二 选动词
《译海一粟：汉英翻译九百例》二 选动词,页面无弹窗的全文阅读!
选罢名词选动词。和名词一样，动词也不能轻易画等号。虽说三岁的孩子都知道，来是come，去是go，那只是一句顺口溜，说着取乐。实际应用起来，就不这么简单了。
例1
一九八四年我来过广东。（DⅢ370）
I was here in Guangdong in 1984. (358)
译文没有用come。为什么？这句话如译作I came to Guangdong in 1984，意思就是：自1984年来到广东，至今没有离开，这就与原意不符了。
例2
欢迎你第二次到中国来。（DⅢ232）
We are happy to see you here in China for the second time. (230)
译文也没有用come。译者还巧妙地避开了不大好用的welcome，用了一连串的小词，这样的英文非常地道，使人听了感到亲切。说到这里，我还想起一个例子。
例3
“林姑娘来了。”
"Miss Lin is here."
《红楼梦》第三回里，林黛玉到了贾府，来和众人见面，门口的丫头把帘子一挑，就喊了这声“林姑娘来了”。
《红楼梦》英译本，常见的有两个。一个是杨宪益和夫人戴乃迭译的A Dream of Red Mansions，1978年在北京出版；一个是David Hawkes和John Minford译的The Story of the Stone， 1973年在英格兰出版。上面这句话在两个译本里竟然完全一样，都是Miss Lin is here。
最近我看英若诚译的剧本《家》，其中有这样两句：
例4
王氏：新娘子来了！大喜啊，觉新！（家24）
Wang: The bride's here! Congratulations, Juexin!
例5
瑞珏：梅表妹来了！我总算和她见面了。（家184）
Jade: Cousin Plum is here! I'm going to see her at last!
看来，在这样的场合，也就只能这样译了。
例6
人民，是看实践。人民一看，还是社会主义好，还是改革开放好，我们的事业就会万古长青！（DⅢ381）
The masses judge from practice. When they come to the conclusion that socialism is good and that reform and the open policy are good, our cause will flourish forever. (368)
例7
允许看，但要坚决地试。看对了，搞一两年对了，放开；错了，纠正，关了就是了。关，也可以快关，也可以慢关，也可以留一点尾巴。（DⅢ373）
We allow people to reserve their judgement, but we must try these things out. If, after one or two years of experimentation, they prove feasible, we can expand them. Otherwise, we can put a stop to them and be done with it. We can stop them all at once or gradually, totally or partially. (361)
这两个例子，“看”字的含义很丰富，包括观察、思考并作出判断。因此，译文用了judge, come to the conclusion和reserve their judgement等词语。最后一句，原文“关”字重复多次，而译文不重复，值得注意。
例8
经济体制改革成不成功，成功大小，要看三年到五年。见效了才能说服人，证明第二个三中全会决议是正确的。（DⅢ131）
It will be three to five years before we can tell whether the reform of the economic structure is successful and to what extent. Only when it has shown positive results will we be able to convince people that the resolution of the Third Plenary Session was correct. (135)
例9
改革的意义，是为下一个十年和下个世纪的前五十年奠定良好的持续发展的基础。没有改革就没有今后的持续发展。所以，改革不只是看三年五年，而是要看二十年，要看下世纪的前五十年。这件事必须坚决干下去。（DⅢ131）
The purpose of the reform is to lay a solid foundation for sustained development over the next decade and throughout the first half of the next century. Without the reform, there could be no sustained development. So, we should think not in terms of just three to five years, but in terms of the last 20 years of this century and the first 50 of the next. We must persist in the reform. (135)
例10
比如说，现在我们国内人们议论雇工问题，我和好多同志谈过，犯不着在这个问题上表现我们在“动”，可以再看几年。开始我说看两年，两年到了，我说再看看。（DⅢ216）
For example, right now people are talking about the problem of privately hired labour. I have said to many comrades that it is not worth showing that we are taking action on this question and that we can wait a couple of years. At first I said we could wait two years; now two years have passed, and I'd say we should still wait. (215)
这三个例子，“看”字依然包括观察、思考、判断等含义，但强调一定长度的时间，因此，译文用了It will be…years, think in terms of和wait等词语。
例11
要动也容易，但是一动就好像政策又在变了。动还是要动，因为我们不搞两极分化。但是，在什么时候动，用什么方法动，要研究。动也就是制约一下。（DⅢ216）
It would be easy to take action against the practice of hiring labour, but if we did that, people might think we were changing our policy again. Of course, we must take action, because we do not want polarization. But we have to consider carefully when and how to do it. By taking action I mean attaching some restrictions to the practice. (215)
例12
农村改革初期，安徽出了个“傻子瓜子”问题。当时许多人不舒服，说他赚了一百万，主张动他。我说不能动，一动人们就会说政策变了，得不偿失。（DⅢ371）
In the initial stage of the rural reform, there emerged in Anhui Province the issue of the "Fool's Sunflower Seeds". Many people felt uncomfortable with this man who had made a profit of 1 million yuan. They called for action to be taken against him. I said that no action should be taken, because that would make people think we had changed our policies, and the loss would outweigh the gain. (359)
以上三例，原文都有一个“动”字，言简意赅，表示采取行动，因此，译作take action，但也采取了一些变通的译法，以免过于重复。
例13
改革，现代化科学技术，加上我们讲政治，威力就大多了。（DⅢ166）
We attach importance not only to reform and to modern science and technology but also to politics. This makes us much stronger. (169)
例14
到什么时候都得讲政治，外国人就是不理解后面这一条。（DⅢ166）
We have to lay great stress on politics at all times. This is a point many foreigners don't seem to understand. (169)
例15
有人认为，中国谈理想，是否意味着要收了。不是这样。（DⅢ114）
Some people think that since China is emphasizing the importance of ideals, that means it is going to close its doors again. That is not true. (119)
在这几个例子里，“讲”和“谈”都是“强调”的意思，因此译作attach importance to, lay stress on或emphasize the importance of。千万不要用talk，有贬义。此外，最后一句的“收”字，是与开放相对的，所以译作close its doors again。
例16
所以过了几天，掌柜又说我干不了这事。（孔乙己）
So after a few days my employer decided I was not suited for this work.
这句译文decided一词用得好，表示这是经过观察、思考之后得出的看法。
例17
特区姓“社”不姓“资”。 （DⅢ372）
Special economic zones are socialist, not capitalist. (360-361)
“姓”作为动词，在英语里是没有对应词的。译文改变句式，是个很好的办法。
例18
今天我想讲讲不变的问题。就是说，香港在一九九七年回到祖国以后五十年政策不变，包括我们写的基本法，至少要管五十年。（DⅢ215）
Today I should like to talk about some things that will not change. Our policy on Hong Kong will not change for 50 years after it is reunited with the motherland in 1997. That policy, along with the basic law you are now drafting, will remain in force for at least 50 years. (214)
例19
基本路线要管一百年，动摇不得。（DⅢ370-371）
We should adhere to the basic line for a hundred years, with no vacillation. (358-359)
这个“管”字生动而有力，但很不好译。在例18里，译作remain in force，和政策与法律连用，是可以的。在例19中，若与基本路线连用，就有些勉强。因此译文改变句式，以we作主语，换用动词adhere to，和后面的with no vacillation也衔接得比较好。
下面看一个“抓”字。
例20
要抓住机会，现在就是好机会。（DⅢ375）
We must grasp opportunities; the present offers an excellent one. (363)
例21
我们要抓住时机，现在是改革的最好时机。（DⅢ132）
We must seize this highly opportune moment for reform.(136)
在这两个例子里，“抓住”和时机、机会连用，英语正好有相对应的说法，可以用seize，也可以用grasp。但在其他场合恐怕就不能用这两个动词了。
例22
一个地区，一个部门，如果只抓经济，不抓教育，那里的工作重点就是没有转移好，或者说转移得不完全。（DⅢ121）
If a locality or a department pays attention only to the economy and not to education, it has failed to shift the focus of its work completely. (127)
例23
开放以后，一些腐朽的东西也跟着进来了，中国的一些地方也出现了丑恶的现象，如吸毒、嫖娼、经济犯罪等。要注意很好地抓，坚决取缔和打击，决不能任其发展。（DⅢ379）
Since China opened its doors to the outside world, decadent things have come in along with the others, and evils such as drug abuse, prostitution and economic crimes have emerged in some areas. Special attention must be paid to these evils, and resolute measures must be taken to stamp them out and prevent them from spreading. (366)
例24
我建议抓一下这个问题。（DⅢ382）
I suggest you do something about this problem. (369)
例25
要坚持两手抓，一手抓改革开放，一手抓打击各种犯罪活动。（DⅢ378）
There are two tasks we have to keep working at: on the one hand, the reform and opening process, and on the other, the crackdown on crime. (366)
例26
把教育工作认真抓起来（DⅢ120）
devote special effort to education (126)
例27
教育体制改革的决定草案，我看是个好文件。现在纲领有了，蓝图有了，关键是要真正重视，扎扎实实地抓，组织好施工。（DⅢ120）
I think the draft decision on reforming the educational structure is a good document. Now that we have the guiding principle and a plan, the main thing is to recognize their importance, take practical steps to implement them and to organize the work well. (126)
例28
忽视教育的领导者，是缺乏远见的、不成熟的领导者，就领导不了现代化建设。各级领导要像抓好经济工作那样抓好教育工作。（DⅢ121）
Leaders who neglect education are neither far-sighted nor mature, and they are therefore unable to lead the drive for modernization. Leaders at all levels should try to make educational work a success just as they do economic work. (127)
例29
在整个改革开放过程中都要反对腐败。对干部和共产党员来说，廉政建设要作为大事来抓。（DⅢ379）
Throughout the process of reform and opening, we must combat corruption. Cadres and Party members should consider it of prime importance to build a clean government. (366-367)
以上八个例子，讲的是抓某项具体工作，意思是要在某一方面有所作为，做出成绩。根据这一理解，便有许多译法可以选用，如pay attention to, do something about, keep working at，等等。还可以根据上下文采用其他译法，如例28，原文也有变化，说的是“抓好教育工作”，因此译为make educational work a success。
下面看一个“搞”字。
例30
一九八四年我来过广东。当时，农村改革搞了几年，城市改革刚开始，经济特区才起步。（DⅢ370）
I was here in Guangdong in 1984. At that time rural reform had been under way for several years, and we were just beginning to introduce urban reform and to establish special economic zones. (358)
例31
一搞改革和开放，一搞承包责任制，经营农业的人就减少了。（DⅢ252）
Once we instituted the reform and the open policy and introduced the responsibility system, the number of people engaged in agriculture shrank. (248)
例32
对办特区，从一开始就有不同意见，担心是不是搞资本主义。深圳的建设成就，明确回答了那些有这样那样担心的人。特区姓“社”不姓“资”。 （DⅢ372）
As for building special economic zones, some people disagreed with the idea right from the start, wondering whether it would not mean introducing capitalism. The achievements in the construction of Shenzhen have given these people a definite answer: special economic zones are socialist, not capitalist. (360- 361)
例33
我们的经济体制改革，也是有领导有秩序地进行，不能搞无政府主义。（DⅢ252）
Our reform of the economic structure is being carried out under the leadership of the Party and in an orderly way; we cannot allow anarchy. (248)
根据《现代汉语词典》所下的定义，“搞”的意思就是“做、干、从事”。从以上例子来看，“搞”字可以理解为“实行”。所搞的对象，若在前作主语（如例30），动词则可用to be under way，若在后作宾语（如例31，32，33），动词则可用introduce，institute，乃至allow。当然还有许多其他动词可以选用。
例34
关键是我们共产党内部要搞好，不出事，就可以放心睡大觉。（DⅢ381）
In the final analysis, we must manage Party affairs in such a way as to prevent trouble. Then we can sleep soundly. (369)
例35
这个问题要搞清楚。（DⅢ377）
We must be clear about this question. (365)
例36
……在那么困难的条件下，把两弹一星和好多高科技搞起来。（DⅢ378）
…developed the atomic and hydrogen bombs, satellites and many other high technologies under extremely difficult conditions.(366)
例37
所以，能发展就不要阻挡，有条件的地方要尽可能搞快点。（DⅢ375）
Therefore, those areas that are in a position to develop should not be obstructed. Where local conditions permit, development should proceed as fast as possible. (363)
例38
已经搞了八年，取得了初步效果，但是路还很长，要坚定不移地搞下去。（DⅢ250）
Having been engaged in development for eight years now, we have achieved some preliminary results, but the road ahead is still long and we must keep to it unswervingly. (245)
例39
“左”的东西在我们党的历史上可怕呀！一个好好的东西，一下子被他搞掉了。（DⅢ375）
In the history of the Party, those tendencies have led to dire consequences. Some fine things were destroyed overnight.(363)
例40
如果说在这个问题上中央有点功绩的话，就是中央制定的搞活政策是对头的。（DⅢ238）
If the Central Committee made any contribution in this respect, it was only by laying down the correct policy of invigorating the domestic economy. (236)
以上七个例子，“搞”字后面加了一个表示结果的词，大概可以称作“补语”吧。这样一个词组的含义就不只是做，而且要产生一定的结果。因此，可根据上下文的需要，译作manage… in such a way, be clear about, proceed as fast as possible, keep to，等等。例40提到“搞活政策”，这是一个省略的说法，指的是搞活经济的政策，因此，为避免误解，译作policy of invigorating the domestic economy。
下面我们来看几个双音词。
例41
正如七大以前，民主革命二十多年的曲折发展，教育全党掌握了我国民主革命的规律一样，八大以后社会主义革命和建设二十多年的曲折发展也深刻地教育了全党。（DⅢ2）
Just as the quarter century of twists and turns in our democratic revolution before the Seventh Congress taught the Party the laws governing that revolution, so the quarter century of twists and turns in our socialist revolution and construction since the Eighth Congress has taught the Party other profound lessons. (14)
例42
我们一定要经常教育我们的人民，尤其是我们的青年，要有理想。（DⅢ110）
We must constantly urge our people, young people in particular, to have high ideals. (116)
例43
中央的方针是等待他们，让事实教育他们。（DⅢ238）
The Central Committee's policy was to wait for them to be convinced by facts. (236)
例44
《人到中年》这部电影值得一看，主要是教育我们这些老同志的。看看，对我们这些人有好处。（DⅢ26）
The film A Middle-Aged Doctor is worth seeing. We old comrades can learn a lot from it. It will do us good. (36)
“教育”一词在汉语里使用的范围很广。从以上四个例子来看，其共同的含义是提高认识，但在不同的上下文里又各有侧重。如例41强调吸取教训，因此用了taught；例42强调鼓励，用了urge；例43强调说服，用了convince；例44强调自律，用了learn。
例45
我是一个中国人，懂得外国侵略中国的历史。（DⅢ357）
I am a Chinese, and I am familiar with the history of foreign aggression against China. (344)
“懂得”一词，看似轻描淡写，实则含义深厚，但又不是锋芒毕露。译者选用be familiar with，恰到好处。
例46
在推动农村经济与社会发展和实施西部大开发战略的进程中，各级党委和政府越来越深刻地认识到了这一点，积极采取各种措施加强基础教育工作。（L236）
Whether promoting rural economic and social development, or implementing the strategy of developing the western regions, government agencies at all levels have come to appreciate this point more clearly. They have taken active measures to boost basic education. (239-240)
例47
我们希望所有的外国企业家、专家进一步认识到，帮助中国的发展，对世界有利。（DⅢ79）
It is our hope that businessmen and economists in other countries will appreciate that helping China develop will benefit the rest of the world as well. (87)
例48
发达国家应该清楚地看到，第三世界国家经济不发展，发达国家的经济也不可能得到较大地发展。（DⅢ56）
The developed countries should appreciate that greater development of their economies is impossible without growth in the economies of Third World countries. (66)
以上三例都用了appreciate一词，其含义是“深刻地理解”，用在这里是十分恰当的。例46以名词作宾语，例47和48以that引导的从句作宾语，都是合乎用法的。另外我还想指出，这三个例子是不同的译者前后相隔二十余年提供的译文，竟然在遇到同样的情况时使用了同一个动词，这虽然纯属巧合，却也体现了appreciate一词的魅力。我还想顺便提一下，例47在“中国”后面提到“世界”，译文是the rest of the world，这是一种严谨的译法，只是现在人们图省事，不大注意罢了。
例49
像这一类的问题还有不少，如果处理不当，就很容易动摇我们的方针，影响改革的全局。（DⅢ371）
There are many problems like this one, and if we don't handle them properly, our policies could easily be undermined and overall reform affected. (359)
例50
要达到这样一个目标，需要什么条件呢？第一条，需要政局稳定。为什么我们对学生闹事问题处理得这么严肃，这么迅速呢？因为中国不能再折腾，不能再动荡。一切要从大局出发。中国发展的条件，关键是要政局稳定。（DⅢ216）
What conditions are necessary for us to achieve this goal? First, China needs political stability. Why did we take the student unrest so seriously and deal with it so quickly? Because China could not afford any more disorder or unrest. We must put the overall national interests above all else. The key to China's development is political stability. (215)
以上二例都是根据上下文采取了变通的译法。
例51
我们现在采取的措施，都是为社会主义发展生产力服务的。（DⅢ157）
All the measures we are taking are designed to expand the productive forces in the interest of socialism. (160)
例52
所谓教学方式改革，就是由单一的灌输式的知识传授、被动式的机械训练为主的教学，转向培养能力和传授知识并重的启发式教学与引导学生主动学习相结合的教学。（L273）
Reform of teaching methods is designed to shift from monotonous knowledge cramming and passive rote-learning to ability-building teaching and active learning. (277)
这两句都是对某项措施加以说明，例51说明其目的，例52说明其作法。但二者都用了be designed to…这一句型。你看这个说法是不是挺有用？
例53
我们欢迎海外的华侨、华人都回来走走。一是了解我们的国家，二是看看有什么事情可以参与，可以尽力。（DⅢ162）
Chinese living abroad and persons of Chinese descent are welcome to come back for a visit. For one thing, they will be able to understand our country better. For another, they will see what projects they can participate in and how they can contribute. (165)
“欢迎”和welcome可以说是对应词，但用法很不一样，用起来要十分小心。
例54
人才，只有大胆使用，才能培养出来。（DⅢ17）
Trained personnel will mature only if we give them free rein. (27)
“培养”后面加了“出来”二字，意思是培养过程结束，而且产生了好的结果。前面用trained personnel，后面用will mature，互相衬托。这个译法是不是很精彩？
例55
事实表明，那些要制裁我们的人也开始在总结经验了。（DⅢ329）
Facts show that those who have imposed sanctions on us have begun to rethink what they have done. (319)
这是一句俏皮话，他们有什么“总结经验”可言？用rethink…，足矣。是不是？
例56
今天没有别的，同大家见见面，快两年时间没有见面了，应该对你们道道辛苦嘛！（DⅢ215）
I am here to meet with you today for just one purpose. It has been nearly two years since we last met, and I should like to thank you for all your hard work. (214)
世上最难译的一句话就是“辛苦啦！”这句译文是不是很不错？
例57
改革先从农村开始，农村见了成效，我们才有勇气进行城市的改革。（DⅢ130）
We started the reform first in the rural areas. It was only after it had produced results there that we had the courage to launch it in the cities. (134)
例58
现在中国提出“四有”，有理想、有道德、有文化、有纪律。其中我们最强调的，是有理想。（DⅢ190）
Today in China we are urging people to have lofty ideals and moral integrity, to become better educated and to cultivate a strong sense of discipline. Of these, the most important is to have lofty ideals. (190)
在这两个例子里，“有”译成了have。“有”和have可以说是对应词，在上下文允许的情况下，可以放心使用。
例59
有了理想，还要有纪律才能实现。（DⅢ111）
Ideals cannot be realized without discipline. (117)
这句话译成否定句，比从正面叙述更为有力。在否定句里，表示“没有”，往往用without。
例60
即使没有新的主意也可以，就是不要变，不要使人们感到政策变了。（DⅢ371）
It doesn't matter much whether we can come up with new ideas. What matters is that we should not change our policies and should not make people feel that we are changing them. (360)
在这个句子里，“有”字理解为拿得出，因此译为come up with。
例61
我也很高兴，科技界的同志这几年做了很多工作。我们国家的经济搞得不错，光景一年比一年好。人民是满意的，全世界是公认的。这里面，有你们的一份功劳。（DⅢ107-108）
I am also happy that comrades in scientific and technological circles have done so much work over the past few years. Our country's economic development is sound, and the prospects are getting better year by year. The people are pleased about that, and the whole world has recognized it. This includes your contribution. (113)
在这里，“有”字理解为包含着，因此译作include。另外，译文里用了两个and，你注意到了没有？这是为什么？这个问题暂且记下，以后再说。
例62
现在我们正在做的改革这件事是够大胆的。但是，如果我们不这样做，前进就困难了。改革是中国的第二次革命。这是一件很重要的必须做的事，尽管是有风险的事。（DⅢ113）
The reform we are now carrying out is very daring. But if we do not carry it out, it will be hard for us to make progress. Reform is China's second revolution. It is something very important that we have to undertake even though it involves risks. (119)
此处“有”字理解为“会遇到”，因此译为involve。involve一词常与risk连用。
“是”和动词be是最直接的对应词，在许多情况下都可以这样译，没有问题。但也不一定非这样译，还可以考虑其他译法。
例63
中国是一个大的市场，许多国家都想同我们搞点合作，做点买卖，我们要很好利用。（DⅢ32）
China provides a huge market, so many countries wish to develop cooperation or do business with us. We should seize this opportunity. (43)
例64
中国的对外政策，主要是两句话。一句话是反对霸权主义，维护世界和平，另一句话是中国永远属于第三世界。（DⅢ56）
China's foreign policy can be summed up in two sentences. First, to safeguard world peace we oppose hegemony. Second, China will always belong to the Third World. (66)
例65
当今世界，集现代流通和大流通于一体的流通业态，主要是集中配送和连锁经营。（L134）
In today's world, the form of distribution that integrates modern methods and high volumes finds concrete expression in centralized distribution and chain store management. (130)
例66
近几年来，从中央到地方，到农村党支部，有越来越多的同志，懂得知识和人才的重要，懂得教育的重要。这是我们党的一大进步。（DⅢ121）
During recent years more and more comrades, from the central authorities down to local authorities and rural Party branches, have come to realize the importance of knowledge, trained people and education. This shows that our Party has made great progress in this respect. (126-127)
这四个例子，译文都没用be，而是根据上下文选用了不同的词语。这样译，不直接画等号，听起来比较顺。最后一例，末尾加了in this respect，值得注意。这样处理比较合乎分寸。
例67
教育还是要两条腿走路。就高等教育来说，大专院校是一条腿，各种半工半读的和业余的大学是一条腿，两条腿走路。（DⅡ54）
Education still has to "walk on two legs". In higher education, colleges and universities constitute one leg, while workstudy universities and spare-time universities constitute the other. (66)
例68
我见胡萨克时谈到，马克思讲过科学技术是生产力，这是非常正确的，现在看来这样说可能不够，恐怕是第一生产力。（DⅢ275）
When I met with Husak recently, I mentioned that Marx was quite right to say that science and technology are part of the productive forces, but now it seems his statement was imcomplete. The complete statement should be that science and technology constitute a primary productive force. (269-270)
这两个例子把“是”译作constitute，这个词的基本意思是构成，用在这里是合适的。
例69
所谓教育观念更新的问题，主要是怎样加强对学生全面素质的培养，减轻学生过重的课业负担，促进学生德、智、体、美全面发展。（L273）
Changing the concept of education involves promoting overall student development in morality, intellect, physical education, aesthetics, and reducing excessive coursework. (277)
例70
高校后勤服务社会化不仅是后勤服务设施建设的社会化，也包括后勤服务的社会化。（L132）
The introduction of outsourcing involves both construction of facilities and supply of services. (127-128)
例71
第六，关于学风问题。培养好的风气，最主要的是走群众路线和实事求是这两条。特别是科学，它本身就是实事求是、老老实实的学问，是不允许弄虚作假的。（DⅡ57）
Six, the question of the style of study. Fostering a good atmosphere depends primarily on two things—following the mass line and seeking truth from facts. Science, in particular, involves the conscientious quest for truth and permits of no deceit. (70)
这三个例子都用了involve一词，这也是翻译中常用的一个动词，其基本意思是包含、涉及。用在这里的好处是不把话说得太死，言外之意是还可能包含其他的内容。
“是”和“就是”常用来引出对一个概念所作的说明，在这种情况下，mean是一个很有用的动词。请看：
例72
在社会主义国家，一个真正的马克思主义政党在执政以后，一定要致力于发展生产力，并在这个基础上逐步提高人民的生活水平。这就是建设物质文明。（DⅢ28）
In a socialist country, a genuinely Marxist ruling party must devote itself to developing the productive forces and, on that basis, gradually raise the people's living standards. This means building a society with high material standards. (38)
例73
与此同时，还要建设社会主义的精神文明，最根本的是要使广大人民有共产主义的理想，有道德，有文化，守纪律。国际主义、爱国主义都属于精神文明的范畴。（DⅢ28）
At the same time, we are building a socialist society with high cultural and ethical standards, which essentially means that our people should have communist ideals, moral integrity, a good education and a strong sense of discipline. Internationalism and patriotism also belong to this realm. (38)
例74
什么叫领导？领导就是服务。几年前，我曾说过，愿意给教育、科技部门的同志当后勤部长。今天，我还是这个态度。（DⅢ121）
What is leadership? Leadership means service. I said a few years ago that I would like to be director of support services for the comrades working in the departments of education and science and technology. I still feel that way. (127)
最后一句，译文何其简练，你注意到了没有？“今天”没有译，因为时态发挥了威力。“态度”也没有提，一连串的小词，这才是好英文。
例75
我们的经济改革，概括一点说，就是对内搞活，对外开放。对内搞活，也是对内开放，通过开放调动全国人民的积极性。（DⅢ135）
In a nutshell, our economic reform means invigorating the domestic economy and opening to the outside world. Invigorating the domestic economy means opening domestically, so as to stimulate the initiative of the people throughout the country. (139)
例76
共建，就是将部门与地方条块各自办学转变为共同办学。（L84）
"Joint construction" means that central government departments and localities should quit going it alone and start running schools in cooperation. (75)
例77
西方民主那一套我们不能照搬，中国的事情要根据自己的实际情况办。中国的民主是社会主义民主，是同社会主义法制相辅相成的。中国正是根据自己的实际情况，建设有中国特色的社会主义。（DⅢ249）
We cannot mechanically copy Western-style democracy, taking it over wholesale; China's affairs have to be handled in light of conditions in China. Democracy in China means socialist democracy, and our socialist democracy and socialist legal system complement each other. We are building a Chinese socialism. (245)
例78
我们执行对外开放政策，学习外国的技术，利用外资，是为了搞好社会主义建设，而不能离开社会主义道路。我们要发展社会生产力，发展社会主义公有制，增加全民所得。我们允许一些地区、一些人先富起来，是为了最终达到共同富裕，所以要防止两极分化。这就叫社会主义。（DⅢ195）
By carrying out the open policy, learning foreign technologies and utilizing foreign capital, we mean to promote socialist construction, not to deviate from the socialist road. We intend to develop the productive forces, expand socialist public ownership and raise the people's income. The purpose of allowing some regions and some people to become prosperous before others is to enable all of them to prosper eventually. We have to make sure that there is no polarization of society—that's what socialism means. (195)
例79
鸣凤：爱一个人，是要为他平平坦坦铺路的，不是要成他的累赘的。（家146）
Phoenix: To love someone means to prepare the way for him, and not to become his burden. (147)
例80
陈姨太：不就是个丫头吗？到时候还得赔上一笔嫁妆。（家314）
Chen: It's a girl, isn't it? That means another dowry to prepare. (315)
在这个例子里，原文似乎没有哪个词和译文中的means有关。若说means来自“还得赔上”，也有些勉强。但that means一下子在语气上把两个句子连在了一起，则是很明显的。
例81
要发展就要变，不变就不会发展。（DⅢ283）
Development means change; without change, there can be no development. (276)
例82
现在虽说我们也在搞社会主义，但事实上不够格。只有到了下世纪中叶，达到了中等发达国家的水平，才能说真的搞了社会主义，才能理直气壮地说社会主义优于资本主义。现在我们正在向这个路上走。（DⅢ225）
True, we are building socialism, but that doesn't mean that what we have achieved so far is up to the socialist standard. Not until the middle of the next century, when we have reached the level of the moderately developed countries, shall we be able to say that we have really built socialism and to declare convincingly that it is superior to capitalism. We are advancing towards that goal. (223)
看了这些例子之后，你是不是觉得mean是一个很有用的动词？最后三个例子，原文里都没有“是”字，可见并不是一定用它来译“是”字。只要上下文需要，随时都可以用。
最后谈两个小问题。一个问题是，汉语有些句子，谓语部分只有形容词，而没有动词。这个问题不难解决，只要根据上下文的需要补上适当的动词就行了。请看下面两个例子。
例83
我们国家大，党的历史很长，建国也已经有三十八年。（DⅢ249）
China is a vast country, and the Party has a long history; it has already been 38 years since the founding of New China. (245)
例84
现在有一个问题，就是形式主义多。电视一打开，尽是会议。会议多，文章太长，讲话也太长，而且内容重复，新的语言并不很多。（DⅢ381）
One of our problems today is formalism. Every time you turn on the television, you see a meeting being held. We hold countless meetings, and our articles and speeches are too long and too repetitious, in both content and language. (369)
另一个问题是，充分利用英语的时态。汉语动词没有时态，不同的时间概念要用具体词语来表示。英语有丰富的时态，可以少用时间状语。请看：
例85
独立自主，自力更生，无论过去、现在和将来，都是我们的立足点。（DⅢ3）
Independence and self-reliance have always been and will always be their basic stand. (14)
例86
过去也好，今天也好，将来也好，中国必须发展自己的高科技，在世界高科技领域占有一席之地。（DⅢ279）
It has always been, and will always be, necessary for China to develop its own high technology so that it can take its place in this field. (273)
例87
乡镇企业每年都是百分之二十几的增长率，持续了几年，一直到现在还是这样。（DⅢ238）
Their annual output value has been increasing by more than 20 per cent a year for the last several years. (236)
这几个例子，译文少用了好几个时间状语，只靠时态就解决问题了。有趣的是最后一例竟然节省了半句话。
看了这些例子，我感到汉语的动词含义之多，使用范围之广，使人眼花缭乱；我感到英语的动词五彩缤纷、变化多端，可以说美不胜收。实在是太有趣了。
英语的动词是一个最活跃的词类。一本英语语法，能有三分之一是讲动词的。从拼法到时态和语态千变万化，稍微一变，又成了分词、动名词或抽象名词，可以说随需要而变。汉语的动词则以不变应万变，什么时候都是那个样子，但它出现的频率要比英语动词高，凡是需要表现动作的地方，动词必须亲自出马，可见其任务之繁重。因此英语的动词和汉语的动词，各有各的运作方式，简单地画等号是不行的。我们这次讨论，仅通过选词对词义作了一些比较，就看到一个汉语动词译成英语，译法不下十种之多。是不是很有意思？
本书许多例子来自《李岚清教育访谈录》。书中有一节专门谈“学外语要注意的六个要点”。作者说，“就我个人体会，不论采用什么好的方式，学外语都要注意以下六个要点：一是兴趣（interest），不论出于何种动机，没有兴趣，只是被迫去学，是绝对学不好外语的。”这个看法，我非常同意。学外语是这样，做翻译又何尝不是这样呢？我自小喜欢翻译，平生只做过一件事，那就是翻译，而且至今兴趣未减。也许就是这点动力促使我年过八十，还从整理资料开始，着手来写这本书。
翻译是个苦差使，而且是个费力不讨好的工作。鲁迅先生曾说：“我向来总以为翻译比创作容易。因为至少是无须构想。但到真的一译，就会遇着难关，譬如一个名词或动词，写不出，创作时候可以回避，翻译上却不成，也还得想，一直弄到头昏眼花，好像在脑子里面摸一个急于开箱子的钥匙，却没有。严又陵说，‘一名之立，旬月踌躇’，是他的经验之谈，的的确确的。”这段话把译者的窘态刻画得活灵活现。
不过话又说回来了，做翻译也不总是吃苦受累受煎熬。有时把一句难翻的句子翻出来了，也会乐得合不上嘴。看到一句好的译文，也会兴奋不已，拍案叫绝。这种乐趣也是外人难以体会的。翻译工作至少可以说是苦乐参半吧。苦也罢，乐也罢，关键是要有兴趣。兴致来了，苦也是乐，乐在其中嘛。
兴趣也是可以培养的。钻研越深，兴趣越大。不信你试试。