状 元

句子：今年北京文科状元是位女生。

误译：The liberal arts student who came top in the college entrance examination at Beijing this year is a girl student.

正译：The liberal arts-oriented student who came top in the college entrance examination at Beijing this year is a girl student. .

解释：liberal arts student 是“文科学生”， science student是“理科学生”，指在大学学习的学生。“准备学习文科的学生”，可以译为liberal arts-aimed student或 liberal arts-oriented student；“准备学习理科的学生”，可以译为science-aimed student或 science-oriented student。

“状元”的第一个意思是指“科举考试的殿试一甲第一名”。英语可以译为Number One Scholar/Champion Scholar in the palace examination。“中状元”，可以译为to come out first in the palace examination。例如：

1. 这个故事讲述了古时候一位书生如何苦读十年而最终中了状元。The story tells how a scholar in ancient times studied hard for ten years and finally came out first in the palace examination.

“状元”的第二个意思是指“高考取得第一名的人”。英语可以译为student who came top in the college entrance examination。例如：

2. 这位专家说有些高考状元只是比同龄人更加适应应试教育。The expert said that some of the students who came top in the college entrance examination are just more adaptable to the exam-oriented education than their peers.

3. 根据一项调查，大约40%的高考状元在大学毕业后选择到国外大学留学。

According to a survey, about 40 percent of the students who had come first in the college entrance examinations chose to have their postgraduate studies at overseas universities upon their graduation.

“状元”的第3个意思是比喻“在某一行业中成绩最突出的人”。例如“行行出状元”，在英语中有对应的说法：

4.Every profession produces its own best.▲

（本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）