【翻译真题三】
"你要茶还是要咖啡?"是用餐人常被问到的问题。许多西方人会选咖啡中国人则会选茶。相传，中国的一位帝王于五千多年前发现了茶，并用来治病。在明清(the Ming and Qing Dynasties)期间，茶馆遍 布全国。饮茶在6世纪传到日本，但直到17、18世纪才传到欧美。如今，茶是世界上最流行的饮料 (beverage)之一。茶是中国的民族仗品，也是中国传统和文化的重要组成部分。
【参考译文】
This is what diners often have been asked, "Would you like tea or coffee?" Many Westerners favour coffee while the Chinese tend to choose tea. Tradition has it that an ancient Chinese emperor discovered the tea five thousand years ago and used it to treat illnesses. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, teahouses spread all over China. Tea drinking was introduced to Japan in the 6th century while it was not introduced into Europe or America until the 17th and 18th centuries. Nowadays, tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It is not only a kind of Chinese national drink, but also an important part of Chinese tradition and culture.
【难点点拨】
1. 第一句中你要茶还是要咖啡?"是餐厅常用语,大 部分考生都可以进行正确翻译,即"Would you like tea or coffee?",也可以译为"Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?"
2. 第二句可用while连接两个分句,具有转折的意思。
3. 第三句中相传"可译为Tradition has it that...或 者是 It is said that...,"治病"可译为 treat/cure illnesses
4. 在翻译第五句时,需要使用not... until...句到来 表达"直到……才……"的含义。
5. 最后一句中，"民族饮品"也可以译为national beverage 或者是 traditional drink。
