第三：中文和英文的對(duì)應(yīng)詞有時(shí)意思并不相同或者不完全相同，不能照字面翻譯。例如下面例子中的“外國(guó)人”和foreigner：如果我們要把“他的英語(yǔ)說(shuō)得真好，就像外國(guó)人一樣。”翻譯成這樣的英語(yǔ)He speaks English so well, he soundslike a foreigner. 那么這里的修飾語(yǔ)like a foreigner是指說(shuō)得不好，聽(tīng)起來(lái)很別扭。這種看上去非常準(zhǔn)確的翻譯其效果卻適得其反。正確的翻譯方法應(yīng)該是：He speaks English so well, he sounds like a native speaker.

       “拉動(dòng)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)”不能翻譯為pull economic growth，這不符合英語(yǔ)的表達(dá)習(xí)慣，而要用下列動(dòng)詞才能與economic growth相匹配：push / lift / increase / boost / stimulate / spur / drive / fuel / speed up / accelerate / generate /  fire up / propel / facilitate / reinforce / aid / assist / support / promote / encourage / foster / (sustain / maintain)。

       我們也不能把“素質(zhì)教育”翻譯成quality education，那是指“高質(zhì)量的教育”。正確的翻譯應(yīng)該是caliber-focused education 或trait-centered education。

       第四：有時(shí)候中文字面的意思表達(dá)不充分，部分信息被省略了或被隱藏起來(lái)了。例如下面的例子：特區(qū)是個(gè)窗口，是技術(shù)的窗口，管理的窗口，知識(shí)的窗口，也是對(duì)外政策的窗口。有人把它翻譯為：The special zone is a window. It is a window for introducing technology, management and knowledge. It is also a window for foreign policy.

       這樣的翻譯外國(guó)人是無(wú)法理解的，我們必須把那些被省略了或被隱藏起來(lái)的信息都翻譯出來(lái)：The special economic zones are a window opening onto the outside world. They are a window through which to bring in from abroad sophisticated technology, advanced managerial expertise and up-to-date know-how. It is also a window through which to disseminate China's external policies.

       與此相似的例子還有很多，如“退耕還林”不是return farmland to forest（把耕地退還給森林），而應(yīng)該是restore "woodland-converted farm-plots" back for afforesting（把從林地開(kāi)墾出來(lái)的耕地還原成林地，即重新進(jìn)行植樹(shù)造林）。“春運(yùn)”也不能簡(jiǎn)單地說(shuō)成是spring transportation（春季的運(yùn)輸）而是the rush / peak season of passenger transportation during the Spring Festival（春節(jié)期間的客運(yùn)高峰）。

       第五：有些中文詞語(yǔ)沒(méi)有什么特殊涵義，而與之相對(duì)應(yīng)的英文詞語(yǔ)卻有著特殊的涵義。例如，與“便宜”、“價(jià)廉”相對(duì)應(yīng)的“cheap”，它有時(shí)候會(huì)帶有貶義，成為“質(zhì)次價(jià)低”的意思，如cheap jewelries，cheap dresses，cheap furniture等。我們可以說(shuō)I bought a cheap watch for my child，對(duì)小孩無(wú)所謂；但不能說(shuō)I bought a cheap dress for my girlfriend. 因?yàn)檫@樣說(shuō)會(huì)冒犯對(duì)方。在后一種情況下必須用inexpensive一詞。

       第六：避免用中式英語(yǔ)進(jìn)行表達(dá)，而要盡量用地道的英語(yǔ)進(jìn)行表達(dá)。假如我們要把“我過(guò)去學(xué)過(guò)一些法語(yǔ)，但現(xiàn)在都忘了，都還給老師了”這句話翻譯成英語(yǔ)，最好不要說(shuō) I learned some French in the past. Now I have forgotten it. I've returned it to the teacher. 比較好的說(shuō)法是 I used to know some French, but I've forgotten it. It has found its way back to my teacher.

       再比如我們要用英語(yǔ)說(shuō)“我攢了一大堆臟衣服，等著周末來(lái)洗”，最好不要說(shuō)I have accumulated a large amount of dirty clothes. I'm going to wash them at the weekend. 比較好的說(shuō)法是I have a lot of laundry to catch up at the weekend.

       第七：根據(jù)不同場(chǎng)合，英語(yǔ)的表達(dá)有莊重（formal）與隨意（informal）之分。比如“禁止吸煙”（No Smoking）、“請(qǐng)勿吸煙”（Thank you for not smoking）和“為了您和他人的健康，請(qǐng)勿在此吸煙”（For hygiene's sake, please refrain yourself from smoking in this room.）。下面兩組例子中都各包含有formal - normal - informal 三種文體風(fēng)格（style）：

       Please await instructions before dispatching items.

       Please wait for instructions before sending items off.

       Don't send anything off until you're told to do so.

       Essential measures should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.

       One should undertake any necessary measures at the earliest opportunity.

       You should do whatever you have to as soon as you can.