問:「殺人放火金腰帶,修橋補路沒屍骸」這成語,英文怎麼說?
答:這成語直譯是While those who kill and plunder wear belts of gold, those who repair bridges and mend roads die without their bodies ever being found。意譯則可以說:While the wicked hold prestigious offices, the good and virtuous die miserably(為惡者高居顯位,為善者不得好死)。
英文也有類似「殺人放火金腰帶」的成語,但沒有下半截「修橋補路沒屍骸」那樣沈痛。謹列舉於下,以供參考:(1)Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape(小賊受絞刑,大賊則逍遙法外)。(2)We hang little thieves and take off our hats to great ones(我們絞殺小賊,向大賊則脫帽致敬)。(3)Poor thieves in halters we behold;/ And great thieves in their chains of gold(我們看見小賊頸繫絞刑索,大賊則配煌煌金鏈)。(4)Laws catch flies and let hornets go free(法律捉的是蒼蠅,大黃蜂則逍遙法外)。
問:No之後,應用單數還是複數形式名詞?
答:No之後,用單數或複數名詞都可以,可按不同情況而定,例如:(1)He has no nose(他沒有鼻子)。(2)He has no fingers(他沒有手指)。至於I have no idea(我不知道)、There is no reason why...(沒有理由……)等,則習慣上多用單數形式,那idea和reason很少改為ideas、reasons。