翻译三无主句译法

无主句译法Daisy Xue

I. 汉语无主句特点

在汉语中，只有谓语部分而没有主语部分的句子叫做无主句。这里所谓的无主句，并不是省略了主语的句子，而是在汉语习惯上就这么讲、这么写。至于其主语到底是什么，往往很难确定。但是这种句子在任何语言环境下都能表达完整明确的意思，如：“房子前面有一棵树，树下拴着一头老牛”，“刮风了，要下雨了”，“要吃什么，尽管跟我说”等等。

II. 翻译思路

汉语句子中主语隐含或无主语时常可见。译成英文必须依照英语的要求，将主语增补进来，或者另觅它途。进行增补时首先要推敲语境，其次要考虑英语语法习惯和行文的需要.另觅它途时要考虑句子的功能以及和上下文的衔接情况。

构建翻译句子的整体框架。

确定译文整个句子中各个成分，尤其是确定以什么作为英语主语。

III. 翻译方法

添加适当的代词或名词充当主语

用“it”充当主语

采用英语的被动结构译出

采用“There be”结构译出

汉语祈使句译成英语祈使句

采用倒装语序译出

将非主语成分转为主语

A. Adding subjects

B. Using the empty subject “it”

C. Translating into English passive sentences

D. Translating into English “there be”structure

E. Translating into English imperative sentences

F. Translating into English inversion

G. Converting the non-subject part into subject

A.Adding subjects

添加适当的代词或名词充当主语

Since an English sentence usually requires a subject, the translator can add the subject that is omitted in the Chinese original when he translates a Chinese subjectless sentence. For instance,

你一旦开始，就必须继续下去。

Once you begin, you must continue.

(amplification)

活到老，学到老。

One is never too old to learn.

It is never too late to learn.

It is never too old to learn.

不入虎穴，焉得虎子。

If one does not enter a tiger’s den, how can one get a tiger’s cub?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

不识庐山真面目，只缘身在此山中。

We can’t get a good view of the mountain we’re standing in.

不以物喜，不以己悲。

We should not get affected by things around us, however stirring they may; neither should we feel sad about our misfortune.

忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空。

If you are patient during one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.

只有走着瞧了。

Only time can tell.

弄不好，就会前功尽弃。

If things are not properly handled, our work will have been in vain.

白天里一定要做的事，一定要说的话，现在都可不理。

All that one is obliged to do, or say, in the daytime, can very well be cast aside now. （朱自清《荷塘月色》，朱纯深译）

这几天心里颇不宁静，今晚在院子里坐着乘凉，忽然想起日日走过的荷塘……

I have felt quite upset recently. Tonight, when I was sitting in the yard enjoying the cool, it occurred to me that the Lotus Pond……(同上)

B. Using the empty subject “it”

“It”in English is always used for weather, time, and some other natural phenomena. Some of the Chinese subjectless sentences describing natural phenomena or time can be translated into English sentences with “it”being the subject.

十点钟了，他还没有回来。

It's ten o'clock now. He didn't return home yet.

下雨了，我们快走吧。

It's raining now; let's hurry up.

要解决问题，还须做系统而周密的调查工作和研究工作。

In order to solve a problem it is necessary to make a systematic and thorough investigation and study．

要成功，就要付出劳动。

It will cost one / you a lot of effort to succeed in anything.

能不能提前完成计划呢？

Is it possible to carry out the plan ahead of time?

不是因为不存在问题，而是因为看不见问题。

It is not that the problem is not there; it is just not visible.

青天白日点灯笼—白费蜡。

It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun.

重要的是保持理性。重要的是不再等待，而是安顿下来，是自己过得舒服，……

It’s important to stay rational. It’s important to stop waiting and settle down and make ourselves comfortable,... (Unit 5)