?

原文：

辛楣沒料到畢業(yè)考試以后，會有這一次的考試，十幾年小考大考訓(xùn)練成一套虛虛實實、模棱兩可的回答本領(lǐng)，現(xiàn)在全荒疏了。（錢鐘書 - 圍城 ）

翻譯關(guān)鍵詞：over with，小考大考，虛虛實實、模棱兩可

譯文：

Hsin-mei had never expected there would be an examination of this sort waiting for him after his final examinations in college were over with. The ability to answer questions ambiguously or equivocally that a dozen years of quizzes and examinations had trained in him was now completely rusted.(美 Jeanne Kelly, Nathan K.Mao <譯> –Fortress Besieged)

翻譯筆記：

over with

over with作“做完”或“完了”解，常用于口語表達。如：
你瞧！那工作做完了！
There! The job is over with!
這是件重要的工作，所以讓我們把它盡快做完。
It’s an important task, so let’s get it over with as soon as possible.

小考大考

quiz ?對（學(xué)生）舉行的非正式的考試，即小測驗，相當(dāng)于test ?如：
老師給我們測驗幾何。
The teacher gave us a quiz in geometry.
examination ?（尤指學(xué)校對知識、技能等的）考試 ?如：
他大學(xué)沒考上。
He failed his examination for the university.?
注意以下兩句表達的意思不同：
Have you entered for the examination?
你已經(jīng)報名應(yīng)考了嗎？
Have you sat for the examination?
你已經(jīng)應(yīng)考了嗎？

虛虛實實、模棱兩可

ambiguous adj. / ambiguously adv. / ambiguousness n. 在此作“虛虛實實，模糊不清”解。選段譯文中用的是副詞形式修飾動詞answer。形容詞用法如下：
含糊其詞的回答 ?an ambiguous answer
曖昧的立場 ?an ambiguous position
equivocal adj. / equivocally adv. / equivocalness n. 在此作“有歧義，模棱兩可”解。選段譯文中用的是副詞形式修飾動詞answer。形容詞用法如下：
歧義詞 ?an equivocal word
模棱兩可的回答 ?an equivocal reply

（本文由滬江原創(chuàng)，轉(zhuǎn)載請注明出處）

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