Part IV Translation

参考译文

With China's reform and opening up, many young people nowadays tend to hold their wedding in a western style.1 The bride wears a white wedding dress, as white is regarded as the symbol of purity.2 In traditional Chinese culture, however, white is often used in a funeral.3 So be sure to keep in mind that white flowers are never used as a gift to wish for the recovery of the sick, especially the old or the critically ill ones.4 Similarly, the cash gift cannot be wrapped in a white envelope either, but in a red one instead.5

译点精析

1.随着中国的改革开放，如今很多年轻人都喜欢举行西式婚礼：“随着中国的改革开放”翻译为with China's reform and opening up, 应注意“改革开放”的翻译reform and opening up；“如今”翻译为today或nowadays；“都喜欢”根据语境可以翻译为固定短语tend to, tend to do sth.本意为“倾向于做某事”，在此处可以很好地表达出“都喜欢……”这层含义；“举办婚礼”翻译为hold a wedding；“西式”翻译为in a western style。

2.新娘在婚礼上穿着白色婚纱，因为白色被认为是纯洁的象征：“新娘”翻译为bride；“穿着白色婚纱”翻译为wear a white wedding dress；“白色被认为是纯洁的象征”翻译为white is regarded as the symbol of purity, 其中“被认为”可以翻译为be regarded as或be viewed as,“象征”为symbol,“纯洁”为purity。

3.然而，在中国传统文化中，白色经常是葬礼上使用的颜色：“然而”可译作however, but, nevertheless或nonetheless；“中国传统文化”翻译为traditional Chinese culture；“白色经常是葬礼上使用的颜色”，即“白色经常被使用于葬礼上”，故翻译为white is often used in a funeral。

4.因此务必记住，白花一定不要用作祝人康复的礼物，尤其不要送给老年人或危重病人：“务必记住……”翻译为be sure to keep in mind that…；“白花一定不要用作祝人康复的礼物”翻译为white flowers are never used as a gift to wish for the recovery of the sick, 注意“一定不要用作”应当翻译为are never used as, 其中“一定不要”需翻译为never,“祝人康复”翻译为to wish for the recovery of the sick；“尤其不要送给老年人或危重病人”翻译为especially the old or the critically ill ones,“危重”即“病得特别严重”，故译为critically ill。

5.同样，礼金也不能装在白色的信封里，而要装在红色的信封里：“同样”翻译为similarly, at the same time或likewise；“不能……而……”翻译为cannot… but… instead；“装在白色的信封里”即be wrapped in a white envelope。