問:要說學生不喜歡老師「高高在上」、「黑口黑面」,英文怎麼說?「黑口黑面」可不可以譯做serious?
答:英文superior一字,除了解作「較好」,也可帶貶義,指「自覺高人一等」,例如:He always puts on his superior
manner in front of his students(他在學生面前,總是擺出高高在上的神氣)。
Serious是「嚴肅」或「莊重」,和「黑口黑面」(一臉不高興神情)不同。《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》scowl條下的解釋和例句是:「an angry look or expression不悅的神色:He
looked up at me with a scowl他臉色陰沉,擡眼看了看我。」這scowl就是「黑口黑面」。我們可以說:Students do not like a teacher who always
wears a scowl on his face and carries a superior air(學生不喜歡教師整天黑口黑面,一副高高在上神氣)。
問:要說「申請表格須附出生證明書和大學畢業證書副本各一份」,以下英文說法哪個正確?──Applicants should attach to
their application forms a copy of / copies of their birth certificates and
graduation certificates。」
答:副本既然只要一份,那麼,不管原件多少,copy都應用單數形式,不用複數。不過,讀者示下那一句,最好像中文有「各」字一樣,加each一字,意思會更加清楚:Applicants should attach to their application
forms a copy each of their birth certificates and graduation certificates。假如副本要兩份,那才用複數形式的two copies。