外交部批美國的這句狠話怎么翻：“每次變臉都是對國家信譽(yù)的損耗”

中美經(jīng)貿(mào)聯(lián)合聲明發(fā)布不到兩周，美國白宮29日突然變卦，宣布將于6月15日前公布總額約500億美元的中國輸美重大工業(yè)技術(shù)產(chǎn)品清單并將對其征收25%關(guān)稅。

Cai Meng/China Daily

在5月30日外交部例行記者會上，有記者問及中方對此事的進(jìn)一步評論。

外交部發(fā)言人華春瑩給了一個非常精彩的答復(fù)，她說：

每一次變臉和出爾反爾都是對自己國家信譽(yù)的又一次損耗和揮霍。

來看看華春瑩的完整發(fā)言，英文來自外交部：

我想大家的感受是一樣的。在國際關(guān)系中，每一次變臉和出爾反爾都是對自己國家信譽(yù)的又一次損耗和揮霍。

I believe that we all share the same feeling that when it comes to international relations, each and every flip-flop will only lead to further depletion and squandering of a country's credibility and reputation.

flip-flop：改變立場

depletion [di'pli:??n]：n. 損耗

squander [?skw?nd?]：v. 浪費(fèi)

credibility : 可信性

美方有關(guān)聲明顯然有悖于不久前中美雙方在華盛頓達(dá)成的共識。我們敦促美方言而有信，按照聯(lián)合聲明精神與中方相向而行。

The US' statement explicitly runs against the consensus it reached with the Chinese side in Washington D.C. not long ago. We urge the US to honor its words and meet China halfway in the spirit of our joint statement.

中方始終主張通過平等對話磋商、以建設(shè)性方式妥善處理和解決有關(guān)經(jīng)貿(mào)分歧，這符合中美兩國和兩國人民的根本和長遠(yuǎn)利益，也是國際社會的共同期待。

China always maintains that we should properly resolve and address relevant differences over economic and trade issues through equal-footed dialogue and consultations in a constructive manner. This serves the fundamental and long-term interests of our two countries and peoples, and meets the shared aspirations of the international community.

還是那句話，中方不想打，但也不怕打貿(mào)易戰(zhàn)。兵來將擋，水來土掩。如果美方執(zhí)意任性妄為，中方必將采取堅(jiān)決有力措施維護(hù)自身正當(dāng)利益。

Once again, we don't want a trade war, but will never quail or recoil from a trade war. One move can always be countered by another. If the US is bent on having its own way, we will surely take firm and forceful measures to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests.

quail [kwe?l]：畏縮

recoil [r?'k??l]：畏縮;后退

這番回應(yīng)狠狠批了一把特朗普的出爾反爾和言而無信。

而外交部的官方譯文也極為精彩，將“每一次變臉和出爾反爾”翻為“each and every flip-flop”。

? Flip-flop

Flip-flop這個詞有多種意思，既可指啪嗒啪嗒的響聲，也可指夾腳拖鞋，是個典型的擬聲詞(onomatopoeia [,?n?(?)mæt?'pi??])。

同時，flip-flop還可以指在觀點(diǎn)、主意、態(tài)度、政策等方面突然來一個180度大轉(zhuǎn)彎(a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy)，它經(jīng)常被用來形容政客反復(fù)無常的嘴臉。

這個詞既可做動詞，也可做名詞，例句：

He has been criticized for flip-flopping on several key issues.

他由于在幾個關(guān)鍵問題上變卦而備受指責(zé)。

The president's flip-flops on taxes made him appear indecisive.

總統(tǒng)在稅收問題上的反復(fù)變卦使他看起來有些優(yōu)柔寡斷。

不少外媒在報道我國外交部回應(yīng)時，也用了flip-flop來翻譯“變臉和出爾反爾”。

彭博社(Bloomberg)：

Every flip-flop in international relations simply depletes a country’s credibility.

法新社(AFP)的譯法是“every sudden flip-flop and contradiction”：

In international relations, every sudden flip-flop and contradiction of one's word depletes and squanders a country's credibility.

? U-turn

美聯(lián)社(AP)還用了一個同樣形象的詞，U-turn ，即U形轉(zhuǎn)彎，也是指政策、計劃、行動等的180度大轉(zhuǎn)彎：

Every flip-flop and U-turn of a country will be simply depleting and squandering its own credibility.

? about-face

還有不少外媒用了about-face這個詞。

About-face，其實(shí)就是軍事口令中的“向后轉(zhuǎn)”(act of pivoting 180°, especially in a military formation)。

其引申義為立場、態(tài)度、行為的大轉(zhuǎn)變(a complete change in position, direction or attitude)。

美國有線電視新聞網(wǎng)(CNN)就將“變臉和出爾反爾”翻譯成“an about-face or constant change of positions”(態(tài)度大轉(zhuǎn)變或不停地改變立場)：

In international relations, an about-face or constant change of positions is bound to damage or squander a country's credibility.

路透社(Reuters)的譯法是“do an about-face and contradict oneself”(態(tài)度大轉(zhuǎn)變或自相矛盾)：

When it comes to international relations, every time a country does an about-face and contradicts itself, it's another blow to, and a squandering of, its reputation."

? go back on one's word

新華社的英文報道中則直截了當(dāng)將變臉和出爾反爾翻譯成“go back on one's word”，食言。

She said that in international relations, going back on one's word is a loss and squandering of the credibility of one's country.