英语笔译实务 3级配套训练 第十二单元 英译汉(二) It Takes Years to Learn English Well

笔译实务3级配套训练第十二单元英译汉（二）英语笔译实务3级配套训练第十二单元

英译汉（二）

It Takes Years to Learn English Well

Confucius said, “Since the age of 15, I have devoted myself to learning; since 30, I have been well established; since 40, I have understood many things and have no longer been confused; since 50, I have known my heaven-sent duty; since 60, I have been able to distinguish right and wrong in other people’s words; and since 70, I have been able to do what I intend freely without breaking the rules.”

The average life expectancy at the Spring and Autumn Periods and Warring States Periods was, according to some research, about 19 years. Confucius lived 72 to 73 years, a rare god of longevity indeed. It was even hard for those with power and leisure to reach such an age. Therefore, Confucius could be very well learned, far from what an ordinary person could expect at his times.

The latest statistics in 2001 shows that the world life expectancy is 62.2 with the Japanese taking the lead to be 79.66 while China gaining a position surpassing all developing countries by its 69.98. However, the Chinese have not yet reached the age to do what they intend freely without breaking the rules. Thus, rules are hard not to be broken.

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Unit 12 EN-CH (II) Americans Wi th Bad Habits Claim “Excellent” Health Calculated in the terms Confucius set for us in learning, those of us who have been learning English for ten years still have a long way to go before reaching the time to be established. To have no confusion, one has to spend 25 years. To truly understand the purpose of English learning, one has to do it for 35 years. It takes 45 years if one wants to distinguish right and wrong in other people’s words, and 55 years to manipulate English language freely without breaking the rules.

课文词汇

Confucius 孔子，孔丘expectancy 期望；期望值

longevity 长寿；长命manipulate 操作；操纵；运用

参考译文

学好英语要多少年？

子曰：“吾十有五而有志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不愈矩。”

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笔译实务3级配套训练第十二单元英译汉（二）所某项研究表明，春秋战国时期平均预期寿命大约是十九岁。孔子活了七十二、三岁，是少有的老寿星。即使当时有权有势、优哉游哉的阶层，也很难达到如此高寿。所以，孔子的学问造诣很高，在当时是一般人所望尘莫及的。

2001年最新统计表明，世界上人口平均预期寿命为62.27岁，最长寿是日本人，达79.66岁，而中国人也达69.98岁，超过其他所有发展中国家。然而，中国人还是未达到随心所欲的年龄。看来，不愈矩真不容易。

若以孔子治学的时间来推算，我们学了10年英语，也算不了什么，离而立之年还差一大截。要达到“不惑”得学25年。要真正懂得学习英文的目的，得学35年。要辨别他人英文的正误，得学45年。要随心所欲地运用英文，得学55年。

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