译词 | “一言难尽”用英语怎么说?
你有没有过这样的时刻——心里千言万语,到嘴边却只剩一声叹息,最后化作一句“哎,一言难尽”?
今天就来聊聊,这个万能的“挡箭牌”——“一言难尽”用英语怎么说?
一言难尽主要用来形容事情复杂或情感微妙,难以用简单语言表达清楚。在英语中,虽然没有完全相同的成语,但有多个表达可以传达类似的含义:
01表示事情复杂,难以简单解释
这些表达适合用于需要解释复杂情况,但又不想深入细节的场合:
It's a long story.
表示说来话长,三言两语说不清楚。
例句:
- Why did you quit your job?"
- 你为什么要辞职?
- Oh, it's a long story...
- 哎,一言难尽啊……
It's hard to explain.
表示很难解释。
例句:
It's hard to expain, but it's for the best.
一言难尽,但这是最好的结果。
There's a lot to unpack here.
此处的unpack有“解释,说明”的意思,表示有很多小细节需要慢慢梳理。
例句:
This novel's symbolism? Oh, there's a lot to unpack here.
这本小说的象征意义?唉,可挖掘的内容太多了(三言两语说不清)。
It's not that simple.
表示事情没那么简单能说清除。
例句:
- Can't you just apologize?
- 你不能直接道歉吗?
- It's not that simple.
- 没那么简单。
It's a whole thing.
表示这事儿挺复杂的。
例句:
- Why are you upset with him?
- 你为什么生他气?
- Ugh, it's a whole thing.
- 呃,这事儿挺复杂的。
02 表示情感复杂,难以言表
当情绪过于强烈或微妙,难以用语言表达时,可以用这些短语:
Words can't describe...
表示无法用语言形容。
例句:
Words can't describe how grateful I am.
无法用语言形容我的感激。
I'm at a loss for words.
表示不知该说什么。
例句:
After what happened, I'm at a loss for words.
事情发生后,我不知该说什么。
It's beyond words.
表示无法言语。
例句:
The pain I felt was beyond words.
那种痛苦无法言喻。
Hard to put into words
表示无法用言语来描述
例句:
我的感受一言难尽,真的很难用语言表达。
My feelings are hard to put into words, it's really difficult to express.
03 表示背后有更深层的原因
这些表达适用于暗示事情并非表面看起来那么简单:
There's more to it than that.
表示事情比表面上更复杂。
例句:
There is a lot more to it than that.
一言难尽,不只是这样。
It runs deeper than that.
表示事情远不止于此。
例句:
Their conflict isn't just about work—it runs deeper than that.
他们的矛盾不止是工作——渊源更深。
It's a can of worms.
表示“这是个麻烦事”,形容一旦涉及就会引起更多的麻烦和复杂性。
例句:
Bringing up that topic would open a can of worms.
提起那个话题会引发一堆麻烦事。
04 一些幽默的表达方式
在非正式场合,可以用这些略带幽默或无奈的说法:
You don't even wanna know.
你最好别问。
例句:
- How was your date?
- 约会怎么样?
- Ugh, you don't even wanna know.
- 唉,你最好别问。
Where do I even start?
我该从哪儿说起?
例句:
My trip was a disaster—where do I even start?
我的旅行糟透了——该从哪儿说起?
It's a saga.
说来话长,像一部史诗。
例句:
Their breakup wasn't just a fight—it was a whole saga.
他们分手不是吵架那么简单——简直是一部史诗。
Long story short...
长话短说……
例句:
Long story short, we missed the flight and had to stay overnight.
长话短说,我们误了航班,只好留宿一晚。
