文/陈德彰

数字“三”的英译（下）

文/陈德彰

下面举一些汉语典故和经典古文的引例和其英译，笔者加上了简单的点评，供大家参考。

1.道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。

The Tao begets the One, the One consists of Two opposites (the Yin and the Yang), the Two begets the Three, and the Three begets all things of the world.

【点评】这是道家经典《道德经》中的名言，讲述开天辟地。其中的“一”“二”“三”不是平常意义上的数字，故用大写。

2.凿井者，起于三寸之坎，以就万仞之深。

A deep well is dug starting with a shallow pit.

【点评】这里的“三寸”和后面的“万仞”相对，通过对比说明一个哲理，故没有具体译出。

3.夫战，勇气也。一鼓作气，再而衰，三而竭。

Fighting is a race of courageous spirit. With the first roll of drums, the spirit of the soldiers is inspired; with the second roll, it will decline; with the third roll,it will die out.

【点评】这里的“鼓”是动词，意为“击鼓”，而“一”“再”“三”都是副词，表示一个过程。但英语不像汉语那样多用动态，而是多用静态，故用序数词将“一鼓”译为the first roll of drums。

4.国之所以至治者三：一曰法，二曰信，三曰权。

Orderly government is brought about in a state of three things. The first is law, the second good faith, and the third right standards.

【点评】这里的“一”“二”“三”表示重要性的先后，故也用了序数词。其中第一个“三”后面没有具体内容，是文言中常用的，其后必须加上things一词。

5.君子有三畏：畏天命，畏大人，畏圣人之言。

There are three things of which the gentleman stands in awe: the ordinances of Heaven, great men, and the words of the sages.

【点评】此译前半句点明了“三畏”，后面不再重复“畏”，使句子显得简洁，而这一点是好的英语行文的要求，正如一则英谚所说：Simplicity is the best of style.

6.君子有三变：望之嫣然，即之也温，听其言也历。

The gentleman’s character/image seems to undergo three changes. Looked at from a distace, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to speak, his words are firm and decided.

【点评】注意这里的“三变”不是君子本身的变化，而是他的形象在他人心目中的变化，这一点要在译文中说清楚。

7.智仁勇三者，天下之达德也。

Wisdom, magnanimity, and courage, these three are the virtues universally acknowledged.

【点评】这样译基本保持了原文的词序，只做了小小的改动。句子结构也很清楚。

8.三人行，必有我师。

When I walk along with two others, one of them may serve as my teacher.

【点评】这只是一种译法，人们对其中“三人”是否包括说话人有不同看法，有人就译为……