國之所以至治者三：一曰法，二曰信，三曰權。

Orderly government is brought about in a state of three things. The first is law, the second good faith, and the third right standards.

【點評】這里的“一”“二”“三”表示重要性的先后，故也用了序數詞。其中第一個“三”后面沒有具體內容，是文言中常用的，其后必須加上things一詞。

5.君子有三畏：畏天命，畏大人，畏圣人之言。

There are three things of which the gentleman stands in awe: the ordinances of Heaven, great men, and the words of the sages.

【點評】此譯前半句點明了“三畏”，后面不再重復“畏”，使句子顯得簡潔，而這一點是好的英語行文的要求，正如一則英諺所說：Simplicity is the best of style.

6.君子有三變：望之嫣然，即之也溫，聽其言也歷。

The gentleman’s character/image seems to undergo three changes. Looked at from a distace, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to speak, his words are firm and decided.

【點評】注意這里的“三變”不是君子本身的變化，而是他的形象在他人心目中的變化，這一點要在譯文中說清楚。

7.智仁勇三者，天下之達德也。

Wisdom, magnanimity, and courage, these three are the virtues universally acknowledged.

【點評】這樣譯基本保持了原文的詞序，只做了小小的改動。句子結構也很清楚。

8.三人行，必有我師。

When I walk along with two others, one of them may serve as my teacher.

【點評】這只是一種譯法，人們對其中“三人”是否包括說話人有不同看法，有人就譯為 If there are three people walking together, I can surely learn something from one of them.

9.三軍可奪帥也，匹夫不可奪志也。

The commander of a large army may be taken away, but the will of the common people can never be taken away.

【點評】“三軍”現代指海軍、陸軍和空軍（注意英文中并不把海陸空稱為three armies，這三個兵種的英文分別是army、navy、air force。army只是“陸軍”，也可指“陸軍的一個軍”），古代指左軍、中軍和右軍。毛澤東《長征》一詩中“三軍”譯為the three armies，指的是紅軍的一、四方面軍。引文中的“三軍”并不強調三個軍種，故譯為a large army是可取的。同樣，“三軍易得，一將難求”可譯為a general is harder to find than a large army，如果不是說軍隊而泛指，則可譯為real talented and competent talents are hard to come by。

10.三人成虎。

The rumor that a tiger appeared in a downtown place would be believed when it were repeated by three persons.

【點評】這一說法有一個典故：某個鎮上有人謊稱“老虎來了”，但沒有人相信，可是后來很多人紛紛跟著說，于是大家就都相信了。在非文藝作品里也可解釋性地譯為 repeated false reports will lead one astray。還有一則寓言《咕咚來了》，也有類似的內容，我國還出了一套特種郵票。

11.吾日三省吾身：為人謀而不忠乎？與朋友交而不信乎？傳不習乎？

I reflect on three questions every day: Have I done anything unfaithful to others? Have I done anything insincere to my friends? Have I reviewed what I learned?

【點評】這是孔子教導人們自我修養的最重要的一點。由于“吾日三省吾身”常常被單獨引用，不少人將其中的“三”譯為three times；in three ways/respects，忽略了《論語》中原文后面的話而誤譯。這就告訴我們，翻譯時必須先弄清上下文。

12.早起三光，晚起三荒。

Rising early makes things bright; rising late makes one in rush.

【點評】要譯對此俗語，首先要弄清楚“光”和“荒”的意思，才能懂得“三光”和“三荒”的含義。而這里的“三”表示的是“全部”的意思。上面的譯法是保持原文詞序的正譯，每個字都有著落。不過翻譯時也可以意思為主，不必摳字眼，比如可以意譯為：He who does not rise early never does a good day’s work. 意思明確，而且更符合英語的習慣用法，簡直就像是一條英語諺語。

13.早起三朝當一天。

To get up early for three mornings is equal to gain one day of time.

【點評】這也是勸人早起的話，但較口語化。這里的“三朝”是“三個早晨”的意思。這兩個例子告訴我們對“三”字的英譯確實要下功夫才行。

14.一日不見，如三秋兮。

When I do not see her, one day seems long as three seasons.

【點評】譯文用了倒裝句，念起來頗有點英詩的味道，而“三秋”譯為three seasons 也是亮點，因為三個秋天是不可能連在一起的。有人說，“三秋”一般指“三年”，此話不錯，不過在本詩意境中，“三年”似乎太長了一點，做點改動也是可以的。

15.碩鼠碩鼠，無食我黍！三歲貫汝，莫我肯顧。

Large rat, large rat, eat no more millet we grow! Three years you have grown fat; no care for us you show.

【點評】這是《詩經·碩鼠》中的一句。譯文盡量保持了原詩的節奏和韻律。人們常說“詩歌不可譯，只能藝術再創造”，還有人說“只有詩人才能翻譯詩歌”。不過，這一譯文還是很值得大家學習的。

16.誰言寸草心，報得三春暉。

Never enough is the gratitude of grass for the grace of the spring sun.

【點評】“三春”指“春天的三個月”，也有人說指“（農歷）三月”，因為此時正是和煦而美麗的春天。

17.烽火連三月，家書抵萬金。

Flames of war are raging higher and higher; letters from home are worth their weight in gold.

【點評】為了再創造原詩的意境，此譯沒有緊扣原詩的具體用詞，也值得人們欣賞。

18.舉杯邀明月，對影成三人。

I raise my cup to invite the moon who blends. With the moon, my shadow and myself, there are now three friends.

【點評】李白的這首詩耳熟能詳，譯文也不錯。尤其是最后的“三人”沒有譯成three persons而用了three friends，這是一個亮點。不過the moon who blends似可簡化為the bright moon。

10 Fascinating Extinct Animals (VII)

7. Tecopa Pupfish提可巴鳉

The Tecopa pupfish was native to the Mojave desert in California and could survive in waters as warm as 108 degrees Fahrenheit.

Human development around the Tecopa Hot Springs in the mid-20th century and the channelling of two springs together left the habitat unsuitable for the small fish.

The Tecopa pupfish became extinct by 1970 or soon after.