20180101
胡同Hutong
北京城的胡同长短不一,风格各异。
Hutongs in Beijing have various styles and different lengths.
最长的是东交民巷胡同,全长近3千米。
The longest one is Dongjiaominxiang Hutong, with a total length of about 3 kilometers.
最短的是一尺大街胡同,从头到尾仅有25米。
The shortest one is Yichidajie Hutong, with only 25 meters from beginning to the end.
最宽的是灵境胡同,目前最宽处可达30多米。
The widest one is Lingjing Hutong, with the widest part reaching over 30 meters at present.
最窄的是钱市胡同,最窄处仅40厘米,需侧身通过。
The narrowest one is the Qianshi Hutong, and its narrowest part is merely 40 centimeters wide; people must turn sideways to pass through it.
弯道最多的是九湾胡同,弯曲之处(curves)不下13处,走在其中,很容易迷路。
Jiuwan Hutong, with at least 13 curves, is the most tortuous one and can easily make you lose your way.
历史最悠久的要数砖塔胡同,为元代胡同,至今已有700余年历史。
The one with the longest history of more than 700 years is the Zhuanta Hutong, whose construction can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty.
翻译讲解
1.胡同:此处的“胡同”指的是北京特色之一,不能译成bystreet等,直接使用汉语拼音hutong即可。
2.长度的表达:文中多处需要表达长度,a total length of,...from beginning to the end,...reaching...等词的灵活使用会让译文不显得单调乏味。
3.侧身:即转向侧面,可译为turn sideways。sideways为副词,意为“向侧面地,向一旁”。
4.弯道最多…很容易迷路:句子中前后分句的主语不一致,在翻译时,要注意改成主语一致或者增添各分句的主语。