英语表示倍数增减或倍数对比的句型多种多样,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型②、⑤、⑥、⑧、(12) 等, 见圈码)很容易译错——其主要原因在于:英汉两语在 表述或对比倍数方面存在着语言与思维差异。现将常 用的英语倍数句型及其正确译法归纳如下: rR!U;
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(一) A is n times as great(long,much,…)as B.(①) j,t~
A is n times greater (longer, more,…)than B.(②) Zu=kT}aGg
A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of B.(③) `{G?>z Fp
以上三句都应译为;A的大小(长度,数量,……)是B的n倍[或A比B大(长,多,……)n-1倍].
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Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,three times the length of )that one. +a]j[#
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。 pruWO'b`
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注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。 $WNG07]tU
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(二)increase to n times(④) qG^_c;l6a
increase n times/n-fold(⑤) Yzd2G,kZ=
increase by n times(⑥) k ZK//YN#
increase by a factor of n(⑦) [tm[,VfA^
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。 JmjxGcG
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Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times as compared with last year.
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The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against l986. ?{j@6,
化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。 E&9!1!
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That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. bqjr0A7{
那可使代谢率提高到原来的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。 <Cr8V'c
The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. hpjUkGm5
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。 3d
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注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。 -? Tz.y&
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(三)There is a n-fold increase/growth…(⑧) qM*S*,s
应译为:增加n-倍(或增至n倍)。这个句型还有其它一些形式: IW] *i?L
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported. bHJoEYY^
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 mb~./.5F
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(四)double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨) '5V^}/
Eg. The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled. )+*{Y$/U
这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。 [5!'ykZ
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(五)此外,英语中还有一种用again而不用倍数词来比较倍数的方法,如: aSTFcz"
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(= A is twice as much (large,long,…)as B.(⑩) d>;2,srUf
应译为:A比B多(大,长,……)1倍。 L!&$c&=xf
A is half as much (large, 1ong,…)again as B. w'|&5cS
【= A is one and a half times as much (large, 1ong,…)as B.】(11) E;xMPK$
应译为:A比B多(大,长……)一半(即A是B的一倍半)。 q`cEA<~S
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(一)A is n times as small (light,slow,…)as B.(12) *$JB`=Q
A is n times smaller (lighter, slower,…) than B.(13) 6EZ1YG}
以上两句均应译为:A的大小(重量,速度,……)是B的1/n[或A比B小(轻,慢,……)(n-1)/n]。 r7RU"H:j8
Eg. The hydrogen atom is near1y l6 times as light as the oxygen atom. K q/~T7Ru
氢原子的重量约为氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子约轻15/16)。 9e-*JYF]C
Eg. This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper. ^g70AqUc
这种薄膜比普通纸张要薄一半(即是普通纸厚度的1/2)。 9^(HXH_f
注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than/as B常被省去。 Gee~>:_Q{J
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(二)decrease n times/n--fold (14) y#&$f
decrease by n times(15) ^v
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decrease by a factor of n(16) N?\bBt@
以上三式均译为:减少到1/n[或:减少(n-1)/n]。 wH+FFXGJs
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decrease常被reduce, shorten, go/slow down等词替代。 bd,Uz%o_
Eg. Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times. ht2
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新型晶体管的开关时间缩短了1/3(即缩短到2/3)。 D~5yj&&T;
Eg. When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by ten times. 45?*:)l:
电压升高9倍,电流强度便降低9/10(即90%)。 ~5FS|[1L
Eg. The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5. ~g*Y,
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该设备误差概率降低了4/5。 +ylxezc
(三)There is a n-fold decrease/reduction… Q^*G`&w,
应译为:减至1/n [或:减少(n一1)/n]。(17) L[CU
这个句型还有其它一些形式, /&*m1EN#o
Eg. A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed. g@<sU0B
发现迅速减少到1/7。 <\E"clZI
Eg. The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight. /_$~rW
这些产品的主要优点是重量减轻了1/2。 kX@bv"i
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从上列倍数增减句型及其译法中不难看出:与汉语不 同的是,英语在表述或比较倍数时,无论使用什么句 型(除了不含倍数词的again句型外)都包括基础倍 数在内,因此都不是净增或净减n倍,而是净增或 净减n-1倍。所以句型⑤、③表示的倍数增量=句型④; 句型(13)表示的倍数比差=句型12,且decrease(by) 3 times应译为“减少2/3”,而不是“减少3/4”。 a];BW)