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英語中倍數(shù)的表達(dá)方法和譯法
英語表示倍數(shù)增減或倍數(shù)對(duì)比的句型多種多樣,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型⑵、⑸、⑹、⑻、⑿ 等)很容易譯錯(cuò),其主要原因在于:英漢兩語在表述或?qū)Ρ缺稊?shù)方面存在著語言與思維差異�，F(xiàn)將常用的英語倍數(shù)句型及其正確譯法歸納如下:
倍數(shù)增加
(一)A is n times as great (long, much, ...) as B. ⑴
A is n times greater (longer, more, ...) than B. ⑵
A is n times the size (length, amount, ...) of B. ⑶
以上三句都應(yīng)譯為:A的大小(長(zhǎng)度、數(shù)量、……)是B的n倍,或A比B大(長(zhǎng)、多、……)n-1倍。
eg: This book is three times as long as that one. / three times longer than that one. / three times the length of that one.
這本書的篇幅是那本書的3倍(即比那本書長(zhǎng)兩倍)。
注:當(dāng)相比的對(duì)象B很明顯時(shí),than (as, of) B 常被省去。
(二)increase to n times ⑷
increase n times / n-fold ⑸
increase by n times ⑹
increase by a factor of n ⑺
以上四句均應(yīng)譯為:增加到n倍,或增加n-1倍。
eg: The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times as compared with last year.
集成電路的產(chǎn)量比去年增加了兩倍。
eg: The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against 1986.
化肥產(chǎn)量比1986年增加了4倍。
eg: That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times.
那可使代謝率提高到原來的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。
eg: The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four.
漏電壓增加了3倍(即增加到原來的4倍)。
注:在這類句型中increase常被raise、grow、go/step up、multiply 等詞所替代。
(三)There is a n-fold increase / growth... ⑻
應(yīng)譯為:增加n-1倍,或增至n倍。
這個(gè)句型還有其它一些形式:
eg: A record high increase in value of four times was reported.
據(jù)報(bào)道,價(jià)值破記錄地增長(zhǎng)了3倍。
(四)double(增加1倍)、treble(增加2倍)、quadruple(增加3倍)⑼
eg: The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled.
這些機(jī)器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。
(五)此外,英語中還有一種用again而不用倍數(shù)詞來比較倍數(shù)的方法,如:
A is as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is twice as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑽
應(yīng)譯為:A比B多(大、長(zhǎng)、……)1倍。
A is half as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is one and a half times as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑾
應(yīng)譯為:A比B多(大、長(zhǎng)、……)一半,即A是B的一倍半。
倍數(shù)減少
(一)A is n times as small (light, slow, ...) as B. ⑿
A is n times smaller (lighter, slower, ...) than B. ⒀
以上兩句均應(yīng)譯為:A的大小(重量、速度、……)是B的1/n,或A比B小(輕、慢、……)(n-1)/n。
eg: The hydrogen atom is nearly 16 times as light as the oxygen atom.
氫原子的重量約為氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子約輕15/16)。
eg: This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper.
這種薄膜比普通紙張要薄一半(即是普通紙厚度的1/2)。
注:當(dāng)相比的對(duì)象B很明顯時(shí),than/as B 常被省去。
(二)decrease n times / n-fold ⒁
decrease by n times ⒂
decrease by a factor of n ⒃
以上三句均譯為:減少到1/n,或減少(n-1)/n。decrease常被reduce、shorten、go/slow down 等詞替代。
eg: Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times.
新型晶體管的開關(guān)時(shí)間縮短到1/3(即縮短了2/3)。
eg: When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by ten times.
電壓升高9倍,電流強(qiáng)度便降低9/10(即降低90%)。
eg: The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5.
該設(shè)備誤差概率降低了4/5。
(三)There is a n-fold decrease / reduction... ⒄
應(yīng)譯為:減至1/n,或減少(n-1)/n。
這個(gè)句型還有其它一些形式,
eg: A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed.
發(fā)現(xiàn)迅速減少到1/7。
eg: The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight.
這些產(chǎn)品的主要優(yōu)點(diǎn)是重量減輕了1/2。
從以上倍數(shù)增減句型及其譯法中不難看出:與漢語不同的是,英語在表述或比較倍數(shù)時(shí),無論使用什么句型(除了不含倍數(shù)詞的again句型外)都包括基礎(chǔ)倍數(shù)在內(nèi),因此都不是凈增或凈減n倍,而是凈增或凈減n-1倍。所以句型 ⑶、⑸ 表示的倍數(shù)增量=句型 ⑷;句型 ⒀ 表示的倍數(shù)比差=句型 ⑿,且decrease (by) 3 times應(yīng)譯為“減少2/3”,而不是“減少3/4”。
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