In Chinese culture, yellow is an important color because it has unique symbolic meanings. In feudal society, it symbolized the power and authority of the rulers. At that time, yellow was the color that was used exclusively by the emperor; the royal palaces were all painted yellow, and the imperial robe was always yellow, while ordinary people were forbidden to wear yellow clothes. In China, yellow is also a symbol of harvest. When the crops ripen in autumn, the fields turn golden. People celebrate the harvest with great joy.
逐句译法
1. 在中国文化中,黄颜色是一种很重要的颜色,因为它具有独特的象征意义。
参考译法:In Chinese culture, yellow is an important color because it has unique symbolic meanings.
主干:黄色 is 重要颜色 + because 从句(主语策略:原句主语)主干就是 黄颜色是一种很重要的颜色:主语 yellow,谓语系动词 is,表语 an important color;后半 因为它具有独特的象征意义 由 because 引出原因状语从句,主语用代词 it 回指 yellow。
语法点:- 时态回指全篇基调用一般现在时:is、has 均用现在时,因为这是至今成立的文化事实。 - 单复数象征意义 译 symbolic meanings 宜用复数(象征意义不止一层);color 此处泛指一种颜色,用单数加不定冠词 an important color。 - 冠词"一种很重要的颜色"是泛指其中一种,用不定冠词 an(important 元音开头用 an,不是 a)。
降级处理:因果用 because 从句降级本句是"结论 + 原因"两个分句。把"黄色是重要颜色"立为主句,"因为它具有独特的象征意义"用 because 引导的原因状语从句降级挂上:Yellow is an important color in Chinese culture because it has unique symbolic meanings。开头"在中国文化中"是地点/范围状语,用介词短语 in Chinese culture 安放即可。
2. 在封建(feudal)社会中,它象征统治者的权力和权威。
参考译法:In feudal society, it symbolized the power and authority of the rulers.
主干:it symbolized 权力和权威(主语策略:原句主语)主干是 它象征统治者的权力和权威:主语 it(回指 yellow),谓语 symbolized,宾语 the power and authority of the rulers;在封建(feudal)社会中 是时间/背景状语,用 In feudal society 置句首。
语法点:- 时态此处偏离全篇基调、改用一般过去时 symbolized:因为 在封建(feudal)社会中 明确指向已成为历史的封建时代,那时的象征义是过去的事实。 - 冠词feudal society 作泛指的社会形态、不可数概念,前面不加冠词;rulers 特指那个时代的统治者群体,用 the rulers。
降级处理:并列宾语共用 of 短语"统治者的权力和权威"是"权力"与"权威"两个并列名词共属"统治者",合并成 the power and authority of the rulers,用一个 of 短语统管两个名词,不必各带一个 of。本句结构简单,主干立好即可,无需更多降级。
参考译法:At that time, yellow was the color that was used exclusively by the emperor; the royal palaces were all painted yellow, and the imperial robe was always yellow, while ordinary people were forbidden to wear yellow clothes.
主干:四个分句各立主谓、含被动(主语策略:转被动)这是个长句,含四个分句。黄色是专为皇帝使用的颜色 用主系表 yellow was the color;皇家宫殿全都漆成黄色 中"被漆成"是承受动作→转被动 the royal palaces were painted yellow;皇袍总是黄色的 主系表 the imperial robe was always yellow;普通老百姓是禁止穿黄色衣服的 中"被禁止"也是承受动作→转被动 ordinary people were forbidden to wear yellow clothes。
语法点:- 时态承上句仍属封建时代背景,全句用一般过去时:was、were painted、were forbidden 一致用过去时与过去被动。 - 语态"被漆成""被禁止"用过去被动 were painted / were forbidden;painted yellow 中 yellow 作宾语补足语表"漆成黄色"。 - 单复数皇家宫殿 宫殿不止一座→the royal palaces 用复数、谓语 were;普通老百姓 泛指群体→ordinary people(people 本身即复数)、谓语 were;黄色衣服 衣服泛指→yellow clothes 用复数。 - 介词搭配"禁止某人做某事"用 forbid sb to do,过去被动即 were forbidden to wear;"专为……使用"用 used by + 人,加 exclusively(专门地)传达"专为"。
降级处理:拆成两句 + 后置定语降级四个分句一口气译成一句会过长,宜在语义转折处拆分:前三个都讲"黄色专属皇家",可合为一句(用分号或 and 连接的并列分句);末句"而普通老百姓被禁止"是与皇家形成对照的转折,另起一句用 while/whereas 引出。"专为皇帝使用的"这一修饰,降级成定语从句 that was used exclusively by the emperor 后置在 color 后,不要堆在名词前。
4. 在中国,黄色也是收获的象征。
参考译法:In China, yellow is also a symbol of harvest.
主干:yellow is 收获的象征(主语策略:原句主语)主干 黄色也是收获的象征:主语 yellow,谓语 is,表语 a symbol of harvest;"也"用 also 体现递进,"在中国"用 In China 作状语置句首。
降级处理:简单句无需降级本句结构简单,一个主系表加状语即可,无多余分句需要降级安放。"收获的象征"用 a symbol of harvest,of 短语作后置修饰。
5. 秋天庄稼成熟时,田野变得一片金黄。
参考译法:When the crops ripen in autumn, the fields turn golden.
主干:the fields turn golden + when 从句(主语策略:原句主语)主干是 田野变得一片金黄:主语 the fields,谓语 turn(变得),表语 golden;秋天庄稼成熟时 是时间状语,用 when 引导从句 when the crops ripen in autumn。
降级处理:兴高采烈降级为状语"兴高采烈"不另立谓语,降级成伴随状语修饰"庆祝":可用介词短语 with great joy,或形容词短语 happy and excited 作伴随。整句 People celebrate the harvest with great joy,把情绪并进主干而非另起一句。