同样,汉语里一字多义和一字多种搭配也是相当常见的。就以“打”字为例,译成英文,十有八九要译成不同的英文词:
雨打在窗户上。
The rain was beating against the windows.
她用力打一下锣。
She sounded the gong lustily.
趁热打铁。
Strike the iron while it is hot.
他用瓶子打她的头。
He hit her on the head with a bottle.
李梅亭打门进来。
Li Meiting knocked on the door and entered.
我打了一个碗。
I broke a bowl.
别把茶壶打了。
Don't drop the teapot.
他们打了一仗。
They fought a battle.
他们又打下了一座县城。
They've captured another town.
他们在打墙(堤)。
They are building a wall (dyke ).
他在打篱笆。
He is putting up a fence.
他正在打行李。
He is packing his luggage.
她善于打毛衣。
She is good at knitting a sweater.
你最好先打方格儿。
You had better draw squares first.
昨天他们又打了一口井。
Yesterday they sank a well again.
她习惯于打伞。
She is used to holding up an umbrella.
让她在前面给我们打手电。
Let her go in front and flash a torch for us.
我们必须打起精神来工作和学习。
We must raise our spirits to work and study.
他打起了日本式的印花纱帘。
He parted the Japanese-style gauze — curtain patterned with flowers.
他打电话到她家里。
He called her at home.
高松年直接打电报来的。
Kao Sung-nien cabled me directly.
请你给我打介绍信。
Write a letter of introduction for me.
打 一盆水来!
Fetch a basin of water!
小孩打酱油去了。
The boy went to buy soy sauce.
我爱好打鱼。
I am fond of catching fish.
他昨天打了1000 斤谷子。
He got in 1000 jin of rice yesterday.
他为妻子把柴打。
He gathers firewood for his wife.
你最好先打个草稿。
You'd better work out a draft first.
成本你得打五百元。
You should estimate the cost at 500 yuan.
我在篮球队打中锋。
I played center on the basketball team.
我们应给植物打农药。
We should spray insecticide upon plants.
咱告诉大家这官司打不得呀 !
I can tell you nobody should try any lawsuit.