“下毛毛雨”加强翻译意识的锻炼

    与此相似的例子还有很多，如“退耕还林”不是return farmland to forest(把耕地退还给森林)，而应该是restore "woodland-converted farm-plots" back forafforesting (把从林地开垦出来的耕地还原成林地，即重新进行植树造林)。“春运”也不能简单地说成是spring transportation(春季的运输) 而是the rush / peak season of passenger transportation during the Spring Festival(春节期间的客运高峰)。

    第五：有些中文词语没有什么特殊涵义，而与之相对应的英文词语却有着特殊的涵义。例如，与“便宜”、“价廉”相对应的“cheap,”它有时候会带有贬义，成为“质次价低”的意，如cheap jewelries, cheap dresses, cheap furniture等。我们可以说I bought a cheap watch for my child，对小孩无所谓；但不能说I bought a cheapdress for my girlfriend. 因为这样说会冒犯对方。在后一种情况下必须用inexpensive一词。

    第六：避免用中式英语进行表达，而要尽量用地道的英语进行表达。假如我们要把“我过去学过一些法语，但现在都忘了，都还给老师了”这句话翻译成英语，最好不要说 I learned some French in the past. Now I have forgotten it.I've returned it to the teacher. 比较好的说法是 I used to know some French,but I've forgotten it. It has found its way back to my teacher.

    再比如我们要用英语说“我攒了一大堆赃衣服，等着周末来洗，”最好不要说I have accumulated a large amount of dirty clothes. I'm going to wash them at the weekend. 比较好的说法是I have a lot of laundry to catch up at the weekend.

    第七：根据不同场合，英语的表达有庄重(formal) 与随意(informal) 之分。比如“禁止吸烟”（No Smoking）、“请勿吸烟”(Thank you for not smoking) 和“为了您和他人的健康，请勿在此吸烟”（For hygiene's sake, please refrain yourself from smoking in thisroom.）下面两组例子中都各包含有formal- normal - informal 三种文体风格(style):

    Please await instructions before dispatching items.

    Please wait for instructions before sending items off.

    Don't send anything off until you're told to do so.

    Essential measures should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.

    One should undertake any necessary measures at the earliest opportunity.

    You should do whatever you have to as soon as you can.