句子：一个国家的兴起与腐败现象如同水火一样是不相容的。

误译：The rise of a nation is as incompatible with corruption phenomenon as fire is with water.

正译：The rise of a nation is as incompatible with corruption as fire is with water.

解释：将“腐败现象”字对字直译为corruption phenomenon，有些累赘。译为 corruption 就够了。

“腐败”的第一个意思是“腐朽变质”，即“腐烂”。英语动词可以译为to decay, to rot；名词可以译为decay, rot；形容词可以译为decaying, decayed, rotting, rotten, putrid。例如：1. 后院的树木好像在腐烂。The trees in the back yard seem to be decaying.2. 这些腐败食物标签表明已远远超过销售截止日期。These rotten food labels are well past their sell-by date.3. 千万不要吃腐败的食物，因为它能引起严重中毒。You can never eat putrid food, as it may cause intense poisoning.

“腐败”的第二个意思是“思想陈旧或行为堕落”，即“腐朽”。英语可以译为corrupt, decadent, musty。例如：4. 这个新任命的官员很快就变腐败了。The newly appointed official soon became corrupt.5. 我们决不向腐败思想做任何让步。We will never make any concession to the musty ideology

“腐败”的第三个意思是“制度、组织、机构或措施混乱与黑暗”。英语形容词可以译为rotten, corrupt；名词可以译为 corruption。例如：6. 这个组织已腐败透顶。The organization is rotten to the core. 7. 近年来，学术腐败一直是中国学术界的一个热门话题。In recent years, academic corruption has been a hot topic in the Chinese academic community.

“反腐倡廉”，英语可以译为to combat corruption and build a clean government。例如：8. 反腐倡廉是顺利进行改革开放和现代化建设的一个重要保证。To combat corruption and build a clean government is an important guarantee for the smooth reform, opening-up and modernization drive. ▲

（本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）