最为经典的公示语翻译错误
2012-12-11 16:59
假设你在浙江东部一沿海城市游玩，突然看到一个上面写着“码头进口Quay Import”的标牌，你会怎么做呢？是拿起相机把它拍下来，还是继续向前寻找与之相对的另一块牌子？就我而言，我是两者兼顾，不仅拍了第一块牌子，而且还费劲周折找到“Quay Export”，并把它拍了下来。因为这些可谓是最为经典的公示语翻译错误。
看了这样的翻译，大家也许想问这样两个问题：这些公示语到底是谁翻译的？他们是怎么翻的？细细一想，我敢肯定的是这些人只是随手拿起一部汉英词典，翻到“出口”条所在的页码，然后不管三七二十一随便照搬了一个义项，于是就有了quay export的笑话。其实，类似的错误在全国各地到处可见。例如，在安徽泾县桃花潭风景区（标牌上的译名为“Peach blossom deep pool scenic spot”）中，近出口的一处停车场被翻译成“Exports parking lot”。又如，在浙江桐庐瑶琳仙境，“由此出口”被译成了“From this exports”。令人啼笑皆非的“出口”翻译还有两个：一个是“exportation”，另一是“outlet”。前者不足为奇，因为它同样可在汉英词典中的“出口”条下找到。就后者而言，若放在几百年前，它还是说得通的，因为在现代英语初期，outlet也可以被解释为“a passage or way out, an exit”（即“出口”），而如今这样的用法已经被淘汰。不过，outlet现在的确还可以表示“way out”的意思，但它通常用来指代水或蒸汽，如an outlet for water（排水孔）。
假如我们打开一部汉英词典，然后翻到“出口”条下，我们还会惊喜地发现与exit、way out 同义的还有一个叫做outgo的词语。确切地说，outgo与上述的outlet在一百多年前是同义词，因为在《牛津英语大词典》中outgo的第四义项被解释为“outlet, means of egress”（egress为正式用语，表示“外出”的意思）。
类似“出口= export”的错误也时常出现在其他汉语多义词的翻译中。例如，在汉英词典中，“足下”有两个义项：一是“you (a polite form of address to a friend)”；二是“underfoot”,然而在上述瑶琳仙境的一洞穴中，“注意足下”却被译成了“Pay attention to you”，简直让能人笑掉大牙。
英语中的一词多义现象同样也会带来类似的问题。例如，appeal一词有“恳求”、“有吸引力”、“上诉”等意思，然而在上海一家大医院中却出现了Appealing Reception（投诉接待）的可笑标牌用语。一则，appeal加上-ing只有一个意思，那就是“吸引人的”；再则，“投诉”与“上诉”相差甚远，它通常用complaint来表示。
公示语翻译中另一类较为明显的错误则是由字面直译造成的。例如：“黄
31句唯美励志英语句子欣赏 1、To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.对于世界而言，你是一个人；但是对于某个人，你是他的整 个世界。 2、No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.没有人值得你流泪，值得让你这么做的人不会让你哭泣。 3、Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.纵然伤心，也不要愁眉不展，因为 你不知是谁会爱上你的笑容。 4、We met at the wrong time, but separated at the right time. The most urgent is to take the most beautiful scenery; the deepest wound was the most real emotions.我们在错误的时间相遇，在正确的时间却 又分开。走的最急的是最美的景色，伤的最深的是最真的感情。 5、Time would heal almost all wounds. If your wounds have not been healed up, please wait for a short while. 时间几乎会愈合所有伤 口，如果你的伤口还没有愈合，请给时间一点时间！ 6、There's a difference between "love" and "like". If you like a flower you will pick it, but if you love a flower, you will water it every day. 爱与喜欢是有区别的。如果你喜欢一朵花，你会摘下它，但你要是 爱它，你会每天灌溉它。 7、No need to have a reason to love you. Anything can be a reason not to love you.喜欢你，不需要理由；不喜欢你，什么都可以成为理由。 8、Life is sad at times, but it is up to you to make your own life
容易翻译错误的10个句子 1. It is two years since I smoked. 误：我抽烟已经两年了。 正：我戒烟已经两年了。 析：在“It is ＋时间段＋since 从句”中，若表示时间的since 从句中的谓语动词是持续性动词，则这个时间段是从这个持续性动作结束时算起。如：It is ten years since she was here. 她不在这里已经十年了。 2. All of us are not for the plan. 误：我们大家都不赞成这个计划。 正：并非我们大家都赞成这个计划。 析：all/both/everything 等用于否定结构时不表示全部否定，而表示部分否定。如：Not both of them are right. （并非他们两人都是对的。）又如：She doesn't like everything here. （她并非喜欢这里的一切。） 3. We can't be too careful in doing such experiments. 误：做这样的实验，我们不能太仔细。 正：做这样的实验，我们必须非常非常仔细。 析：“can not……too……”句式表示“无论怎样也不过分”、“越……越好”。如：We can not estimate the value of modern science too much. （对于现代科学的价值，我们无论作怎样的评价也不算过分。） 4. She isn't hungry a little. 误：她一点也不饿。 正：她非常饿。 析：“not a little ”意为“很”、“非常”。“not a bit ”和“not in the least ”则意为“一点也不”。如：She isn't hungry a bit. （她一点也不饿。） 5. The man is too strong not to lift the box up. 误：这个人力气不够大，不能把这只箱子提起来。 正：这个人力气很大不会提不起这只箱子。 析：“too……not to do……”结构表示“很……不会不……”、“非常……必然会……”的意思。“too……to do ”结构则表示“太……而不能”的意思。试比较：Lin Dong is too wise not to work out the problem. （刘东很聪明，不会算不出这道题。）I am too tired to walk. （我太累了，走不动了。） 6. He isn't a farmer and a worker.
商务英语翻译试题(二)试卷及答案-2
商务英语翻译试题（二） Ⅰ词汇测试题：（2题，每题10分，共20分） 1．该组有10个商务英语英文词或词组，下面均有英文词或词组来进行解释。请将正确的选项标出，要求英英转换意义准确，符合商务英语规范。（10分） (1) promote A. to encourage the popularity, sale or development B. to change or vary C. to act as judge in an argument D. to speak or write to someone (2) to address A. to speak or write to someone, or to direct information at someone. B. to offer, supply C. to stipulate D. to come up with ideas (3) to indemnify A. to pay for the damage B. to state something officially C. to suggest an idea D. to use something instead of another (4) to cancel an order A. to confirm an order B. to deliver a letter C. to recommend a candidate D. to make void or of no effect (5) ceiling A. upper limit B. cancellation C. bottom D. the lowest point (6) tide over A. to help sb. during a period of difficulty B. to spend a lot of time doing C. to tie to sth. D. to try one’s best (7) carry out A. to take away B. to perform or complete C. to give or offer something D. to suggest an idea (8) to complicate A. to finish something B. to be dissatisfied with something C. to make something more difficult to deal with D. to compare with something (9) to put on an event A. to come up with ideas B. to come on for sth. 2
1.reason out:寻找解决途径 2.concerned about考虑到 3. mounted up to高达 4. check out检查 5.be strewn with 布满 6. a good: at least 至少，最少 7.sit out:坐到结 https://www.doczj.com/doc/7111437972.html,e by顺便拜访10.on the verge of:濒临于11.break up:分裂https://www.doczj.com/doc/7111437972.html,e through:经历过……仍活着13.pitch in:拼命于起来，开始大干特14.on one’s mind:占领某人的思绪15.rub shoulders with: 与(人们)联系，交往16.set off:开始(旅行，赛跑等) 17. flash by: 急速向某方向运动18.sink in:完全理解1 9.by trade:以…为谋生之道41.be oblivious of忽视20.in print: .(指书)已出版 21.soak up:接受并吸收22.succumb to: 屈服，屈从23.flirt with: 不认真考虑、对待24.of sorts: 劣等25.all over: 正像所说一样25.round up: 使集拢26.count on:依靠，信赖，指望27.go all out: 全力以赴28.make a reference to:提及29.to the effect that:大意为30.on the threshold of开端31.tie down: 束缚，限制，奴役32.in due course: 在适当的时机33.it follows that:由此断定34.be obsessed with使忧虑35. teems with 丰富36.acquainted sb wit h使理解37.is true of适用38.one's heart go out to同情39.got under way在修建40. every bit as 不亚于41. to one’ horror 使惊讶42.have a lump in one’s throat 如咽在喉 "The Nazi regime is devoid of all theme and principle except appetite and racial domination. It excels all forms of human wickedness in the efficiency of its cruelty and ferocious aggression. I see the Russian soldiers standing on the threshold of their native land, guarding the fields which their fathers have tilled from time immemorial. I see them guarding their homes where mothers and wives pray - ah, yes, for there are times when all pray –for the safety of their loved ones, the return of the bread-winner, of their champion, of their protector. I see the ten thousand villages of Russia where the means of existence is wrung so hardly from the soil, but where there are still primordial human joys, where maidens laugh and children play. I see advancing upon all this in hideous onslaught the Nazi war machine, with its clanking , heel-clicking, dandified Prussian officers, its crafty expert agents fresh from the cowing and tying down of a dozen countries. I see also the dull, drilled, docile , brutish masses of the Hun soldiery plodding on like a swarm of crawling locusts. I see the German bombers and fighters in the sky, still smarting from many a British whipping, delighted to find what they believe is an easier and a safer prey. "I have to declare the decision of His Majesty's Government - and I feel sure it is a decision in which the great Dominions will in due concur –for we must speak out now at once, without a day's delay. I have to make the declaration, but can you doubt what our policy will be? We have but one aim and one single, irrevocable purpose. We are resolved to destroy Hitler and every vestige of the Nazi regime. From this nothing will turn us –nothing. We will never parley; we will never negotiate with Hitler or any of his gang. We shall fight him by land, we shall fight him by sea, we shall fight him in the air, until, with God's help, we have rid the earth of his shadow and liberated its peoples from his yoke. Any man or state who fights on against Nazidom will have our aid. Any man or state who marches with Hitler is our foe... That is our policy and that is our declaration. It follows therefore that we shall give whatever help we can to Russia and the Russian people. We shall appeal to all our friends and allies in every part of the world to take the same course and pursue it, as we shall faithfully and steadfastly to the end.... "This is no class war, but a war in which the whole British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations is engaged, without distinction of race, creed, or party. It is not for me to speak of the action of the United States, but this I will say：if Hitler imagines that his attack on Soviet Russia will cause the slightest divergence of aims or slackening of effort in the great democracies who are resolved upon his doom, he is woefully mistaken. On the contrary, we shall be fortified and encouraged in our efforts to rescue mankind from his tyranny. We shall be strengthened and not weakened in determination and in resources. "This is no time to moralise on the follies of countries and Governments which have allowed themselves to be struck down one by one, when by united action they could have saved themselves and saved the world from this tyranny. But when I spoke a few minutes ago of Hitler's blood-lust and the hateful appetites which have impelled or lured him on his Russian adventure I said there was one deeper motive behind his outrage. He wishes to destroy the Russian power because he hopes that if he succeeds in this he will be able to bring back the main strength of his Army and Air Force from the East and hurl it upon this Island, which he knows he must conquer or suffer the
经典中国古文英语翻译 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。 We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart. 独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。 A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day. 大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。 The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years. 二人同心，其利断金。 If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. 富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能曲，此之谓大丈夫。 It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate. 海内存知己，天涯若比邻。 A bosom friend afar brings distance near. 合抱之木，生于毫末，九层之台，起于累土；千里之行始于足下。 A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step. 祸兮，福之所依；福兮，祸之所伏。 Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies. 见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。 On seeing a man of virtue, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same defects. 江山如此多娇，引无数英雄尽折腰。 This land so rich in beauty has made countless heroes bow in homage. 举头望明月，低头思故乡。 Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around. 俱往矣，数风流人物，还看今朝。 All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men. 君子成人之美，不成人之恶。 The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct. 君子独立不惭于影，独寝不愧于魂。 A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone. 君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以亲，小人甘以绝。 The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken.
《中国人最容易犯的英汉翻译错误》－1 一个词变成一个句著名翻译家奈达说，“翻译就是翻译意思”。言外之意，翻译一句话不能逐一翻译一串个别的单词，也不是翻译某种句子结构。初学翻译的人之所以译得不好，就是因为摆脱不了原文各个单词和句子结构的影响，总觉得英语中每一个词译成汉语都是一个词。殊不知，为了说明原文的意思，有时候要将一个词译成几个词，乃至一个短句。这就是翻译中对某些词的…增益?。例如，英语中有些单词相当于汉语的一个词组：read“看书”，drive“开车”，giggle“咯咯地笑”，stumble“蹒跚而行”，等等。这些相对而言还比较简单，一般英汉词典上都能查得到。再如，英语句子中有大量的“副词＋动词”的结构（副词也可能在动词之后）。在不少情况下这种结构可以译成汉语“副词＋动词”的偏正结构（汉语中副词修饰动词时只能放在动词之前），许多人往往用“……地”来译所有的英语副词，如：（1）They were patiently listening to him. 他们在耐心地听他讲。（2）He quickly stood up. 他很快
地站起来。（3）I will gladly join you in the work. 我会乐意地和你一起工作。这三句中都用了“地”字结构，第一句还可以，后两句就显得有点“翻译腔”，“地”字似乎可以省去，可分别改译为：“他很快站起来”和“我乐意和你一起工作”。但是这三句中的副词和动词仍然译成了偏正结构，这是因为三句中的副词表示的是动作的方式。但是，是不是英语中所有的这种结构都可以这么译呢？请大家考虑一下下面这一句应如何翻译：This is a NATO matter and any comment on it should appropriately come from NATO.将appropriately come from NATO译成“合适地来自北约”显然不通。从意义上看，appropriately与其说是表示动作come的方式，还不如说是表示其结果，因此该词应抽出来放到后面，将此句译为：这是北约的问题，关于此问题的评论应由北约做出，这才是适宜的。再请看下面这一句：Law enforcement cannot responsibly stand aloof. 如将此句照字面译成“司法部门不能负责任地冷漠”会让人不知所云。问题在responsibly这个词的处理上，它也不表明动作的方式而是表示一种结果，因此可将此句译为：司法部门对此不闻不问，那就是失责。 例如：1. In the late 14th century, Marco Polo famously made his way along trade routes from Italy to China.十四世纪后半叶，马可?波罗从意大利沿贸易通道来到中国，因而一举成名。 2. Their commander wisely judged to be safer in their works than in the field.他们的指挥官认为留在战场上不如呆在工事里更安全，这是很明智的。在翻译副词修饰形容词或另一个副词的结构时，有时也不能一概译成“……地”结构，而需要将该副词抽出来加以增益，才能说明其含义，如： 3. Chimpanzees are the animals closest biologically to humans.从生物学角度看，大猩猩与人的关系最亲近。 4. Tami said it was possible, just statistically unlikely. 泰米说有这样的可能，但是从统计的角度来看又不太可能。 5. The second child she dreamed of might now be medically impossible.她本来还想要一个孩子，从医学角度来看，现在是不可能了。 6. Only 18 percent are officially unemployed. 据官方统计，只有百分之十八的人是失业者。 7. Real-estate prices in downtown Manhattan looked prohibitively expensive. 市中心曼哈顿的房地产价格贵得使人望而生畏。 8. She was remarkably silent when the others all talked and laughed.别人有说有笑时她却沉默不语，显得很突出。 9. It was a vast and treacherous landscape, but breath-takingly beautiful. 这是一片广阔而变幻莫测的景致，但却美得令人惊讶。10. A schoolmaster, finding such errors in a schoolboy?s essay, would be justly indignant. 小学老师在学生的作文里发现这样的错误一定会生气，而生气不是没有道理的。11. Voters were understandably confused by the identical Caser names on the ballot, and the split vote sent the real candidate Caser down to defeat in the primary. 选举人被选票上一模一样卡瑟的名字弄糊涂，因而选票分散，导致真正的候选人在初选时就落选，这是可以理解的。有时候，形容词做定语或表语时，也无法用一个词将其意思充分表达出来，翻译这个形容词时也需要进行增益，如：12. The sleek turbines of the American windmills made economic and ecological sense. 美国造了许多风力磨坊，这从经济和生态角度看是有道理的。13. Now we stay a respectful distance him. 当然不能将a respectful distance译为“尊敬的距离”，应将这一句译成“我们对他敬而远之”。14. He had a sound feeling that idioms were the backbone of a language and he was all for the racy phrases. 他感到习语是语言的主要支柱，因此特别主张用生动的短语，他的想法是很有道理的。15. The prisoners of war are allowed to write censored letter. 战俘们可以写信，但信件要受到检查。16. We should be very cautious when buying expensive things and ask ourselves if we are making a
商务英语翻译测试题及 答案 集团档案编码：[YTTR-YTPT28-YTNTL98-UYTYNN08]
I. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the meanings of words italicized.(15%) 1. The above quoted are the articles in great demand, which have won a high reputation in various markets. 2. The articles in this agreement must not be modified and ended
without the agreement by the both parties. 3. However, the tariff should not be greater in amount than the margin of price caused by dumping. 4. As usual, the lion’s share of the budget is for defense. 5. He once again imparted to us his great knowledge, experience and wisdom.
II. Translate the following sentences with extension.(15%) 1. There is a mixture of the tiger and ape in the character of Hitler. 2.China, which posted its highest growth rate in a decade, is Asia’s new star performer. 3. John took to his studies eagerly, and proved an adept pupil.
爱情就是谬误 马克斯·舒尔曼 查尔斯·兰姆是一个百年难遇的性情欢快且富有进取心的人。他那令人难忘的作品《古瓷器》和《梦中的孩子》打破了随笔的羁绊。下面这篇文章甚至比兰姆的作品更加随意。实际上，用“随意”这个字眼来形容这篇文章或许并不十分恰当；用“柔软的”、“松软的”或“富有弹性”或许更为恰当。 尽管这篇文章所属的类别是模糊的，但可以肯定它是一篇散文。它提出了论点，列举了例子，并得出了结论。卡菜尔能写出比这更好的作品吗拉斯金呢 那么，就读一读下面的文章吧。这篇文章意在论证逻辑学远非一门枯燥乏味而又迂腐的学科，而是一种活泼、清新的事物，充满了美感、激情和创伤。 ——作者注 1. 本人头脑冷静、逻辑性强。敏锐、精明、机智、灵敏、狡黠------这些品质我都具备。我的大脑像发电机一样有力，像化学家的天平一样精确，像手术刀一样锋利。难以想象吧！我才十八岁。
2. 如此年轻而又才智卓越的人并不常有。就拿我在明尼苏达州大学的室友皮蒂·伯奇来说吧。他跟我年龄相同，背景相似，却蠢笨如牛。要知道，他是个英俊年轻的小伙子，可脑袋却空空如也。他容易激动，情绪反复无常，易受影响。最糟糕的是，他是一个爱赶时髦的人。我认为，赶时髦是最缺乏理智的表现。追随每一次新出现的时尚，身不由己地做着种种蠢事，仅仅因为别人都在这么做------在我看来，这愚蠢至极。然而皮蒂却不这么认为。 3. 一天下午，我发现皮蒂躺在床上，脸上流露出一种痛苦不堪的表情，我立刻断定他得了阑尾炎。“别动，”我说，“别吃泻药，我去请医生。” 4.“浣熊，”他咕哝道。 5.“浣熊” 我停下飞快的脚步问道。 6.“我想要一件浣熊皮大衣，”他哭着嚷道。 7.我意识到他的问题不是身体上的，而是精神上的。“你为什么想要一件浣熊皮大衣呢” 8.“我早就该知道，”他哭叫着，捶打着自己的太阳穴，“我早就该知道查尔斯顿舞再度流行时，浣熊皮大衣也会再次时兴起来。我真傻，所有的
经典古文英文翻译 经典古文英文翻译-----extremely useful and helpful 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。 We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart. 独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。 A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day. 大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。 The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years. 二人同心，其利断金。 If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. 富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能曲，此之谓大丈夫。 It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate. 海内存知己，天涯若比邻。 A bosom friend afar brings distance near. 合抱之木，生于毫末，九层之台，起于累土；千里之行始于足下。 A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step. 祸兮，福之所依；福兮，祸之所伏。 Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies. 见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。 On seeing a man of virtue, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same defects. 江山如此多娇，引无数英雄尽折腰。 This land so rich in beauty has made countless heroes bow in homage. 举头望明月，低头思故乡。 Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around. 俱往矣，数风流人物，还看今朝。 All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men. 君子成人之美，不成人之恶。 The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct. 君子独立不惭于影，独寝不愧于魂。 A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone. 君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以亲，小人甘以绝。 The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the
法国人和英国人 It is obvious that there is a great deal of difference between being international and being cos-mopolitan. All good men are international. Nearly all bad men are cosmopolitan. If we are to be international we must be national. And it is largely because those who call themselves the friends of peace have not dwelt sufficiently on this distinction that they do not impress the bulk of any of the nations to which they belong. International peace means a peace between nations,not a peace after the destruction of nations, like the Buddhist peace after the destruction of personality. The golden age of the good European is like the heaven of the Christian: it is a place where people will love each other; not like the heaven of the Hindu, a place where they will be each other. And in the case of national character this can be seen in a curious way. It will generally be found, I think, that the more a man really appreciates and admires the soul of another people the less he will attempt to imitate it; he will be conscious that there is something in it too deep and too unmanageable to imitate.The Englishman who has a fancy for France will try to be French; the Englishman who ad-mires France will remain obstinately English. This is to be particularly noticed in the case of our relations with the French, because it is one of the outstanding peculiarities of the French that their vices are all on the surface, and their extraordinary virtues concealed. [3] One might almost say that their vices are the flower of their virtues. 在国际化和见多识广中存在着非常大的差异，这是显而易见的。所有的好人都是国际化的，所有的坏人都是见多识广的。我们如果想变得国际化，首先必须具备民族性。很大程度上正是由于那些自称热爱和平的人并未真正理解这种区别，因此他们的努力甚至不为自己国家的大多数人所接受。国际间的和平意味着民族间的和平，并非破坏一个民族以后的和平，就像破坏个人特性的佛教那样。欧洲最好的时代是像基督教的天堂那般，在那里人们相亲相爱；而非像印度教那样，人们在那里成为彼此。关于民族特性这一点，可以被看作是一种稀奇的方式。我认为总体来说，是一个人不仅仅于欣赏和景仰另一个民族的气质和精神，但也不至于去模仿；他会意识到其他民族文化是很难模仿的，因为有极深极难掌握的东西在其中。对法国着迷的英国人会尝试着变成法国人；而敬仰着法国的英国人却始终坚定地有着英国的痕迹。我们英国同法国的关系需要被多加关注，因为法国人其中一个杰出的特点就是所有的邪恶都在表面上，而且他们特别的美德被封存了。你几乎可以说他们的“恶”其实是他们的“善之花”。 Thus their obscenity is the expression of their passionate love of dragging all things into the light. The avarice of their peasants means the independence of their peasants. What the English call their rudeness in the streets is a phase of their social equality. The worried look of their women is connected with the responsibility of their women; and a certain unconscious brutality of hurry and gesture in the men is related to their inexhaustible and extraordinary military courage. Of all coun-tries, therefore, France is the worst country for a superficial fool to admire. Let a fool hate France: if the fool loves it he will soon be a knave.He will certainly admire it, not only for the things that are not creditable, but actually for the things that are not there. He will admire the grace and indolence of the most industrious people in the world. He will admire the romance and fantasy of the most determinedly respectable and common-place people in the world. This mistake the Englishman will make if he admires France too hastily; but the mistake that he makes about France will be slight compared with the mistake that he makes about himself. An Englishman who professes really to like French realistic novels, really to be at home in a French modern theatre,really to experience no shock on first seeing the savage French caricatures, is making a mistake very dangerous for his own sincerity. He is admiring something he does not understand. He is reaping where he has not sown, and taking up where he has not laid down; he is trying to taste the fruit when he has never toiled over the tree. He is trying to pluck the exquisite fruit of French cynicism, when he has never tilled the rude but rich soil of French virtue. 因而法国式的下流其实是他们热衷将事情公之于众的一种表达方式。法国农民的贪婪其实意味着他们的独立。当英国人在街头看到的粗鲁实际上是社会平等的阶段。法国妇女面带恶容与她们的责任