學習英文最大的障礙


學習英文最大的障礙,就是不去思考英文字辭使用的語境,只憑英文定義去揣測語意,以致看到second-guess的定義為 criticize (someone or something) with hindsight,就把它翻譯成事後批評,不知道其他字典還有更能表達此用辭語意的定義,即:
To question or doubt someone or something retroactively,也就是質疑。

很少學英文的人懂得利用查詢例句的方式去確認英文字辭的語意,我們做翻譯的,這項工作絕對少不了,怎麼做?

以second-guess為例,想看例句,在google查second-guess in a sentence或use second-guess in a sentence即可,當然,事情也不是這麼容易, 因為在網路可查到的例句實在太多太多了,光是區辨何者適用、何者不適用,就得花一番功夫。所以,首先要選擇英文語境與中文說話情境接近者(就是翻譯出來跟中文很貼近者),這樣才能收事半功倍之效,不然,查了半天,找不到自己想要的例句,只會更洩氣。如:

After reading reviews like this, we begin to second-guess our own judgment Why are you second-guessing me now? You agreed with this course of treatment just yesterday! 

就是好理解的例句,

I look at where I want to go, and I move forward, without thinking much, because if I already know where I have to go, there's no reason to second-guess, it will only delay me 也可理解。

所以, 還是要知道,事後批評是second-guess的中文釋義,不是second-guess的中文翻譯。

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