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: 63at
lq
倍数增加 79i>@u%
(一) A is n times as great(long,much,…)as B.(①). l
lQ<x
A is n times greater (longer, more,…)than B.(②). D7=gUm>
A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of B.(③). &"d4J?io`
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]. lte~26=e
Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,threetimes the length of )that one. 5:YtBdP
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。 Lrz>00(*4
注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。 [ jafPi(#g
(二)increase to n times(④). yvVs9"|0
increase n times/n-fold(⑤). YHE7`\l
increase by n times(⑥). 7^:s/xHO*
increase by a factor of n(⑦). Rk"_4zJk
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。 X3'z'5
Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three timesas compared with last year.
l_$~~z ~
集成电路的产量比去年增加了两倍。 Ii;~ xc
Eg. The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as againstl986. Mj[v _&N
化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。 cA_v*`YL
Eg. That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. A/GEDG
?
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)。 _<xU"8b"5
Eg. The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. ;o
#d
mG
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。 ][D<J0
注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。 ,u!c|4
(三)There is a n-fold increase/growth…(⑧)应译为:增加n-倍(或增至n倍)。这个句型还有其它一些形式: .(3B}}gB>
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported. (3 B;
V
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 5.idC-\
(四)double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨). TVYO`9:CW
Eg. The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled. aQkgkV;~
这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。 ba|~B8rII[
(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: 1P&c:n
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(= A is twice as much (large,long,…)as . WCU[
]A
B.(⑩) evZ{~v&/
应译为:A比B多(大,长,……)1倍。 L;>tuJY1
A is half as much (large, 1ong,…)again as B. YI&7s_%
-
「= A is one and a half times as much (large, 1ong,…)as B.」(11). &yWl8O
应译为:A比B多(大,长……)一半(即A是B的一倍半)。 /1t(e.
_