A Japanese Poem Translation
Posted on 七月 13, 2008
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从Kenji的space上看到了一首貌似流传比较广的小诗，试着翻译了一下：
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
莫伫吾坟前独泣
吾未曾眠，吾不在彼
吾作千缕风吹散
吾若雪原美钻般灿烂
吾作普裕五谷之阳
吾若秋日细雨行行
静谧小晨君乍醒
廊前雨燕舞轻灵
吾作情鸟冲高翅
吾若星光顾归迟
莫伫吾坟前清潸
吾恋人间纵归仙
这首英语小诗，两句为一韵对，所以翻译的时候，尽量用了古文的形式保持相邻两句见的押韵。前半段感觉很难处理，可能以后可以尝试用诗经的某些手法来解决。
现在的翻译中，每句都出现了“吾“这个人称，可以说是特色，也可以说是败笔；因为这也是照搬英文的原文格式和习惯。中文，尤其是古文里这么作是感觉很怪的，这也是为什么开头比较难处理的原因。
这诗在Google baidu里没几个一样的结果，我就当再抛一块砖了
哈哈 ~
Secret Lady Daily English 20060811
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
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Q：This is she / her （这就是她）、 It is she / her （那就是她）这两句，应用 her 还是 she ？
A：语法上，应说 This / It is she 。
读者也许会问： This 是句子主词（ subject ），「她」是受词（ object ），为什么不用受词 her ？ I saw her （我看见她）、 I followed her （我跟她）等句子，总不能改作 I saw she 、 I followed she 吧？
其实 be （包括 is 、 were 等变体）和 see 、 follow 等动词不同。 See 、 follow 是及物动词（ transitive verb ），其后必须用受词。 Be 则是个连系动词（ linking verb / link verb / copular verb / copulative verb ），用以表示主词「是」什么，那「什么」和「主词」是相等的， This / It is she 等于 She is this / it ，所以不应用受词。
《圣经．路加福音》第二十一章说，耶稣曾叫人提防假耶稣： Many will come in my name, saying, “I am he!”（不少人会借我的名字前来，说：「我就是他！」）
I am he 、 This is she 等语法相同。
不过，上述道理不少人都不明白，英语国家的人也不例外。你常会听到这样的电话对话：”Hello, may I speak to Mary, please?”"This is her.”（「喂，请玛丽听电话好吗？」「我就是玛丽。」）说 This is her 的人，甚至会认为 This is she 不正确。要避免无谓之争，回答电话可用 This is Mary 等代替 This is she 。
至于一般写作，则无论如何应说 This / It is she ，例如： It is she who has captivated the stranger （是她把那陌生人迷住了）。假如说 It is her whom 等等，就错得厉害。
Secret Lady Daily English 20060810
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
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Ｑ: 某网站”A Word a Day”（一日一字）专栏授 lay low 一词，例句是 He decided to lay low for awhile until his friend forgot that he had damaged his car （他决定沉寂一会儿，待朋友把他毁坏汽车的事遗忘）。这一句 lay low 二字用得正确吗？
Ａ:这句英文有两个错误，一是 for awhile ，一是 lay low 。
Awhile 是副词（ adverb ），可修饰动词，意思是「片刻」或 for a short time ；
例句： Let’s sleep awhile （我们小睡一下吧）
a while 则是名词，可用在介系词（ preposition ）之后，意思是「一段时间」或 for a period of time 。
例句： Let’s sleep for a while （我们睡一会儿吧）。
You will see it in a while （你一会儿就会看见）这一句，不可写作 in awhile ；
He decided to lay low for awhile 也应改作 He decided to lay low for a while / to lay low awhile 。
另外 to lay low 这里也用错了。
To lay low 一般指「使病倒」或「使倒下」，
例句1： He was laid low by the flu （他患感冒，病倒了）。
例句2： I laid him low with a blow （我一拳把他打倒了）。
to lie low 才是「沉寂」或「隐蔽」，
例句：The serial murderer lay low for ten years, and many came to believe that he was dead （他连续谋杀多人之后，蛰伏十年，很多人都以为他死了）。
读者示下那一句， to lay low 就应改为 to lie low 。
Lay （放置）的过去式、完成式是 laid 、 laid ； lie （躺）的过去式、完成式则是 lay 、 lain 。两字意思、用法完全不同，必须分辨清楚。
Secret Lady Daily English 20060807
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
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At the end of the Mexican War in 1848, General William Tecumseh Sherman was sent to survey the lands of New Mexico and Arizona, which the Americans had won from the Mexicans.
On his return President Taylor asked Sherman what he thought of the lands. Had they been worth fighting for? Recalling the arid lands from which he had just returned, Sherman replied, “Between you and me, sir, I feel that we’ll have to go to war again.”
Taylor was horrified.”What for?” he exclaimed.
“To make them take the darn country back,” said Sherman.
一八四八年，墨西哥战争结束，威廉．特库姆塞．谢尔曼将军奉命到新墨西哥、亚利桑那两地视察。这是美国从墨西哥人手上夺得的领土。
谢尔曼视察后回来，泰勒总统问他觉得新增的领土怎样，值不值得打那场战争。谢尔曼想到他刚刚离开的旱土地，回答说：「这一点只可以你知我知：我认为得再打一场。」
泰勒大吃一惊，失声问：「为什么？」
谢尔曼说：「否则墨西哥人不会把那他妈的土地拿回去。」
【附注】 Darn 者， damn 也。 Damn 本是「使下地狱」的意思，从前算是个非常无礼的字，印刷上会变成 d-n 或 d***，口头上则会变成 darn 、 dratted 、 dashed 等，以免令人不快。今天，其他四字母词勃兴， damn 的威力大不如前，往往可以直说无妨， darn 等变体就显得过时了
Secret Lady Daily English 20060804
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
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Q：读英文报纸，见到 Indonesia has been hit by a second tsunami in as many years 一语， in as many 这说法是怎样用的？
A:查《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》，也有「 He made ten mistakes in as many lines 他在十行中就出了十个错」例句。
英文一个常用句式，是句子先说一个数字，然后用 as many 说数目上和这数字相同的事物，所以介系词（ preposition ）不一定用 in ，例如：
（1 ） Seven topics were discussed at as many （= seven ） meetings （七个会议讨论了七个题目）。
（2 ） They beat us in three football games, but on as many （= three ） occasions they were thrashed by our team （他们和我们踢足球，胜了三次，但也曾三次惨败在我们球队脚下）。
读者示下那一句，是说「印尼两年之内两度被海啸袭击」。
Q2:大学社区学院的迎新信说： Much has been achieved in our College. You will be struck to know the fine traditions we have established 。 Much 指的是什么？ Fine 假如只是「好」的意思，为什么不用具体一点的形容词？
A2:那两句英文是说：「本院成就丰硕，所建立的优良传统令人赞叹。」
Much 指的是「成就」（ achieved ）之多，文法上等于 We did not say much / Not much was said （我们没有多说话）之类句子。
至于 fine ，当然是「优秀」，意思之空洞，那位读者也看出来了。其实「成就」或 achieved 这说法也很空洞。
Secret Lady Daily English 20060803
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
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Q：一家社区学院来信欢迎我读副学士课程，说二○○四至○五学年有超过二百八十个文学副学士毕业生升上大学，其中超过一百人入了香港大学文学院、育学院、社会科学院： More than 280 Associate of Arts students continued their bachelor’s degree study. Among which, more than 100 students were admitted to the faculties of Arts, Education, and Social Sciences in HKU 。文中continued 一字用得对吗？
A：Continued their bachelor’s degree study 即「继续其学士学位课程」，但香港的所谓副学士课程根本不是学士课程一部分，毕业生可以说「升读」学士课程，却不可说「继续」。我希望这只是无心之失，而不是有意蒙混，把副学士、学士混为一谈，以高副学士身价。
此外， Among which 二字也很不妥当。 Which 是连接词兼代名词，可连接两个句子，却不可用来起句；可作事物的代名词，却不可作人的代名词。
The committee had ten members. There were disagreements among them （委员会有十名成员，大家意见并不一致）这两句，可改写作
The committee had ten members, among whom there were disagreements ，
却不可改写作 The committee had ten members. Among which there were disagreements 。
读者示下的两句，可改写如下：
More than 280 Associate of Arts graduates moved on to their bachelor studies. Among them, more than 100 were admitted to the faculties of Arts, Education, and Social Sciences in the University of Hong Kong 。
1000 English Mottos Part 1
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
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001. An idle youth, a needy age.
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。
002. Time flies.
时光易逝。
003. Time is money.
一寸光阴一寸金。
004. Time and tide wait for no man.
岁月无情；岁月易逝；岁月不待人。
005. Time tries all.
时间检验一切。
006. Time tries truth.
时间检验真理。
007. Time past cannot be called back again.
光阴一去不复返。
008. All time is no time when it is past.
光阴一去不复返。
009. No one can call back yesterday; Yesterday will not be called again.
昨日不复来。
010. Tomorrow comes never.
切莫依赖明天。
011. One today is worth two tomorrows.
一个今天胜似两个明天。
012. The morning sun never lasts a day.
好景不常；朝阳不能光照全日。
013. Christmas comes but once a year.
圣诞一年只一度。
014. Pleasant hours fly past.
快乐时光去如飞。
015. Happiness takes no account of time.
欢娱不惜时光逝。
016. Time tames the strongest grief.
时间能缓和极度的悲痛。
017. The day is short but the work is much.
工作多，光阴迫。
018. Never deter till tomorrow that which you can do today.
今日事须今日毕，切勿拖延到明天。
019. Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.
明天如有事，今天就去做。
020. To him that does everything in its proper time, one day is worth three.
事事及时做，一日胜三日。
021. To save time is to lengthen life.
节省时间就是延长生命。
022. Everything has its time and that time must be watched.
万物皆有时，时来不可失。
023. Take time when time cometh, lest time steal away.
时来必须要趁时，不然时去无声息。
024. When an opportunity is neglected, it never comes back to you.
机不可失，时不再来；机会一过，永不再来。
025. Make hay while the sun shines.
晒草要趁太阳好。
026. Strike while the iron is hot.
趁热打铁。
027. Work today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow.
今朝有事今朝做，明朝可能阻碍多。
028. Punctuality is the soul of business.
守时为立业之要素。
029. Procrastination is the thief of time.
因循拖延是时间的大敌；拖延就是浪费时间。
030. Every tide hath ist ebb.
潮涨必有潮落时。
031. Knowledge is power.
知识就是力量。
032. Wisdom is more to be envied than riches.
知识可羡，胜于财富。
033. Wisdom is better than gold or silver.
知识胜过金银，
034. Wisdom in the mind is better than money in the hand.
胸中有知识，胜于手中有钱。
035. Wisdom is a good purchase though we pay dear for it.
为了求知识，代价虽高也值得。
036. Doubt is the key of knowledge.
怀疑是知识之钥。
037. If you want knowledge, you must toil for it.
若要求知识，须从勤苦得。
038. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
浅学误人。
039. A handful of common sense is worth a bushel of learning.
少量的常识，当得大量的学问。
040. Knowledge advances by steps and not by leaps.
知识只能循序渐进，不能跃进。
041. Learn wisdom by the follies of others.
从旁人的愚行中学到聪明。
042. It is good to learn at another man’s cost.
前车可鉴。
043. Wisdom is to the mind what health is to the body.
知识之于精神，一如健康之于肉体。
044. Experience is the best teacher.
经验是最好的教师。
045. Experience is the father of wisdom and memory the mother.
经验是知识之父，记忆是知识之母。
046. Dexterity comes by experience.
熟练来自经验。
047. Practice makes perfect.
熟能生巧。
048. Experience keeps a dear school, but fools learn in no other.
经验学校学费高，愚人旁处学不到。
049. Experience without learning is better than learning without experience.
有经验而无学问，胜于有学问而无经验。
050. Wit once bought is worth twice taught.
由经验而得的智慧，胜于学习而得的智慧；一次亲身的体会，胜过两次的教师教导。
051. Seeing is believing.
百闻不如一见。
052. Business is the salt of life.
事业是生命之盐。
053. Business before pleasure.
事业在先，享乐在后。
054. Business makes a man as well as tries him.
事业可以考验人，也可以造就人。
055. Business neglected is business lost.
忽视职业便是放弃职业。
056. Never think yourself above business.
勿自视过高；不要眼高手低；永远不要认为自己是大材小用。
057. Business may be troublesome, but idleness is pernicious.
事业虽扰人，懒惰害更大。
058. He that thinks his business below him will always be above his business.
自命大材小用，往往眼高手低。
059. Do business, but be not a slave to it.
要做事，但不要做事务的奴隶。
060. Everybody’s business is nobody’s business.
众人的事就是无人过问的事。
061. Work makes the workman.
勤工出巧匠。
062. Better master one than engage with ten.
会十事，不如精一事。
063. A work ill done must be twice done.
首次做不好，必须重新搞。
064. They who cannot do as they would, must do as they can.
不能如愿而行，也须尽力而为。
065. If you would have a thing well done, do it yourself.
想把事情来做好，就得亲自动手搞。
066. He that doth most at once doth least.
什么都想一次做完，结果一件也做不完；贪多嚼不烂。
067. Do as most men do and men will speak well of thee.
照大多数人那样干，人们会把你称赞。
068. What may be done at any time will be done at no time.
在任何时候都可做的事情，总是在任何时候都不做的事情。
069. Better late than never.
迟做总比不做好。
070. Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.
凡是值得做的事，就值得做好。
071. The shortest answer is doing the thing.
最简短的回答就是一个”干”字。
072. Action is the proper fruit of knowledge.
行动是知识之佳果。
073. Finished labors are pleasant.
完成工作是一乐。
074. It is lost labour to sow where there is no soil.
没有土壤，播种也是徒劳。
075. It is right to put everything in its proper use.
凡事都应用得其所。
076. Affairs that are done by due degrees are soon ended.
按部就班，事情很快就做完。
077. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
只工作，不玩耍，聪明小孩也变傻。
078. Work bears witness who does well.
工作能证明谁做的好。
079. It is not work that kills, but worry.
工作不会伤身，伤身乃是忧虑。
080. He that will not work shall not eat.
不工作者不得食。
081. Business is business.
公事公办。
082. Deliberate slowly, execute promptly.
慢慢酌量，快快行动。
083. Put your shoulder to the wheel.
努力工作。
084. Never do things by halves.
做事不要半途而废。
085. In for a penny, in for a pound.
做事一开头，就要做到底；一不做，二不休。
086. Many hands make quick work.
人多干活快。
087. Many hands make light work.
众擎易举。
088. A bad workman quarrels with his tools.
技术拙劣的工人抱怨自己的工具。
089. Diligence is the mother of success.
勤奋是成功之母。
090. Idleness is the root of all evil.
懒惰乃万恶之源。
091. Care and diligence bring luck.
谨慎和勤奋带来好运。
092. Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
勤勉是好运之母。
093. Industry is fortune’s right hand, and frugality her left.
勤勉是幸运的右手，节俭是幸运的左手。
094. Idleness is the key of beggary.
懒惰出乞丐。
095. No root, no fruit.
无根就无果。
096. Idle people (folks) have the most labour (take the most pains).
懒人做工作，越懒越费力。
097. Sloth is the key of poverty.
惰能致贫。
098. Sloth turneth the edge of wit.
懒散能磨去才智的锋芒。
099. An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.
懒汉的头脑是魔鬼的工厂。
100. The secret of wealth lieth in the letters SAVE.
节俭是致富的秘诀。
Introduction of This Website
Posted on 七月 12, 2008
Filed Under Sucirst Thought | Leave a Comment
Time flies. I have collected so much material about English learning. I even have enough time to read all of them. And it seems to be a really hard work to arrange them.
So, I decided to create this En website as my English edition of my blog, 傻子网. I will try to use this website to sort out all the information I think it should be helpful not only to myself but to all the Chinese learners.
I hope you will enjoy the learning tour, my friend. I’ll be glad if this website help anyone.
All the materials are collected from internet. They are all free. However, you are not allowed to use them to gain any profit or to be involved in any business issues.
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