“七夕”在网上有很多种翻译方法：Qixi Festival(七夕节)，Double Seventh Festival(双七节)甚至Magpie Festival(喜鹊节)。其实这些翻译都有舍近求远之嫌，不了解中国文化的外国人是不会明白的。下面我们来学习一段前些年的BBC新闻，看一看“七夕”如何翻译比较好。

以下新闻摘自BBC官网(节选)

Celebrated this year on August 15, the Chinese Saint Valentine’s Day was created in memory of two ancient lovers who were separated by a goddess and only allowed to meet once a year.

Many Chinese also commemorate the Western Valentine’s Day on February 14, with shop owners and florists cashing on the rush of flowers and gifts for loved or desired ones and restaurants fully booked.

【语言点解析】

1. the Chinese Saint Valentine’s Day 中国情人节(七夕)。笔者认为，这是最务实，最有效率的翻译方法。类似地，“梁山伯与祝英台”其实翻译为Chinese Romeo and Juliet(中国的罗密欧与朱丽叶)就可以了。

2. in memory of 纪念(死去的人)。文中的...was created in memory of...这个句型常常可用来解释一个节日，如中国的端午节：The Dragon Boat Festival was created in memory of an ancient Chinese poet, Qu Yuan.

【例】a statue in memory of those who died in the war 一座纪念阵亡人士的纪念碑

(来源：Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

3. lovers 情侣。请注意，lover用复数通常表示“情侣”，而不是有着不正当关系的“情人”。

【例】young lovers strolling in the park 在公园漫步的年轻情侣

(来源：Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary)

4. commemorate /kəˋmɛməˏret/ 庆祝;纪念

【例】We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday. 我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

(来源：Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary)

5. florist /ˋflɔrɪst/ 花店老板;花商

6. cash on(以不道德的手段)获取利润。还可以说成cash in on。

【例】The shops are cashing in on temporary shortages by raising prices. 商店趁一时缺货而提高价格从中获利。

(来源：Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary)

7. desire /dɪˋzaɪr/ 希望获得;想得到

【例】We all desire happiness and health. 我们都希望幸福和健康。

(来源：Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary)

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此文章转自谢昕呈老师的微信公众平台，微信公众号为xiexinchengsteven。