漢語(yǔ)中“點(diǎn)”的各種英語(yǔ)表達(dá)

孫 麗

漢語(yǔ)里“點(diǎn)”字,無(wú)論是在書面語(yǔ)還是在口語(yǔ)中,可謂隨處可見(jiàn)。它不僅多詞性,而且多詞義。它可以是名詞,如:“點(diǎn)鐘”、“小數(shù)點(diǎn)”;還可以是動(dòng)詞,如“點(diǎn)名”、“點(diǎn)頭”、“點(diǎn)菜”;還可以用來(lái)表示較少的量,如:“喝點(diǎn)水”、“加點(diǎn)油”;此外,還可用來(lái)表示輕微的程度,如“有點(diǎn)累”。正是它在語(yǔ)義和語(yǔ)用上的復(fù)雜性,才往往給英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者帶來(lái)一定學(xué)習(xí)上的困難。下面就從上述這四個(gè)方面對(duì)“點(diǎn)”的語(yǔ)義和語(yǔ)用概述一下。

一、作名詞的“點(diǎn)”

常令學(xué)生困惑的是漢語(yǔ)中作為名詞的“點(diǎn)”的英語(yǔ)對(duì)應(yīng)詞,如:drop,spot,dot,stain,point等。這些詞意義相近,令學(xué)生使用時(shí)難以選擇,所以經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)濫用和錯(cuò)用現(xiàn)象。

drop:指重量足夠以滴的形式落下的最小量液體。如:A few drops of rain had fallen on my head before I could run into the pub.(在我還沒(méi)來(lái)得及跑進(jìn)那個(gè)酒館之前,幾滴雨點(diǎn)已經(jīng)落到我的頭上);另外,a drop of后面接液體以外的名詞,強(qiáng)調(diào)少量,意思是“一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)”。如:When the man went bankrupt,his wife did not show a drop of pity.(當(dāng)男人破產(chǎn)的時(shí)候,他的妻子沒(méi)有表現(xiàn)出絲毫的憐憫)。

spot:常強(qiáng)調(diào)斑點(diǎn)。如:When she was ill,some red spots appeared on her face.(當(dāng)她生病的時(shí)候,她臉上出現(xiàn)了一些紅斑點(diǎn));spot還用來(lái)指室內(nèi)或室外的有一定限度的特殊的地點(diǎn)或場(chǎng)所。如:This is the spot where he was murdered ten years ago.(這就是十年前他被謀殺的地點(diǎn))。

stain:強(qiáng)調(diào)因其它的東西而弄臟的污跡或污點(diǎn)。如:Some coffee stains were found on the white cloth after the breakfast.(早飯后發(fā)現(xiàn)在潔白的桌布上有一些咖啡漬);stain也用來(lái)指名譽(yù)上的污點(diǎn),甚至恥辱。如:He regarded his retreat from the war as a stain on his honor.(他認(rèn)為退出戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)是他名譽(yù)上的一個(gè)污點(diǎn))。

dot:往往用來(lái)指小圓點(diǎn)。如:Do you like that tie with white dots.(你喜歡帶白點(diǎn)點(diǎn)兒的那個(gè)領(lǐng)帶嗎?);My E-mail address is peter at 163 dot com.(我的電子信箱地址是peter@163.com.)。

point:指不論所占空間的形狀或大小的特定的地點(diǎn),它可指一個(gè)固定的、可以以此計(jì)算位置和距離的地點(diǎn)。如:I travelled from one point to another and I was finding the trip very exciting.(我從一個(gè)地方游到另一個(gè)地方,越發(fā)發(fā)現(xiàn)這次旅游真開(kāi)心);point也常用來(lái)指小數(shù)點(diǎn)。如:The room is four point five meters wide.(這個(gè)房間寬四點(diǎn)五米);point也用來(lái)表示時(shí)間點(diǎn),尤其指特定的時(shí)刻或轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)。如:It was a turning point in his career.(這是他事業(yè)上的轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)),At this point he ran out of the house.(就在此時(shí)他跑出了房子);point還可以指要點(diǎn)或主要觀點(diǎn)。如:Well study all the language points in details before coming to the text.(在學(xué)習(xí)課文之前,我們要詳細(xì)地學(xué)一下語(yǔ)言點(diǎn)),Now I can understand your point.(現(xiàn)在我明白你的觀點(diǎn)了);point還可用來(lái)表示價(jià)格漲落的點(diǎn)。如:Prices on the stock exchange advanced two points.(股票市場(chǎng)價(jià)格漲了兩點(diǎn));point還可用來(lái)表示熔點(diǎn)或沸點(diǎn)等。如:Do you know the melting point of gold?(你知道黃金的熔點(diǎn)嗎?)。

二、作動(dòng)詞的“點(diǎn)”

作動(dòng)詞的“點(diǎn)”,在不同的語(yǔ)境中,具有不同的意義。應(yīng)認(rèn)真分析,明確意義,找出英語(yǔ)中地道、適切的對(duì)應(yīng)表達(dá)方法。請(qǐng)?bào)w會(huì)下面常用的“點(diǎn)”動(dòng)詞的英語(yǔ)表達(dá):

你可以點(diǎn)任何你喜歡吃的菜。You can order whatever dishes you like.

這個(gè)問(wèn)題他需要點(diǎn)撥。He needs to be instructed on this problem.

你本來(lái)不必點(diǎn)穿這一秘密的。You neednt have pointed out the secret.

我們每次上英語(yǔ)課老師都點(diǎn)名。Our teacher will call the roll whenever we have English classes.

當(dāng)我回答這個(gè)問(wèn)題的時(shí)候,老師臉上帶著微笑,不住地點(diǎn)頭。When I answered the question,my teacher,with a smile on her face,kept nodding her head.

他點(diǎn)燃了那所房子然后跑掉了。He set fire to the house and ran away.

三、表示較少的量的“點(diǎn)”

表示較少的量的“點(diǎn)”,有的可以作代詞單獨(dú)使用,有的可以修飾可數(shù)名詞的復(fù)數(shù)或不可數(shù)名詞。一定要根據(jù)語(yǔ)境意義選用準(zhǔn)確、適當(dāng)?shù)挠⒄Z(yǔ)表達(dá)語(yǔ)。如:

杯子里有點(diǎn)水。There is a little water in the glass.

杯子里沒(méi)多點(diǎn)水了。There is little water in the glass.

你想來(lái)點(diǎn)咖啡嗎?Would you like some coffee?

你想來(lái)點(diǎn)喝的嗎?Would you like something to drink?

我有點(diǎn)問(wèn)題想問(wèn)。I have some questions to ask.

這事我一點(diǎn)都不知道。I know nothing about it.

他樣樣事情都懂一點(diǎn)兒。He knows a little of everything.

你要多少?給我一點(diǎn)就行。How much do you want?Give me just a little.

從這你可以看到一點(diǎn)藍(lán)天。From here you can see a bit of blue sky.

只剩一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)兒時(shí)間了。Theres a little bit of time left.

對(duì)于那件事他拿不出一點(diǎn)證據(jù)。He couldnt produce a scrap of evidence against it.

這懶女人一點(diǎn)事都不愿做。The lazy woman wouldnt do a stitch of work.

如果他稍有一點(diǎn)理智,決不會(huì)做出這樣的蠢事來(lái)。If he had a modicum of sense,he wouldnt do such a foolish thing.

四、表示輕微的程度的“點(diǎn)”

充當(dāng)副詞作用的“點(diǎn)”,在句子里可以修飾形容詞、副詞或動(dòng)詞,表示輕微的程度。

我現(xiàn)在感覺(jué)好一點(diǎn)了。I feel a little better now.

他們一點(diǎn)也沒(méi)料到會(huì)有那么豐盛的禮物。Little did they expect such a generous gift.

他一點(diǎn)一點(diǎn)地挖園子。He dug the garden bit by bit.

我有點(diǎn)累了。讓我們休息一會(huì)兒吧。Im a little bit tired.Lets take a break.

就慷慨大方這一點(diǎn)來(lái)說(shuō),湯姆一點(diǎn)也不像他爸爸。Tom is not a bit like his father as far as generosity is concerned.

我有點(diǎn)生氣了。I was somewhat annoyed.

她有點(diǎn)兒希望被邀請(qǐng)。She kind of hoped to be invited.

我總有點(diǎn)覺(jué)得這事會(huì)發(fā)生。I sort of thought this would happen.

通過(guò)以上分析可以看出,“點(diǎn)”無(wú)論作為名詞、動(dòng)詞、代詞、形容詞還是副詞,在不同的語(yǔ)言環(huán)境里,語(yǔ)義和語(yǔ)用雖然有相近甚至重合的時(shí)候,但常常存在微妙的差別。認(rèn)真揣摩就會(huì)有此“點(diǎn)”非彼“點(diǎn)”的感覺(jué)。所以英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)不可死記硬背,要用心體會(huì),活學(xué)活用。