1、明喻simile
把甲事物比作乙事物,两者既不同类,又不同质,只是在某一点上有相似之处。把所要加以描写刻画的事物,用比喻词与另一种具有鲜明的相似之处的事物联系起来,从而更形象地、更深刻地说明事理。汉语中常用的比喻词有:像、好像、似、好似、如、犹如、若、宛若、仿佛、如同、跟……一般(样)等。英语常用的比喻词有as...as、 as...so、as if、as though、like等。明喻常可直译,以保留原文的文化形象与民族风格。如
I wandered lonely as a cloud.我像一朵浮云独自漫游。
她着实心广体胖,结实得像一条小牛。(《日出》) She is really
2、hale and hearty and as strong as an ox
但是,由于原文喻体的内涵与译文相应词的内涵不同,只得弃直译而用意译,或使之归化,或转换为别的辞格。如
as old as the hills天长地久/年深日久
as tall as the Maypole像电线杆一样高
as cunning as a dead pig像狐狸一样狡猾。
当然,同一明喻,采用不同译法也是常见的。如:
(吕)布东西冲杀,如入无人之境。(《三国演义》)
Lu Bu went to and fro slaying au he met.No one could resist him.
她却大无畏的,对于这些全不关,只是镇静地缓缓前行,坦然如入无人之境。
She,however,was completely fearless and impervious to all this.She continued slowly and calmly on her way,as if there were no one in sight.