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 mOSv9w#,
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: R]dg_Da
倍数增加 @x1-!
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一、 A is n times as great(long,much,…)as B.(①)A is n times greater (longer, Vi}_{
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more,…)than B.(②)A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of ]Dzlp7Y}
B.(③)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]. IID5c"
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Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,three -M2yw
times the length of )that one. iE{&*.q_}>
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。 Q?T]MUY(L
注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。 h![#;>(
二、increase to n times(④) b[yiq$K/
increase n times/n-fold(⑤) 5r_|yu
increase by n times(⑥) VX/#1StC
increase by a factor of n(⑦) U&xUfBDt
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。 _|]x2xb)
Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times |3%8&@ho
as compared with last year. C7vxw-o|&p
The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against Zov~B-Of:
l986.化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。 KgG4*<
That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. dd["dBIZ '
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)。 ]d`VT)~vje
The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. |' .
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。 W`&hp6Jq
注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。
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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: {|\.i
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported. J=L5=G7(
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 -F92 -jBM4
四、double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨)Eg. The efficiency of the 5coZ|O&f8
machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled.这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。 a:
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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: PzGWff!*n
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(=A is twice as much /@Zrq#o
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(large,long,…)as B.(⑩)应译为:A比B多(大,长,……)1倍。 " Jr-J#gg
A is half as much (large, 1ong,…)again as B. kN>!2UfNS
【=A is one a half times as much (large, 1ong,…)as - YV>j
B.】(11)应译为:A比B多(大,长……)一半(即A是B的一倍半)。 fAmz4