活字典

句子：他學識淵博,被人稱為活字典。

誤譯：Being profound in knowledge, he was called a living dictionary.

正譯：Being profound in knowledge, he was called a walking dictionary.

解釋：“活字典”是個比喻說法，形容一個學識淵博的人。living dictionary 的意思是a dictionary that exists，即“現在人們使用的字典”，不是用來指人。但是 walking dictionary的意思是a person who has an impressive knowledge of facts or words，指“學識淵博的人”。

作為形容詞，“活”的第一個意思是指“有生命的、存活的或依然活躍的”。可譯為living, live, active。如：1. 我只好死馬當活馬醫。I could not but deal with it like treating a dead horse as if it were a live one. 2. 活火山隨時都可能爆發。An active volcano can explode at any time.

形容詞“活”的第二個意思是“生動的”。可譯為 lively, vivid。如：3. 這個喝醉酒的司機成為醉酒駕車的活標本。The drunk driver became a lively example of those who drive while intoxicated. 4. 他的英雄事跡是一部反腐斗爭的活教材。His heroic deed is a vivid object lesson in fighting against corruption.

形容詞“活”的第三個意思是比喻“在某一方面與之相似”。可譯為living, live。如：5. 這首歌的名字叫《東北人都是活雷鋒》。This song is entitled Everybody from Northeast China is a living Lei Feng. 6. “飯后一支煙，賽過活神仙” 的說法對煙民其實是一種誤導。The saying that one who smokes a cigarette after dinner is just like a living immortal is in fact misleading to the smokers.

形容詞“活”第四個意思是“熟悉或精通某方面知識”。可譯為 walking。如：7. 這位植物學家被稱為中國植物學界的活字典。This botanist is regarded as a walking encyclopaedia in Chinas botanical circles. ▲

（本欄目供稿：王逢鑫教授）