英譯“望梅止渴”的聯(lián)想

王逢鑫

“望梅止渴”的故事，向我們啟示了聯(lián)想的妙用。東漢末年，曹操帶兵打仗，行軍至一處無水的荒野，士兵干渴。曹操告訴士兵前方有梅林，內(nèi)有又甜又酸的梅子。士兵聞聽，不住地流口水。這樣就解決了口渴的難題。

“渴”或“口渴”，英語名詞譯為thirst，形容詞譯為thirsty，動詞譯為to be/feel/get thirsty和to get a thirst。例如：

1. 這個(gè)旅行者在沙漠里迷了路，最后渴死了。The traveler lost his way in the desert and finally died of thirst.

2. 這個(gè)男子醒來，口渴得厲害，頭痛得要命。The man woke up with a raging thirst and a pounding headache.

3. 那個(gè)正在攀登高山的男子口渴了，想喝水。The thirsty man who was climbing a high mountain craved for water.

4. 那些來自某個(gè)非洲國家的難民既無食物，也無飲用水，他們又饑又渴。As those refugees from an African country had neither food nor drinking water， they were hungry and thirsty.

5. 挖井工作使我口渴。Digging a well made me thirsty.

6. 長時(shí)間開車，你一定口渴了。You must be thirsty after a long drive.

7. 運(yùn)動過程中不管你什么時(shí)候渴了，就喝點(diǎn)水。Drink some water whenever you feel thirsty during exercise.

8. 魚類主動喝水，所以它們很可能不會口渴。Fish actively drink water， so they probably do not get thirsty.

9. 跑了長距離后，我口渴得厲害。After running a long distance， I got a terrific thirst.

“口渴”，就是“口干”，英語動詞還可以譯為to be dry （for a drink），to feel dry，和to be parched （with thirst）。例如：

10. 挖掘工作是一件令人口渴的活兒。Digging is a dry/thirsty job.

11. 我在這樣的炎熱天氣總是口渴。I always feel dry in this hot weather.

12. 咱們弄點(diǎn)喝的。我口渴了。Lets get a drink. Im parched with thirst.

13. 他在炎熱太陽下步行一段距離后，口渴得厲害。He was parched after walking a distance under the hot sun.

parched除了表示“口渴”外，還有（土地）干涸、和（嘴唇）干裂的意思。例如：

14. 由于長期干旱，這個(gè)地區(qū)的土地干涸。The land in this region is parched due to long drought.

15. 這個(gè)男孩正在舔干裂的嘴唇。The boy was licking his parched lips.

“渴死了”是表示“口渴”的夸張說法。英語譯為 to be dying of thirst。例如：

16. 我渴死了。Im absolutely dying of thirst.

“口水”“唾液”或“唾沫”，英語譯為saliva，spit。例如：

17. 當(dāng)他聞到美食香味時(shí)，嘴里產(chǎn)生了比平時(shí)多的口水。He produced more saliva in his mouth than usual when he smelt the tasty food.

18. 他注意到有很多唾液滯留在嘴里。He noticed a lot of saliva settling in his mouth.

19. 他被自己的唾沫嗆著了。He was choked on his own spit.

20. 我們的身體會攜帶病菌，而且我們會通過鼻涕、口水、咳嗽和噴嚏傳播病菌。Our bodies can carry germs， and we pass them on through snot， spit， coughs and sneezes.

“流口水”，英語譯為 to slobber/drool/salivate/water。例如：

21. 這個(gè)嬰兒流口水流滿圍嘴。The baby was slobbering all over its bib.

22. 這個(gè)饞鬼流口水流滿餐桌。The glutton is drooling all over the dinner table.

23. 這個(gè)貪婪的人看到這部嶄新的蘋果手機(jī)直流口水。The greedy man was drooling over the brand-new Apple iPhone.

24. 當(dāng)看到這塊大牛排時(shí)，他饞得流口水。When he saw the great steak， his mouth drooled with greed.

25. 這個(gè)食客一看到北京烤鴨就流口水。The diner salivated at the sight of Beijing roast duck.

26. 當(dāng)他看到這種誘人的食物時(shí)，他在流口水。When he saw this attractive food， his mouth was watering.

27. 這美味食物使我流口水。The delicious food made my mouth water.

“止渴”或“解渴”，英語譯為to quench/satisfy/slake/reduce/assuage/relieve ones thirst。例如：

28. 他喝泉水止渴。He quenched his thirst with spring water.

29. 他喝了一大杯冷水止渴。He satisfied his thirst with a long drink of cold water.

30. 他喝了一杯茶解渴。He slaked his thirst with a cup of tea.

31. 他喝了滿滿一玻璃杯橙汁解渴。He reduced his thirst with a full glass of orange juice.

“望梅止渴”的字面意思是 to quench ones thirst at the thought of plums。例如：

32.“望梅止渴”的故事源自劉義慶的《世說新語》。The story of “Quenching Their Thirst at the Thought of Plums” originates from New Anecdotes of Social Talk by Liu Yiqing.

“望梅止渴”的比喻意義是“用空想或假想安慰自己”。英語譯為to console oneself with false hopes。例如：

33. 望梅止渴對解決這個(gè)問題無濟(jì)于事。Consoling yourself with false hopes is useless for the solution of this problem.