汉译英赏析：英培安《欣赏自己》

 《欣赏自己》

On Self-Appreciation

不怕直说，我是相当欣赏自己的。我承认自己有许多不如人的地方，但也知道并不老是这样差劲。所以，我做了一件事，写了一篇文章，只要自觉还不错我可以乐上几天，遇有人赞，更飘飘然得不像话；甚至还会忘其所以，插上几句自夸的话。

Frankly¹, I very much appreciate myself. Yes, I admit I’m in many respects not as good as other people, but I don’t think I’m always no good. When I find what I’ve done or written is okay, I’ll remain pleased with myself for quite a few days, and, in case I receive praise for it, I’ll even become so swollen-headed as to add a few words to glorify² myself.

真的，我一点也不谦虚。

True, I’m not modest at all.

汉译英赏析：英培安《欣赏自己》

或者这就是自负吧，恐怕要给人骂了。但有什么不对呢？

People may call me conceited³. But I think otherwise.

我也欣赏别人，凡是好的东西我都欣赏。只懂得欣赏别人而忘了欣赏自己，岂不是太不公平了？

I also appreciate other people. I appreciate anything good. Isn’t it unfair to forget appreciating myself while appreciating others?

但是我们华人总是比较谦虚，而且引以为荣。自己的太太叫拙荆，文章曰拙作。如果你当真叫他的太太山芭婆，文章如狗屁，他保证勃然大怒，和你拍桌子绝交。其实，你所说的，和他说的，可能并没什么两样。

We Chinese are generally inclined to be modest, and we take pride in being so. For example, a Chinese will call his own wife zhuojing, meaning “my humble⁴ wife”, and his own writings zhuozuo, meaning “my poor writings”. But if you should call his wife a “rustic women” or his writings “trash”, he would, I’m sure, slap the table in a rage and declare he would make a clean break with you. As a matter of fact, there is probably no difference at all between what is said by him and you respectively.

我认为，如果你的东西确是好的，直接说它好，没有什么不对。老王卖瓜，只要卖的是好瓜，为什么不能自卖自夸？

I don’t think it’s wrong for you to freely praise yourself if you’re really worthy⁵ of praise. As we know, there is an old Chinese saying disparaging⁶ a melon peddler, named Lao Wang, who keeps praising his own goods. Well, why can’t he praise his melons if they are really sweet and juicy?

老兄，老王是靠卖瓜吃饭的，叫他也学我们书生扭扭捏捏，对自己的瓜谦虚一番，生意还用做么？他保证饿死大吉。

Friends, Lao Wang sells melons for a living. How could he carry on business if he, by imitating the affectations of us intellectuals, were to show false modesty⁷ about his melons? He would sure enough die of starvation.

能欣赏自己，才能敬业乐业，写文章的人，若老是觉得自己的文章不行，我不相信他有信心涂下去。

Self-appreciation is therefore the key to professional dedication⁸ and enjoyment⁹ of work. One will lose confidence in continuing with writing when he ceases to admire his own essays.

卖文的，更不必说了。

Needless to say, the same is true of those who make a living with their pen.

（译者：张培基）

1 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

2 glorify   

vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化

参考例句：

• Politicians have complained that the media glorify drugs.政治家们抱怨媒体美化毒品。
• We are all committed to serving the Lord and glorifying His name in the best way we know.我们全心全意敬奉上帝，竭尽所能颂扬他的美名。

3 conceited   

adj.自负的，骄傲自满的

参考例句：

• He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。
• I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。

4 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

5 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

6 disparaging   

adj.轻蔑的，毁谤的v.轻视( disparage的现在分词 )；贬低；批评；非难

参考例句：

• Halliday's comments grew daily more and more sparklingly disagreeable and disparaging. 一天天过去，哈里代的评论越来越肆无忌惮，越来越讨人嫌，越来越阴损了。 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
• Even with favorable items they would usually add some disparaging comments. 即使对好消息，他们也往往要加上几句诋毁的评语。 来自互联网

7 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

8 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

9 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。