句子：这个矿主给记者们发封口费，使他们对这次矿难封口。

误译：The mine owner paid the journalists hush money, so as to close/ shut their mouth about the mine accident.

正译：The mine owner paid the journalists hush money, so as to seal their mouth about the mine accident.

解释：to close/shut ones mouth 的意思是“闭嘴”；而to seal ones mouth的意思是“当事人封别人的口”。在这句话里，矿主是当事人。他发封口费的目的是封别人的口。

“封口”的第一个意思是“封闭信封或容器开口的地方”。英语译为 to seal。例如：我们寄信时要用胶水给信封封口。We must seal the envelope with glue before posting the letter.

“封口”的第二个意思是“伤口愈合”。英语可以译为 to heal。例如：

我腿上的伤已经封口了。The wound in my leg has healed over.

“封口”的第三个意思是“堵住别人的嘴，不让呼吸或说话”，也可以说“封嘴”。英语译为to seal sb s mouth。例如：

绑匪用破布给不停叫喊的人质封住口。With rug, the kidnapper sealed the mouth of the hostage who had been crying.

“封口费”，英语译为 hush money。例如：

他因为揭露了一个贪官给记者“封口费”的事实，而出了名。Because he exposed a corrupt official's offer of “hush money” to journalists, he became well known.

“封口”的第四个意思是“闭嘴不说，保持缄默”。英语译为to close/ shut one s mouth about, to keep silent/quiet about。例如：

关于这个政治丑闻，他决定封口。He decided to close his mouth about this political scandal.

“封口”的第五个意思是“把话说死，不再改口”。也可以说“封嘴”或“封门”。英语译为 to close/shut one s door to further compromise/negotiation。例如：

他没有封口，还有商量的余地。As he hasnt shut the door to further compromise, there is still room for discussion.

“封口”的第六个意思是比喻“使规定的限度不突破”。英语译为 to set it as the maximum limit。例如：

银行给我们的贷款就是这20万，已经封口了。The bank has made a loan of only two hundred thousand yuan to us and set it as the maximum limit.▲

（本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）