英语表示倍数增减或倍数对比的句型多种多样,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型②、⑤、⑥、⑧、(12) 等, 见圈码)很容易译错——其主要原因在于:英汉两语在表述或对比倍数方面存在着语言与思维差异。现将常 用的英语倍数句型及其正确译法归纳如下: )58O9b
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(一) A is n times as great(long,much,…)as B.(①). @}4>:\es
A is n times greater (longer, more,…)than B.(②). ?sQg{1"Zr
A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of B.(③). I]eeV+U8W
以上三句都应译为;A的大小(长度,数量,……)是B的n倍[或A比B大(长,多,……)n-1倍]. *}89.kCBF
Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,threetimes the length of )that one. xH2'PEjFM
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。 R7Qj<,
注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。
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(二)increase to n times(④). 7#C$}1XJ1
increase n times/n-fold(⑤). o?}dHTk7
increase by n times(⑥). %q|*}l
increase by a factor of n(⑦). >!1]G"U
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。 AHs%?5YTY;
Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three timesas compared with last year. b<y*:(:
集成电路的产量比去年增加了两倍。 u;9iuc`*
Eg. The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as againstl986. 0\!Bh^++1
化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。 $Zyuhji^
Eg. That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. Kc[^Pu
那可使代谢率提高到原来的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。 _:\rB
Eg. The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. \9,lMK[b
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。 2T*kmDp
注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。 R^`}DlHX
(三)There is a n-fold increase/growth…(⑧)应译为:增加n-倍(或增至n倍)。这个句型还有其它一些形式: JYNnzgd
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported. !PoyM[Z"f
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 iWeUsS%zpV
(四)double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨). H%m^8yW1
Eg. The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled. oU1N>,
这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。
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(五)此外,英语中还有一种用again而不用倍数词来比较倍数的方法,如: Ydsnu
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(= A is twice as much (large,long,…)as . mH;t)d
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B.(⑩) @{qcu\sZ
应译为:A比B多(大,长,……)1倍。 g.Ur~5r
A is half as much (large, 1ong,…)again as B. /
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「= A is one and a half times as much (large, 1ong,…)as B.」(11). qDGx(d
应译为:A比B多(大,长……)一半(即A是B的一倍半)。 uD{-a$6z