請將下面這段話翻譯成英文:
幸運數(shù)字一直以來在中國的文化中扮演著重要的角色,在很多情況下是中國人需要考慮的因素。人們在挑選住宅樓層、電話號碼或車牌號的時候,往往選擇幸運數(shù)字。中國人認為偶數(shù)比奇數(shù)更加吉樣(propitious),例如,"2"代表“和諧”,"6"代表“順利”。"8"則是中國人最受喜愛的數(shù)字,因為它與廣東話(Cantonese)中的“發(fā)”是同音,意味著繁榮、財富和地位。北京奧運會開幕式時間選擇在2008年8月8日晚8點,也不會是巧合吧。
參考譯文:
Lucky numbers have always played an important rolein Chinese culture. They are considerations that needto be taken into account by the Chinese under lotsof circumstances. When selecting apartmentfloors,phone numbers or license platenumbers, Chinese people tend to choose the lucky numbers. Chinese people think the evennumbers are more propitious than the odd numbers. For example, "2" represents "harmony", while "6" represents "smooth going". And the number "8" is the favorite number forthe Chinese because the sound of "8" (ba) is identical to "fa" in Cantonese, which meansprosperity, wealth and status. The opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics started at 8 o'clockon August 8th, 2008, which could not have been a coincidence.
1.首句較長,可考慮采用分譯法。后一分句“在很多情況下是中國人需要考慮的因素”單獨譯為一句,增譯主語they指代前面的“幸運數(shù)字”!爸袊诵枰紤]的”可處理為“因素(consideration)”的定語從句,即that need to betaken into account:“在很多情況下”under lots ofcircumstances則放在句末,這樣符合英語表達習(xí)慣。
2.第二句“在挑選……的時候”可譯為when引導(dǎo)的狀語從句,由于主句和從句的主語一致,都是“人們”,因此時間狀語部分可采用“when+現(xiàn)在分詞短語”的形式,使句式更加簡潔。
3.倒數(shù)第二句較長,可翻譯為主從復(fù)合句。主句是:“8”是中國人最受喜愛的數(shù)字;從句是“因為它與…同音”,譯為because引導(dǎo)的原因狀語從句!耙馕吨睒s、財富和地位”可處理為which引導(dǎo)的非限制性定語從句,說明“發(fā)”的象征意義。
4.末句中的“也不會是巧合”是對前半句的進一步解說,可處理為which引導(dǎo)的非限制性定語從句!耙膊粫乔珊稀笔菍^去發(fā)生的事情的一種猜測,譯為“couldn't+現(xiàn)在完成時態(tài)”的形式。