四十八、基 石
●漢語關鍵詞
基石、墓腳基石、墓碑、墓石、奠基石、拱頂石
●英語關鍵詞
headstone, footstone, footing stone,foundation stone, foundation, cornerstone, keystone
●句 子
製造業是現代化的基石。
●誤 譯
Manufacturing is the footstone ofmodernization.
●正 譯
Manufacturing is the footing stone ofmodernization.
●解 釋
footstone的意思是a gravestone placed at the foot of a grave, typically smaller than aheadstone, and frequently resembling a large cobblestone,即「墓腳基石」。與footstone相關的是headstone,它的意思是a tombstone or gravestonewhich is a permanent marker, normally carved from stone, placed over or next tothe site of a burial in a cemetery or a church yard,即「墓碑、墓石」。headstone和footstone一前一後,都與墳墓有關。注意不要將footstone與footing stone混淆。footing stone的意思是a broad flat stone used as thebase or bottom course of a wall,即「基石」,它與墳墓無關。試比較:
1.一塊千年墓碑直立在這座古教堂的廢墟旁。
A thousand-year-old headstone stands nextto the ruins of the ancient church。
2.昨天,我在公墓東區發現了這塊破碎不堪的墓腳基石。
Yesterday I found this badly brokenfootstone in the east portion of the cemetery.
3.沒有基石,建築物會坍塌。
Without the footing stone, buildings willcollapse.
「基石」的第一個意思是「泛指用作建築物基礎的石料」。英語可以譯為foundation stone, footingstone。例如:
4.這座宮殿的基石是大理石。
The foundation stones of the palace weremarble.
5.這座城牆的基石是用各種各樣的寶石裝飾的。
The foundation stones of the city wall wereadorned with every kind of precious stone.
6.工人們安放好了這所房子的基石。
The workers placed the foundation stonesthat the house would rest upon.
7.在這次發掘中發現的建築物廢墟裡有宮殿的基石。
Among the building remains found in thisexcavation were the foundation stones of the palace.
8.昨天,正式安放了這座新廟宇的基石。
Yesterday, the footing stone of the newtemple was officially laid.
「基石」的第二個意思是「專指建築物奠基用的刻石,上面刻有奠基的年月日等」,即「奠基石」。英語的foundationstone和cornerstone的意思是a ceremonial masonry stone, orfacsimile, set in a prominent location on the outside of a building, with aninscription on the stone,相當於「奠基石」。例如:
9.這些著名藝術家正在為這座新博物館奠定基石。
These famous artists are laying afoundation stone for the new museum.
10.許多著名人士出席了這座新建築物的奠基儀式。
Quite a lot of famous people were presentat the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new building.
11.今天上午,市長為新市政廳奠定基石。
This morning, the mayor laid thecornerstone for the new city hall.
「基石」的第三個意思是「比喻事物的基礎或中堅力量」。英語可以譯為foundation, foundation stone,cornerstone, keystone。例如:
12.激情,動力和奉獻是成功的基石。
Passion, motivation and dedication are thefoundation of success.
13.在西方,希臘語和拉丁語曾一度被視為良好教育的基石。
In the West, Greek and Latin were onceviewed as the foundation stones of a good education.
14.維護世界和平是我國外交政策的基石。
The maintenance of world peace is thecornerstone of our country's foreign policy.
15.意志、工作和等待是成功的金字塔基石。
Will, work and wait are the pyramidalcornerstones for success.
16.信賴與責任是任何婚姻的基石。
Trust and commitment are the cornerstonesof any marriage.
keystone的原義是the central stone at the top of an arch that keeps all the otherstones in position,即「拱頂石」。例如:
17.他操縱吊車將拱頂石放入拱頂。
He operated the crane to place the keystonein the arch.
keystone的比喻意義為the most important part of a plan or argument that the other partsdepend on,即「基石」。例如:
18.勤勞是事業的靈魂,又是繁榮的基石。
Industry is the soul of business and thekeystone of prosperity.
19.可持續能源是經濟發展的基石。
Sustainable energy is a keystone foreconomic development.
20.電路理論的系統課程是工程師教育的基石。
A systematic course in circuit theory is akeystone in the education of engineers.