英语倍数句型及其译法 a(<nk5
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: Ml)WY#7
倍数增加 9x:c"S*
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(一) A is n timesas great(long,much,…)as B.(①) 19lx;^b
A is n times greater (longer, more,…)than B.(②) \?}ZXKuJj
A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of B.(③) Nlo*vu
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]. 8ayB<b>+]"
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Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,three times the length of )that one. =*I>MgCJ
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。 0lW}l9}'-
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注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。 x2tx{Z
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(二)increase to ntimes(④) "Z,'NL>&
increase n times/n-fold(⑤) ]ErAa"?
increase by n times(⑥) ,(]hykbXp
increase by a factor of n(⑦) (h2bxfV~+
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。 /#.6IV(
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Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times ascompared with last year. A]W`r}
The output of chemical fertilizer has beenraised five times as against l986. I]zCsT.
化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。 x!
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That can increase metabolic rates by two orthree times. "tm2YUG},s
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)。 <@JK;qm>S
The drain voltage has been increased by afactor of four. P1)9OE
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。 6 Rg{^E Rf
注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。 {PdyKgM
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(三)There is an-fold increase/growth…(⑧) ECQ>VeP
应译为:增加n-倍(或增至n倍)。这个句型还有其它一些形式: mpN|U(n
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported. >P/.X^G0
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 Y}ITA=L
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(四)double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨) 1Hk`i%
Eg. The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled. v2/@Pu!kg
这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。 xyBWV]Y
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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: eG =Hyc
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(= A is twice as much (large,long,…)as B.(⑩) Z;-=x
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应译为:A比B多(大,长,……)1倍。 R~PD[.\u
A is half as much (large, 1ong,…)again as B. /X; [
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【= A is one and ahalf times as much (large, 1ong,…)as B.】(11) lN-vFna
应译为:A比B多(大,长……)一半(即A是B的一倍半)。 ?45bvkCT
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倍数减少 {ZrIA+eH
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(一)A is n times assmall (light,slow,…)as B.(12) 4|ML#aRz
A is n times smaller (lighter, slower,…) than B.(13) $~W=)f9
以上两句均应译为:A的大小(重量,速度,……)是B的1/n[或A比B小(轻,慢,……)(n-1)/n]。 At3>
Eg. The hydrogen atom is near1y l6 times as light as the oxygen atom. U9[QdC
氢原子的重量约为氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子约轻15/16)。 .hPk}B/KV
Eg. This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper. 8eGq.+5G
这种薄膜比普通纸张要薄一半(即是普通纸厚度的1/2)。 aQzx^%B1
注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than/as B常被省去。 mmRxs1 0$
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(二)decrease ntimes/n--fold (14)
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decrease by n times(15) O*jTrZ(k
decrease by a factor of n(16) m~c6b{F3Z-
以上三式均译为:减少到1/n[或:减少(n-1)/n]。 (qo
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decrease常被reduce, shorten, go/slow down等词替代。
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Eg. Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times. #$n >+lc
新型晶体管的开关时间缩短了1/3(即缩短到2/3)。 Wz{,N07Q#{
Eg. When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by tentimes. {+Zj}3o
电压升高9倍,电流强度便降低9/10(即90%)。 1zIX
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Eg. The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5. `-Y8T\
该设备误差概率降低了4/5。 V) xwl vX
(三)There is an-fold decrease/reduction… yrvV<}
应译为:减至1/n [或:减少(n一1)/n]。(17) (sDZ&R
这个句型还有其它一些形式, uSQlE=
Eg. A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed. {3Y
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发现迅速减少到1/7。 8f`r!/j
Eg. The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight. nz2`YyR
这些产品的主要优点是重量减轻了1/2。 .o#A(3&n
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从上列倍数增减句型及其译法中不难看出:与汉语不 同的是,英语在表述或比较倍数时,无论使用什么句 型(除了不含倍数词的again句型外)都包括基础倍 数在内,因此都不是净增或净减n倍,而是净增或 净减n-1倍。所以句型⑤、③表示的倍数增量=句型④; 句型(13)表示的倍数比差=句型12,且decrease(by) 3 times应译为“减少2/3”,而不是“减少3/4”。 [b :0j
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