2019年12月四级真题(第二套)翻译解析
参考译文

Chinese concepts of family are related to Chinese cultural traditions. A harmonious large family used to be an object of envy. In the past, it was not uncommon for four generations to live together Because of this tradition, many young people continued to live with their parents after getting married Today, this tradition is changing, As housing conditions improve, more and more young couples choose to live separately from their parents. However, they still have a close relationship. Many of the elderly still help look after their grandchildren. Young couples also make time to visit their parents, especially during important festivals such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

难点注释

1. 第一句的主干是“观念与文化传统有关”，应用“A is related to B”或“A relates to B”来翻译，即Chinese concepts of family are related to Chinese cultural traditions。本句中的“其”译成英文时，为避免歧义，应明确译成Chinese。

2. 第二句中的“曾”暗示本句要用过去时。“非常令人羡慕”可用英语中的惯用搭配be an object of envy来翻译。

3. 第三句可译为It is not uncommon/unusual for sb. to do sth.，用it作形式主语，将真正的主语to do sth.置于句末，并用for引出不定式的逻辑主语。“四代同堂”即四代人住在一起，因此本句可译为It was not uncommon/unusual for four generations to live together。

4. 第四句说的是过去的情况，谓语动词用过去时。“由于”后接的是名词短语“这一传统”，故可译为due to或because of。“继续做某事”的常见表达为continue to do/doing sth.或keep (on) doing sth.。“婚后”可译为after marriage/getting married或after they got married。

5. 第五句中的“正在”暗示本句用进行时。“正在改变”可译为is changing（change为动词）或is undergoing changes（change为可数名词）。

6. 第六句具体谈现在的变化，时态用现在时。“随着……”可译为伴随状语，也可译为“介词+名词短语”，即With the improvement/betterment of housing conditions。“选择做某事”常译为choose to do sth.。“与父母分开住”的主语为“年轻夫妇”，故可译为live apart from their parents。

7. 第七句中的“他们之间的联系仍然很密切”可译为they still have a close relationship或their relationship remains/stays close。

8. 第八句中的“许多老年人”可译为many of the elderly/aged。“帮忙做某事”常译为help (to) do sth.或assist (sb.) in doing sth.。“孙辈”即老年人的孙子/孙女，译为their grandchildren。

9. 第九句中的“抽时间做某事”可译为take time to do sth.。“在……等重要节日”可译为during important festivals such as/like ...。