中式英语错误纠正(98):不能打孩子!
分析
While the main idea of this message is clear, that it is a children's hand basin,the word "beat" is problematic. Probably the translator wanted to write the word"feet" which sounds and looks similar to "beat" because of the word "step" . But this little mistake makes it sound like a warning to parents not to hit their chil-dren.
很明显,该标志是说这是一个儿童专用的洗手盆,问题出在单词“beat(打)”上。译者要用的可能是“feet”,它和“beat”在字形和发音都很相似,有“踩踏”的意思。这个小错误使得整句话听起来像是在警告家长不要打他们的小孩儿。
知识扩展
Speaking of hand basins, there are lots of English verbs with similar meanings for expressing "to clean something". Take a look at the following:
谈到洗手盆,英语中有很多意思相近的动词来表示“清洁某物”,例如:
rinse v.嗽口;(用清水)刷,冲洗掉
scour v.冲洗;擦亮
sweep v扫,打扫,清扫
wipe v.擦,揩,擦去
polish v.擦亮,发亮
rub v.擦,摩擦
mqp v.用拖把拖地,洗碗
dust v.掸掉……上的灰尘
cleanse v.纯净