谈谈as…as…结构的翻译技巧

as…as…是大家熟悉的一种结构，通常译为“像……一样”。但是在实际应用中，有时需要一些灵活处理。

1. 当语境背景谈的是两个不同的人或事物在某一个方面进行物比较时，as…as…结构可译为“像……一样”。如：

You can get there just as cheaply by air as by train. 你坐飞机到那里同坐火车一样便宜。

In many sports physical fitness is not as important as technique. 在许多体育运动中，体能没有技巧重要。

Some of the doctors are paid almost twice as much as the nurses. 有些医生所获得的报酬差不多是护士的两倍。

2. 当语境背景谈的是同一个人或事物在某两个不同的方面进行物比较时，as…as…结构的用法与both…and…相似，通常可译为“既……又……”。如：

He was as sensitive as he was obstinate. 他既敏感又固执。

Martin was as impatient as he was stubborn. 马丁既缺乏耐心又很顽固。

The confession was proved to be as absurd as it was false. 这份供词被证明是既虚假，又荒谬。

3. 当语境背景谈的是两个不同的人或事物在某两个不同的方面进行物比较时，as…as…结构的用法与whereas相似，通常可译为“而”。如：

He is as kind as his sister is honest. 他的妹妹很诚实，而他则很和蔼可亲。

The prisons are as over-crowded as the farmlands are empty. 监狱里人满为患，而田地却无人耕种。

4. 用于as…as possible 与 as…as one can结构时，通常可译为“尽量”“尽可能”“拼命地”。如：

I want it (to be) done as quickly as possible. 我希望这件事尽快做好。

Dictionaries should be as user-friendly as possible. 词典应尽可能便于使用。

Perishables need to be consumed as quickly as possible. 易腐烂的食物要尽快吃掉。

Explain it as simply as you can. 尽可能简单地解释一下。

The children streaked off down the street as fast as they could. 孩子们拼命地沿街飞跑。

5. 用于as…as can [could] be结构时，通常可译为“极其”“非常”“要多……就多……”。如：

Both houses were as clean as could be. 两座房子都极其干净。

A：What was the weather like on your holiday? 你度假时天气怎么样?

B：It was as good as could be expected. 好得很。

6. 当该结构后接数量表示程度时，相用法大致相当于up to，通常可译为“达到”。如：

She can run as fast as 20 miles an hour. 她每小时能跑20英里。

The speed can vary by as much as 15per cent. 其速度的差别可高达15%。

The authorities fear as many as fifty thousand people were killed in the earthquake. 当局担心地震中死亡的人数已高达五万之多。

7. as… as…结构在某些固定搭配中，要注意分清是用于本义还是用于习语义。如：

(1) as good as用于字面义，表示“与……一样好”，可视为as…as结构与good的自然搭配;若用作习语，则表示“几乎”“无异于”“实际上”。如：

A：Is he as good as her at chess? 他下棋也像她下得一样好吗?

B：There’s no comparison. 根本不能比。

He as good as said I'm a liar. 他无异于说我撒谎。

The matter is as good as settled. 这事等于解决了。

另外，还有以下习惯搭配，其翻译不能随便从字面来理解：(as) good as a play 非常有趣;(as) good as gold 表现很好的;(as) good as new 完好如新;as good as one’s word 守信; as good as pie 很好的，可爱的，讨人喜欢。

(2) as often as用于字面义，表示“与……一样经常”，可视为as…as结构与often的自然搭配;若用作习语，则表示“每当”。如：

I don’t visit my parents as often as I should. 我去看望的次数不够经常。

As often as I tried to phone him the line was engaged. 每次我给他打电话都占线。

另外，习惯搭配as often as not的意思是“往往”“通常”，不能按字面来理解。如：

As often as not, he forgets his homework. 他常常忘做家庭作业。

其他的还有：

as soon as 字面意思为“与……一样快”;作为习语，其意为“一……就”。

as long as字面意思为“与……一样长(久)”;作为习语，其意为“只要”。

as well as字面意思为“与……一样好”; 作为习语，其意为“不但……而且”“既是……也是”“而且”“还”。

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