原 文:
His speech at the meeting was nice and short, and to the point.
原 譯:
他在會上的講話又好又短,而且講到了點上。
辨 析:
譯文主要錯在第一部分對nice 的理解上。這里的nice 不是“好”的意思,應(yīng)將nice and short看成一個整體,nice修飾后面的short,起強調(diào)作用,意思相當于very,因此nice and short的意思是“很短”。后面的to the point可譯做“中肯”,所以全句可譯做:他在會上的講話很短,但是很中肯。或簡化為:他在會上的講話簡明扼要。類似的用法除了nice之外,常用的還有g(shù)ood,fine,well,rare等。下面是一些例子:
Most students are good and hard working. 大部分學生都很用功。(不是“又好又用功”。)
This time he was really good and angry. 這一次他可是真的很生氣/氣得不輕。(“又好又生氣”顯然不合邏輯。)
We hit him beautiful and hard. 我們狠揍了他。
I'm sure, by morning you'll feel nice and sick. 我敢肯定,到了早上你會很不舒服。
We had a good supper, and grew rare and happy. 我們美美地吃了一頓晚飯,高興極了。
I'll see to it bright and early in the morning. 天一亮我就去辦這件事。
“That boy was bad.”“Yes! He was good and bad.”“那個孩子很壞。”“可不,壞透了?!?
類似的短語good and well則相當于thoroughly,如:The two of us went for a ride in the afternoon, and got lost good and well. 下午我們出去兜風,結(jié)果完全迷了路。