groundless, unsubstantiated 毫无根据的，站不住脚的
Roots give support to a tree much as facts give support to claims or allegations. Leaves show the health of a tree, proving its life and vitality. With either support(root) nor evidence(leaves), the allegation (tree) cannot stand.（I think the analogy here is quite clever)
山田さんの奥さん、浮気(uwaki)してるらしいよ。Mrs. Yamada seem to be having an affair
そんなこと、うそよ。全く(mattaku)根も葉もない(ne mo ha mo nai)いうわさに決まってるわ。
That's not true. A groundless rumour, for sure.
Friday 30 March 2007
英语中的对称美 （ZT）
"生活中并不缺少美，而是缺少发现美的眼睛。"英语的语言也是如此。英语的美表现在诸多方面，这里我们主要谈谈英语习语构成的对称美。
一、成语的对称美：表现为成语排列形式上的对称美，可分为相同词的对称、同词性的对称、反义词的对称、同类词的对称等几种情况。
1、相同词的对称。以介词、连词或动词为"对称轴"对称，从视觉上就能给人以美的享受，令人愉悦；读起来琅琅上口，颇具韵味；意义简洁明了，形象生动。其中有关体态语言的一些对称成语，确实能让人领会到对称美在英语中的体现。例如：
head to head 交头接耳
shoulder to shoulder 并肩
on and on 继续
word for word 逐词地
out and out 十足的
inch by inch 一点一点地
like for like 以牙还牙
like attracts like 物以类聚
wheels within wheels 复杂的结构
diamond cut diamond 棋逢对手
2. 同词性的对称。以连词and 为"对称轴"的非完全对称，以形容词性词组居多。通过两个或多个形容词的重叠来强化形容词的特征。例如：
one and only 独一无二
down and out 穷困潦倒
free and easy 随和
hard and fast 不能改变的
open and above board 光明磊落
simple and easy 简易明了
hot and bothered激动，担忧
cheer and bright 清楚明了
bright and early 一大早
pure and simple 十足
3. 反义词的对称。一对反义词以连词and或or为"对称轴"，可以是名词的对称，也可以是副词或动词的对称。如有个活动不论刮风下雨都要照常进行，在汉语中叫"风雨无阻"，在英语中为rain or shine ，二者可谓有异曲同工之妙。例如：
up and down 往返
to and fro 来来回回
back and forth 前前后后
far and forth 到处，远处
far and near 注意事项
dos and don"ts 执政党与在野党
sooner or less 高低贵贱
young and old 老老少少
day and night 日日夜夜
4. 同类词的对称。同类别或相关的一对名词以为and"对称轴"，表示同一概念，有的为本义，有的是寓义。比方说美国人吃水果时喜欢把水果切成块，然后加上一点奶油一起吃，所以在英语中peaches and cream 就意味着完美无缺。例如：
flesh and blood 血肉
hand and foot 手脚一起
heart and soul 全心全意
tooth and nail 竭尽全力
smoke and mirrors 用虚假消息骗人
scissors and paste 拼凑成的文章，剪贴
peaches and cream 完美无缺
rank and fashion 上流社会
二、韵语的对称美：英语的对称美不仅表现为成语排列的对称美，还表现为韵语的对称美。韵语的对称分为首韵对称和尾韵对称两种形式，它们以连词and或or为"对称轴"，构成语音重叠的成语。
1、首韵对称。首韵法是英语中的一种修饰手法，是首字母或辅音的重复，通过语音的重叠与的来强化语用效果。例如：
forgive and forget 既住不咎
live and learn 活到老学到老
safe and sound 平安无事
sweet and sour 酸甜
thick and thin 在任何情况下
black and blue 遍体鳞伤
now or never 勿失良机，机不可失
sink or swim 听任沉浮，不论好歹
2. 尾韵对称。通过押尾韵的方法使短语犹如诗一般悦耳动听。例如：
near and dear 极亲密的
cut and thurst 肉搏战
by hook or by crook 千方百计
fair and square 光明磊落
high and dry 困境
make or break 孤注一掷
first and last 整体看来，总的来说
odds and ends 零碎的事情，零星的东西
pins and needles 发麻
三、谚语和俗语的对称美：对仗工整，词句，押韵，语言精炼，表意透切的谚语或俗语更具有说服力和感染力，可使人念念不忘，受用终生。例如：
Spare the rod , and spoil the child 不教不成材。
In for a penny , in for a pound 一不做，二不休
A friend in need is a friend indeed .患难见真情。
A lazy youth , a lousy age .少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲
A good neighbor ,a good morrow 好邻生好景
Many men ,many minds .十个人，十条心。熟得早，坏（烂）得快。
Nothing venture ,nothing have .不入虎穴，焉得虎子
Two"s company , three"s none . 两人成伴，三人不欢
Speech is silver , silence is gold .言语是银，沉默是金
一、成语的对称美：表现为成语排列形式上的对称美，可分为相同词的对称、同词性的对称、反义词的对称、同类词的对称等几种情况。
1、相同词的对称。以介词、连词或动词为"对称轴"对称，从视觉上就能给人以美的享受，令人愉悦；读起来琅琅上口，颇具韵味；意义简洁明了，形象生动。其中有关体态语言的一些对称成语，确实能让人领会到对称美在英语中的体现。例如：
head to head 交头接耳
shoulder to shoulder 并肩
on and on 继续
word for word 逐词地
out and out 十足的
inch by inch 一点一点地
like for like 以牙还牙
like attracts like 物以类聚
wheels within wheels 复杂的结构
diamond cut diamond 棋逢对手
2. 同词性的对称。以连词and 为"对称轴"的非完全对称，以形容词性词组居多。通过两个或多个形容词的重叠来强化形容词的特征。例如：
one and only 独一无二
down and out 穷困潦倒
free and easy 随和
hard and fast 不能改变的
open and above board 光明磊落
simple and easy 简易明了
hot and bothered激动，担忧
cheer and bright 清楚明了
bright and early 一大早
pure and simple 十足
3. 反义词的对称。一对反义词以连词and或or为"对称轴"，可以是名词的对称，也可以是副词或动词的对称。如有个活动不论刮风下雨都要照常进行，在汉语中叫"风雨无阻"，在英语中为rain or shine ，二者可谓有异曲同工之妙。例如：
up and down 往返
to and fro 来来回回
back and forth 前前后后
far and forth 到处，远处
far and near 注意事项
dos and don"ts 执政党与在野党
sooner or less 高低贵贱
young and old 老老少少
day and night 日日夜夜
4. 同类词的对称。同类别或相关的一对名词以为and"对称轴"，表示同一概念，有的为本义，有的是寓义。比方说美国人吃水果时喜欢把水果切成块，然后加上一点奶油一起吃，所以在英语中peaches and cream 就意味着完美无缺。例如：
flesh and blood 血肉
hand and foot 手脚一起
heart and soul 全心全意
tooth and nail 竭尽全力
smoke and mirrors 用虚假消息骗人
scissors and paste 拼凑成的文章，剪贴
peaches and cream 完美无缺
rank and fashion 上流社会
二、韵语的对称美：英语的对称美不仅表现为成语排列的对称美，还表现为韵语的对称美。韵语的对称分为首韵对称和尾韵对称两种形式，它们以连词and或or为"对称轴"，构成语音重叠的成语。
1、首韵对称。首韵法是英语中的一种修饰手法，是首字母或辅音的重复，通过语音的重叠与的来强化语用效果。例如：
forgive and forget 既住不咎
live and learn 活到老学到老
safe and sound 平安无事
sweet and sour 酸甜
thick and thin 在任何情况下
black and blue 遍体鳞伤
now or never 勿失良机，机不可失
sink or swim 听任沉浮，不论好歹
2. 尾韵对称。通过押尾韵的方法使短语犹如诗一般悦耳动听。例如：
near and dear 极亲密的
cut and thurst 肉搏战
by hook or by crook 千方百计
fair and square 光明磊落
high and dry 困境
make or break 孤注一掷
first and last 整体看来，总的来说
odds and ends 零碎的事情，零星的东西
pins and needles 发麻
三、谚语和俗语的对称美：对仗工整，词句，押韵，语言精炼，表意透切的谚语或俗语更具有说服力和感染力，可使人念念不忘，受用终生。例如：
Spare the rod , and spoil the child 不教不成材。
In for a penny , in for a pound 一不做，二不休
A friend in need is a friend indeed .患难见真情。
A lazy youth , a lousy age .少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲
A good neighbor ,a good morrow 好邻生好景
Many men ,many minds .十个人，十条心。熟得早，坏（烂）得快。
Nothing venture ,nothing have .不入虎穴，焉得虎子
Two"s company , three"s none . 两人成伴，三人不欢
Speech is silver , silence is gold .言语是银，沉默是金
Thursday 29 March 2007
根回し
（NEMAWASHI)
Meaning: informally securing prior approval, checking with everyone who counts before formal presentation, covering all the bases)
Nemawashi now is used around the world to characterize the consensus-building nature of Japanese business practices. Literally, nemawashi means cutting off excess roots and wrapping the remaining roots with a straw mat for protection when transplanting the tree. In business terms it means an informal solicitation of agreement before formal submission of approval at a meeting.
今日の会議うまくいくかなあ。I wonder whether today's meeting will go well.
大丈夫でろう。かなり根回しに時間をかけてきだし、今回のプロジェクは部長も乗り気だから。
It will be fine. I spent a lot of time covering all the bases, and I know the manager likes our proposal.
This reminds me of low context society and high context society. Generally speaking, the western countries are from a individualistic culture and their social intercourse are low context in nature. For example, people come to a meeting to discuss and to make decision. People tend to say what they mean and mean what they say. The communication is open and explicit. While the eastern countries have a collectivist culture and societies are high-context in nature. People come to a meeting to have something already approved somewhere else to be formally approved. So basically people communicate in a tacit way. 根回し is just one way to make it possible.
Meaning: informally securing prior approval, checking with everyone who counts before formal presentation, covering all the bases)
Nemawashi now is used around the world to characterize the consensus-building nature of Japanese business practices. Literally, nemawashi means cutting off excess roots and wrapping the remaining roots with a straw mat for protection when transplanting the tree. In business terms it means an informal solicitation of agreement before formal submission of approval at a meeting.
今日の会議うまくいくかなあ。I wonder whether today's meeting will go well.
大丈夫でろう。かなり根回しに時間をかけてきだし、今回のプロジェクは部長も乗り気だから。
It will be fine. I spent a lot of time covering all the bases, and I know the manager likes our proposal.
This reminds me of low context society and high context society. Generally speaking, the western countries are from a individualistic culture and their social intercourse are low context in nature. For example, people come to a meeting to discuss and to make decision. People tend to say what they mean and mean what they say. The communication is open and explicit. While the eastern countries have a collectivist culture and societies are high-context in nature. People come to a meeting to have something already approved somewhere else to be formally approved. So basically people communicate in a tacit way. 根回し is just one way to make it possible.
Wednesday 28 March 2007
実る程頭の下がる稲穂かな
(In Roman alphabet)minoru hodo atama no sagaru inaho kana
Meaning: Maturity bring humility and respect for others
When rice is mature and ready for harvest, the heavy ear pulls the plant down low to the ground. Japanese see this as analogous to how the wisdom of years fills a man with humility and causes his head to bow heavily in his deep respect for life and nature.
很喜欢这个俗语,要不怎么说年少轻狂呢.虽然说年少的轻狂也许并没有错,但那是一种青涩的无知吧.岁月是人类最好的老师,在使人成熟的过程中教会了我们谦逊和智儒.在内心充实的同时我们学会了低下头审视自己,并领略自然的神奇和广阔. 前几天在美国版的Apprentice中有听到everybody is your teacher，有些触动，这其中的意境是否有些相似呢。闲话少说，题归正传
今度いらした田山副社長ね、立派な方らしいわねえ。申し分ない人柄ってうわさよ。
I heard that the new vice-president Tayama was a wonderful person. It was said that his personality was very good.
そうなんだ。それにとっても謙虚で、いばっているところが全くない人らしいね。
「実る程頭の下がる稲穂かな」ってことわざがビッタリの方よ。
I agree. He also seems very humble, not arrogant at all.
He is the type that perfectly fits the proverb,"The mature rice plant lovers its head."
Meaning: Maturity bring humility and respect for others
When rice is mature and ready for harvest, the heavy ear pulls the plant down low to the ground. Japanese see this as analogous to how the wisdom of years fills a man with humility and causes his head to bow heavily in his deep respect for life and nature.
很喜欢这个俗语,要不怎么说年少轻狂呢.虽然说年少的轻狂也许并没有错,但那是一种青涩的无知吧.岁月是人类最好的老师,在使人成熟的过程中教会了我们谦逊和智儒.在内心充实的同时我们学会了低下头审视自己,并领略自然的神奇和广阔. 前几天在美国版的Apprentice中有听到everybody is your teacher，有些触动，这其中的意境是否有些相似呢。闲话少说，题归正传
今度いらした田山副社長ね、立派な方らしいわねえ。申し分ない人柄ってうわさよ。
I heard that the new vice-president Tayama was a wonderful person. It was said that his personality was very good.
そうなんだ。それにとっても謙虚で、いばっているところが全くない人らしいね。
「実る程頭の下がる稲穂かな」ってことわざがビッタリの方よ。
I agree. He also seems very humble, not arrogant at all.
He is the type that perfectly fits the proverb,"The mature rice plant lovers its head."
Monday 26 March 2007
転がる石に苔むさずkorogaru Ishi ni Koke Musazu
A rolling stone gathers no moss （Perservance pays off; patience is a virtue)滚石不生苔
For the Japanese, moss is something to be admired. Associated with beauty, moss glows on rocks and in pathways of old temples in places like Kyoto. Yet the stone that contitues to tumble will never have moss. So this expression is often used to admonish others to stay put, to continue on in the same job. This expression is also used by some Japanese to mean the very opposite. i.e. keep moving or you'll get old.
一度入社（nyuusha)したら、少々(shooshoo)大変なことがあっても、じっとその会社に勤(tsuto))めたほうがいい。「転がる石に苔むさず』と言われるように職場(shokuba))を余り(amari)変わるのは好ましい(konomashii)ことではない・
Once a person is employed, he or she is better off staying in the same company even when facing hardships. As the proverb "a rolling stone gathers no moss' goes, it is not advisable to job-hop.
It is interesting to observe that the original meaning of the Japanese idiom is the same with the original meaning of the English proverb as shown below. However the meaning of the phrase migrates as time goes by. Whether it is caused by mistakenly taking the literal meaning as its real meaning or by social changes. Nobody knows I guess. Language is a living thing!
The conventional English translation appeared in John Heywood's collection of Proverbs in 1546. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable also credits Erasmus, and relates it to other Latin proverbs, Planta quae saepius transfertus non coalescit, or Saepius plantata arbor fructum profert exiguum, both of which mean that a frequently replanted tree or plant yields little fruit.[2] It appears that the original intent of the proverb saw the growth of moss as desirable, and that the intent was to condemn mobility as unprofitable. The contemporary interpretation has turned the traditional understanding on its head.
I think the Chinese idiom 滚石不生苔 is translated from the English idiom and takes both its meanings. A same phrase incorporating two opposite meanings. It is the trick of language :)
因為石頭一再地滾動，就不可能在表面蔓延開來一片青苔，終究只是個光禿禿的石頭。
如果汲汲營營而沒吸收到經驗及閱歷，一切盡是走馬看花。
石頭只要一直滾動著，表面就不會生長出髒髒濕黏的青苔，所以若是安於現狀，就會喪失向前衝的動力及勇氣。
For the Japanese, moss is something to be admired. Associated with beauty, moss glows on rocks and in pathways of old temples in places like Kyoto. Yet the stone that contitues to tumble will never have moss. So this expression is often used to admonish others to stay put, to continue on in the same job. This expression is also used by some Japanese to mean the very opposite. i.e. keep moving or you'll get old.
一度入社（nyuusha)したら、少々(shooshoo)大変なことがあっても、じっとその会社に勤(tsuto))めたほうがいい。「転がる石に苔むさず』と言われるように職場(shokuba))を余り(amari)変わるのは好ましい(konomashii)ことではない・
Once a person is employed, he or she is better off staying in the same company even when facing hardships. As the proverb "a rolling stone gathers no moss' goes, it is not advisable to job-hop.
It is interesting to observe that the original meaning of the Japanese idiom is the same with the original meaning of the English proverb as shown below. However the meaning of the phrase migrates as time goes by. Whether it is caused by mistakenly taking the literal meaning as its real meaning or by social changes. Nobody knows I guess. Language is a living thing!
The conventional English translation appeared in John Heywood's collection of Proverbs in 1546. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable also credits Erasmus, and relates it to other Latin proverbs, Planta quae saepius transfertus non coalescit, or Saepius plantata arbor fructum profert exiguum, both of which mean that a frequently replanted tree or plant yields little fruit.[2] It appears that the original intent of the proverb saw the growth of moss as desirable, and that the intent was to condemn mobility as unprofitable. The contemporary interpretation has turned the traditional understanding on its head.
I think the Chinese idiom 滚石不生苔 is translated from the English idiom and takes both its meanings. A same phrase incorporating two opposite meanings. It is the trick of language :)
因為石頭一再地滾動，就不可能在表面蔓延開來一片青苔，終究只是個光禿禿的石頭。
如果汲汲營營而沒吸收到經驗及閱歷，一切盡是走馬看花。
石頭只要一直滾動著，表面就不會生長出髒髒濕黏的青苔，所以若是安於現狀，就會喪失向前衝的動力及勇氣。
Sunday 25 March 2007
言わぬが花
"Not saying is the flower"
Some things are better left unsaid, silence is gold 沉默是金,看来各种文化里都有这个看法啊,以后要小心管住自己的嘴巴.想起前两天听的一段话:What comes into our mouth cannot make us dirty, but what comes out of it can. Since the things come into our body via mouth will finally go out, while the things come out of our mouth is from our heart.这样看来的话管好嘴巴的前提是净化自己的心灵，不要让污浊的思想和图一时之快侵蚀我们的心。但是实践起来真的很难呢,可能要真正wise的人才能做到。记得读过一句话大概是，The wise man knowns when to open his mouth and when to keep silent. And he only makes sensible comment.
Since one can never rally "take back" what one says, there is a high premium on thinking things through before opening one's mouth. Much harm and nonsense can result from ill-chosen words. Thus the philosophical observation that "Not saying is the flower."
彼にはやっぱり秘密にしておこうと思うの。
そうね。「言わぬが花」ってことわざもあるしね。
I think I'll keep it a secret from him.
That's good. Silence is golden.
Some things are better left unsaid, silence is gold 沉默是金,看来各种文化里都有这个看法啊,以后要小心管住自己的嘴巴.想起前两天听的一段话:What comes into our mouth cannot make us dirty, but what comes out of it can. Since the things come into our body via mouth will finally go out, while the things come out of our mouth is from our heart.这样看来的话管好嘴巴的前提是净化自己的心灵，不要让污浊的思想和图一时之快侵蚀我们的心。但是实践起来真的很难呢,可能要真正wise的人才能做到。记得读过一句话大概是，The wise man knowns when to open his mouth and when to keep silent. And he only makes sensible comment.
Since one can never rally "take back" what one says, there is a high premium on thinking things through before opening one's mouth. Much harm and nonsense can result from ill-chosen words. Thus the philosophical observation that "Not saying is the flower."
彼にはやっぱり秘密にしておこうと思うの。
そうね。「言わぬが花」ってことわざもあるしね。
I think I'll keep it a secret from him.
That's good. Silence is golden.
Friday 23 March 2007
芋(の子）を洗うよう
like washing (a bucketful of )potatoes:
So crowded you can hardly turn around, jam-packed, mobbed with people.
Summer weekends at the beach in Japan are impossible. The beaches are so crowded that you can hardly make space for your beach mat. When people play n the waist-deep water, wave after wave jostles them into each other. This commotion resembles a wooden bucketful of potatoes sloshing around while being washed. Usage is restricted to water-related scenes.
七月下旬の日曜日、夏休みに入ったので、子供連れの家族が多く、海水浴所は芋（の子）を洗うような混雑ぶりとなった。
Since it was a Sunday toward the end of July, where summer vacation starts, there were a lot of families with kids, and the beach was jam-packed.
So crowded you can hardly turn around, jam-packed, mobbed with people.
Summer weekends at the beach in Japan are impossible. The beaches are so crowded that you can hardly make space for your beach mat. When people play n the waist-deep water, wave after wave jostles them into each other. This commotion resembles a wooden bucketful of potatoes sloshing around while being washed. Usage is restricted to water-related scenes.
七月下旬の日曜日、夏休みに入ったので、子供連れの家族が多く、海水浴所は芋（の子）を洗うような混雑ぶりとなった。
Since it was a Sunday toward the end of July, where summer vacation starts, there were a lot of families with kids, and the beach was jam-packed.
Thursday 22 March 2007
花よりだんご
Sweets are preferred to flowers. (means the practical is preferred over the aesthetic)
It originated from the day of "flower viewing" 花見. Japanese traditionally travel to the countryside or visit parks to appreciate the beauty of nature. （I think now it is the right season. 桜の季節）Yet human nature being what it is, people seem to show more interest in the food than in the flowers.
いやだわ、あきちゃんたらせっかくお花見に来たのに、食べてばかりいて。
昭雄、お前やっぱりはなよりだんごのﾀｲﾌﾟだな。
It originated from the day of "flower viewing" 花見. Japanese traditionally travel to the countryside or visit parks to appreciate the beauty of nature. （I think now it is the right season. 桜の季節）Yet human nature being what it is, people seem to show more interest in the food than in the flowers.
いやだわ、あきちゃんたらせっかくお花見に来たのに、食べてばかりいて。
昭雄、お前やっぱりはなよりだんごのﾀｲﾌﾟだな。
Wednesday 21 March 2007
花に嵐
Blossoms bring stroms
(Life often brings misfortune at the time of great happiness. misfortune looms behind even the happiest moments) 乐极生悲
It is the shortened version of 月にむら雲、花に嵐, which is literally translated as clouds over the moon, storm over the blossom.
結婚して一週間で急に御主人が入院とはおきどくねえ。
It's too bad. only married a week and her new husband got hospitalized.
幸せいっぱいのところに残念ねえ。でもまあ’花に嵐'と言うくらいだから、こういうことも運命で仕方がないわね。
Too bad, when she was so happy. But as the saying goes, 'life often brings misfortune at the time of great happiness." It's fate. You can't help it.
(Life often brings misfortune at the time of great happiness. misfortune looms behind even the happiest moments) 乐极生悲
It is the shortened version of 月にむら雲、花に嵐, which is literally translated as clouds over the moon, storm over the blossom.
結婚して一週間で急に御主人が入院とはおきどくねえ。
It's too bad. only married a week and her new husband got hospitalized.
幸せいっぱいのところに残念ねえ。でもまあ’花に嵐'と言うくらいだから、こういうことも運命で仕方がないわね。
Too bad, when she was so happy. But as the saying goes, 'life often brings misfortune at the time of great happiness." It's fate. You can't help it.
Monday 19 March 2007
直译、意译与其它(ZT)
作者：古月 - 1999/11/05 00:52:34 ***
您问的是“形象化词语的翻译”，我想结合谚语、警句、熟语的翻译谈一点看法。
一般情况下，本人主张只要不影响理解，能直译的尽量直译；碰到直译影响理解的，
改用意译；直译、意译顾此失彼的不妨试用其它处理办法。
一、直译的好处
1) 尽可能忠实履行翻译职责，避免越权，把解读留给读者。
您举的例子就比较明显，"as timid as a hare"与“ 胆 小如鼠”的意思是不完全吻
合的，不能简单猎取现成的中文成语加以对应。“胆小如鼠”在中文里是个贬义词，
带有蔑视“懦夫”的涵义，比较接近英文里的“coward”。而英文里的"timid"和
"hare"都没有那么强的贬义；timid只是一种带有羞怯或腼腆涵义的“胆小”，而hare
并不象老鼠那么令人讨厌。所以不宜译成“胆小如鼠”。即使译成“胆小如兔”，还
是容易让中国人联想到“胆小如鼠”。鉴此，还不如“羞怯如兔”更加忠实，究竟如
何理解，由读者自己去领悟吧，译者就不必越权预设解读立场了。
再举楼下“ FULL cup, steady hand”为例，完全可以直译成“ 杯满手稳”，时间长
了将会象“火中取栗”、“一石双鸟”、“化剑为犁”一样成为洋为中用的成语。为
什么最好直译成“杯满手稳”呢？因为这句英谚在逻辑上是双向的，需要挑明的是
“杯满”与“手稳”的关系。“实者沉稳，稳者充实”，如果任取半截，都可能表达
不同的侧重。所以楼下才出现了“充实才能沉稳”与“手稳端得满杯茶”在侧重点上
发生的歧见。如果直译成“杯满手稳”，这种侧重的解读就完全由言者把握了。这样，
翻译在避免越权方面也算尽了职，而译文也并不影响理解。
2) 尽可能保持原话的文化特征，以利垮文化沟通与交流。
上面讲的是只有直译才能忠实表达原义的明显例子。那么还有一些可从两种语言中
找到对等说法的例子呢？因洋为中用而保存下来的也不少见：
火中取栗: Pull sb's chestnut out of the fire.为什么不说“为他人作嫁妆”或“给人当
枪使”？
一石双鸟：Kill two birds with one stone. 中文不是已有“一箭双雕”了吗？
化剑为犁：Turn swords into ploughs.为什么不用“化干戈为玉帛”?
中国古典智慧也有因直译而成为世界文化遗产的：
The soldier who retreated fifty paces laughed at the one who had fallen back a hundred paces.
--五十步笑一百步。当然英文也有The pot calls the kettle black.
No feast lasts forever. --天下没有不散的筵席 。英文已有All good things must end.
还有The best of friends must part.
如果当初没人直译，而只管对号入坐，那么中国的智慧何时才能走向世界？国人又怎
么知道外国也有类似说法呢？因此，在不影响理解的前提下，直译有利于促进文化间
的相互了解。
3) 便于换换口味，避免陈词滥调，促进了语言的多样性。
如果你恭维某人“智者千虑必有一失”，听上去是不是有点陈词滥调的味道？听得太
多的套话容易让人觉得你是在应付，别人也许不当回事。但是你如果换成“荷马有时
也打盹”(Homer sometimes nods的直译)呢? 在知识分子中间或许能够带来一点新鲜
感？当然，普通中国人也许一下子不能理解。这只是个增强语言多样性的例子而已。
如果是上述那些普通国人和老外也能望文生义的直译，无疑对丰富语汇是大有裨益的。
鉴于直译的上述种种好处，翻译时应首选直译。不仅有利于避免歧义，而且有利于文
化交流和丰富语汇。但是，这样做有个前提的，那就是不能过分影响理解。在直译很
难达意时怎么办呢？那就是本文第二部分将要谈及的意译。
二、“意译”
前面讨论了直译的优势，但那是有个前提的，就是不能过分影响理解。如果直译影响
了理解，就得改用意译。当然，“直译”、“意译”也只是些为了方便分类而武断的
粗线条概念，理解还是因人而异的，也有一些介乎两者之间的情况稍后将顺便提及。
与“Beat swords into ploughs.”类似的另一句谚语“Bury the hatchet”，其直译的命运就
不及前者。如果译成“埋葬战斧”，容易让人联想到中文的“飞鸟尽，良弓藏”或者是
“刀枪入库”，因而理解成抛弃功臣或和平麻痹。但实际上是交战双方媾和休战的意思。
又如此前〖汉英论坛〗讨论过的英文妙语“When the going gets tough, the tough gets
going.”两处所用"going"和"tough"不仅词性分别不同，意思也不尽相同，凑在一个句
子里了。英文中象这样的东西较多，他们认为很机智(witty)。碰到这类妙语，直译如何
能够达意呢？〖汉英论坛〗的两位网友将它译成：(1)“狭路相逢勇者胜”(砖头)；
(2)“沧海横流方显英雄本色”(www)。在这种情况下，还是意译来得主动。
再如“此地无银三百两”，如果直译，要靠长长的脚注去帮助理解，那就得把整个故事
讲一遍了，不如用意译来得省事。不妨意译成“The more is concealed, the more is revealed.”
诸如此类的例子很多。如感兴趣，不妨搜集搜集供网友娱乐。
当然，也有一种情况，就是刚才提到的介乎“直译”与“意译”之间的妙译。这里先举
〖汉英论坛〗网友的三个经典例子：
Faults are thick where love is thin.
一朝情义淡，样样不顺眼。(tr. Wiener)
You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time,
but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
骗人一夕一事易，欺众一生一世难。(tr. 野草)
Out of the FULLNESS of the heart the mouth speaks
盈于心则溢于言。(tr. 鹤子)
以上三例算“直译”还是“意译”？既相当“直接”又准确“达意”。只是对原句的情
景稍作变通而已。这种介乎于“直译”与“意译”之间的“直”－“意”有机结合，似
乎不是理论家能够武断归类的。真正从事翻译实践的高手似乎很少受制于理论束缚。最
终的翻译质量还是落实在双语基本功上；而无论直译、意译还是有机结合，美感效果也
是见仁见智的。
三、直译、意译之外
有些特殊语言现象，如方言、歇后语、尤其是带双关语的，无论直译还是意译都是难
尽人意的，就得想想其它办法曲线解题。眼下能够想到的有“硬注”、“改造”、“再
造”、“移植”。
1) “硬注”(硬译加脚注)
碰到下面这样的句子，如何直译或意译？
－－他是老九的弟弟 -- 老十（实）
直译：He's the younger brother of number 9, number 10. （making no sense at all)
意译：He's honest. (The pun is lost.)
如果不想费脑筋再造或移植英文双关呢，最常用，最安全、最省事的办法就是先硬译再
加脚注。无论多复杂的语言现象，总是能够讲清楚其中奥妙的。用“硬注”解决这个双
关，原句可译成：
He's the younger brother of number 9, number 10. (#note)
(#note) "Number 10--老十 (laoshi)" in Chinese is homophonic with another Chinese
word "老实(laoshi) which means "honest."
当然，如果有时间并感兴趣，可以用下述三种办法弄得更有味道一点。
2) “再造”
如果从原句的本义“honest”出发，给它物色个 "brother"，似可再造一个英文双关语。
这样，那句话就可译成：
－－他是老九的弟弟 -- 老十（实）
He's the younger brother of honor, honest.
"Honor" 这里被当作 "on"的比较级 , 而 "honest" 作为最高级。恰巧，有人讲了个英文
笑话，“Man first gets ON by hook or by crook. When he gets the HONOR, he becomes
HONEST.”看来英美还真有人把ON, HONOR, HONEST 当兄弟对待的呢！
再看下面的例子，也是个“再造”的双关：
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!
昨天成历史
明天很神秘
今天称现金(今）
所以是份礼
大多数带双关的妙语都得通过“再造”才能保住双关。当然也有少数例外。
3) “改造”
所谓改造就是把目标语言中现成的妙语加以改造，用来翻译原语言。请看例句：
例一：A vice-chairman is taking over the chair at a meeting with a play on words,
“I'm a virtuous vice chairman.”
这里的“virtuous vice-chairman”玩弄的是vice的双关涵义：“恶”(vice)与“副”
(vice作前缀)，然后前面加了“德”(virtuous)。用“硬注”处理整句就成了：
“I'm a virtuous vice-chairman.”－－“我是个有德行的副主席”(注)
(注) 英文里的“副 (vice)”如单独使用，可作“坏”、“恶”、“德行很差”解。
尽管加了注解，仍叫人不甚了了。能不能通过改造中文成语“为富不仁”来解决这个双关
呢？“副”和“富”是谐音，可以构成双关。常言道“为富不仁”，但咱们是“为副但并
非不仁。”因此，整句可作如下处理：
“I'm a virtuous vice-chairman.”－－“咱是为副(富)但并非不仁的主席。”或“咱是
为富(副)但仁的主席”。
由此看来，“硬注”用在 "virtuous vice-chairman"不仅丢了双关，而且意思不太清楚。
倒是通过“改造”中文成语既保住了“双关”，又留住了副 (vice)”与“virtuous(仁)”的
原义。
例二：Anger is only one letter short of danger.
这个成语更象中文的“心字头上一把刀”，如若不“忍”，“心”就被“刃”了，多危
险啊！而英文也是玩的文字游戏：anger前面只要加上个“d”就是danger！如果意译成
“生气离危险只有一步之遥”，当然也没什么不可以，只是原句的文字游戏弄丢了。
4) “移植”
还有的时候，某些妙语怎么“再造”、“改造”也造不出来，可是却能从目标语言中搜寻
到相近的词句，于是“移植”就成了捷径。这个“ds”最在行。最近“啊王”所做的诗学
同比研究也有点类似。
例如“When awful is lawful, treason is reason.”与中文的“和尚打伞，无法无天”是
否颇有同工异曲之处？当然这不算对译，只是一种文化比附，也可以说是一种“模糊对应”。
还很形象的：awful看上去就象是和尚没了头发“l”，而Treason中的“T”又真象reason
头上一把遮天蔽日的伞，况且Treason也的确是无法无天的行为啊！
“再造”、“改造”或“移植”特殊语言现象就酷似猜谜：猜惯了就能摸出规律。只可惜
肯为这类文字游戏浪费时间的专业人员实在太少了。如果一个合格的职业译员翻不了这类
特殊语言现象，并不能说明他们不称职，最多只相当于不擅长猜谜而已。
结语
第三部分虽然谈及“直译”、“意译”以外的各种处理手法，但是它们只适用于“特殊
语言现象”。纵观全文，谨作如下小结：
1) 在不影响理解的情况下，还是尽可能先用“表意直译”；
2) 在“直译”难以表意时丢车保帅，用“抽象意译”；
3) 在“表意直译”和“抽象意译”都难以胜任时，考虑选用“硬注”、“改造”、“再造”
和“移植”，它们虽各有千秋，但基本上不失为解决特殊语言现象的有效手段；
4)“硬注”安全可靠，不管能否保汁保味，大部分情况都能对付；
5)“再造”和“改造”更富挑战性，在可能强于“硬注”的情况下，应尽量“造”。
6)“移植”作为文化比较和消遣，极富刺激，但是，考虑到相互对应的模糊和牵强，在翻
译严肃题材时应当慎用。
以上为一家之言，仅供同道者参考。如有不当之处请多多指教或充实。多谢赏光！
古月
1999年11月5日
您问的是“形象化词语的翻译”，我想结合谚语、警句、熟语的翻译谈一点看法。
一般情况下，本人主张只要不影响理解，能直译的尽量直译；碰到直译影响理解的，
改用意译；直译、意译顾此失彼的不妨试用其它处理办法。
一、直译的好处
1) 尽可能忠实履行翻译职责，避免越权，把解读留给读者。
您举的例子就比较明显，"as timid as a hare"与“ 胆 小如鼠”的意思是不完全吻
合的，不能简单猎取现成的中文成语加以对应。“胆小如鼠”在中文里是个贬义词，
带有蔑视“懦夫”的涵义，比较接近英文里的“coward”。而英文里的"timid"和
"hare"都没有那么强的贬义；timid只是一种带有羞怯或腼腆涵义的“胆小”，而hare
并不象老鼠那么令人讨厌。所以不宜译成“胆小如鼠”。即使译成“胆小如兔”，还
是容易让中国人联想到“胆小如鼠”。鉴此，还不如“羞怯如兔”更加忠实，究竟如
何理解，由读者自己去领悟吧，译者就不必越权预设解读立场了。
再举楼下“ FULL cup, steady hand”为例，完全可以直译成“ 杯满手稳”，时间长
了将会象“火中取栗”、“一石双鸟”、“化剑为犁”一样成为洋为中用的成语。为
什么最好直译成“杯满手稳”呢？因为这句英谚在逻辑上是双向的，需要挑明的是
“杯满”与“手稳”的关系。“实者沉稳，稳者充实”，如果任取半截，都可能表达
不同的侧重。所以楼下才出现了“充实才能沉稳”与“手稳端得满杯茶”在侧重点上
发生的歧见。如果直译成“杯满手稳”，这种侧重的解读就完全由言者把握了。这样，
翻译在避免越权方面也算尽了职，而译文也并不影响理解。
2) 尽可能保持原话的文化特征，以利垮文化沟通与交流。
上面讲的是只有直译才能忠实表达原义的明显例子。那么还有一些可从两种语言中
找到对等说法的例子呢？因洋为中用而保存下来的也不少见：
火中取栗: Pull sb's chestnut out of the fire.为什么不说“为他人作嫁妆”或“给人当
枪使”？
一石双鸟：Kill two birds with one stone. 中文不是已有“一箭双雕”了吗？
化剑为犁：Turn swords into ploughs.为什么不用“化干戈为玉帛”?
中国古典智慧也有因直译而成为世界文化遗产的：
The soldier who retreated fifty paces laughed at the one who had fallen back a hundred paces.
--五十步笑一百步。当然英文也有The pot calls the kettle black.
No feast lasts forever. --天下没有不散的筵席 。英文已有All good things must end.
还有The best of friends must part.
如果当初没人直译，而只管对号入坐，那么中国的智慧何时才能走向世界？国人又怎
么知道外国也有类似说法呢？因此，在不影响理解的前提下，直译有利于促进文化间
的相互了解。
3) 便于换换口味，避免陈词滥调，促进了语言的多样性。
如果你恭维某人“智者千虑必有一失”，听上去是不是有点陈词滥调的味道？听得太
多的套话容易让人觉得你是在应付，别人也许不当回事。但是你如果换成“荷马有时
也打盹”(Homer sometimes nods的直译)呢? 在知识分子中间或许能够带来一点新鲜
感？当然，普通中国人也许一下子不能理解。这只是个增强语言多样性的例子而已。
如果是上述那些普通国人和老外也能望文生义的直译，无疑对丰富语汇是大有裨益的。
鉴于直译的上述种种好处，翻译时应首选直译。不仅有利于避免歧义，而且有利于文
化交流和丰富语汇。但是，这样做有个前提的，那就是不能过分影响理解。在直译很
难达意时怎么办呢？那就是本文第二部分将要谈及的意译。
二、“意译”
前面讨论了直译的优势，但那是有个前提的，就是不能过分影响理解。如果直译影响
了理解，就得改用意译。当然，“直译”、“意译”也只是些为了方便分类而武断的
粗线条概念，理解还是因人而异的，也有一些介乎两者之间的情况稍后将顺便提及。
与“Beat swords into ploughs.”类似的另一句谚语“Bury the hatchet”，其直译的命运就
不及前者。如果译成“埋葬战斧”，容易让人联想到中文的“飞鸟尽，良弓藏”或者是
“刀枪入库”，因而理解成抛弃功臣或和平麻痹。但实际上是交战双方媾和休战的意思。
又如此前〖汉英论坛〗讨论过的英文妙语“When the going gets tough, the tough gets
going.”两处所用"going"和"tough"不仅词性分别不同，意思也不尽相同，凑在一个句
子里了。英文中象这样的东西较多，他们认为很机智(witty)。碰到这类妙语，直译如何
能够达意呢？〖汉英论坛〗的两位网友将它译成：(1)“狭路相逢勇者胜”(砖头)；
(2)“沧海横流方显英雄本色”(www)。在这种情况下，还是意译来得主动。
再如“此地无银三百两”，如果直译，要靠长长的脚注去帮助理解，那就得把整个故事
讲一遍了，不如用意译来得省事。不妨意译成“The more is concealed, the more is revealed.”
诸如此类的例子很多。如感兴趣，不妨搜集搜集供网友娱乐。
当然，也有一种情况，就是刚才提到的介乎“直译”与“意译”之间的妙译。这里先举
〖汉英论坛〗网友的三个经典例子：
Faults are thick where love is thin.
一朝情义淡，样样不顺眼。(tr. Wiener)
You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time,
but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
骗人一夕一事易，欺众一生一世难。(tr. 野草)
Out of the FULLNESS of the heart the mouth speaks
盈于心则溢于言。(tr. 鹤子)
以上三例算“直译”还是“意译”？既相当“直接”又准确“达意”。只是对原句的情
景稍作变通而已。这种介乎于“直译”与“意译”之间的“直”－“意”有机结合，似
乎不是理论家能够武断归类的。真正从事翻译实践的高手似乎很少受制于理论束缚。最
终的翻译质量还是落实在双语基本功上；而无论直译、意译还是有机结合，美感效果也
是见仁见智的。
三、直译、意译之外
有些特殊语言现象，如方言、歇后语、尤其是带双关语的，无论直译还是意译都是难
尽人意的，就得想想其它办法曲线解题。眼下能够想到的有“硬注”、“改造”、“再
造”、“移植”。
1) “硬注”(硬译加脚注)
碰到下面这样的句子，如何直译或意译？
－－他是老九的弟弟 -- 老十（实）
直译：He's the younger brother of number 9, number 10. （making no sense at all)
意译：He's honest. (The pun is lost.)
如果不想费脑筋再造或移植英文双关呢，最常用，最安全、最省事的办法就是先硬译再
加脚注。无论多复杂的语言现象，总是能够讲清楚其中奥妙的。用“硬注”解决这个双
关，原句可译成：
He's the younger brother of number 9, number 10. (#note)
(#note) "Number 10--老十 (laoshi)" in Chinese is homophonic with another Chinese
word "老实(laoshi) which means "honest."
当然，如果有时间并感兴趣，可以用下述三种办法弄得更有味道一点。
2) “再造”
如果从原句的本义“honest”出发，给它物色个 "brother"，似可再造一个英文双关语。
这样，那句话就可译成：
－－他是老九的弟弟 -- 老十（实）
He's the younger brother of honor, honest.
"Honor" 这里被当作 "on"的比较级 , 而 "honest" 作为最高级。恰巧，有人讲了个英文
笑话，“Man first gets ON by hook or by crook. When he gets the HONOR, he becomes
HONEST.”看来英美还真有人把ON, HONOR, HONEST 当兄弟对待的呢！
再看下面的例子，也是个“再造”的双关：
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!
昨天成历史
明天很神秘
今天称现金(今）
所以是份礼
大多数带双关的妙语都得通过“再造”才能保住双关。当然也有少数例外。
3) “改造”
所谓改造就是把目标语言中现成的妙语加以改造，用来翻译原语言。请看例句：
例一：A vice-chairman is taking over the chair at a meeting with a play on words,
“I'm a virtuous vice chairman.”
这里的“virtuous vice-chairman”玩弄的是vice的双关涵义：“恶”(vice)与“副”
(vice作前缀)，然后前面加了“德”(virtuous)。用“硬注”处理整句就成了：
“I'm a virtuous vice-chairman.”－－“我是个有德行的副主席”(注)
(注) 英文里的“副 (vice)”如单独使用，可作“坏”、“恶”、“德行很差”解。
尽管加了注解，仍叫人不甚了了。能不能通过改造中文成语“为富不仁”来解决这个双关
呢？“副”和“富”是谐音，可以构成双关。常言道“为富不仁”，但咱们是“为副但并
非不仁。”因此，整句可作如下处理：
“I'm a virtuous vice-chairman.”－－“咱是为副(富)但并非不仁的主席。”或“咱是
为富(副)但仁的主席”。
由此看来，“硬注”用在 "virtuous vice-chairman"不仅丢了双关，而且意思不太清楚。
倒是通过“改造”中文成语既保住了“双关”，又留住了副 (vice)”与“virtuous(仁)”的
原义。
例二：Anger is only one letter short of danger.
这个成语更象中文的“心字头上一把刀”，如若不“忍”，“心”就被“刃”了，多危
险啊！而英文也是玩的文字游戏：anger前面只要加上个“d”就是danger！如果意译成
“生气离危险只有一步之遥”，当然也没什么不可以，只是原句的文字游戏弄丢了。
4) “移植”
还有的时候，某些妙语怎么“再造”、“改造”也造不出来，可是却能从目标语言中搜寻
到相近的词句，于是“移植”就成了捷径。这个“ds”最在行。最近“啊王”所做的诗学
同比研究也有点类似。
例如“When awful is lawful, treason is reason.”与中文的“和尚打伞，无法无天”是
否颇有同工异曲之处？当然这不算对译，只是一种文化比附，也可以说是一种“模糊对应”。
还很形象的：awful看上去就象是和尚没了头发“l”，而Treason中的“T”又真象reason
头上一把遮天蔽日的伞，况且Treason也的确是无法无天的行为啊！
“再造”、“改造”或“移植”特殊语言现象就酷似猜谜：猜惯了就能摸出规律。只可惜
肯为这类文字游戏浪费时间的专业人员实在太少了。如果一个合格的职业译员翻不了这类
特殊语言现象，并不能说明他们不称职，最多只相当于不擅长猜谜而已。
结语
第三部分虽然谈及“直译”、“意译”以外的各种处理手法，但是它们只适用于“特殊
语言现象”。纵观全文，谨作如下小结：
1) 在不影响理解的情况下，还是尽可能先用“表意直译”；
2) 在“直译”难以表意时丢车保帅，用“抽象意译”；
3) 在“表意直译”和“抽象意译”都难以胜任时，考虑选用“硬注”、“改造”、“再造”
和“移植”，它们虽各有千秋，但基本上不失为解决特殊语言现象的有效手段；
4)“硬注”安全可靠，不管能否保汁保味，大部分情况都能对付；
5)“再造”和“改造”更富挑战性，在可能强于“硬注”的情况下，应尽量“造”。
6)“移植”作为文化比较和消遣，极富刺激，但是，考虑到相互对应的模糊和牵强，在翻
译严肃题材时应当慎用。
以上为一家之言，仅供同道者参考。如有不当之处请多多指教或充实。多谢赏光！
古月
1999年11月5日
ごますり
"sesame grinding"
Ingratiating oneself, apple-polishing, overtly flattering, toadying, sucking up to one's superiors
When a person makes an overtly ingratiating remark, he/she is 'grinding sesame seeds'. Like the messy sesame seeds ground up in the mortar, the person seeking favour is sticking to everything (one).
A: 加藤さんいよいよ課長に昇進らしいですよ。
B: やっぱりそうですか。ここ三年間ずっとごますりよやってきたんだから、そろそろ課長になるだろうとは思ってましたけどね。
Ingratiating oneself, apple-polishing, overtly flattering, toadying, sucking up to one's superiors
When a person makes an overtly ingratiating remark, he/she is 'grinding sesame seeds'. Like the messy sesame seeds ground up in the mortar, the person seeking favour is sticking to everything (one).
A: 加藤さんいよいよ課長に昇進らしいですよ。
B: やっぱりそうですか。ここ三年間ずっとごますりよやってきたんだから、そろそろ課長になるだろうとは思ってましたけどね。
Sunday 18 March 2007
what does she want
Some think Japanese often use ambiguous expressions so that you never know what they are thinking.
e.g.
e.g.
A先生：お茶がいいですか。
B小姐：どうぞおかまいなく。
A先生：ジュースがいいですか。
B小姐：どうぞおかまいなく。
A先生：コーヒーがいいですか。
B小姐：どうぞおかまいなく
A still have no idea what B wants after asking her three questions. In this case he may draw the conclusion that this Japanese lady is 'trying to' be ambiguous. In fact instead of blaming the lady, he should blame himself in the way he directs the conversation. It is natural for the Japanese to answer どうぞおかまいな, which is a gesture of politeness. Without this, the person would be considered rude. So A must change his strategy for the right response as shown below.A先生：お茶がいいですか。
B小姐：どうぞおかまいなく。
A先生：どうぞご遠慮なく。お茶がいいですか。
B小姐：はい。どうも。
A先生：喝点茶好吗？
B小姐：请不必张罗了。
A先生：请不要客气。喝点茶好吗？
B小姐：好吧。非常感谢。
Friday 16 March 2007
The Pre-universe Scene
The following passages are from the book The Origin of Existence, which I enjoyed a great deal. It illustrates vividly what is like even before the universe taking its shape using beautiful language. Use your imagination and begin the journey with me!
"Long before Earth drifted lazily through its solar orbit, long before the galaxy slowly condensed out of the cosmic background, things were different. Time was an imaginary concept. Space was not so well defined either. Even the universe itself did not really exist. Not yet.
In the dim ages of this forgotten past, space had more dimensions than the three we have today. In stark contrast to our present day poverty, the spatial dimensions numbered nine or ten or elven, depending on the moment and on the view. These extra dimensions were complicated, all tied up in intricate knots. Quantum mechanics ruled its high-energy domain along with gravity, and so the knots fluctuated. The knots collapsed. The knots united. And then they tied themselves up again in myriad different configurations. In what would have surely been Euclid's worst nightmare, the geometry of space and time varied from moment to moment.
Beneath the fluctuations of this probabilistic foam, hidden order and elegant symmetry were subtly running the show. Although chaotic and complicated, space and time obeyed a well-defined set of physical laws. These very laws would later rule the universe, albeit in a vastly different regime and only after it was created. These laws ultimately responsible for making and governing the universe - also transcend the universe."
译文：
远在地球懒洋洋地漂浮在太阳轨道上之前，远在星系缓慢地从宇宙背景中凝聚而成之前，一切都与现在大不一样。时间只是一个想象中的概念，空间也还未成型，就连宇宙本身也并不真正存在。嗯，还没有呢。
在这被遗忘的不为人知的岁月里，空间远不止我们今天所见的三维。取决于观看的时间和视野，空间可达九维，十维，甚至十一维，与今日的贫瘠形成鲜明的对比。这些多出的空间错综复杂的集结在一起。量子力学和引力支配着多维空间的高能范畴，连接点因此而不断波动。结点散开了，又连在一处，然后又以无数种不同的方式集结起来。空间和时间的几何（属性）瞬息万变，这毫无置疑该是欧几里德最糟的噩梦。
然而在量子泡沫的波动之下，隐藏的次序和精致的对称巧妙地操纵着一切。尽管表现得杂乱无章，毫无头绪，时间和空间却遵循着明确的物理定律。正是这些定律之后将主宰宇宙，虽然仅在宇宙形成后以完全不同的方式进行的。这些定律最终决定了宇宙的形成，掌管着整个宇宙，并凌驾于宇宙之上。
"Long before Earth drifted lazily through its solar orbit, long before the galaxy slowly condensed out of the cosmic background, things were different. Time was an imaginary concept. Space was not so well defined either. Even the universe itself did not really exist. Not yet.
In the dim ages of this forgotten past, space had more dimensions than the three we have today. In stark contrast to our present day poverty, the spatial dimensions numbered nine or ten or elven, depending on the moment and on the view. These extra dimensions were complicated, all tied up in intricate knots. Quantum mechanics ruled its high-energy domain along with gravity, and so the knots fluctuated. The knots collapsed. The knots united. And then they tied themselves up again in myriad different configurations. In what would have surely been Euclid's worst nightmare, the geometry of space and time varied from moment to moment.
Beneath the fluctuations of this probabilistic foam, hidden order and elegant symmetry were subtly running the show. Although chaotic and complicated, space and time obeyed a well-defined set of physical laws. These very laws would later rule the universe, albeit in a vastly different regime and only after it was created. These laws ultimately responsible for making and governing the universe - also transcend the universe."
译文：
远在地球懒洋洋地漂浮在太阳轨道上之前，远在星系缓慢地从宇宙背景中凝聚而成之前，一切都与现在大不一样。时间只是一个想象中的概念，空间也还未成型，就连宇宙本身也并不真正存在。嗯，还没有呢。
在这被遗忘的不为人知的岁月里，空间远不止我们今天所见的三维。取决于观看的时间和视野，空间可达九维，十维，甚至十一维，与今日的贫瘠形成鲜明的对比。这些多出的空间错综复杂的集结在一起。量子力学和引力支配着多维空间的高能范畴，连接点因此而不断波动。结点散开了，又连在一处，然后又以无数种不同的方式集结起来。空间和时间的几何（属性）瞬息万变，这毫无置疑该是欧几里德最糟的噩梦。
然而在量子泡沫的波动之下，隐藏的次序和精致的对称巧妙地操纵着一切。尽管表现得杂乱无章，毫无头绪，时间和空间却遵循着明确的物理定律。正是这些定律之后将主宰宇宙，虽然仅在宇宙形成后以完全不同的方式进行的。这些定律最终决定了宇宙的形成，掌管着整个宇宙，并凌驾于宇宙之上。
The season of cherry blossom （with picture)
I saw a little girl walking towards me, in the aisle of cherry trees. The branches of the trees tangle together to form a beautiful flowery arch. Pure white and light pink cherry blossoms are thick yet airy, floating in the air like pieces of cloud, swaying in the wind, and shedding petal rain occasionally. The eeriely beautiful scene is like a dream, the one that one would never want to wake up from.
Yet in reality, it cannot last long. Cheery blossoms are very vulnerable to wind and rain. Often overnight they are gone. Only the petals on the ground can prove their short-lived existence. But deep in my heart, I know they will come back again, next March, and the next. It's a renewal of life in predictable cycles.
[To my own life, I think I hold the same sentiment. I know I will die someday, although I don't know exactly when. Man's life span is known to all of us. Few of us can live to 100. So it's a two digital cycle. I don't necessarily feel sad about it (at least not now). Everyday new lives (not limited to human life)come into this world . Although they are not directly related to me, I accept they are renewal of my life in some way. Who knows where the atoms in my body come from and where they will go after me. Maybe one of them will dwell inside a cherry blossom petal :) ]
突然一个想法跳入我的脑子，如果想在双语的世界中进退自如的话，为什么不从自己的文字开始呢？虽然喜欢英文，但对着自己的语言更有着一种深深的眷念，我想汉语的精深是穷尽今生也无法完全领略的。加之身居国外，如果汉语能力退化，着实是一件很悲哀的事情。作为一个non-native speaker，英文的世界也充满了遨游的空间。因为是自己的文字，所以翻译的时候比较灵活。不过信达雅的信字应该不会偏颇太多，应为无论怎样也是表达的 自己的思想，也可以算作忠实吧（呵呵，这个空子好钻）
译文：
当我的目光落到樱花的特写照片时，脑子里一个激灵，童年的回忆在樱花的“符咒”之下复苏了。那花儿的雄蕊从中心的雌蕊处辐射而出，雄蕊顶端的一个个小黄点 在环绕的白色花瓣的背景中，如同夜空中升腾的烟花，平添了一丝丝暖意。他们对我低吟着：“来吧，到樱花的季节里来吧！”对啊，我怎能忘记3月正是樱花盛开 的季节。
我仿佛看到一个小女孩在樱树的游廊中向我走来，树枝的顶端环绕在一起形成了一个美丽的窿穹。纯白和粉红的樱花厚实而又轻盈，如同云朵般漂浮在上空，随风而动，时而洒落一阵阵的花瓣雨。这奇妙的景色美丽如梦，一个永远不愿醒来的梦境。
然而在现实中，这美景是短暂的。柔弱的樱花经受不住风吹雨淋，往往在一夜之间就离我们而去，只有地上散落的花瓣记录着她们曾经的停留。但在内心深处我知道她们在下一个三月将会再来，在下下个三月。。。。。。这是生命的更新在以我们可以预知的方式循环着。
后记：小时候几乎每年三月都会到武大工作的小姨家去暂住几日，一览校园里颇有盛名的樱花，一直到小姨结婚。后来每年三月的时候好像武大都有樱花节，虽然没有刻意去观赏，但路过仍忍不住驻足片刻。现在，又是樱花盛开的季节了，不知是怎样的情景呢？
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