談談as…as…結構的翻譯小技巧

as…as…是大家熟悉的一種結構，通常譯為“像……一樣”。但是在實際應用中，有時需要一些靈活處理。

1. 當語境背景談的是兩個不同的人或事物在某一個方面進行物比較時，as…as…結構可譯為“像……一樣”。如：

You can get there just as cheaply by air as by train. 你坐飛機到那里同坐火車一樣便宜。

In many sports physical fitness is not as important as technique. 在許多體育運動中，體能沒有技巧重要。

Some of the doctors are paid almost twice as much as the nurses. 有些醫生所獲得的報酬差不多是護士的兩倍。

2. 當語境背景談的是同一個人或事物在某兩個不同的方面進行物比較時，as…as…結構的用法與both…and…相似，通常可譯為“既……又……”。如：

He was as sensitive as he was obstinate. 他既敏感又固執。

Martin was as impatient as he was stubborn. 馬丁既缺乏耐心又很頑固。

The confession was proved to be as absurd as it was false. 這份供詞被證明是既虛假，又荒謬。

3. 當語境背景談的是兩個不同的人或事物在某兩個不同的方面進行物比較時，as…as…結構的用法與whereas相似，通常可譯為“而”。如：

He is as kind as his sister is honest. 他的妹妹很誠實，而他則很和藹可親。

The prisons are as over-crowded as the farmlands are empty. 監獄里人滿為患，而田地卻無人耕種。

4. 用于as…as possible 與 as…as one can結構時，通常可譯為“盡量”“盡可能”“拼命地”。如：

I want it (to be) done as quickly as possible. 我希望這件事盡快做好。

Dictionaries should be as user-friendly as possible. 詞典應盡可能便于使用。

Perishables need to be consumed as quickly as possible. 易腐爛的食物要盡快吃掉。

Explain it as simply as you can. 盡可能簡單地解釋一下。

The children streaked off down the street as fast as they could. 孩子們拼命地沿街飛跑。

5. 用于as…as can [could] be結構時，通常可譯為“極其”“非常”“要多……就多……”。如：

Both houses were as clean as could be. 兩座房子都極其干凈。

A：What was the weather like on your holiday? 你度假時天氣怎么樣?

B：It was as good as could be expected.  好得很。

6. 當該結構后接數量表示程度時，相用法大致相當于up to，通常可譯為“達到”。如：

She can run as fast as 20 miles an hour. 她每小時能跑20英里。

The speed can vary by as much as 15per cent. 其速度的差別可高達15%。

The authorities fear as many as fifty thousand people were killed in the earthquake. 當局擔心地震中死亡的人數已高達五萬之多。

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