翻译天地中华思想文化术语翻译选读

65中华思想文化术语的英译原则及应用

章思英

（外语教学与研究出版社　北京　100089）

提 要 中华思想文化术语的国际传播是适应新的时代要求、为促进中西方文明平等对话与交流互鉴而启动的基础文化建设工程。术语英译遵循以下原则：一、准确理解与体现术语的思想文化内涵；二、体现术语在具体语境中的含义，不强求译文的唯一性；三、在充分参考汉学家及前人翻译成果的基础上进行创新翻译；四、当意译不能涵盖术语的全部含义或难以表达术语的基本含义时，采取音译。关键词 中华思想文化术语；英译原则

The Principles and Their Applications for Translating Chinese Thought and Culture

Zhang Siying

Abstract This paper deals with the technical diffi culties and challenges encountered in carrying out an ongoing publicly-funded na-tional research project entitled the Chinese Thought and Culture Translation and Communication Project, which aims at standardizing key concepts and terms in translating Chinese classical texts. The project was initiated to meet the needs of promoting equal dialogue and communication between the Chinese and western civilizations in an era that has seen an increasing demand from English readers for a better understanding of Chinese indigenous knowledge. The major part of the project deals with various fundamental issues in de-ciding the appropriate fi nal English translation in order to overcome both linguistic barriers and bridging the huge differences between the Chinese and western cultures. To achieve the goal, the following principles were established: the fi rst and foremost principle is the accurate understanding of the concepts, especially their connotations in thought and culture. Secondly, the concepts should be translated in relation to specifi c contexts. Thirdly, creative translation is encouraged, with due respect to existing translations by sinologists and specialists. Fourthly, phonetic transliteration is necessary and indispensable in the translation of concepts on which there are no English equivalents or semi-equivalents. Key words concepts in Chinese thought and culture; principles for English translation*

翻译硕士考研：中华思想文化术语翻译选读——小人

本内容凯程崔老师有重要贡献

小人(xiǎorén)

“小人”最初用以表明人的社会身份与地位，通常指被统治者或地位低下之人。后世又以人的德行高下来界定“小人”。德行卑下者被称作“小人”(与“君子”相对)，“小人”只关注和追逐个人的权力或利益，为了获取私利不惜违背道义，缺乏对“道”的理解与尊重。

Petty Man

The term was originally used to indicate a person’s social status, usually referring to the rulers’

subjects or those low in social ranking. Later generations also used the term to indicate one’s

moral standard in a disapproving way. Those of base character were called petty men as opposed

to men of virtue. A petty man only pursues his personal interests or profits, even by violating

morality and righteousness; and such people have no understanding of or regard for Dao.

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【引例】

君子喻于义，小人喻于利。(《论语•里仁》)

A man of virtue understands and observes what is morally right; while a petty man only has his

中华文化概述

重要文化遗产 major cultural heritage

优秀民间艺术 outstanding folk art

独特的艺术价值 unique artistic values

诚实守信 honesty

爱国主义精神 patriotism

国宝 national treasure

文物 cultural relics

华夏祖先 the Chinese ancestors

文人 scholar; the intellectual

雅士 refined scholar

才子佳人 gifted scholars and beautiful ladies

高雅艺术 refined/high art

中外学者 Chinese and overseas scholars

古为今用 to make the past serve the present

洋为中用 to make the foreign serve China

无愧于时代的作品 works worthy of the times

文明摇篮 cradle of civilization

古文明 ancient civilization

博大精深 to be extensive and profound

享有……的美誉 to enjoy a good/high reputation for

被誉为 to be honored/crowned as

占据重要地位 to play a significant role; to have/occupy a

significant place

肩负……的责任 to shoulder the responsibility of…

与……密不可分 to be closely associated with…

推广中国文化 to promote Chinese culture

促进世界和平 to promote world peace

【原文】

中华民族的传统文化博大精深，源远流长。早在2000多年前，就产生了以孔孟为代表的儒家学说和以老庄为代表的道家学说，以及其他许多也在中国思想史上有地位的学说和学派。这就是有名的诸子百家。从孔夫子到孙中山，中华民族的传统文化有它的许多珍品，许多人民性和民主性的好东西。比如，强调仁爱、强调群体、强调天下为公，特别是“天下兴亡，匹夫有责”的爱国情操和吃苦耐劳、勤俭持家、尊师重教的传统美德。所有这些，对家庭、对国家和社会都起到了巨大的维系和调节作用。

【参考译文】

The traditional Chinese culture, both extensive and profound, starts far

back and runs a long, long course. More than 2,000 years ago there emerged

in China Confucianism represented by Confucius and Mencius, Taoism,

represented by Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi, and many other theories and doctrines（学说） that figured prominently in the history of Chinese thought, all

being covered by the famous term, "the masters' hundred schools."

From Confucius to Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the traditional Chinese culture

presents many precious ideas and qualities, which are essentially

populist and democratic. For example, they lay stress on the importance