輕描淡寫話英語：比喻詞句譯（五之一）

放大圖片

　■蜜蜂常被人稱為勤奮的象徵。資料圖片

　■余黎青萍 前教育署署長

　去年大約炎夏之際，我曾為大家搜集不少「比喻詞」，滿以為順序列出便可；後來得到提示，若能提供實例句子，則更為受用。

　我感謝有見地的意見，更加欣然接受積極的批評。所以決意重翻舊文，造句為例。

　首先，讓我們重溫何謂「比喻詞的詞藻」（figures of speech）：這是利用修詞使文章更生動、有趣味；利用常見的物體描畫某動作、物體或狀態，使讀者聯想比喻，令說話或文章頓然生色不少。

敏捷如猴 盲如蝙蝠

　The lively little child can climb up trees as agile as a monkey.

　那活潑小孩攀樹簡直敏捷如猴（或靈活）。

　When the train went through the tunnel, it was as black (dark) as pitch outside.

　火車進入隧道時，外面黑如漆。

　He was so short-sighted that without glasses, he would be as blind as a bat.

　他嚴重近視，若然沒有眼鏡則盲如蝙蝠。

　Even when he knows he is wrong, he would still carry on shamelessly as bold as brass.

　明知自己有錯，他仍無悔無恥地厚著臉皮行事。

　Quite fearless in the face of danger, he is as brave as a lion!

　險境當前他仍勇猛如獅！

勤奮如蜂 鐘聲清脆

　The student seems to know all the subjects. He is as bright as a button.

　該學童似乎精通全科。他實非常聰穎。

　After the summer holiday, many students are as brown as a berry with suntan.

　暑假後，不少學童曬至有如咖啡種子的褐棕色。

　The diligent lady never stops working. She is as busy as a bee.

　那女士不停工作，真是勤奮如蜂。

　The maid keeps the place clean as a whistle.

　家傭悉心打理以致居所很潔淨。

　He has done no wrong. He is clean as a whistle.

　他沒犯錯，他是清白的。

　She has a lovely voice as clear as a bell.

　她的聲音很美妙，清脆如鐘聲。

湖水如鏡 冷漠如冰

　The water in the lake is as clear as crystal.

　湖水清澈如水晶（如明鏡）。

　The teacher's explanation of the problem is as clear as daylight.

　教師就問題的解釋非常清晰。

　The student's attempt to explain the lesson was as clear as mud.

　該學童對課題的解答濁泥一般清晰（毫不清晰）。

　The soldier is very faithful to his country, just as constant as the Northern Star.

　那士兵精忠為國，堅定不移有如北斗星。

　Tears and pleas could not move the hard-hearted lady. She remained cold as ice.

　熱淚及哀求皆不能感動那硬心腸的女士，她總是冷漠無情。

　就此擱筆，下回再會。

延伸閱讀：

《比喻詞知多少？》，文匯報，2011-07-08

http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/07/08/ED1107080049.htm