日常生活中,我們大概都遇見過“想當然”的情況。想當然,也就是出于主觀想象,僅憑主觀的推測就來斷定,認為事情應當如此。
那么問題來了,“想當然”用英語該怎么說呢?難道就是“think of course”?當然不是。
首先我們來看“想當然”的基本釋義:
think it is so - most probably it did not actually happen
所以,I think it's so.=我想就是這樣的,但很可能想的情況并不是事實。
我們經(jīng)常指出某人“想當然”了,就是說他們胡思亂想就亂下結(jié)論,以為事情和結(jié)論是怎樣就斷定是什么樣,但其實都沒有經(jīng)過仔細考量和實證。
這樣一個假想、假定的過程也正好對應了英文中的一個單詞:
assume /??sju?m/ v.
to accept something to be true without question or proof
假定,假設(shè);臆斷,想當然地認為
例句:
I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school.
你們不是上的同一所學校嗎?我還以為你們倆認識呢。
We can't assume the suspects to be guilty simply because they've decided to remain silent.
我們不能僅僅因為疑犯選擇保持沉默,就斷定他們有罪。
We mustn't assume the suspects' guilt.
我們千萬不能臆斷嫌疑人有罪。
So you might assume that mobile phones know exactly where you are.
所以你想當然地認為移動電話可以定位你的所在。
此外,還有一個短語take for granted也可以表達“想當然”的意思:
to believe something to be the truth without even thinking about it
認為…是理所當然的
例句:
I didn't realize that Melanie hadn't been to college - I suppose I just took it for granted.
我不知道梅拉妮沒上大學——我只是想當然地認為她上過了。
Don't take it for granted.
不要想當然。
You should never take anything for granted, Mr Carson.
什么事都不能想當然啊,卡森先生。