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中国人最易误解的表达第20期:黄金般宝贵的是乖

2012-07-08来源:

The child is as good as gold.
  
(误译)这个孩子像黄金那样宝贵。
(正译)这个孩子很乖。

as good as gold 是习语,虽然有很多as... as... 形式的词组可以直译,例如as... as ever (always) 可直译为“与往常一样......”,但 as good as gold 则有特殊的意义(“很乖”),不能按字面直译。

“乖”的内涵和引申:

1. clever adj. 聪明的;机灵的;熟练的

Even the media occasionally try to trick the public with a clever April Fool story.
大众媒体偶尔也会以巧妙的愚人节故事来愚弄公众。

If such a clever person becomes arrogant or sarcastic, however, their words can hurt you.
如果这样聪明的人变得傲慢和自大,他们就可能会伤害到你。

2. alert vt. 使警觉,使意识到;警告
adj. 警惕的,警觉的;留心的
n. 警报;警戒,警惕

My horse was not above medium size, but he was alert.
我所骑的马,大小不过中等,但是感觉灵敏。

Be alert to students expressing overwhelming feelings in discussions.
警惕学生在陈述时的感情失控。

3. good adj. 好的;优良的;愉快的;虔诚的
n. 好处;善行;慷慨的行为
adv. 好

A good lather is half the shave.
好的泡沫是修面成功的一半。

The news is too good to be true.
那消息太好了,很难相信是真的。

4. perverse 乖张的,倔强的违反常情的

There could be perverse results, too.
这样做确实也可能产生荒唐的结果。

America's health-care system is a nightmare of perverse incentives.
美国的医疗保健系统具有反动力。

5. shrewd adj. 精明的;狡猾的;机灵的
n. 精明(的人);机灵(的人)

Yet in many respects it was a shrewd move.
然而,在很多方面,荷兰都有着良好的发展。

He was too shrewd to believe that it must exist.
他到是不至于愚蠢到相信那一定会存在。