英語中倍數的表達方法和譯法
“這間房子是那間的兩倍”“這條河比那條河長三倍”看到這些熟悉的字眼,有沒有很模糊?兩倍,三倍,怎麼表示?上學的時候,翻譯倍數問題,總是一大難點。因為,有太多種方法可以表示,寫着寫着可能兩種就混了。有沒有什麼方法可以讓我們記得清清楚楚明明白白的。 英語表示倍數增減或倍數對比的句型多種多樣,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型⑵、⑸、⑹、⑻、⑿ 等)很容易譯錯,其主要原因在於:英漢兩語在表述或對比倍數方面存在着語言與思維差異。現將常用的英語倍數句型及其正確譯法歸納如下: 倍數增加(一)A is n times as great (long, much, ...) as B. ⑴ A is n times greater (longer, more, ...) than B. ⑵ A is n times the size (length, amount, ...) of B. ⑶ 以上三句都應譯為:A的大小(長度、數量、……)是B的n倍,或A比B大(長、多、……)n-1倍。 eg: This book is three times as long as that one. / three times longer than that one. / three times the length of that one. 這本書的篇幅是那本書的3倍(即比那本書長兩倍)。 注:當相比的對象B很明顯時,than (as, of) B 常被省去。(二)increase to n times ⑷ increase n times / n-fold ⑸ increase by n times ⑹ increase by a factor of n ⑺ 以上四句均應譯為:增加到n倍,或增加n-1倍。 eg: The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times as compared with last year. 集成電路的產量比去年增加了兩倍。 eg: The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against 1986. 化肥產量比1986年增加了4倍。 eg: That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. 那可使代謝率提高到原來的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。 eg: The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. 漏電壓增加了3倍(即增加到原來的4倍)。 注:在這類句型中increase常被raise、grow、go/step up、multiply 等詞所替代。(三)There is a n-fold increase / growth... ⑻ 應譯為:增加n-1倍,或增至n倍。 這個句型還有其它一些形式: eg: A record high increase in value of four times was reported. 據報道,價值破記錄地增長了3倍。(四)double(增加1倍)、treble(增加2倍)、quadruple(增加3倍)⑼ eg: The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled. 這些機器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。(五)此外,英語中還有一種用again而不用倍數詞來比較倍數的方法,如: A is as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is twice as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑽ 應譯為:A比B多(大、長、……)1倍。 A is half as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is one and a half times as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑾ 應譯為:A比B多(大、長、……)一半,即A是B的一倍半。倍數減少(一)A is n times as small (light, slow, ...) as B. ⑿ A is n times smaller (lighter, slower, ...) than B. ⒀ 以上兩句均應譯為:A的大小(重量、速度、……)是B的1/n,或A比B小(輕、慢、……)(n-1)/n。 eg: The hydrogen atom is nearly 16 times as light as the oxygen atom. 氫原子的重量約為氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子約輕15/16)。 eg: This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper. 這種薄膜比普通紙張要薄一半(即是普通紙厚度的1/2)。 注:當相比的對象B很明顯時,than/as B 常被省去。(二)decrease n times / n-fold ⒁ decrease by n times ⒂ decrease by a factor of n ⒃ 以上三句均譯為:減少到1/n,或減少(n-1)/n。decrease常被reduce、shorten、go/slow down 等詞替代。 eg: Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times. 新型晶體管的開關時間縮短到1/3(即縮短了2/3)。 eg: When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by ten times. 電壓升高9倍,電流強度便降低9/10(即降低90%)。 eg: The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5. 該設備誤差概率降低了4/5。(三)There is a n-fold decrease / reduction... ⒄ 應譯為:減至1/n,或減少(n-1)/n。 這個句型還有其它一些形式, eg: A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed. 發現迅速減少到1/7。 eg: The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight. 這些產品的主要優點是重量減輕了1/2。 從以上倍數增減句型及其譯法中不難看出:與漢語不同的是,英語在表述或比較倍數時,無論使用什麼句型(除了不含倍數詞的again句型外)都包括基礎倍數在內,因此都不是淨增或淨減n倍,而是淨增或淨減n-1倍。所以句型 ⑶、⑸ 表示的倍數增量=句型 ⑷;句型 ⒀ 表示的倍數比差=句型 ⑿,且decrease (by) 3 times應譯為“減少2/3”,而不是“減少3/4”。 增加,減少,分別怎麼翻譯,都明白了嗎?弱國還有什麼不清楚的,多看看例句,或者自己造句翻譯。這樣可以使我們掌握得更好。