“性惡論”怎么譯？

我國古代哲學家荀子提出“性惡論”。有篇文章將“性惡論”譯為theory of sexual evil。一般來說，人工翻譯不會犯這樣低級的錯誤，這可能是機器翻譯造成的惡果，犯錯的根源在于對“性”字意義的理解只知其一，不知其二。

“性”的第一個意思是“人的本性”，英語譯為original human nature或inborn human nature。“人性”，英語譯為human nature。例如：

1. 中國古代哲學家荀子提出“性惡論”，認為“人性本惡”。Xunzi， an ancient Chinese philosopher， put forward the doctrine of the inborn/original evil human nature， holding that human nature is innately/inherently/intrinsically evil.

2. 中國的兒童都知道《三字經》的開頭是“人之初，性本善。性相近，習相遠。”Chinese children have all known that The Three-Character Classic begins with “Man on earth， good at birth. The same nature， varies on nurture.”

“性”的第二個意思是“人的性情、稟性、氣質、性格和脾性”，英語可譯為temperament、temper、disposition。例如：

3. 由于這個年輕人性情火爆，他的父母經常勸他盡可能避免發脾氣。As the young man has an explosive temper， his parents often urge him to try to avoid losing his temper if at all possible.

4. 這個女孩性格開朗，喜歡唱歌跳舞。 The girl has a cheerful disposition and likes to sing and dance.

5. 他內向的性格經常使他陷入尷尬。His introverted temperament regularly got him into embarrassments.

“性”的第三個意思是“物質的性質、特性或性能”，英語可譯為名詞nature、property，或譯成adj. + -natured形式的形容詞。例如：

6. 中國飲茶者非常懂茶性。他們知道茶性中有種東西，能在日常生活中引導他們走進入靜的境界。Chinese tea-drinkers understand very well the nature of tea. They know that there is something in the nature of tea that can lead them into a world of quiet contemplation in their daily life.

7. 這類材料具有導電和吸鐵或鋼的特殊物理性能，因此被廣泛應用于各個工業領域。As these materials have such physical properties as conducting electricity and attracting iron or steel， they are widely used in various industrial sectors.

8. 常見的溫性食物包括醋、生姜、蔥和蒜等。Common warm-natured food includes vinegar， ginger， green Chinese onion and garlic.

“性”的第四個意思指“性別”，英語名詞譯為sex或gender。例如：

9. 在我們消除性別差異之前仍有很長一段路要走，這位女經濟學家認為我們現階段不可能取得絕對的性別平等。As there is still a long way to go before we eliminate gender differences， the female economist holds that it is impossible for us to achieve absolute gender equality at the present stage.

10. 作為一個性別歧視的受害者，這位美國女性雇員宣稱性別歧視是美國勞動力市場的就業歧視中最傳統、最普遍和最嚴重的一種。As a victim of gender discrimination， this American female employee alleges that gender discrimination is the most traditional， widespread， and serious type of employment discrimination in the US labor market.

“性”的第五個意思指“兩性之間的關系”，英語形容詞譯為sexual。例如：

11. 一項調查發現這個外國公司有45%的女性雇員在她們的職業生涯中曾遭受某種形式的性騷擾。A survey found that 45 percent of women employees in this foreign company had experienced some forms of sexual harassment in their working lives.

12. 那位好萊塢大亨因性侵犯罪名被判入獄服刑23年。That Hollywood mogul was sentenced to 23 years in prison on the charge of sexual assault.