Qipao is an elegant Chinese garment originating from the Manchu people. During the Qing Dynasty, it was a loose robe worn by royal women. In the 1920s, influenced by Western clothing, the qipao underwent some changes: the cuffs became narrower and the robe became shorter. These changes fully displayed the beauty of women. Today, the qipao often appears at world-class fashion shows. When Chinese women attend important social gatherings, the qipao is often their first choice. Many Chinese brides also choose the qipao as their wedding dress. Some influential people even suggest making the qipao the national costume for Chinese women.
参考译法:Qipao is an elegant Chinese garment originating from the Manchu people.
主干:旗袍作主语,'是…服装'作系表主干(主语策略:原句主语)中文已有明确主语旗袍(qipao),主干就是'旗袍是一种雅致的中国服装'——Qipao is an elegant Chinese garment/dress。'源于满族'是对主语来历的补充,不抢主干。
语法点:- 时态陈述旗袍是什么,是客观事实,回指全篇基调用一般现在时 is。 - 冠词与单复数an elegant Chinese garment 是泛指'一种'服装,用不定冠词 an(garment 以元音音素开头前不用,但 elegant 以元音开头故 an);满族作族群专名用 the Manchu people。
降级处理:'源于满族'降级为分词短语后置源于中国的满族(Manchu Nationality) 不另起一句、也不用 and 平铺,而是降级成过去分词短语 originating from the Manchu people 作后置定语/状语,挂在主干之后;这样一句话内主次分明,避免写成两个并列流水句。
2. 在清代,旗袍是王室女性穿着的宽松长袍
参考译法:During the Qing Dynasty, the qipao was a loose robe worn by royal women.
主干:旗袍作主语,'是…长袍'作系表主干(主语策略:原句主语)主干为'旗袍是宽松长袍'——the qipao was a loose robe。在清代作时间状语前置,王室女性穿着的是修饰'长袍'的定语,均不进主干。
语法点:- 时态在清代是讲过去的历史,须偏离全篇现在时基调,用一般过去时 was。 - 语态'王室女性穿着的'即'被王室女性穿',英文用被动 worn by royal women(过去分词),比直译成主动从句更地道。 - 单复数royal women 指一类人、不止一位,用复数 women。
降级处理:'王室女性穿着的'降级为定语从句王室女性穿着的宽松长袍 里的修饰成分太长,不宜全堆在名词前,故拆成中心词 a loose robe + 定语从句 worn by royal women(过去分词短语作后置定语,等价于 that was worn by royal women),把'被王室女性穿着'后置安放。
3. 上世纪20年代,受西方服饰影响,旗袍发生了一些变化。
参考译法:In the 1920s, influenced by Western clothing, the qipao underwent some changes.
主干:旗袍作主语,'发生了变化'作主干(主语策略:原句主语)主干为'旗袍发生了一些变化'——the qipao underwent some changes。上世纪20年代作时间状语,受西方服饰影响作原因/方式状语,均降级。
语法点:- 时态上世纪20年代是过去时间,用一般过去时 underwent(undergo 的过去式)。 - 用词'发生变化'译 underwent some changes 比 happened some changes 地道;changes 作可数名词用复数。
降级处理:'受西方服饰影响'降级为分词状语受西方服饰影响 不另立句子,降级成过去分词短语 influenced by Western dress/clothing 作状语前置(或 under the influence of Western clothing 介词短语),表示变化的原因。
4. 袖口(cuffs) 变窄,袍身变短。
参考译法:The cuffs became narrower and the robe became shorter.
主干:两个并列主谓:袖口变窄、袍身变短(主语策略:原句主语)这是两个结构相同的短主谓——袖口(cuffs) 变窄 即 the cuffs became narrower,袍身变短 即 the robe became shorter,用 and 并列即可,无需降级。
参考译法:When Chinese women attend important social gatherings, the qipao is often their first choice.
主干:旗袍作主语,'是首选'作系表主干(主语策略:原句主语)主干'旗袍是她们的首选'——the qipao is often their first choice。中国女性出席重要社交聚会时整体作时间状语从句,'她们'回指中国女性。
语法点:- 时态讲一般性现状/习惯,全篇基调一般现在时:从句 attend、主句 is。 - 单复数Chinese women 复数(泛指这一群体),social gatherings 复数;their 与 women 复数一致。 - 用词'首选'地道译 first choice 或 top choice;'重要社交聚会'译 important social gatherings/occasions。
降级处理:'出席聚会时'降级为when从句中国女性出席重要社交聚会时 降级成时间状语从句 when Chinese women attend important social gatherings,置于主句前;主句 the qipao is often their first choice 收尾,'她们'用 their 回指从句主语 Chinese women。
8. 很多中国新娘也会选择旗袍作为结婚礼服。
参考译法:Many Chinese brides also choose the qipao as their wedding dress.
主干:很多中国新娘作主语,'选择旗袍'作主干(主语策略:原句主语)主干'很多中国新娘选择旗袍'——many Chinese brides also choose the qipao。作为结婚礼服作方式/身份状语降级。
语法点:- 时态讲普遍习惯,一般现在时 choose;主语 many Chinese brides 复数,谓语用原形 choose。 - 单复数与冠词many 后接复数可数 brides;wedding dress 此处泛指作礼服身份,用 their wedding dress(与复数主语呼应可用复数 dresses,亦可单数泛指)。 - 关联词'也'用 also 放在主语后、动词前,承接上句中国女性的偏好。
降级处理:'作为结婚礼服'降级为as介词短语作为结婚礼服 降级成 as their wedding dress 介词短语,挂在宾语 the qipao 之后说明其身份,不另起句。'也'用 also 体现与上句的并列递进。
9. 一些有影响的人士甚至建议将旗袍作为中国女性的民族服饰。
参考译法:Some influential people even suggest making the qipao the national costume for Chinese women.
主干:一些有影响的人士作主语,'建议…'作主干(主语策略:原句主语)主干'一些有影响的人士建议……'——some influential people even suggest…。将旗袍作为中国女性的民族服饰是 suggest 的宾语内容,需降级成从句或动名词。
语法点:- 时态讲当下有人这样主张,一般现在时 suggest;主语 some influential people 复数,谓语原形。 - 虚拟语气suggest 表'建议'时,that 从句用 (should) be 虚拟:suggest that the qipao (should) be made…,should 可省。 - 用词'有影响的人士'译 influential people/figures;'民族服饰'译 national dress / national costume;'甚至'用 even 加强语气。
降级处理:'将旗袍作为民族服饰'降级为that从句或动名词将旗袍作为中国女性的民族服饰 作 suggest 的内容,译 suggest that the qipao (should) be made the national dress of Chinese women(虚拟语气从句),或更简洁的 suggest making the qipao the national costume,把'将A作为B'用 make A B 落实。
第1句与第2句之间:用 it 承接旗袍避免重复首句已点明主词 Qipao,第2句 During the Qing Dynasty 起再讲它的形制,可把主语改用代词 it 承接(During the Qing Dynasty, it was a loose robe…),避免连续两句都以 qipao/the qipao 开头显得重复。
第3、4、5句之间:用顺承显出'变化—具体—效果'链条第3句说发生了一些变化,第4句 The cuffs became narrower and the robe became shorter 正是这些变化的具体内容,第5句 These changes 回指收束。可在第4句前用 Specifically 或让 These changes 自然回指,使'总—分—果'的逻辑显形。
第7、8句之间:用 also 体现并列递进第7句讲中国女性社交场合首选旗袍,第8句 Many Chinese brides also choose… 用 also 承接,显出'除社交场合外,新娘也如此'的同类递进,两句不再各自孤立。