胡同(Hutong)是北京的一大特色，有著與北京城一樣久遠的歷史。最早的胡同出現(xiàn)在元朝(the YuanDynasty)，如今大部分胡同是在明清時代(the Ming and Qing Dynasties)形成的。據(jù)專家考證，“胡同”一詞源 干蒙古語(Mongolian)的“井”。自古以來胡同都是北京城里普通市民生息的場所，可以說是北京平民文化的代表。但隨著人口的增加，很多古老的胡同已經(jīng)消失，取而代之的是現(xiàn)代化的卻沒有特色的高樓大廈。

　　1.第1句中的“有著與北京城一樣久遠的歷史”用介詞短語witha history as long as that of Bering city 來表達，以插入語形式置于主語之后，這樣整個句子的中心更突出。

　　2.第2句“最早的胡同出現(xiàn)在……”翻譯時轉(zhuǎn)換成“胡同最早出現(xiàn)在……”(Hutong first appeared..)更符合英語的表達習慣。“胡同是在明、清時代形成的”雖然形式上是主動的，但意義上卻表被動，故翻譯時轉(zhuǎn)換成被動講態(tài)，譯作 Hutongs were formed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties。

　　3.第4句“自古以來胡同都是......”用完成時態(tài)Hutong has always been...與since ancient times搭配，很好地表達了這種狀態(tài)的延續(xù)性。

　　4.最后一句中的“取而代之的是現(xiàn)代化的卻沒有特色的高樓大廈”如果逐字對譯為and are replaced by themodern but not characterized high-rise buildings則顯生硬，不如選用意為“給......讓出地方”的短語tomake way for來作前一個分句的目的狀語，這樣譯文更生動流暢。

　　參考譯文：

　　Hutong, with a history as long as that of Beijing city, is a major feature of Beijing. Hutong first appeared during the Yuan Dynasty, and most of today's Hutongs were formed during the Mingand Qing Dynasties. According to experts, the word "Hutong" came from Mongolian language, meaning "a well". Hutong has always been the living place for ordinary residents since ancient times and it's said to be a representative of Beijing civilian culture. However, with the increase of the population, many old Hutongs have disappeared to make way for modem but not characterized high-rise buildings.