翻开《小王子》的英文原版,你会发现它不只是写给孩子的童话,更是一面照见成年人世界的镜子。今天我们就从这段经典文字里,一边重温故事,一边解锁高频地道表达、核心句型,为四六级、雅思写作直接蓄力
一、原文&译文对照
He answered me at once, “Oh, come, come!”, as if he were speaking of something that was self-evident. And I was obliged to make a great mental effort to solve this problem, without any assistance.
Indeed, as I learned, there were on the planet where the little prince lived — as on all planets — good plants and bad plants. In consequence, there were good seeds from good plants, and bad seeds from bad plants. But seeds are invisible. They sleep deep in the heart of the earth’s darkness, until some one among them is seized with the desire to awaken. Then this little seed will stretch itself and begin — timidly at first — to push a charming little sprig inoffensively upward toward the sun. If it is only a sprout of radish or the sprig of a rose-bush, one would let it grow wherever it might wish. But when it is a bad plant, one must destroy it as soon as possible, the very first instant that one recognizes it.
他马上回答我说:“哦,好啦,好啦!”好像他说的都是不言而喻的,而我自己却要绞尽脑汁才能解决这个问题,得不到任何帮助。
实际上,正如我了解的那样,小王子居住的那颗星球和别的星球一样,也有良草和莠草之分。因此,也就有了良草产的好种子和莠草产的坏种子。但是种子都是看不见的。它们在泥土里的黑暗深处沉睡着,直到其中的一粒突然想要苏醒。于是这一粒小小的种子舒展开身子,先是羞怯地朝着太阳破土长出一棵可爱的小嫩苗。如果那只是萝卜或者玫瑰的幼苗,就可以任由它恣意生长。但如果那是一棵莠草的幼芽,一旦被辨识出来,就必须尽早拔除。
二、重点句型解析&写作指导
1. as if + 虚拟语气 句型
原句:as if he were speaking of something that was self-evident
句型解析:
as if / as though 引导方式状语从句,意为“好像、仿佛”,描述与事实不符的情况时用虚拟语气。对现在虚拟:从句用一般过去时,be 动词统一用 were。
写作指导:
用于描写人物神态、心理,让句子更生动,替代普通的 he said / he thought。
例句:
He stood there as if he had seen a ghost.
翻译:他站在那里,仿佛见了鬼一般。
She smiled as if she knew all the secrets.
翻译:她微微一笑,仿佛洞悉了所有秘密。
2. be obliged to do sth. / be obliged to sb. for sth. 句型
原句:And I was obliged to make a great mental effort to solve this problem, without any assistance.
句型解析:
1. be obliged to do sth.
意为“不得不做某事、被迫做某事”,比 have to 更正式,强调客观情况迫使。
2. be obliged to somebody for something
意为“因某事感激某人、承蒙某人帮助”,是非常正式、礼貌的感谢表达,多用于书面、商务或正式口语。
写作指导:
- 描述无奈、客观限制时用:be obliged to do
- 表达郑重感谢时用:be obliged to sb. for sth.
例句:
I was obliged to cancel the trip due to the sudden illness.
翻译:由于突发疾病,我被迫取消了行程。
I am much obliged to you for your timely help.
翻译:非常感谢你及时的帮助。
We are obliged to our teachers for their patient guidance.
翻译:我们十分感激老师们的耐心指导。
3. there be 句型倒装结构
原句:there were on the planet where the little prince lived — as on all planets — good plants and bad plants.
句型解析:
正常语序主语过长,因此把地点状语提前,并用插入语分隔,是文学高级写法。
写作指导:
优化长句结构,避免头重脚轻,适合散文、记叙、读后感写作。
例句:
There are in every person, no matter how ordinary, hidden strengths waiting to be discovered.
翻译:每一个人,无论多么平凡,都蕴藏着待发掘的潜在力量。
4. until 引导时间状语从句
原句:They sleep deep in the heart of the earth’s darkness, until some one among them is seized with the desire to awaken.
句型解析:
until 表示“直到……为止”,主句为延续性动词时,表示动作持续到该时间点。
写作指导:
用于描述状态延续与转变,让叙事更流畅。
例句:
We will wait here until the rain stops.
翻译:我们会在此等候,直到雨停。
5. the very first instant that... 句型
原句:the very first instant that one recognizes it
句型解析:
the instant / the moment / the minute 意为“一……就……”,加 very 加强语气。
写作指导:
替代普通的 as soon as,让表达更地道紧凑。
例句:
The very instant I saw her, I knew she was the one.
翻译:我第一眼见到她,就知道她就是那个对的人。
三、重点单词&复杂单词详解
self-evident
音标:/ˌself ˈevɪdənt/
词性:adj.
释义:不言而喻的;不证自明的
例句:It is self-evident that health is the most valuable wealth.
翻译:健康是最宝贵的财富,这是不言而喻的。
oblige
音标:/əˈblaɪdʒ/
词性:v.
释义:迫使;使感激
固定搭配
- oblige sb. to do sth. 迫使某人做某事
例句:The law obliges parents to send their children to school.
翻译:法律强制父母送孩子上学。
- be obliged to sb. for sth. 因某事感激某人
例句:I am much obliged to you for your advice.
翻译:非常感谢你给我的建议。
例句:The heavy rain obliged us to stay at home all day.
翻译:大雨迫使我们一整天都待在家里。
mental
音标:/ˈmentl/
词性:adj.
释义:精神的;脑力的
固定搭配
- physical and mental health 身心健康
例句:We should pay attention to our physical and mental health.
翻译:我们应该关注身心健康。
例句:Regular exercise is good for both physical and mental health.
翻译:规律运动对身心健康都有益处。
assistance
音标:/əˈsɪstəns/
词性:n.
释义:援助;帮助
固定搭配
- offer assistance 提供帮助
例句:They offered assistance to the homeless.
翻译:他们为无家可归者提供了帮助。
- with the assistance of… 在……的帮助下
例句:He finished the work with the assistance of his friends.
翻译:在朋友们的帮助下,他完成了这项工作。
例句:Thank you for your kind assistance during my stay in London.
翻译:感谢你在我伦敦逗留期间给予的热心帮助。
consequence
音标:/ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/
词性:n.
释义:结果;后果
固定搭配
- in consequence 因此,结果
例句:He missed the bus. In consequence, he was late.
翻译:他没赶上公交车,因此迟到了。
- as a consequence 因此
例句:She didn’t prepare well. As a consequence, she failed.
翻译:她准备不充分,结果失败了。
- take the consequences 承担后果
例句:You have to take the consequences of your action.
翻译:你必须为自己的行为承担后果。
例句:The rise in temperature is a consequence of global warming.
翻译:气温升高是全球变暖的结果。
invisible
音标:/ɪnˈvɪzəbl/
词性:adj.
释义:看不见的;无形的
固定搭配
- invisible to… 对……而言是看不见的
例句:Many germs are invisible to our eyes.
翻译:许多细菌是我们肉眼看不见的。
例句:Bacteria are invisible to the naked eye.
翻译:细菌是肉眼看不见的。(bacteria /bækˈtɪəriə/;naked /ˈneɪkɪd/)
desire
音标:/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/
词性:n./v.
释义:渴望;欲望
固定搭配
- have a desire to do sth. 渴望做某事
例句:He has a strong desire to succeed.
翻译:他有强烈的成功渴望。
- be seized with a desire to do sth. 突然涌起做某事的欲望
例句:She was seized with a desire to travel alone.
翻译:她突然涌起独自旅行的念头。
例句:She has a strong desire to travel around the world.
翻译:她有着环游世界的强烈渴望。
timidly
音标:/ˈtɪmɪdli/
词性:adv.
释义:羞怯地;怯生生地
例句:The little boy raised his hand timidly to ask a question.
翻译:小男孩怯生生地举手提问。
sprig
音标:/sprɪɡ/
词性:n.
释义:嫩枝;小枝
例句:She put a sprig of mint in each glass of lemonade.
翻译:她在每杯柠檬水里都放了一小枝薄荷。(mint /mɪnt/;lemonade /ˌleməˈneɪd/)
inoffensively
音标:/ˌɪnəˈfensɪvli/
词性:adv.
释义:无害地;不冒犯地
例句:He smiled inoffensively, not wanting to upset anyone.
翻译:他温和地笑了笑,不想冒犯任何人。
sprout
音标:/spraʊt/
词性:n./v.
释义:芽;幼苗;发芽
固定搭配
- sprout up 冒出;长出
例句:Young plants sprout up after rain.
翻译:雨后幼苗纷纷冒出来。
例句:The first sprouts of spring are a sign of new life.
翻译:春天的第一缕新芽是新生的象征。
radish
音标:/ˈrædɪʃ/
词性:n.
释义:萝卜
例句:A sprout of radish is small but full of life.
翻译:萝卜的幼苗虽小却充满生机。
rose-bush
音标:/ˈrəʊz bʊʃ/
词性:n.
释义:玫瑰丛;玫瑰灌木
例句:A sprig of rose-bush is gentle and beautiful.
翻译:玫瑰枝温柔又美丽。
instant
音标:/ˈɪnstənt/
词性:n./adj.
释义:瞬间;立即的
固定搭配
- the instant (that)… 一……就……
例句:I knew the truth the instant I saw him.
翻译:我一见到他就知道了真相。
- in an instant 立刻,马上
例句:He disappeared in an instant.
翻译:他瞬间就消失了。
例句:I recognized her the instant I saw her.
翻译:我一眼就认出了她。
地道表达深度解析
表达:Oh, come, come!
语境:小王子对飞行员的问题显得不耐烦,觉得理所当然。
深度解析:
不能直译成“来,来”,这是英语口语里极常用的语气表达。
主要含义:
1. 不耐烦安抚:行了行了,别纠结了
2. 劝说安慰:好了好了,别这样
3. 不相信调侃:得了吧,别扯了
本文中是小王子觉得道理显而易见,对飞行员的疑惑表示“这还用问吗?”
例句&翻译:
Oh, come, come! There's no need to cry over such a small mistake.
翻译:行了行了!犯这么点小错,没必要哭嘛。
Oh, come, come! You can't be serious about quitting your job tomorrow.
翻译:得了吧!你不会真打算明天辞职吧。
五、汉译英实战练习
参考答案在文末
1. 他一看到那封信,就知道自己必须立刻出发。(用 the very instant that)
2. 由于天气突变,我们不得不取消了原定的野餐计划。(用 be obliged to do sth.)
3. 我非常感谢你在我困难时给予的支持。(用 be obliged to sb. for sth.)
4. 她站在窗边,仿佛在看一件不言而喻的美好事物。(用 as if 虚拟 + self-evident)
5. 每一个孩子的心里,都有等待被唤醒的梦想的种子。(用 there be 倒装)
6. 我们必须在坏习惯扎根之前,第一时间将其纠正。(用 the moment that)
互动话题:你完成上面的翻译小练习了吗?欢迎在评论区晒出你的答案~
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参考译文
1. The very instant that he saw the letter, he knew he must set out at once.
2. Due to the sudden change of weather, we were obliged to cancel the planned picnic.
3. I am much obliged to you for your support when I was in trouble.
4. She stood by the window, as if she were looking at something self-evidently beautiful.
5. There are in every child's heart seeds of dreams waiting to be awakened.
6. We must correct bad habits the moment they appear, before they take root.