留學生可能在學習之中掌握了大量學科、專有詞匯,讀寫能力杠杠的,但是在日常生活中,怎么解決說英語容易卡殼的尷尬局面?
我們需要做到三點:
一、改變思維習慣(way of thinking)。 閱讀時,見到一些表達方式,多問問自己,這句話讓我說,我會用這種思路嗎?如果答案是no,那就恭喜你了,趕快把這句話抄下來,以后多做點文章。
二、注意選詞(choice of words)。 實踐證明,學好、活用100個詞,再加上以前的一點基礎,就可以自由表達自己思想,并可盡量拋棄原來的中式英語思維。
三、句型(sentence patterns) 。漢語與英語這兩門語言沒多大的相似之處,由于思維習慣的不同,導致一些表達方式也不同,具體表現(xiàn)在一些典型的句型上。
我們時常見的一些小詞,如果多加注意和運用,就會產(chǎn)生很奇妙的效果,一起來看看有哪些吧~
available
使用頻率:★★★★★
造句功能:★★★★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞有點怪,是形容詞,但是一般放到所修飾的詞后面。凡句子中含有是“有。。??梢杂玫?rdquo;的時候都可以考慮這個詞。這個詞關系到我們思維方式,而不是這個詞用法有多復雜。反義詞是unavailable。
1、對不起,沒座了。
Chinglish: Sorry, we have no seats now.
Revision: Sorry, no seats available.
2、網(wǎng)站暫時無法訪問。
Chinglish: This website can't be visited temporarily.
Revision: Website Temporarily Unavailable.
有時候盡管不是非用available/unavailable不可,但是多用一些,看起來正宗。
offer
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞比較微妙。英譯中時不太好處理,正因如此,這個詞才值得我們重視。
1、謝謝你的好意,不過我可以走回去。
Chinglish: Thank you for your goodwill, but I can go home on foot.
Revision: Thanks for your offer, but I can walk home.
2、全國人民紛紛向災區(qū)伸出了援助之手。
Chinglish: People from all over the country all giving their hands to the disaster area.
Revision: People from all over the country are offering helping hands to the disaster area.
Offer可以做動詞用,也可以做名詞用。還有一些固定搭配,其中Job offer非常紅。凡是帶有“給予”、“善意提供的(幫忙)”等意思,就可以考慮offer這個詞。我們可以在第一時間想到要用give的時候多用offer來替代。
difference
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
意思是差別。對于difference只需要掌握一到兩個短語,我們口語水平就會前進一大步,讓你的同學對你刮目相看,那就是make a difference(有很大不同)或make no differences(沒什么不同)。
1、你說的什么移動、聯(lián)通, 我看還不一路貨色。
You're talking about Telecom and Unicom. The way I see it, they make no differences at all.
2、這種化妝品你用用看,效果絕對不一樣。
Chinglish: Please use this kind of cosmetics, the effect is absolutely different.
Revision: Please try this sort of cosmetics, i bet it'll make a big difference.
3、上帝啊,再給我一次機會,我不會再這樣了。
Chinglish: God, please give me a chance again, I won't do this again.
Revision: God, please grant me another chance, and I'll make a difference.
凡是一樣不一樣,都可以考慮這兩個短語,你用好了,絕對可以make a difference。
另外說一下,受教科書的影響,說不同的時候中國學生習慣be different from這一句型。但是很多時候differ from這個動詞形式更簡單,try it, and you'll make a difference,讓你的老師、同學對你刮目相看。
西方人崇尚個人奮斗,追求與他人不一樣。這個詞,對于他們來說,太神圣了。在https://google.com中,make a difference這一短語搜索結果近600萬,我們用過幾次了。所以以后有條件,我們就要make a difference,沒有條件時,創(chuàng)建條件也要make a difference。
sense
使用頻率:★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞主要由于幾個相關短語而流行的。
這幾個短語分別是: a sense of (responsibility, humor...)---有幽默感等, make sense/not make any sense,有意義,沒意義(所以我說別老用meaningless,不是人家聽不懂,那很中式的)。
1、我很喜歡他。他很有幽默感。
Chinglish: I very like him. He is very humorous.
Revision: I like him very much. He has a good sense of humor.
2、我知道,不過有的地方?jīng)]什么意義。
Chinglish: I know, but it's meaningless in some places.
Revision: I know, but again at some point it doesn't make any sense.
afford
使用頻率:★★★
造句功能:★★★
西方思維:★★★★★
意思是買的起,付得起、花得起時間、金錢、精力等。
但是Afford只能表示能力,不表示意愿。例如我們可以說I'm willing to pay, but I really can't afford it,而不能說I'm willing to afford it。
用好這個詞,我們的水平就會提高一個檔次,讓你的同學打心底里佩服。
1、這頂帽子貴得也太離譜了,我買不起。
Chinglish: This hat is extremely expensive, I can't buy it.
Revision: This hat is so expensive that I can't afford it.
2、這個村子里好多兒童都上不起學。
Chinglish: Lots of kids can't go to school because they're poor. (意思表達出來了但是不精練)
Revision: Plenty of kids in this village can't afford to go to school (can't afford education).
deserve
使用頻率:★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞字面意思是“值得”、“該受到”,可褒可貶。用到的場合其實挺多的。幾個例句就可以解決問題。
1、你是老鼠戲貓,真是自作自受!
Chinglish: You're like a rat teasing a cat... (...下面不會了)
Revision: I think you're playing with fire. You deserve it!
2、那個好心女孩終于嫁給了她的心上人。她是有好報。
Chinglish: That good-hearted girl was married to the man in her heart at last. She was good so she had a good end.
Revision: That good-hearted girl married her 'prince' finally. She deserved it.
3、你竟敢這樣對我?找打啊?
Chinglish: How dare you do this to me? Do you want me to beat you?
Revision: How dare you do this to me? You deserve a kick in the ass!
這個詞比較微妙,個人喜歡這個詞,不多說了。
If you think that I deserve some applauses or flowers, why not let me know about it
frustrated
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
表示心情沮喪、灰心喪氣時,老外偏愛frustrated這一詞。我們喜歡是sad, lose one's heart等表達法。
用法特別簡單。當你覺得灰心喪氣時,forget about "sad", use this word instead.
1、沒有一個女孩子給我寫過信,我真是沮喪極了。
I'm so frustrated that no girls wrote to me.
2、公司業(yè)績總是不好,總經(jīng)理真是心灰意懶。
Chinglish: The total manager is very sad because the achievement is not good.
Revision: The general manager is so frustrated for the poor performance of his company.
If, if lots of people come and shout to me:"Coolmax, your English is so poor and limited!" I'll be extremely frustrated
再說一遍,以后要常說 frustrated 哦!說多了,你就有老外的感覺了。
hurt
使用頻率:★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★
“受傷”或“疼痛”的意思??赡苁巧砩鲜軅?,更表示心里上受傷。很紅的一個詞,失戀的人必備詞匯。唉,我們的傳統(tǒng)英文教育就是那么回事,學了10年英文,不知道“我手指疼”怎么說的大有人在。
1、哦,天哪!你竟然不理我了。我受傷了。
Chinglish: Oh, God, you don't notice me! I am injured.(Injure一詞一般不用于心理方面的傷害)。
Revision: Oh, God, how come you start to ignore me! I'm hurt.
2、別動我,我右手大拇指指疼。
Chinglish: Don't move me! My right thumb aches. (動某人的話也可以用 touch)
Revision: Leave me alone! My right thumb hurts.
At last I want to remind some friends that we should never tell a woman that she is 'fat'. She would be hurt or even offended if you do that.
mislead
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
其形容詞是Misleading,被動形式是be misled。意思是誤導。我們國人不太愛說,但是愛好政治與辯論的老外整天把這個詞掛在嘴上。這個詞不難用,關鍵是思維方式不同,所以我們要學。
1、你沒有意識到這份報紙在誤導民眾嗎?
Haven't you realized this newspaper is misleading its readers?
2、我覺得你是被宣傳誤導了,也許是被洗了腦子了。
I deem that you're misled by the propaganda and maybe you're brainwashed.
So, my only wish reagarding this thread is that I'm not misleading.
最后別忘了,這個詞也是Chinadaily 的 News Talks 版面最紅的字眼之一。
offend
使用頻率:★★★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞表示“冒犯”、“得罪”,老外整天掛在嘴上。我們要跟進。一般用法是offend sb.被動是be/get offended.
要善于識別offend使用范圍。漢語語言特別豐富,所以我們要特別注重內(nèi)在含義。
1、你對她的穿著評頭論足,她可能會不高興。
Chinglish: You're commenting on her dress; she might be unhappy. (還不太中式,但是想不到offend一詞就是罪過)
Revision: You're criticising her dress sense. She might be offended.
2、我什么時候得罪她了?她這人真怪!
Chinglish: When did I do bad to her? She is so strange! (不算太中式,但是想不到offend就是罪過)
Revision: Have I ever offended her? She's just being so weird!
update
使用頻率:★★
造句功能:★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞特別簡單,但是我們不容易說好,一般是學一次,知道重要性后,終生難忘。
表示更新后的信息,也可以做動詞,進行更新。現(xiàn)在知識更新特別快,難怪這個詞也吃香。
1、新的在哪?
Chinglish: Where is the new one?(不算太中式,但是中國學生會用update會讓人刮目相看)
Revision: Where's the update?
2、這是最后一次的更新。
Chinglish: This is the newest change.
Revision: This is the latest update. (會用latest的也不簡單)
You know I'm pretty busy with my work and I have to work overtime everyday, but I'll try my best to keep this thread updated.
contribute
使用頻率:★★
造句功能:★★★
西方思維:★★★★
名詞形式是contribution. 意思有“捐獻”、“投稿”等意思。凡是有貢獻,都可以叫contribution。contribute這個動詞一般與to 連用。
1、這事他也出了不少力。
Chinglish: He also supplied his strength to this.
Revision: He also contributed a lot to this.
2、謝謝你啊,你可幫了大忙了。
Version 1: Thank you very much. You really helped a lot.
Version 2: I really appreciate your great contribution.(看情況)
3、你只知道批評別人,你自己做了多少事?
Chinglish: You only know how to criticise others, but how much thing have you done yourself?
Revision: You're a critic! Where's your contribution?
這個詞用起來自然。好用,實用。
scenario
使用頻率:★
造句功能:★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞是“假想”、“設想”的意思。會用這個詞不容易。凡是用過該詞三次以上的(查詞典抄來的不算),我敢斷定其英文水平已經(jīng)達到Great甚至是Excellent了。
這里有一句話:
In the unlikely scenario that there is no major conflict, China is obviously willing to give peace a chance so long as Taiwan is not being unleashed by the Americans to pursue de jure independence.
impress
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
1、Coolmax,你這個帖子不怎么樣。
Chinglish: Coolmax, your this post is just so so.
Revision: Coolmax, I'm not at all impressed by this thread of yours.
2、在我記憶中,中國給我的感覺太棒了!
Chinglish: In my memory, China gave me a very wonderful feeling.
Revision: China was really impressive in my memory.
3、成功的推銷員知道如何打動他的客戶。
Chinglish: A successful salesman knows how to move his customers.
Revision: A successful salesman knows how to impress his customers.
lover
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★
西方思維:★★★★★
這個詞用得太廣了。老外動不動張口就是peace-lovers。此外還有book lovers, China lovers, Music lovers。。。。。太廣了。可是我們國人說得太少了。
下面幾句可能兩種說法都可以,但是老外偏愛第2種。這個不是有多難,我們不會用,而是我們的思維習慣決定了老是想不到。
1、我這個人挺愛讀書的。
Version 1: I love reading books. (沒錯)
Better Version: I'm a book lover. (更地道)
2、中國堅定地與全世界愛好和平的人們站在一起。
Chinglish: China is resolutely standing with all people who love peace all over the world.(很啰嗦的不是?)
Revision: China stands firmly with all peace-lovers world-wide.
Some forumites on Chinadaily community attack China from time to time while asserting they're 'China-lovers'.
要讓世界充滿愛,我們應該多用lover少用hater一詞。
justify
使用頻率:★★
造句功能:★★
西方思維:★★★★★
Justify: To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid。證明、說明什么東西是對的,正確或有效的。
說明:該詞在漢語中沒有對應的詞,雖然有對應的短語,但是我們說得太少,以至于見到這個詞無動于衷,沒覺得有什么特別的,豈止該詞非常具有西方思維,用對了讓你的英文更正宗。就象果汁,你喝兌水的,也叫果汁,人家的該榨出的,也叫果汁。果汁與果汁,大相徑庭也!
1、你明明錯了,你別狡辯了。
Chinglish: You're obviously wrong, don't give chicanery!
Revision: You're obviously wrong. Don't try to justify your mistakes!
2、該政府部門不作為的做法難責其咎。
Chinglish: The government agency should be blamed for their nonfeasance.(not bad)
Revision: The inactivity of the government agency can't be justified.
work
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★★
西方思維:★★★★
詞義:起作用[動詞]
說明:會說work一詞沒什么了不起,但是擅長用work一詞會讓你英語原味大增!我可不想討論它是不是可數(shù)名詞,在這里只討論它做動詞的情況。The medicine didn't work!是什么意思呢?原來是“那藥不起作用/不頂事”的意思。其實work本意是一個人的工作,就是你應該干的活。電視是播放節(jié)目的,能履行自己職責就是work了,不能播放了,或沒聲音了,就是沒把“work”干好;同樣,走時間與在指定時間叫醒你是鬧鐘的工作;打印是打印機的工作。。??傊梢允且粋€想法,一個計劃,一個產(chǎn)品,一個用品,凡是起到該起的或預料中的作用就是it works,否則就是it doesn't work!
1、我的鬧鐘壞了。
Chinglish:My alarm clock is bad. (人家以為你買的是偽劣產(chǎn)品,能用但是質(zhì)量差)
Revision: My alarm clock doesn't work. (不走了,或不鬧時了,或兩者都不行了)
2、我的計劃頂事了。
Chinglish: My plan served for the purpose.(快說對了,可惜沒說對,for是多余的。)
Revision: My plan worked! (多精練!)
3、電視已經(jīng)不太好了。(如聲音時斷時續(xù))
Chinglish: The TV set is already not good now. (不知所云)
Revision: The TV set doesn't work properly(or: well) now. (多地道!)
I hope my explanation works!
hold
使用頻率:★★★
造句功能:★★★★
西方思維:★★★★★
在生活中,我們常常會抱怨聯(lián)系不到那個誰,男女關系中尤為常見。受思維限制,我們一般只會說個contact with,現(xiàn)在有一種更為生活化的用法告訴大家。
1、你這一天干嘛去了?我用了六個小時嘗試聯(lián)系你!
What have you been doing all day? I've been trying to get a hold of you for six hours.
2、我必須通過十個不同的人來獲得你的聯(lián)系
I had to go through ten different people to get a hold of you.
此用法常常伴隨河東獅吼。
crap
使用頻率:★★★
造句功能:★★★
西方思維:★★★★
我們會遭遇一些人的喋喋不休的廢話,那么請這樣告訴他。除了快被用爛的rubbish,bullshit,還有這樣的很常見的說法:
1、請不要再對我講這些廢話了!
Please don't play this crap on me.
2、凈胡說八道
What a bunch of crap!
不想忍受的時候,及時喊停。
mark
使用頻率:★★★★
造句功能:★★★
西方思維:★★★★★
mark之所以萬能,在于將標志、痕跡、得分的含義廣泛地引申出去,例如:
1、up to the mark 達到要求;符合標準
2、an easy mark 容易受騙的人
3、mark up/down 加價/減價
4、leave your/its/a mark 留下永久記憶
等等。
1、The table marks very easily.
這張桌子很容易留下印痕。
2、His silence marked his anger.
他的沉默表明了他的憤怒。
3、Our teacher marks strictly.
我們老師評分很嚴。
4、He walked on air for getting a high mark.
他因得了高分而洋洋得意。