在工作单位的表达法
2008-08-21来源:
我是个不顾家的人。
I’m neglecting my family. *这是种相当严厉的说法。neglect 表示“对……玩忽职守”、“不尽义务”。
I put my work before my family. (我是工作第一,家庭第二。)*比较温和的说法。
I should treat my family better. (我该重视我的家庭。)
你站在哪一方?
Which side are you? *side“(竞争、谈判等的)一方,自己人”。
Which side are you on?
Who are you rooting for?
Which side do you support? (你支持哪一方?)
我是站在你这边的。
I’m on your side. *on one’s side“站在……一方”。
Whose side are you on? (你是站在哪一边的?)
I’m on your side. (我是站在你这边的。)
I will support you. (我支持你。)
I agree with you. (我同意你的意见。)
他对我很不客气的。
He’s very hard on me. *be动词+hard on……“蛮横,野蛮”。
Do you like your boss? (你喜欢你的上司吗?)
No, he’s very hard on me. (不,他对我很严厉。)
He treats me unkindly. (他对我一点儿都不友好。)
He’s mean to me. (他对我很刻薄。)
He’s very strict. (他很严厉。)
他总把我当作眼中钉。
He always treats me like an enemy. *enemy“仇人,敌人”。
He was rude to say that. (他这样对你说话也太无礼了。)
He always treats me like an enemy. (他总把我当作眼中钉。)
He acts like I’m an enemy.
He treats me as if I’m his enemy.
他对我很蛮横。
He treated me badly.
I was badly treated by him.
I received bad treatment from him.
He treated me unkindly. (他对我很粗暴。)
我欠他的情。
I’m obligated to him. *obligate“让某人负有法律或道义上的义务”。
I’m under obligation to him.
I owe him. * owe“欠……的情”。
I have an obligation to him.
I’m deeply indebted to him. (我非常感激他。)
I’ve received kindness from him. (他对我很好。)
I owe him a lot for everything he has done for me. (我非常感谢他为我所做的一切。)
我们很熟,互相直呼其名。
We’re on a first name basis. *表示“之间关系好,很亲密”。
We’re on first name terms.
●评论他人
他的理解力很强。
He’s quick on the uptake. *这是一种固定说法,表示“理解吸收能力强”。
He’s a fast learner.
He has a quick mind.
He catches on quickly.
他不会让你失望的。
He’ll never let you down. *let down“使人期待落空”。
他很能干。
He’s efficient. *efficient“有效的”、“效率高的”、“工作出色的”、“能力强的”。
He finished the job already. (他早就把工作做完了。)
He’s efficient. (他真能干。)
He does things well and he gets them done quickly. (他工作起来又好又快。)
He gets things done efficiently. (他做事很有效率。)
He handles things quickly. (他处理事情很麻利。)
He handles matters promptly. (他处理事情很利索。)
他是个好人。
He’s a good guy.
He’s a good man.
He’s a good person.
他显老。
He looks old for his age. *形容词+for 表示“就……而言”、“比较……”。
He’s only 46. (他只有46岁。)
He looks old for his age. (他显老。)
He looks older than he is.
He looks young for his age. (他显年轻。)
你看上去比我年轻。
You look younger than me. *从语法上来讲应该是“You look younger than I”,但美国现在一般不这么说。
We’re the same age. (我们同龄吧。)
But you look younger than me. (可是你看上去比我年轻。)
You look younger than I do.
他就是那种人。
That’s the way he is.
That’s the kind of guy he is.
他长得像谁?
Who is he like?
他有丰富的常识。
He has a lot of common sense.
他虽年轻,却很博学。
He’s wise for his age. * for one’s age“与年纪相比却……”
He’s only ten and he made this.(他只有10岁就能做出这样的东西。)
He’s wise for his age. (他虽年轻,却博学。)
He’s wise considering his age.
He’s wise for a man of his age.
他交际很广。
He knows a lot of people.
He’s well-known.
He’s very popular. (他很有人缘。)
He has a large circle of acquaintances. (他交际广泛。) *“熟悉的人,认识的人”,但和friend (朋友)不同,虽没深交,但见过面、搭过话。
他是个有才干的人。
He’s a go-getter. *go-getter“有才能的人”,“干将”。
He runs a lot of business. (他有很多生意。)
Yeah, he’s a go-getter. (是呀!他是个有才干的人。)
He’s a man of action.
He’s a man of ability.
He’s a wheeler-dealer. *比较旧的说法。
你真体谅人。
You’re so sympathetic. *sympathetic“同情的”、“能体谅人,体贴人的”。
他是守信用的人。
He’s faithful. *faithful“对人、对工作忠诚,守信用的”。
He has a strong sense of duty.
他的嗓音低沉。
He has a deep voice.
He has a low voice.
His voice is very deep.
他发福了。
He has put on weight.
He has gained weight.
He has lost weight. (他瘦了。)
他太胖了。
He’s overweight.
He’s a fatso. (他是个胖猪。)
He’s fat. (他很胖。)
He’s skinny. (他骨瘦如柴。)
你真有胆量。(你好大胆子。)
You have a lot of nerve.
Sir, I don’t think you should fire John. (先生,我觉得你不该解雇约翰。)
You have a lot of nerve to say that. (你胆子不小,竟敢这么说。)
You have a lot of balls. *balls 在这里表示“厚脸皮”、“傲慢”,同时有“睾丸”的意思。所以是一种不礼貌的说法,会给人不愉快的感觉。
You have a lot of guts.
You’re bold. *bold“大胆的”、“不客气的”、“力量强的”。
You’re very brave. (你很勇敢。)
他是个很谦虚的人。
He’s a very modest man. *modest“(要求、意见、态度、行为等)比较慎重。”
He didn’t say anything. (他可什么都没说。)
He’s a very modest man. (嗯,他是个很谨慎的人。)
He’s very polite. (他很有教养。)
He doesn’t like to brag. (他不喜欢吹牛。)
He isn’t boastful. (他一点都不自负。)
他有个好脾气。
He has a good temper.
He’s in a good mood. *表示“现在正好情绪不错”,和上句的语气不一样。
他这个人脾气暴躁。
He has a bad temper.
He’s in a bad mood. *表示“现在碰巧情绪不好”,和上句的语气不太一样。
她不知哪儿有点怪。
There’s something strange about her.
There is something fishy about her.
There is something odd about her.
她有点不太对劲儿。
She’s not herself. *直译是“她不是她自己了。”
She’s been edgy lately. (她近来情绪急躁。)
Yeah, she’s not herself. (是的,有点儿不太对劲儿。)
She’s not acting like herself.
She’s not acting normally.
她真让人捉摸不透。
She’s so weird. *weird“不可思议”、“变化多端”、“古怪的”。
She cut her hair very short. (她把头发剪得短短的。)
She’s so weird. (真让人捉摸不透。)
She’s bizarre.
She’s very strange.
塔米饭量很小。
Tammy eats like a bird. *直译“塔米像鸟一样吃饭”,是人却只有小鸟那么点儿饭量。
Tammy eats like a bird. (塔米饭量很小。)
She’s on a diet. (她正减肥呢。)
Tammy eats very little. (塔米只吃一点点。)
Tammy doesn’t eat very much. (塔米不怎么吃。)
Tammy eats like a horse. (塔米特别能吃。)
她的身材很好。
She has a nice figure. *表示“体型”时不用style.
She has a good figure.
他已过壮年。
His best days are gone.
He’s past his prime.
我父亲上年纪了。
My father’s getting on in years. *be getting on in years 为惯用语,“上年纪”。
My father’s becoming an old man.
My father’s getting older.
他长得什么样?
What does he look like?
他们闹得天翻地覆。
They’re making a big fuss. *make a fuss“大声吵闹”、“喧哗”。
They’re making a big deal about it.
他抽烟抽得没完没了。
He’s a chain smoker.
Does he smoke? (他抽烟吗?)
Yes, he’s a chain smoker. (抽,他一抽就抽个没完。)
He’s a heavy smoker.
He smokes non-stop.
●贬低别人
他很自私。
He’s selfish. *selfish 带有轻视的语气,表示“自私的”、“利己的”、“不考虑别人的”。
I don’t like John. (我不喜欢约翰。)
Why? (为什么?)
Because he’s selfish. (他太自私了。)
He’s self-centered. (他总是以自己为中心。)
He’s self-serving. (他是个只顾自己的人。)
He only cares about himself. (他只想他自己的事。)
He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. (他从来不想别人。)
他总把问题想得过于严重。
He takes things too seriously.
他头脑简单。
He’s simpleminded. *simpleminded“单纯的”、“头脑简单的”,也有“无知的”、“愚蠢的”语感。
He’s a simple man. *这句话也可解释为“他是个很实际的人”。
He isn’t so smart. (他不很聪明。)
今天他情绪烦躁。
He’s on edge today. *edge“边缘”。on edge 表示“烦躁”、“不安稳”。
What’s wrong with him? He’s on edge today. (怎么啦,他今天这么烦躁。)
I don’t know. (我不知道。)
He’s edgy today.
He’s in a bad mood today. (他今天情绪不好。)
他真是个多嘴多舌的人。
He’s talkative. *talkative“喜欢说话”、“多嘴多舌”。
He’s talkative. (他真多嘴多舌。)
Yeah, you can say that again. (啊,你也这么说呀。)
He’s a motor-mouth.
He never shuts up. (他从来都闭不上嘴。)
他非常有钱。
He’s quite well off. *well off“有钱”、“富裕”,比rich的语气随便。
How’s he doing? (他现在怎么样?)
He’s quite well off now. (他现在可有钱了。)
He’s a wealthy man.
He’s rich.
He’s rolling in it.
他很好色。
He’s fresh. *看样子可以翻成“他是个新鲜的人”,但实际上表达的是“他是好色的人”。
He always tries to touch me. (他总想碰我。)
Yeah, he’s fresh. (是啊,他真好色。)
He’s a dirty-minded man.
He’s a dirty old man. (他真是个讨厌的老头。)
All he thinks about is sex. (他满脑子想的都是情事。)
他的嘴甜着呢。
He’s a smooth talker.
Watch out for him. (你得小心点儿他。)
Why? (为什么?)
He’s a smooth talker. (他的嘴甜着呢。)
He’s honey-tongued.
他是个不可小看的人。
He’s nobody’s fool. *“难打交道的人”、“不容轻视的对手”。
What’s Joe like? (乔这个人怎么样?)
He’s nobody’s fool. (你可不能小看他。)
He’s very shrewd.
他净说些傻话。
He often says absurd things. *absurd“荒谬的,毫无道理的”。
He often says ridiculous things.
He says strange things a lot.
He says a lot of weird things.
他一点儿责任心都没有。
He has no sense of responsibility.
He’s so irresponsible.
他真是个让人讨厌的人。
He’s very offensive. *offensive“讨厌的”、“令人不愉快的”、“(人或言行等)令人作呕的”。
他这人很难对付。
He’s a difficult man to deal with. *deal with“处理、对待(人或事)”。
He’s hard to deal with.
He’s hard to put up with. (他让人难以忍受。)
他是个倔老头。
He’s a stubborn old man. *stubborn“顽固的”、“倔强的”。
Didn’t your father say okay? (你爸爸同意了吗?)
No, he’s a stubborn old man. (没有,他是个倔老头。)
He’s a hardheaded old man.
他总是好高骛远。
He’s aiming too high. *aim high“奢望”、“逞能、逞强”。
He’s overreaching himself.
He’s out of his league.
他从不认输。
That man never admits defeat.
He never admits he is wrong.
He is a sore loser.
He hates being defeated. (他讨厌失败。)
He can’t handle defeat. (他是个输不起的人。)
他是个难以捉摸的人。
He’s very vague. *vague“不可捉摸”、“不清楚的”、“不明确的”。
He’s very vague. (他是个难以捉摸的人。)
He’s just like my brother. (和我弟弟一样。)
He is difficult to understand. (他真让人难以理解。)
He isn’t very clear. (他让人不易琢磨。)
他性格乖张。
He’s crooked. *crook 原意是thief,即“小偷”、“骗子”。crooked表示“性格孤僻”、“乖张”。
He’s crooked. (他性格乖张。)
But I like him. (可我喜欢他。)
He’s a scammer. *俚语。
He’s a crook.
He’s a con man. *俚语。
他一无是处。
He’s good for nothing.
He’s not nice to you? (他是不是对你不好?)
No, he’s good for nothing. (嗯,他简直一无是处。)
He isn’t good for anything.
He’s a bum. *俚语。
她认生。
She’s shy around strangers.
She’s bashful.
She feel uncomfortable around strangers. (她跟不认识的人在一起总觉得不自在。)
She’s afraid of strangers. (她怕生人。)
你是个胆小鬼。
You’re too timid.
You’re gutless.
You’re a wimp.
You’re a chicken.
他在逞强。
He’s acting big.
He’s acting like a hot shot.
他动不动就生气。
He has a short temper. *temper 特指“(感情上的)秉性,气质”,short temper 表示“易怒”。
He gets angry easily.
He loses his temper quickly.
He is very temperamental. (他喜怒无常。)
他很能吃。
He eats like a horse. *直译是“他吃起来像匹马一样。”
He eats huge amounts.
He eats like a bird.(他饭量很小。)
你的香水味真够呛人的。
Your perfume is strong.
I can smell your perfume a mile away. (我老远就闻见你的香水味了。) *带有讽刺意味的表达方式。
Your perfume is romantic. (你的香水够浪漫的。) *褒义,“芳香扑鼻”。
●自我评价
我的心还很年轻。
I’m young in spirit. *in spirit“心理的”、“精神上的”。
I have a youthful spirit.
I’m young at heart.
我笨手笨脚的。
I’m all thumbs. *thumb“大拇指”,注意b不发音。每根手指都像拇指一样笨手笨脚的。
Can’t you fix it? (您能帮我修理一下吗?)
I’m all thumbs. (我可是笨手笨脚的。)
I’m clumsy.
I’m very clumsy.
I have butterfingers.
I’m (such) a klutz. *俚语。
我喜欢独处。
I like being alone.
I enjoy having time to myself.
I’m a loner.
我这个人比较随和。
I’m easygoing. *easygoing“悠闲的”、“不小气的”、“不小心眼的”、“不拘小节的”。
I’m temperamental. (我爱发脾气。)
I’m not. I’m easygoing. (我可不是,我挺随和。)
I’m an optimist. (我是个乐天派。)
I’m carefree.
I like to take it easy.
我遇事就慌。
I get embarrassed easily. *embarrass“使……发窘”、“使……尴尬”、“让……为难”。
Your face is red! (你脸都红了。)
I get embarrassed easily. (我遇事就慌。)
我做什么事都很现实。
I’m practical about everything. *practical“(人或想法)很现实的”,褒义。
I like to be practical about things. (我喜欢现实地考虑问题。)
I’m a very practical person. (我是个非常现实的人。)
我是一根筋。
I have a one-track mind. *track 表示“轨道”,one-track表示“单线轨道”。这句话表示“只能考虑一件事的人”,一般为贬义。
I’m obsessed with one idea.
I can’t take my mind off of…… (我无法不去想……)
我看人很准。
I’m a good judge of character. *judge“能辨别好坏的人”、“鉴定者”。
I have a good eye for character.
I’m a poor judge of character. (我不会看人。)
我爱吃甜食。
I have a sweet tooth. *have a sweet tooth 直译是“有甜牙”,实际意思是“爱吃甜食”。
You like sweets, don’t you? (你爱吃甜食,是吗?)
Yeah, I have a sweet tooth. (是的,我爱吃甜食。)
I love sweets. (我特喜欢吃甜的。)
我是个酒鬼。
I prefer wine to sweets. *直译是“比起甜东西来我更爱喝酒”。
I prefer savory to sweet. (比起甜的来我更爱吃辣的。)
我过着悲惨的生活。
I have led a dog’s life. *lead a dog’s life 直译是“像狗一样的生活”。应该记住这句惯用表达方式。
I have had a miserable life.
I’ve had a terrible life.
我的视力不好。
I have poor eyesight.
I have good eyesight. (我的视力很好。)