英语难句理解与翻译（涉及will of his master等）
2024-12-14 19:00:39 学考宝 作者：佚名
问题描述
As a slave he of course has absolutely no social standing and is entirely dependent on the good will of his master for his water, food, clothing, health and even his very life.
这句话中的 will of his master for his water, food, clothing, health and even his very life 不知道该如何翻译，will of his master 什么意思？
我大概翻译的是，作为奴隶他理所当然的没有社会地位，同时依靠着他还能掌控的水、食物、健康和他的生活。
老师答疑
刘老师：
As a slave he of course has absolutely no social standing and is entirely dependent on the good will of his master for his water, food, clothing, health and even his very life.
这句话中的 will of his master for his water, food, clothing, health and even his very life 不知道该如何翻译，will of his master 什么意思？
我大概翻译的是，作为奴隶他理所当然的没有社会地位，同时依靠着他还能掌控的水、食物、健康和他的生活。
As a slave he of course has absolutely no social standing and is entirely dependent on the good will of his master for his water, food, clothing, health and even his very life.
【翻译】作为奴隶，他当然绝对没有社会地位，完全依赖主人是否愿意给他提供水，食物，衣服，健康，甚至生命。
【分析】根据我的翻译，就可看出这个句子的结构和修饰关系。
1. the good will of sb. ：某人的善意、好意；某人乐意、愿意、意愿。具体到本句的语境（奴隶和奴隶主的关系），这个词组可以理解为“主人（是否）乐意/愿意”。
2. for表示目的，就是说，“他为了获得”后面这些东西，取决于主人愿意与否。
【翻译技巧】dependent on sth. 虽然sth.是一个表示“肯定意义的名词”，但dependent on 表示“取决于”，所以，它后面的词语带有“悬而未决”的意味，因此，翻译时可加上“是否”二字。例如：
His academic record is dependent on his diligence. 他的学业成绩取决于他是否勤奋。
曹老师：
这个句子的关键是理解will是个名词，意愿。good will良好的意愿，善意、好意。原译文的错误就在于没理解good will。的意思。will作名词还有遗嘱的意思。死者死前的意愿。
陈老师：
同意刘老师和曹老师解答
以上句子关键为：
(1)the good will of one's master for sth 某人给予某物的意愿/善意
(2)be entirely dependent on 完全依赖于...
(3)have absolutely no social standing.毫无疑问没有社会地位
