外交部如何翻译“吃亏”?
"吃亏" 在中文中一般指的是某一方在交易或互动中受损、利益不均,可能是由于不公平的情况或者一方在某种程度上受到了损害或处于不利地位。
那么,“吃亏”一词的英文该如何表达呢?我们来看外交部的翻译↓
中国外交部发言人毛宁3月10日下午在例行记者会上表示:
中美经贸合作的本质是互利共赢。如果仅是一方受益,一方“吃亏”,不可能走到今天。整天把“吃亏”挂嘴上,追求绝对的对等贸易,违背了基本的经济常识,也低估了美国企业和消费者的判断力。
China-U.S. trade and economic ties benefit both sides. If one had been ripping the other off, there is no way the ties would have come this far as we see today. To call the economic ties a “rip-off” and pursue absolute reciprocity in trade goes against the most basic economic common sense and those who do so are underestimating the judgement of U.S. companies and consumers.
"rip-off" 是英语中常用来形容某一方被“坑”了、遭受不公平待遇,通常指的是某个交易或安排中一方明显吃亏,利益分配不公,或是价格过高等。这里的“吃亏”翻译为 "rip-off",更侧重于强调一种不公正和不平等的经济关系。
例句:
The service charge is a rip-off, but I'm willing to pay if I'm guaranteed a seat.
这项服务费是宰人的,但要是能保证我有座位我就愿意付钱。
我们再来补充一下 rip someone off。
例句:
His tickets cost much less than ours - I think we've been ripped off.
他买的票比我们的便宜多了——我觉得我们被人敲了竹杠。
带着刚学的知识,我们再来看两个例子:
如果仅是一方受益,一方“吃亏”,就不可能形成今天这种中美之间高度互补、深度融合的互利互惠关系。
If one side has been ripping the other off, it would not have been possible to have the highly-complementary, deeply-integrated and mutually-beneficial relationship that we have today.
简单认为美国在中美贸易关系中“吃亏”的看法是不科学、不专业的。
The simplistic view that the US is "ripped off" in its trade with China is unscientific and unprofessional.
“吃亏”,也可以表示“受到损失(suffer losses)”,常见表达如“占小便宜吃大亏(gain petty advantages only to suffer heavy losses)”。“吃亏”还有“处于不利条件”的意思,相当于“be at a disadvantage, be in an unfavorable situation”。
来源 | 外交部官网、Inter Catti公众号
制作|文琪
审核|肖英 / 万顷
终审|清欢
