國(guó)慶話說(shuō)漢英詞典中的“國(guó)”字

在漢語(yǔ)言中，“國(guó)”字已有三千多年的歷史，具有深刻的表意視覺(jué)功能與哲理意趣。該字最早始見(jiàn)于甲骨文中，由一個(gè)“戈”和一個(gè) “口”組成，意指擁有一定的地域，需要由武器來(lái)保衛(wèi)。到了商朝晚期，銅鼎銘文中的“國(guó)”寫(xiě)成“或”，其中的“口”表示國(guó)土、疆域，“戈”表示以兵器而衛(wèi)之，而“一”則表示領(lǐng)土之境界?！墩f(shuō)文解字》中云：“或者，邦也，從口從戈，一以戈，一為守，其義尚不明。”到了周代晚期，“或”字外面加了個(gè)“囗（wéi）”，表示疆域的范圍?！墩f(shuō)文解字》又云：“國(guó)，邦也，從囗從或?！蓖高^(guò)“國(guó)”字，我們可以感受到漢語(yǔ)言富有哲理的造字創(chuàng)意，領(lǐng)悟到國(guó)家必須具備的四個(gè)條件：一是人口，以小“口”代表;二是疆土范圍，以大“囗”代表，表示國(guó)家周邊應(yīng)該有布防;三是土地，以“一”代表，表示國(guó)家與土地和農(nóng)業(yè)之密切關(guān)聯(lián);四是軍隊(duì)，以“戈”來(lái)代表，表示軍隊(duì)肩負(fù)著保家衛(wèi)國(guó)之重任。后漢時(shí)期，“國(guó)”字簡(jiǎn)化為“囯”字，“囗”里從“王”，蓋“囗”為“普天之下，莫非王土”之意，含有濃厚的封建色彩。魏晉六朝時(shí)期，“囗”里從“民”，“囯”字寫(xiě)成“囻”字，蓋“囗”為“國(guó)以民為本”之意，體現(xiàn)了春秋時(shí)代孟子的“民貴君輕”的思想。宋元時(shí)期，出現(xiàn)了我們今天通用的簡(jiǎn)化字“國(guó)”，“囗”里從“玉”，蓋“囗”為“地大物博，寶藏豐富”之意。

據(jù)不完全統(tǒng)計(jì)，“國(guó)”的異體字有42種之多，比如“囗”中加“武”“眾”“土”“主”“氏”等和三個(gè)秦（?）代表“國(guó)”字。由此可見(jiàn)，“國(guó)”字在漢語(yǔ)言中具有巨大的生命力與創(chuàng)造性。

1956年，我國(guó)頒布了簡(jiǎn)化字方案，將“國(guó)”簡(jiǎn)化為“國(guó)”，“囗”里從“玉”。一方面，該字反映了我國(guó)“玉”文化具有悠久歷史;另一方面，該字體現(xiàn)了國(guó)家作為如玉之寶的無(wú)限價(jià)值，要讓我們愛(ài)護(hù)寶物一樣珍愛(ài)自己的國(guó)家，有道是國(guó)家啊國(guó)家，有國(guó)才有家。

今年是中華人民共和國(guó)成立70周年。在這國(guó)慶佳節(jié)之際，我們不妨檢閱一下漢英詞典中一些有關(guān)“國(guó)”字的表達(dá)法，希望借此提高對(duì)“國(guó)”字的認(rèn)識(shí)，激發(fā)新的愛(ài)國(guó)情愫，同時(shí)對(duì)漢英詞典的生命力有所感受。

本文選取了《中華漢英大詞典》編纂者自以為迻譯尚有特點(diǎn)的有關(guān)“國(guó)”字的表達(dá)法，其目的在于與廣大讀者共享并敦請(qǐng)廣大讀者質(zhì)疑與指謬。

一、“國(guó)”字的界定

1. “國(guó)家”之意= nation; country; state：愛(ài)～者a patriot | 愛(ài)～主義patriotism | ～棉廠a state-owned cotton mill | 賣(mài)～賊a traitor to one’s country | 安邦治～ bring peace to the country and manage state affairs | 為～增光bring credit to one’s country | ～將不～ the country will go down the sink

2. “國(guó)都”之意= capital city：參～之一one-third as large as the nation’s capital

3. “建國(guó);建都”之意= to found a country or capital ～于中原establish a capital in the Central Plains

4. “城邑”之意= city [in general]：～有～事a city has its own affairs

5. “古代王、候的封地”之意= fiefdom：開(kāi)～ open up the fiefdom

6. “地域”之意= region （of country）：山～ a mountainous region | 水鄉(xiāng)澤～a region of rivers and lakes

7. “家鄉(xiāng)”之意= hometown; native place：遜位歸～ abdicate and return to one’s hometown

8. “與帝王或皇室有關(guān)的”之意= imperial; royal see 國(guó)姓

9. “國(guó)中最好的或最美的”之意= best in the country see 國(guó)手、國(guó)色

10. “本朝的”之意= of the present dynasty see 國(guó)朝

11. “中國(guó)特有的”之意= Chinese; of China see 國(guó)畫(huà)

12. “代表國(guó)家的”之意= national; representing the state：～定節(jié)日a national holiday

13. “部落”之意= tribe：七十八～ seventy-eight tribes

14. “地方”之意= place：有用武之～ have scope to display one’s abilities

15. “姓”之意= Guo [surname]

二、與“國(guó)”有關(guān)的兩字表達(dá)法

1. 國(guó)寶national treasure （literally of an object， or figuratively of a person）：～級(jí)文物/演員a cultural artifact/actor widely considered a national asset

2. 國(guó)本 ①foundations of the state：民為～ the people form the basis of the state ②book or copy collected by the state ③[Hist] crown prince [during the Song Dynasty]

3. 國(guó)別 ①nationality [eg as an item to fill in on a form]：～史the history of individual countries ②〈lit〉 differences between nations：～政策individualized policy towards different countries

4. 國(guó)恥national humiliation：不忘/洗雪～ not forget/wipe out a national disgrace

5. 國(guó)仇wrongs done to a nation; national enmity：～家恨enmity borne by an entire nation and feud for/grudges of an individual family

6. 國(guó)粹quintessence or best of a nation’s culture：中醫(yī)是三大～之一Chinese medicine is one of the three quintessential components of Chinese culture

7. 國(guó)法law of the land：觸犯～ violate the state law

8. 國(guó)防national defence：加強(qiáng)～建設(shè)build up a country’s defences | 削減～開(kāi)支cut defence spending

9. 國(guó)父founding father; father of a country [eg George Washington in the United States]

10. 國(guó)歌national anthem：奏響中華人民共和國(guó)～ play the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China

11. 國(guó)格national honour or dignity [in foreign affairs]：維護(hù)～ defend national prestige

12. 國(guó)號(hào)title of a reigning dynasty：改～為唐change the dynasty name to Tang

13. 國(guó)華 （flower of the nation） national essence [eg， outstanding talent， national treasure]

14. 國(guó)徽national emblem

15. 國(guó)魂national spirit or essence：提振～ advocate the national spirit

16. 國(guó)計(jì)〈lit〉 ①national economy ②national policy

17. 國(guó)腳national footballer; soccer player on the national team

18. 國(guó)界national boundary：超越～的愛(ài)love beyond boundaries | 確定～ fix the borderline | 醫(yī)生無(wú)～ doctors are without borders

19. 國(guó)脈〈lit〉 life of the nation

20. 國(guó)門(mén)①〈lit〉 gate to the capital ②〈fig〉 frontier：拒敵于～之外ward off enemy troops beyond the border ③ 〈fig〉 national policy or stipulation：打開(kāi)～，走向世界open up to the outside world ④〈old〉 god protecting the city gates

21. 國(guó)旗national flag：升～ hoist the national flag

22. 國(guó)器〈lit〉 talent useful to the nation

23. 國(guó)情national conditions; state of the nation：符合～ conform to the actual situations of a nation

24. 國(guó)慶National Day [eg October 1 in the People’s Republic of China， July 4 in the United States]：～觀禮review of the National Day parade

25. 國(guó)人〈lit〉 ①compatriot：這一發(fā)現(xiàn)震驚了～ the discovery shocked the whole country ②capital inhabitant

26. 國(guó)色〈lit〉 ①national beauty [woman famous nationwide for her beauty] ②〈fig〉 peony

27. 國(guó)士〈lit〉 ①outstanding person of the nation ②bravest and strongest person of the nation

28. 國(guó)勢(shì) ①national strength：～強(qiáng)盛/衰落the country is powerful/declining ②unfolding of state affairs ③〈lit〉 geographical features of a country; national geography

29. 國(guó)是〈lit〉 national policy：共商～ discuss the national policy together

30. 國(guó)手 ①player on a national team：乒乓球～ a table-tennis player from the national team ②national champion， grand master [in chess， etc]

31. 國(guó)書(shū) ①credentials （of diplomat）：遞交～ present one’s credentials ②state correspondence

32. 國(guó)威national prestige：振～ boost national prestige

33. 國(guó)文 ①national language ②national language and literature [as school subject] ③〈old〉 Chinese [as the national language of China]

34. 國(guó)學(xué) ①Chinese cultural studies; sinology：～熱t(yī)he sinology boom ②national studies [study of ancient philosophy， history， literature， etc] ③[Hist] imperial college

35. 國(guó)優(yōu)nation’s finest （product， achievement， etc）

36. 國(guó)運(yùn)national destiny; fate of the nation：～昌隆the nation has a flourishing future

37. 國(guó)債 ①national debt ②national or government bond：發(fā)行～ issue national bonds

三、與“國(guó)”有關(guān)的三字表達(dá)法

1. 國(guó)標(biāo)碼GB code

2. 國(guó)產(chǎn)片domestically produced film

3. 國(guó)產(chǎn)化to localize （of foreign manufactures）：～率the localization rate

4. 國(guó)防生defence cadet [college student sponsored by the armed forces]

5. 國(guó)會(huì)山Capitol Hill [in Washington， DC]

6. 國(guó)際歌（the） Internationale：奏～ play the Internationale

7. 國(guó)際化to internationalize：～大都市an international metropolis

8. 國(guó)民性national character

9. 國(guó)內(nèi)游domestic tourism：～線路a domestic tourist route

10. 國(guó)企股stock of a state-owned enterprise

11. 國(guó)事犯〈old〉 political offender or prisoner

12. 國(guó)務(wù)卿Secretary of State [US]

13. 國(guó)務(wù)院 ①State Council [China] ②State Department [US]

14. 國(guó)信使[Hist] diplomatic envoy [during the Song and Yuan dynasties]

15. 國(guó)有化 ①to nationalize：～企業(yè)a nationalized enterprise ②nationalization

16. 國(guó)資行state-owned bank

17. 國(guó)子監(jiān)imperial academy [built in 1287 in Beijing and was the highest ranking academic body in China until its closing in the Qing Dynasty]

四、與“國(guó)”有關(guān)的四字表達(dá)法

1. 國(guó)步艱難〈idiom〉 the nation is beset with troubles; the country is in great difficulty

2. 國(guó)而忘家〈idiom〉 to forget family affairs for the sake of the nation

3. 國(guó)富民豐also 國(guó)富民康，國(guó)富民殷 〈idiom〉 the country is prosperous and the people are well off

4. 國(guó)富民強(qiáng)〈idiom〉 the country is prosperous and the people are powerful

5. 國(guó)會(huì)議員member of national assembly; congressman [US]; member of parliament [England]

6. 國(guó)計(jì)民生〈idiom〉 national economy and people’s livelihood

7. 國(guó)際玩笑 （international joke） big joke; absurd behaviour; ridiculous action：開(kāi)～ tell a world-famous joke

8. 國(guó)際舞臺(tái)international scene; world stage：在～上的地位a country’s status in the international arena

9. 國(guó)家元首head of state

10. 國(guó)破家亡〈idiom〉 country defeated and family ruined

11. 國(guó)情咨文State of the Union Message [delivered by the US president]

12. 國(guó)色天香〈idiom〉 （national beauty and heavenly fragrance） ①peony ②feminine beauty

13. 國(guó)色天姿〈idiom〉 （national beauty and natural endowments） exceptional beauty

14. 國(guó)士無(wú)雙〈idiom〉 peerless or unique talent of the nation

15. 國(guó)事訪問(wèn)state visit：對(duì)法國(guó)進(jìn)行～ pay a state visit to France

16. 國(guó)泰民安〈idiom〉 the country flourishes and the people live in peace

17. 國(guó)土安全homeland security

18. 國(guó)土無(wú)雙〈idiom〉 unequalled nationwide

19. 國(guó)之干城〈idiom〉 （nation’s shields and city walls） heroic defenders of the nation

五、與“國(guó)”有關(guān)的五字以上的表達(dá)法

1. 國(guó)不可一日無(wú)君〈idiom〉 a nation cannot afford even one day without its ruler

2. 國(guó)際大家庭family of nations

3. 國(guó)家興亡，匹夫有責(zé)〈idiom〉 every man alive has a duty to his country; all men share a common responsibility for the fate of their country

4. 國(guó)亂出忠臣〈idiom〉 when the country is in turmoil， loyal court officials will show up

5. 國(guó)民生產(chǎn)總值Gross National Product; GNP

6. 國(guó)內(nèi)革命戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)revolutionary civil war

7. 國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值Gross Domestic Product; GDP

8. 國(guó)以民為本，民以食為天〈idiom〉 a country depends on its people as its base， just as the people depend on food for survival

9. 國(guó)有國(guó)法，家有家規(guī)〈familiar〉 a country has its laws， and a family its rules

10. 家有常業(yè)雖饑不餓，國(guó)有常法雖危不亡〈familiar〉? just as a family with an established profession won’t go hungry in time of famine， a country ruled constantly by law won’t be conquered in time of danger

11. 一國(guó)不容二主〈idiom〉 one country does not permit two rulers

的確，漢語(yǔ)中與“國(guó)”有關(guān)的表達(dá)法實(shí)在是數(shù)不勝數(shù)，諸如“秉國(guó)之均”“國(guó)有班事”“開(kāi)國(guó)乘家”“山國(guó)用虎節(jié)”等表達(dá)法的英文翻譯，更待我們共同探索。

1肖福壽，南京大學(xué)博士，哈佛大學(xué)訪問(wèn)學(xué)者，現(xiàn)為上海大學(xué)教授、博士生導(dǎo)師，主要從事英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)塊學(xué)、英語(yǔ)寫(xiě)作學(xué)以及詞典編纂研究。