翻译:在这辞旧迎新的美好时刻,祝您及家人新年快乐,恭喜发财
十一月 27, 2009 by 傅老师 · Leave a Comment
前天有朋友发email问我一个问题:给人送礼品,要在包装上用英文表达这样的意思:“在这辞旧迎新的美好时刻,祝您及家人新年快乐,恭喜发财!”
大概琢磨了一下,感觉不太容易。老外的祝福语一般确实很少加很多的形容词,例如”Merry Christmas!”或者”Happy New Year!”,简洁明快,但是中国的祝福语就喜欢定语状语一大堆。为了保险起见,我发email向几位外教寻求帮助。
我用了三句话来表达具体的意思:
1. At the moment of the New Year’s Day.
2. I wish you and your family a happy new year.
3. I hope you get healthy and wealthy next year.
很快两位外教给了回复,的确工整准确多了:
1. As the Clock strikes 12 and it’s New Year’s Day, We wish you every happiness, and may 2010 bring you both health and wealth.
2. The new year is approaching! We wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous new year.
其实翻译的意思准确与否,不仅与词汇量有关,也与文化有关。很多中文的意思要翻得符合英语的习惯和表达,还真的是有难度的。“不折腾”的翻译就是一个例子。