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翻译点津:小词skill和offer的地道用法
skills
一说到“水平”,很多同学首先就会想到 level 一词;但是老外可不是这么想的,他们更倾向于skills。
1、怎样才能提高我们的英语水平?
chinglish: how to improve our english level? (老外一般不会这么说,但是应该可以看懂)
revision: how to improve our english skills?
2、他的写作和翻译水平很高。
chinglish: his writing and translating levels are very high.
revision: he has very good writing and translation skills.
现在是追求技能的时代,skills 也随之走俏。什么 communications skills(沟通技巧), computer skills(电脑技术), study skills(学习能力), survival skills(生存能力)……全都泛滥了。
offer
这个词比较微妙,英译中时不太好处理,正因如此,这个词才值得我们重视。
1、谢谢你的好意,不过我可以走回去。
chinglish: thank you for your goodwill, but i can go home on foot.
revision: thanks for your offer, but i can walk home.
2、全国人民纷纷向灾区伸出了援助之手。
chinglish: all people in the country are giving their hands to the disaster area.
revision: people all over the country are offering helping hands to the disaster area.
凡是带有“给予”、“善意提供的(帮忙)”等意思,就可以考虑 offer 这个词。我们可以把 give 的空间让点给offer。
3、他给了我一份工作做。
chinglish: he gave me a job to do.
better version: he offered me a job.
4、这个机会可是我最后给你的。答应不答应随你的便。
chinglish: this is the last opportunity i give to you. i don't care if you take it or not.
better version: this is my last offer to you. take it or leave it.
offer 可以做动词用,也可以做名词用。还有一些固定搭配,其中最熟悉的便是 job offer(工作邀请,表示公司愿意接纳某人为其员工的意愿,被邀请者可以接受此邀请加入公司)。到了找工作的时候,尽是听到大家问:“你收到offer了吗?”(没收到过offer的人掩面逃走……)
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