2013年6月22日 星期六

虎、兔、龍、蛇的俗語 (3)


台灣俗語的智慧(3)

F. 虎父無犬子

在十二生肖中「』屬大的生肖,因屬同科故常與「」並提。這是當面恭維他人的話,意謂『父親有了不起的才能與成就,兒子也不平凡』(多用於肯定)

直譯A tiger does not breed a son like a dog.

意譯As the father is remarkable or capable, so is his son.兒子像父親一樣了不起或能幹。(as…., so….. …. 一樣)
當然,英文有Like father, like son『有其父必有其子』。但它有時正、負面意義皆可用。

*台語常用『小犬』比喻自已「不成材」的兒子,是一種謙虛的說法,英譯用my son即可,千萬不可譯成my dog sonmy son like a dogmy humble (卑微的)son

G. 畫虎不成反類犬 (此俗語用於漢語較多)

直譯The drawing of a tiger looks more like that of a dog.( 老老虎的畫像看起來更像狗)

意譯In failure to achieve something magnificent, a rather insignificant and ridiculous thing is done.( 未能成就大事,相反地卻做了不起眼與可笑的事)

註:failure to+ v 未能做到;magnificent a. 壯觀的insignificant a. 微不足道的ridiculous a. 可笑的。本俗語含「嘲笑(ridicule)之意

H. 虎卡毒也沒吃甲己的子 (虎毒不食子)

直譯Vicious as a tiger is, it will not eat his own son.(Vicious as…= Though a tiger is vicious….)

意譯However wicked and vicious a person is, he will not hurt his own son. (however= no matter howvicious a. 惡毒的;wicked a. 狡猾的)

I. 不入虎穴焉得虎子

直譯One cannot get a baby tiger without entering a tiger’s cave.

【指鳥巢用nest,洞穴用cave,兩邊通的穴叫tunnel (隧道) ,指避難庇護所叫shelter,人的住處叫residence (dwelling place)

意譯Nothing venture, nothing have. (原句為Venture nothing, have nothing.= If you venture nothing, you will have (gain) nothing. 本句含鼓勵冒險之意。故兩人合夥的事業叫joint venture投資創投公司(start-up) 的商人叫venture capitalist

4) (rabbit)- 漢語較常用

A. 靜如處女,動如脫兔

直譯as tender as a unwed maidas vivacious as a rabbit just released from a cage.

:「處女」此處若譯為virgin恐欠妥,unwed maid (未婚姑娘= not married yet未婚的)) vivacious a. 充滿活力= full of animationvery livelyreleased = (which is) just released剛從籠中釋出

意譯:At rest, one can be very composed while in motion, one can be very energetic. (composed a. 冷靜自處;at rest靜止;in motion=moving動起來)

B. 抓兔仔

意譯vomiting (=throwing up) after heavy drinking (台語『吐』與兔同音),喝酒過量後的嘔吐行為。台灣有些大餐廳的洗手間內,都附加一大水槽,水槽上面再畫一隻「小白兔」,以暗示提醒酒客,不勝酒力時,在此『「大兔」一番-出酒


5) 龍:

A. 生龍活虎

直譯Live dragons and live tigers. / as energetic as live dragons and tigers. (live + n. 活的,未用的,如a ~match未點過的火柴,直播的a ~ broadcast)

意譯a very energetic or vigorous (精力充沛的) person

B. 龍交龍、鳳交鳳,隱亀的交棟戇-物以類聚

直譯 Dragons keep company with fellow dragonsphoenixes with fellow species, and the hunchbacks (humpbacks) getting along with the damned fools. keep company with……. 交往;phoenix鳳凰;hunchback駝子,species品種)

【評】:台語把駝子與儍瓜歸成一類,顯有畸視殘障人士(disabled) 之嫌。駝子不一定笨?

意譯Birds of a feather flock together. (同羽毛的鳥棲息在一起) (a feather= the same feather) 。是『群英會? 或『臭氣相投? 悉聽尊便。

C. 龍生龍子,虎生豹兒 (有點類似虎父無犬子)

直譯Dragon breeds dragon; tigers breeds leopards. (leopard n. -虎豹屬同科動物。 Can the leopard change his spots?”-難道豹會改變身上的斑點? (聖經-本性難改) 。另jaguar生於美洲之虎,英國名車Jaguar-台灣譯為『積架』。

意譯Good descendants come from good ancestors. 好後代來自好祖先(既純又好)

D. 龍爭虎鬥/龍虎鬥

直譯Dragons and tigers are fighting with each other.

意譯Two parties with equal strength or power are fighting, not giving in to each other. (两造相爭互不相讓)

6) (snake/ serpent)

A. 死蛇活尾溜

直譯Even if the main body of a snake is dead, its tail is still wagging. (wag v. 搖尾巴)

意譯It is like a nine-life cat, with strong potency to survive not easily annihilated. (像九命貓,
活力强不易被消滅)
Something is not completely eliminated. (事情未被完全消-尚留餘患】)
 
最後一齊來欣賞一首民謠『丟丟銅仔………
 
 
嘉義,嘉義到了。便當!便當!燒的便當、壽司咧! 落車的旅客,請嘸通袜記別人?的行李!
Justin Lai, 06/20/2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Justin Lai, 06/20/2013


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