It has long been known that a taxi firm called AAAA cars has a big
advantage over Zodiac cars when customers thumb through their phone
directories. 词汇:
thumb//v. 翻书
directory//n. 电话簿,名录,目录 结构:
It has long been known(形式主语结构) //that a taxi firm calledAAAA cars has a big
advantage over Zodiac cars (that主语从句)//when customers thumb through their
phonedirectories(when时间状语从句). 译文:
我们早就知道,如果顾客翻电话簿叫出租车,一家名叫AAAA的出租车公司就比另一家Zodiac公司有很大的优势。 翻译思路:翻电话簿
when customers thumb through their phone directories这个句子有几点需要注意:
when本来是时间状语从句“当顾客翻电话簿时”,这里我翻译为了条件。因为这个动作并没有发生。
thumb本来的意思是“大拇指”,它做动词用,很生动。意思是“翻页,翻书”。
英语多用代词,their可以不用翻译,翻译出来就恶心:如果顾客翻他们的电话簿?好奇怪。
最后,如果顾客翻电话簿,感觉话没有说完,根据上下文补充一下:如果顾客翻电话簿叫出租车。