讀《傲慢與偏見》學翻譯系列07

《傲慢與偏見》內容簡介：
小說講述了Bennet一家五位千金的婚姻與愛情，表達了婚姻必須建立在愛情和經濟兩個基礎上的婚姻觀。傲慢而深情的達西先生成爲小說塑造的一個經典形象。簡奧斯丁的語言簡練而幽默，反覆品味，趣味無窮。

翻譯例句：
The apothecary came and said that she had caught a cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it. (Chapter 7)
藥劑師來了，說她（Jane）得了傷風，必須盡力避免惡化。(第七章)

翻譯要點：
上面句子中的get the better of it，其實就是overcome it，有“戰勝”的意思；這個詞組還可以用來表示“影響、控制（理智）”的意思，sth. get the better of sb.就意爲某人受到某事的控制而不能自主。

英譯漢例句：
fury got the better of her，and she took it all out on her children.
她被怒火衝昏了頭腦，把氣都撒在孩子身上。

't you never ever let your prejudice get the better of you.
不要讓自己受到偏見的影響。

漢譯英應用：
知道了這個詞的意思，就要會在漢英翻譯中巧妙地用上它，下面這些句子，都可以用get the better of 來表達。

例句：
1.最終好奇心佔了上風，我還是打開了這本日記。
My curiosity got the better of me and I opened the journal.

2.她總是免不了會緊張，所以面試總是失敗。
She failed more than once in a job interview because everytime the nerves always got the better of her.

3.只有知己知彼，才能戰勝對手。
You can't get the better of your opponent unless you know the strength and weaknesses of you both.

口語tip：控制不住脾氣的時候可以說一句，Sorry，the anger just got the better of me.