英语中倍数的表达方法和译法

英语表示倍数增减或倍数对比的句型多种多样,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型⑵、⑸、⑹、⑻、⑿ 等)很容易译错,其主要原因在于:英汉两语在表述或对比倍数方面存在着语言与思维差异。现将常用的英语倍数句型及其正确译法归纳如下:

倍数增加

(一)A is n times as great (long, much, ...) as B. ⑴

A is n times greater (longer, more, ...) than B. ⑵

A is n times the size (length, amount, ...) of B. ⑶

以上三句都应译为:A的大小(长度、数量、……)是B的n倍,或A比B大(长、多、……)n-1倍。

eg: This book is three times as long as that one. / three times longer than that one. / three times the length of that one.

这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即比那本书长两倍)。

注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than (as, of) B 常被省去。

(二)increase to n times ⑷

increase n times / n-fold ⑸

increase by n times ⑹

increase by a factor of n ⑺

以上四句均应译为:增加到n倍,或增加n-1倍。

eg: The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times as compared with last year.

集成电路的产量比去年增加了两倍。

eg: The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against 1986.

化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。

eg: That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times.

那可使代谢率提高到原来的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。

eg: The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four.

漏电压增加了3倍(即增加到原来的4倍)。

注:在这类句型中increase常被raise、grow、go/step up、multiply 等词所替代。

(三)There is a n-fold increase / growth... ⑻

应译为:增加n-1倍,或增至n倍。

这个句型还有其它一些形式:

eg: A record high increase in value of four times was reported.

据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。

(四)double(增加1倍)、treble(增加2倍)、quadruple(增加3倍)⑼

eg: The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled.

这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。

(五)此外,英语中还有一种用again而不用倍数词来比较倍数的方法,如:

A is as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is twice as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑽

应译为:A比B多(大、长、……)1倍。

A is half as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is one and a half times as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑾

应译为:A比B多(大、长、……)一半,即A是B的一倍半。

倍数减少

(一)A is n times as small (light, slow, ...) as B. ⑿

A is n times smaller (lighter, slower, ...) than B. ⒀

以上两句均应译为:A的大小(重量、速度、……)是B的1/n,或A比B小(轻、慢、……)(n-1)/n。

eg: The hydrogen atom is nearly 16 times as light as the oxygen atom.

氢原子的重量约为氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子约轻15/16)。

eg: This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper.

这种薄膜比普通纸张要薄一半(即是普通纸厚度的1/2)。

注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than/as B 常被省去。

(二)decrease n times / n-fold ⒁

decrease by n times ⒂

decrease by a factor of n ⒃

以上三句均译为:减少到1/n,或减少(n-1)/n。decrease常被reduce、shorten、go/slow down 等词替代。

eg: Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times.

新型晶体管的开关时间缩短到1/3(即缩短了2/3)。

eg: When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by ten times.

电压升高9倍,电流强度便降低9/10(即降低90%)。

eg: The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5.

该设备误差概率降低了4/5。

(三)There is a n-fold decrease / reduction... ⒄

应译为:减至1/n,或减少(n-1)/n。

这个句型还有其它一些形式,

eg: A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed.

发现迅速减少到1/7。

eg: The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight.

这些产品的主要优点是重量减轻了1/2。

从以上倍数增减句型及其译法中不难看出:与汉语不同的是,英语在表述或比较倍数时,无论使用什么句型(除了不含倍数词的again句型外)都包括基础倍数在内,因此都不是净增或净减n倍,而是净增或净减n-1倍。所以句型 ⑶、⑸ 表示的倍数增量=句型 ⑷;句型 ⒀ 表示的倍数比差=句型 ⑿,且decrease (by) 3 times应译为“减少2/3”,而不是“减少3/4”。