如何學好英語一直是華人頭疼的問題。由於中西方的思維方式差異太大，學習前最好能夠審視一下中英文的差異，以下文章改寫自網路貼文。

1. 形合與意合 (Hypotactic vs paratactic)

形合 (Hypotactic) ：利用連接詞來連接複合句中的從屬子句。
舉例：I’ll fire aimlessly if you don’t come out.” (你如果不出來，我就要亂槍掃射了。)

意合 (Paratactic) ：句子之間不用連接詞來說明相互的邏輯關係。
舉例：偽臨朝武氏者，性非和順，地實寒微。昔充太宗下陳，曾以更衣入侍。洎乎晚節，穢亂春宮。潛隱先帝之私，陰圖後房之嬖。入門見嫉，蛾眉不肯讓人；掩袖工讒，狐媚偏能惑主。
節錄：駱賓王《為徐敬業討武曌檄》

整體而言，英文常用形合 (hypotactic)，中文則常用意合 ( paratactic)；因此，英文結構嚴密緊湊，中文結構簡練明快。英文的主幹突出，名詞 (尤其是抽象名詞) 用得多，介係詞也用得多。英美人士表達複雜思想時往往開門見山，善用英文特有的關係代詞、介係詞或分詞構句 (V-ing) 來結合子句，構成一串葡萄似的長句。英文主幹可能很簡潔，但後面卻接連許多從屬子句。相較之下，中文言簡意賅，全憑邏輯構句，隨手俯拾一篇古文，皆可看出這項特點。

• The isolation of the rural world, because of distance and the lack of transport facilities, is compounded by the paucity of the information media.
  (譯文) 由於距離遙遠且缺乏運輸工具，農村社會便與外界隔絕，通訊媒體的不足更讓此種情況益形嚴重。
• It does not do to live in memories, in regrets for the good old days, or in sadness about friends who are dead.(from How to Grow Old)
  (譯文) 沉浸於回憶之中，為美好的往昔而遺憾，因朋友逝去而哀傷，這些都無濟於事。

2. 靜態與動態 (Static vs dynamic)

英文的『謂語』(說明主詞的詞語) 只能容許『一個』真正的動詞，其餘的動詞要轉化成名詞、動名詞或納入關係子句，甚至要捨去動詞改用介係詞，如此方能符合文法。英美人士敘事時如果山窮水盡，透過這些手段便可柳暗花明又一村；中文的行文則大相逕庭，可用動詞去堆疊連綿不盡的句子。整體而言，英文為靜態 (static)，中文為動態 (dynamic) 。

• A mastery of Chinese and English is essential for E-C or C-E translation.
  (譯文) 從事英中/中英翻譯必須能夠掌控中文與英文。
• A few more steps will bring you to the laboratory building.
  (譯文) 再多走幾步就可到實驗大樓。
• A woman with fair opportunities, and without an absolute hump, may marry whom she likes. (Vanity Fair)
  (譯文) 女人只要遇上良好時機，又不會很駝背，想嫁誰都行。
• Leaving for work early will obviate worry about being late.
  (譯文) 早點上班就不用擔心會遲到。
• Carlisle street runs westward, across a great black bridge, down a hill and up again, by little shops and meat-markets, past single-storied homes, until suddenly it stops against a wide greenlawn. (pay attention to the use of prepositions)
  (譯文) 卡萊爾街向西伸展，越過一座黑色大橋，隨著山丘伏了又起，先經過許多小鋪和肉店後又行經一些平房，到達一大片綠地後便嘎然而止。
  注意：英文原文以『介係詞』連接子句，中文卻利用『動詞』表達相應內容。
• This position is on a temporary basis with an anticipated duration of one year with the possibilities of contract extension for up to five additional years.
  (譯文) 這是臨時職務，預估工作期限為一年，但是合約可能會再延長五年。
  注意：英文原文以『介係詞』連接子句，中文卻利用『動詞或連接詞』表達相應的內容。
• He could not help, too, rolling his large eyes round him as he ate, and chuckling with the possibility that he might one day be lord of all this scene of almost unimaginable luxury and splendour.
  (譯文) 他不禁邊吃邊瞪著大眼睛環顧四周，內心暗自發笑，眼前這一派奢華富麗，說不定哪天會落進他的掌心。
• The importance of Time magazine - as both a representation and a maker of western culture - is of course well-known. For the Chinese reader, Time magazine facilitates access to the West so that Chinese society can produce a critique of western values.
  In short, consistent reading of Time magazine gives the Chinese the wherewithal to both disagree with, and learn from, western culture. Time magazine is not easy to read, however. Time’s style is unique: its combination of the erudite and the chic, of technical jargon and street-wise talk, of blue collar slang and sophisticated neologism, constitutes a significant barrier to easy reading.
  (譯文) 時代雜誌既代表也創造西方文化，眾人皆知其極為重要。時代雜誌讓中國讀者更加瞭解西方，進而能於中國社會針砭西方價值。簡而言之，中國讀者若能持續閱讀時代雜誌，便能駁斥與學習西方價值。然而，時代雜誌風格獨特，既納入淵博高雅的文章，也包含科技術語和街坊智慧，甚至運用藍領俚語和複雜新詞，這些都讓時代雜誌艱澀難懂。
  注意：中文原文以『動詞』連接子句，英文卻要利用名詞、介係詞等手段來表達相應內容。

3. 物稱和人稱 (Impersonal vs Personal)

英文常用『物稱』，中文相對少用，而是用『人稱』來表達意見。例如：

• It is suggested that you do this immediately.
  (譯文) 我們建議你立即行動 。
• The year of 1949 witnessed this accident.
  (譯文) 這件意外發生於 1949 年。
• My heart went out to the old warrior as spectators pushed by him to shake Darrow’s hand.
  (譯文) 觀眾從他身旁擠過去與道拉握手時，我便同情起這位沙場老將 。
• When there are so many animals that need to be taken care of, it takes the focus off me. (WE, 2001/2,p56)
  (譯文) 有許多動物要照料時，我便沒有時間注意私事。
  注意：中文譯文呈現較多的個人色彩 。即便涉及個人私事，英文表達仍然可以不帶任何感情。

4. 抽象和具體 (Abstract vs Concrete)

英文以虛御實，常將動詞化為名詞或動名詞，文章讀起來有點抽象。中文以實御虛，常用動詞與實際描述來行文，文章讀起來比較具體。翻譯時如果不適度轉換詞性，譯文便會受到影響。

Men feel happier knowing that their wives are having as much medical attention as possible despite the fact that what they actually need is some peace and the freedom to shout and scream without being made to feel self-conscious. (WE,2001,1,P68~69)
(譯文) 只要得知妻子受到良好的醫療照顧，丈夫便會感覺好些，可惜他們恍然不知，妻子只需片刻的寧靜，還有無所拘束地喊叫。
(說明) ‘without being made to feel self-conscious’ 感覺太抽象，宜用較具體的譯法來符合中文的行文習慣。

**下面例句說明英文的行動名詞如何轉換成中文的動詞：

• I marveled at the relentless determination of the rain.
  (譯文) 雨無情下個不停，令我頗感詫異。
• He had surfaced with less visibility in the policy decisions.
  (譯文) 他已經不這麼積極參與決策。
• These problems defy easy classification.
  (譯文) 這些問題難以歸類。
• Laser is one of the most sensational developments in recent year, because of its applicability to many fields of science and its adaptability to practical uses.
  (譯文) 鐳射可用於許多科學領域，又適合各種實際場合，乃是近年來轟動一時的發展。
• The basilica is a conglomeration of contrary styles and periods.
  (譯文) 這座王宮將不同時期與迥異風格的建築樣式融為一體。

**下面例句說明英文的抽象名詞如何轉換成中文的詞組：

• We have winked at these irregularities too long.
  (譯文) 我們對這些越軌行為寬容得太久了。
• He was described as impressed by Deng’s flexibility.
  (譯文) 據說他對鄧的靈活態度印象很深。
• The sight of his native place called back his childhood.
  (譯文) 一見到故鄉，他便想起童年時光。
• Both we and the Chinese approached that first opening toward each other with caution, uncertainty, even trepidation.
  (譯文) 我們和中國人皆懷著謹慎、不安，甚至惶恐的心情來迎接那次的開幕式。

**其他：

•  No country should claim infallibility.
  (譯文) 任何國家都不應自稱一貫正確。
• She wondered whether her outspokenness might be a liability to Franklin.
  (譯文) 她懷疑自己那麼心直口快，是否會成為富蘭克林的包袱。
• A foretastes of seriousness of incivility is suggested by what has been happening in Houston.
  (譯文) 休斯頓發生的事件已經預示：如果不講文明，將引發何種嚴重的後果。
• He was open now to charges of willful blindness.
  (譯文) 人們現在指責他故意視而不見。
• He waited for her arrival with a frenzied agitation.
  (譯文) 他等待著她，急得像熱鍋上的螞蟻。
• All the critical twiddle-twaddle about style and form is mere impertinence and mostly dull jargon.
  (譯文) 所有這些有關文體和體裁的蠢話，只是風馬牛不相及的胡扯，多半是枯燥乏味的術語行話。
• Taxis cruised about, hoping to pick up late fares.
  (譯文) 計程車轉來轉去，希望能招攬到晚歸的乘客。
• Many men have recognized the similarity of plants to the behavior of animals, and have dreamed wistfully, but forlornly, upon some method or source of rejuvenation such as Ponce de Leon sought in the Fountain of Youth several centuries ago.
  (譯文) 許多人認為，植物習性與動物相似，於是踏上彭斯德里昂數百年前尋找「青春之泉」的後塵，妄想追求什麼「返老還童」的「靈丹妙藥」。

5. 主語句與主題句 (Suject-oriented vs topic-oriented)

英文句子通常有主詞，中文有時則省略，靠著邏輯來推出誰可能是主詞。因此，英進中的翻譯最好省略不必要的主詞來符合中文的行文習慣；中進英的翻譯則需要先釐清中文邏輯，找出適合的主詞。

• Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil. - Menander
  (譯文) 如果面對現實，就會知道婚姻是種罪惡，但卻是必要之惡。
• 循光而去，鍵盤的敲打聲和滑鼠的按鍵聲鍵間歇響起。偶爾響聲暫停，取而代之的是一段討論與交談。仔細一聽，竟然是用國語。
  (譯文) Drawing toward the light, one can occasionally hear the thumping of keyboards and the click of mouse buttons. From time to time, discussions and conversations punctuates the clatter. If one listens carefully, one can tell that the people inside are talking to each other in Chinese.

6. 重點位置 (Focus position)

在英文的複合句中，主要子句通常至於句首，提供相關訊息的從屬子句則連接於後。中文的句型結構則是依照邏輯或事情發生的先後順序來排列，通常最重要的資訊會置放於句末。

如果有敍事與表態，中文會先說明情況，最後來個簡短的表態或評論；英文則相反，先要表態，然後才說發生何事。

• Nothing has happened since we parted.
  (譯文) 自從我們離別之後沒發生任何事情。
• I went out for a walk after I had my dinner.
  (譯文) 吃晚飯後我出去散步。
• He has to stay at home because he is ill.
  (譯文) 他生病了，只能待在家裡。
• Tragedies can be written in literature since there are tragedies in life.
  (譯文) 既然生活中有悲劇，文學作品就可以寫悲劇。
• His chief contribution was making me realize how much more than knowledge I had been getting from him.
  (譯文) 他使我體認到，我從他所學到的遠遠超過知識，而這是他最大的貢獻。
  (說明) 英文中先點出重要資訊 his chief contribution，然後再具體分析，亦即先提出結論，然後加以闡述。中文則不同，以線性進行闡述，歸納後才下結論。
• The people of a small country can certainly defeat aggression by a big country, if only they dare to rise in struggle, dare to take up arms and grasp in their own hands the destiny of their own country.
  (譯文) 小國人民只要敢於奮鬥，敢於拿起武器抗敵，並且掌握自己國家的命運，如此必能阻撓強國侵略。
  (說明) 英文條件子句雖長，但只是說明條件，並非主要子句，因此置放於句末。翻譯時要強調邏輯順序，所以先說明條件，然後說明結果。
• It was a keen disappointment when I had to postpone the visit which I intended to pay to China in January.
  (譯文) 我原本打算元月份要訪問中國，後來不得不推遲，這使我非常失望。
• By the following year he had made such an impact that he was pelted with eggs, tomatoes and bottles by a group of young Londoners annoyed at the effect he was having on their girlfriends. (《英語世界》，2000年1 , p123)
  (譯文) 不到第二年，他便引發轟動效應。有一群倫敦的小夥子因為女朋友受他影響而感到惱怒，憤而對他投擲雞蛋、番茄與瓶罐。