被动语态的翻译

本文中所论述的翻译方法来自于由外语教学与研究出版社出版的《新编大学英语》第二版第三卷中记载的内容（43–46 页）。以下内容仅用作教育、研究、个人用途，不可用于商业用途，侵权必究。

语态是表明句子中谓语与主语之间关系的一种语法手段。相比汉语，英语中被动语态使用范围大、频率高。因此，在翻译时，我们可以根据两种语言的习惯，从句式和辅助词语两个方面进行语态转换。

英译汉中被动语态的翻译

• 译成被动句

  英语被动句是由“助动词 be + 过去分词”构成，在译成汉语时，除了用“被”表示外，还可以运用其他词语，如“受”、“遭”、“让”、“给”、“由”、“把”、“为……所”、“加以”、“予以”等。例如：

  • The optimists believe defeat is not their fault: circumstances, bad luck, or other people brought it about. Such people are not bothered by defeat.
    乐观主义者相信失败并不是他们的错，环境、运气不佳或其他人都可能造成自己的失败。这些人从不为失败所困扰。

  • When optimists run for office, they are more apt to be elected than pessimists are.
    当乐观主义者参加竞选时，他们比悲观主义者更容易当选。

  • Americans eat a lot of beef because there is plenty of land for raising cattle and their meat can be shipped cheaply for long distance by railroads.
    美国人牛肉吃得很多，因为美国有大量的土地可用来养牛，而且牛肉可以由铁路以低廉的价格进行长途运输。

  • Late in November, street lights and store windows are decorated with the traditional Christmas colors of red and green.
    11 月下旬，街灯和商店的橱窗都用红和绿这两种传统的圣诞节颜色加以装饰。

• 译成主动句

  英译汉时，不少英语被动句被译成汉语主动句，使句子更符合汉语习惯。

  • Don't be alarmed if your newborn fails to be startled by loud noises or fails to turn toward sound.
    如果你的新生儿听到响声并不吃惊，或者没有把头转向发出声音的方向，不必慌张。

  • Here, hold the baby while I fix her blanket. It's all pulled out.
    来，抱着孩子，我把毯子弄弄好，全都拉散了。

  • When the meal is finished, the guests put their napkins on the table and rise.
    吃完饭后，客人们把餐巾放在桌上并起身。

  • The monkeys were given sweet potatoes by scientists who wanted to attract them to the shore of an island.
    科学家们给猴子白薯，想把它们引到海岛的岸边。

• 译成判断句

  有些英语被动句并不突出强调被动动作，而着重对事物的状态、过程和性质等加以描写，其作用与系表结构类似，因此，此类句式可翻译成中文的判断句。例如：

  • The decision to attack was not taken lightly.
    进攻的决定不是轻易做出的。

  • The first explosive in the world was made and used in China.
    世界上最早的炸药是在中国制作和使用的。

  • He was brought up by his grandmother.
    他是由他祖母抚养大的。

  • We are not to be bullied.
    我们是不能被欺负的。

• “It+be+past participle+that 引导的从句”句型的翻译

  • 不加主语
    It is hoped that… 希望……
    It is reported that… 据报道……
    It is said that… 据说……
    It is supposed that… 据推测……
    It may be said without fear of exaggeration that… 可以毫不夸张地说……
    It must be admitted that… 必须承认……
    It must be pointed out that… 必须指出……
    It will be seen from this that… 由此可见……

  • 增加主语
    It is asserted that… 有人主张……
    It is believed that… 有人相信（认为）……
    It is generally considered that… 大家认为……
    It is well known that… 大家知道（众所周知）……
    It will be said that… 有人会说……
    It was told that… 有人曾经说……

• 某些表示被动含义的句型的翻译

  • This point deserves mentioning.
    这一点值得一提。

  • The paper can stand criticizing.
    这篇论文经得起推敲。

  • As I passed by, my coat got caught on a nail.
    我走过去时，外衣被钉子钩住了。

  • The murder is now under investigation.
    这起谋杀案正在调查中。

  • Does your coat require pressing?
    你的外衣需要熨烫吗？

  • The noodles are still cooking.
    面条还在煮着。

  • This ball-pen writes smoothly.
    这支圆珠笔写起来很滑。

汉译英中的被动语态翻译

• 带有如“被”、“受”、“遭”、“给”、“挨”等被动标记词的汉语句子应该译成英语被动句。例如：

  • 被采访的挂钥匙的孩子们的反应是不同的。
    Latchkey children who were interviewed reported diverse reactions.

  • 他们认为他们受到了关爱与信任，这种感觉激励了他们的自信心。
    They felt loved and trusted, and this feeling encouraged them to be self-confident.

  • 我发现昨天英语考试中我作弊的事当天晚上就让我父母知道了。
    I found that my cheating in yesterday's English test was reported to my parents that very evening.

• 含有被动意义的汉语句子应该译成英语的被动句

  这类句子在形式上没有被动标记：有主语有动词，但主语不是谓语动词动作的执行者，有时主语缺席，但都有被动含义，英译时应该译成被动语态。例如：

  • 而且，这也是违反中国习俗的，因为凡事都不能匆忙。
    Besides, that's going against Chinese custom, because haste is to be avoided.

  • 当他了解到需要什么以后就决定申请入会。
    When he learned what was required, he decided to apply for membership.

  • 分开对待，这些问题不难解决。
    Taken separately, the problems are not difficult to solve.

  • 有些问题还需要澄清。
    Certain questions have yet to be clarified.

  • 基本建设速度加快，投资环境不断完善。
    The capital construction has been accelereted and the environment for investment has been continuously improved.

• 无主句

  汉语中有些句子没有主语，翻译时可以用被动语态，可以让原句里的动词宾语充当英语句子里的主语，而动词变为被动形式的谓语，构成英语被动句。例如：

  • 对这些评论应予以充分的讨论。
    These remarks should be discussed fully.

  • 到目前为止还未得出结论。
    So far, no conclusion has been reached.

  • 该问题没得到注意。
    No attension was paid to the problem.

  • 表格要在有证人的情况下签名。
    The form has to be signed in the presence of a witness.

• 泛指主语句

  汉语中有些句子用表示泛指的“人们”、“有人”或“大家”等作主语，英译时通常都用被动语态。例如：

  • 大家估计罢工明天会开始
    It is expected that the strike will begin tomorrow.

  • 人们认为他现在住纽约。
    It is believed that he is living in New York.

  • 人们推测他们总有一天会结婚的。
    It is assumed that they will get married one day.

  • 有人看见老教授深夜还在做实验。
    The old professor was seen making an experiment late at night.

  • 大家认为，他对做这项工作很满足。
    He was considered quite satisfied with the job.

许可

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