封口費

句子：這個礦主給記者們發(fā)封口費，使他們對這次礦難封口。

誤譯：The mine owner paid the journalists hush money, so as to close/ shut their mouth about the mine accident.

正譯：The mine owner paid the journalists hush money, so as to seal their mouth about the mine accident.

解釋：to close/shut ones mouth 的意思是“閉嘴”；而to seal ones mouth的意思是“當事人封別人的口”。在這句話里，礦主是當事人。他發(fā)封口費的目的是封別人的口。

“封口”的第一個意思是“封閉信封或容器開口的地方”。英語譯為 to seal。例如：我們寄信時要用膠水給信封封口。We must seal the envelope with glue before posting the letter.

“封口”的第二個意思是“傷口愈合”。英語可以譯為 to heal。例如：

我腿上的傷已經封口了。The wound in my leg has healed over.

“封口”的第三個意思是“堵住別人的嘴，不讓呼吸或說話”，也可以說“封嘴”。英語譯為to seal sb s mouth。例如：

綁匪用破布給不停叫喊的人質封住口。With rug, the kidnapper sealed the mouth of the hostage who had been crying.

“封口費”，英語譯為 hush money。例如：

他因為揭露了一個貪官給記者“封口費”的事實，而出了名。Because he exposed a corrupt official's offer of “hush money” to journalists, he became well known.

“封口”的第四個意思是“閉嘴不說，保持緘默”。英語譯為to close/ shut one s mouth about, to keep silent/quiet about。例如：

關于這個政治丑聞，他決定封口。He decided to close his mouth about this political scandal.

“封口”的第五個意思是“把話說死，不再改口”。也可以說“封嘴”或“封門”。英語譯為 to close/shut one s door to further compromise/negotiation。例如：

他沒有封口，還有商量的余地。As he hasnt shut the door to further compromise, there is still room for discussion.

“封口”的第六個意思是比喻“使規(guī)定的限度不突破”。英語譯為 to set it as the maximum limit。例如：

銀行給我們的貸款就是這20萬，已經封口了。The bank has made a loan of only two hundred thousand yuan to us and set it as the maximum limit.▲

（本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）