2015年12月英语四级翻译练习：下午茶

　　2.第二句中的“当时那里时兴的晚餐时间是晚上8点”翻译时进行“增词”处理，加一个late(晚的)更能准确表达出下午茶的必要性;同时，“时兴的”转换成副词popularly，使译文自然流畅。

　　3. 倒数第2句中的“这个英国传统逐渐进人中国”逐字对译则为this British tradition gradually entered into China，这样翻译略显生硬。实际上，这是一句没有被动标记词的被动句，宜译为this British tradition was gradually introduced into China.

　　4.最后一句中的“广东和福建地区”不可直译为Guangdong and Fujian area，应把“广东”和“福建”的性质交代清楚，译作in the area of Guangdong and Fijian provinces才符合英语表达习惯。

　　参考译文

　　Although the tradition of drinking tea dates back to more than 3,000 B.C. in China, it was not until the mid 17th century in the UK that appeared the concept of "afternoon tea". The dinner time then was popularly late at 8 pm, so a Duchess developed a habit of inviting Mends to enjoy some cakes at 4 pm in the afternoon. Quickly, afternoon tea became a fashionable social event. With the cultural exchanges between the east and the west deepening, this British tradition was gradually in-traduced into China. Now, afternoon tea is increasingly popular in China, especially in the area ol Guangdong and Fijian provinces.