大学英语被动语态的译法探析

【摘要】在大学英语中，被动语态使用范围较广。在英译汉的常用的方法和技巧中，被动语态的译法需要英语学习者熟练掌握和运用。英语被动语态的句子，翻译成汉语时，有一些可以保持被动句，但也有一些可以翻译成汉语主动句。本文通过英汉两种语言的对比和一些译例，探讨了英语中被动语态的常用方法和技巧。

【关键词】被动 主动 语态 翻译

英语和汉语都有被动结构。英语是形合语言，其被动语态是通过改变动词的形式来实现的，漢语是意合语言，其被动语态则由有表明被动的意思或靠含被动之义的词来实现的。英语中被动语态使用范围很广。凡是在不必说出主动者，不愿说出主动者，无从说出主动者或是为了便于连贯上下文等等场合，往往都用被动语态。并且，被动语态把要说明的问题放在句子的主语位置上，一是更能唤起人们的注意，二是简洁客观.英语被动语态的句子，翻译成汉语时，很多情况下都可翻译成主动句，但也有一些可以保持被动语态。

一、译成汉语被动句

汉语也有用被动形式来表达的情况，这一类句子，都是着重被动的动作，有些说出了动作的主动者，有些则不说出动作的主动者。英语被动句译为汉语被动句的时候往往用以下几种方式：

1.‘被……或‘给……。

（1） The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved.

人生至高无上的幸福，莫过于确信自己被人所爱。

（2）All resistance will be conquered by a firm resolution：man，once his goal is set，should not shift himself from his resolution of struggling for it.

一切阻力都会被坚决的心所折服。人，一旦树立了自己的目标，就不应再动摇为之奋斗的心。

（3）He was dismissed by the manager of the company.

他被（或：给）公司经理开除了。

（4）as long as we can keep in mind firmly the continent of hope，the winds and waves will certainly be conquered by us.

只要我们能把希望牢牢地装在心里，风浪就一定会被我们战胜。

（5） The first survivor was rescued early Wednesday morning，67 hours after being buried by a landslide on Sunday at an industrial park in Shenzhen.

周三凌晨，深圳工业园山体滑坡事故首名幸存者被救，此时距离事故发生已过去了67小时。

（6） Our clothes were soaked with sweat.

我们的衣服给汗水湿透了。

2.（遭）受。

（1）Last year the city was visited by the worst flood in 30 years.

去年这个城市遭受到三十年来最严重的洪水灾害。

（2）seven people were shot yesterday in two apparently unrelated incidents.

昨天七人在两起貌似不相关的事件中遭到枪击。

（3） Chairman Mao was greatly respected by everyone.

毛主席深受大家的尊敬.

（4） I was seized with sadness as I thought of how the ancient city had been spared during the Second World War and now might be destroyed by an impending riot.

我想到了这座古城在第二次世界大战时得到幸免而现在却要遭到即将来临的暴乱的破坏，内心感到悲伤.

（5） His foreign policy is supported by the people all over the world.

他的对外政策受到全世界人民的支持.

3.“为……所”。

（1）The Martian has now been loved by audience.

火星救援为观众们所喜爱。

（2）we were so moved by this song that we couldn't stop listening to it again.

我们为这首歌所深深感动，以致于我们忍不住又听了一遍。

（3）These views have now been adopted by all students in class six.

这种观点现在已为六班的全体同学所采纳。

（4）The house was destroyed by the big fire.

房子为大火所毁。

（5）They are intoxicated with sweet words.

他们为花言巧语所陶醉。

（6）The ship was destroyed by the autumn storm.

船为秋风所破。

（7）Socialist ideology has been accepted by the people of the whole country.

社会主义思想体系已为全国人民所接受。

二、译成“把”，“使”和“由”字句

（1）Only if beauty is integrated with modesty can it deserve the name. beauty without modesty is not beautiful but，at most，good-looking.

只有把美麗和谦虚结合，才配称为美丽。没有谦虚的美丽，不是美丽，只是好看。

（2）Thinking is strength. The door of wisdom is to be opened by the key of thinking.

思想就是力量。智慧之门，要由思索的钥匙打开。

（3）How much trouble in this life is caused by idle talk.

生活中有多少麻烦都是由闲谈引起的。

（4）The industrial park had been practically destroyed by the landslide.

山体滑坡使工业园几乎全部毁灭.

（5）He was regarded as a Republican by everybody，even though he had always thought of himself as an ‘independent.

所有人都把他看作共和党人，尽管他一直认为自己是“无党派人士”。

（6）Rivers are controlled by dams.

拦河坝把河流控制住了。

汉语有一种“是……的”结构，是一种形式主动，实际上是不用“被”字的被动句，着重说明一件事情是如何产生或在何时何地产生的。在翻译英语被动结构的时候，可以利用这种形式为主动的“是……的”构，表示被动的实际意义。

This five star hotel was built in 1999 for Macaos return to the motherland.

这家五星级酒店是为迎接澳门回归祖国而于1999年建成的。

The growth of wisdom may be gauged accurately by the decline of ill temper.

性情由暴而顺，表示是智慧的增长。

War is invented by the human mind. The human mind can also invent peace with justice.

战争是人的智慧发明的，人的智慧亦可发明有正义的和平。

The school is named after a donator who made a contribution of 70 million RMB yuan.

这所学校是以一名出资七千万元人民币的捐赠人的名字命名的。

Those machines have been introduced from France for the newly established company.

那些机器是为新建公司而从法国引进的。

三、译成汉语主动句

英语中被动结构的句子译成汉语主动句可以有几种不同情况：

1.原文中的主语在译文中仍作主语。

（1）It should have been obvious that the project would have to be completed.

本来就很明显，这项工程得完成。

（2）Art was created to uplift the mind and the spirit.

艺术创作旨在陶冶情操。

（3）With the outbreak of the war，flights were stepped up.

随着战争的爆发，飞行任务日益增加。

（4）If the technology and techniques are really advanced，cooperation can be prolonged.

如果技术确实先进，合作期限可以延长。

（5）New high-tech achievements have been applied to agricultural production.

高新科技的成果已应用于农业生产。

2.原文中的主语在译文中作宾语。

（1）The students were seen reciting the new words and phrases.

有人看见学生们在背新单词和短语。

（2） A large sum of money has been put aside for that purpose.

已经为那桩事拨了一大笔款项。

（3） A plan was needed to strike the enemy right where he lived.

必须有一个袭击敌人所在地的计划。

（4）We are loved not because we are good. We are good because we are loved.

别人爱我们，并不是因为我们善良。而因为别人惠爱，我们就善良了。

（5）Life can only be understood backward，but it must be lived forward.

回顾过去方能了解人生，展望未来方不虚度人生。

（6）To develop economy，different kinds of talented people should be organized. People of real ability should be especially promoted and given raise.

要发展经济应当组织使用各种各样的人才。对那些真正有本事的人，在工资级别上可以破格提高。

3.译成带表语的主动句。

（1）The bus was destined for railway station.

这辆公交车是去火车站的。

（2）Her first twenty years were spent in western china.

她的前二十年是在中国西部度过的。

（3）Rainbows are formed when sunlight passes through small drops of water in the sky.

彩虹是阳光透过天空中的小水滴时形成的。

（4）Eventually，of course，the plan was abandoned.

当然，这项计划最终是放弃了的。

（5）But the march could not be stopped with bullets now.

但现在游行已经不是子弹所能阻止得住的了。

（6）The decision to attack was not taken lightly.

进攻的决定不是轻易作出的。

4.主语谓语合译。英语的一些动词短语含有名词，如pay attention to，take care of，make use of，make reference to，take account of 等等，变成被动语态时成了名词作主语的特殊被动语态.译为汉语的时候，可以把主语和谓语合起来翻译，译成汉语无主句的谓语。

Use can be made of these materials to write a report on the delegations visit to Hongkong.

可以利用这些资料写一份该代表团访问香港的报告。

Care should be taken at all times to protect the computers and other instruments in the lab from dust and damp.

要始终注意保护实验室中的电脑和其他仪器，勿使其沾上灰尘，勿使其受潮。

Attention should be paid to sanitation and hygiene by everybody.

要注意清洁卫生。

四、常用被动句型的翻译

以it作为形式主语的英语句子，在翻译成中文时常要改成主动形式，有时不加主语，有时需要加上不确定的主语，如“有人”，“大家”等。

1.不加主语时。

It is said that... 据说……

It is said that the lummox has loused up their companys whole business.

据说那个傻大个儿把他们公司的买卖搞得一团糟。

It is estimated that... 据估计……

It is estimated that the project will last four years.

據估计，这项工程将持续四年。

It must be admitted that... 必须承认……

It must be admitted that computers were often perceived as a threat.

必须承认计算机常被认为是一种威胁。

It will be seen from this that... 由此可见……

It will be seen from this that knowledge can be acquired from books，skills must be learnt through practice.

由此可见，知识可以从书本中获得，技能必需通过练习中学到。

It must be pointed out that... 必须指出……

It must be pointed out that I dont know why people are so excited about the Double 11.

必须指出我不知道为什么人们对双11如此热切。

It is hoped that... 希望……

It is hoped that I really want to be focused on what Im doing.

希望我只专注于手头之事。

It is reported that... 据报道……

It is stressed that two out of 17 injured people have been discharged from hospital.

据报道17名伤员已出院2人。

It is found that... 据发现……

It is found that chinas smog has made masks and air purifiers the hottest of commodities.

据发现中国的雾霾天气使得口罩和空气净化器成了最热销产品。

It has been proved that... 已经证明……

It has been proved that a pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds，and mopes； a philosopher sees both sides，and shrugs； an optimist doesnt see the clouds at all-hes walking on them.

已经证明悲观主义者只看到云黑暗的一面，抑郁不乐；哲学家看到了两面，耸耸肩；乐观主义者根本没看见云——他是在腾云驾雾。

It is considered that... 据估计……

It is considered that happiness is the best facelift.

据估计快乐是最好的美容术。

It is well known that... 众所周知……

It is well known that the difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say，and a wise man knows whether or not to say it.

众所周知聪明人和智者的区别在于聪明人知道说什么话，智者知道该不该说那句话。

It may be without fear of exaggeration that... 可以毫不夸张地说……

It may be without fear of exaggeration that there are no secrets to success； it is the result of preparation，hard work，learning from failure.

可以毫不夸张地说成功没有秘密，它是准备，下苦功，从失败中汲取教训的结果。

2.加主语时。

It is asserted that... 有人主张……

It is asserted that the best way to finish an unpleasant task is to get started.

有人主張要搞定一件不想干的活儿，最好的办法是现在就开始做。

It is believed that... 有人相信（认为）……

It is believed that he was attracted by her beautiful looks.

有人相信他被她的美貌所吸引。

It will be said that... 有人会说……

It will be said that She should not be judged because of where shes from. Hip hop is universal，no color lines.

有人会说英雄不问出处，说唱是全世界的，并没有种族界限。

It is thought that... 有人认为……

It is thought that a college education should equip one to entertain three things： a friend，an idea and oneself.

有人认为大学教育应让人从三件事上受益：处事，思考和修身。

It is proposed that... 有人提议……

It is proposed that one must study to know，know to understand，understand to judge.

有人提议学而后知，知而后明，明而后断。

It is expected that... 人们希望……

It is expected that we can buy inexpensive but useful goods.

人们希望可以买到经济而又实惠的物品。

It is regarded that... 人们认为……

It is regarded that laziness misses opportunities and diligence makes opportunities.

人们认为懒惰坐失良机，勤劳制造良机。

It is stressed that... 人们强调说……

It is stressed that self-control is an instinct of the strong.

人们强调说自我控制是强者的本能。

五、英语名言中含被动语态的句子

Dont put off till tomorrow what should be done today.

今日事，今日毕。

He is not laughed at that laughs at himself first.

自嘲者不会让人见笑。

No man is born wise or learned.

沒有生而知之者。

Lost time is never found again.

岁月既往，一去不回。

What may be done at any time will be done at no time.

明日待明日，明日不再来。

Books，like friends，should be few and well chosen.

读书如择友，宜少且宜精。

All things are easy that are done willingly.

做事乐意，诸事容易。

A friend without faults will never be found.

没有十全十美的朋友。

A good beginning is half done.

良好的开端是成功的一半。

Time past can not be called back again.

时间不能倒流。

There is kindness to be found everywhere.

人间处处有温情。

Rome is not built in a day.

冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。

A tree is known by its fruit. A bird is known by its note and a man by his talk.

闻其歌知其鸟，听其言知其人。

Nothing is to be got without pains but poverty.

世上唯有贫穷可以不劳而获。

参考文献：

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作者简介：韩萍（1979-），女，硕士研究生，助教，研究方向为外国语言学及应用语言学。