中文原文:
举手之劳,何足挂齿。
错误译文:
Lifting a finger is not worth mentioning.
正确译文:
It was just a slight effort, and not worth mentioning.
翻译加油站:
“举手之劳”比喻“做轻而易举的事相助”。英语的to lift/raise a finger/ hand,表示“举起一个指头或一只手”的字面意义。这句译文的意思显然不妥。to lift/raise a finger/hand to help,表示to make any effort to help when necessary,才有“尽举手之劳相助”的意思,常用于否定句。例如:这个男孩连尽举手之劳帮助做家务活的事都从来不做。The boy never lifts a finger to help around the house.
“举手”和“抬手”可以译为 to raise one's hand(s), to lift one's hand(s), to put up one's hand(s)。例如:他抬手轻柔地敲门。He lifted his hand and rapped gently on the door.
“举手”的第一个功能是引起别人注意。例如:我很快地举手,但是老师叫了另外的人。I quickly raised my hand, but the teacher called someone else.
第二个功能是表示致敬。例如:他把右手举到右眉,将手持平,行了举手礼。He raised his right hand to the right eyebrow and held it flat, offering a hand salute.
第三个功能是示意提问。例如:他举手提问了他的那个迫切的问题。He raised his hand and asked the burning question he had.
第四个功能是用于表决。例如:委员会全体委员参加了举手表决。All the members on the committee participated in the hand vote.
第五个功能是表示投降。例如:这个敌兵举手投降。The enemy soldier put his hands up and surrendered.