名人教英文:他有「前科」……
「前科」一词,骤听之下似乎跟作奸犯科肯定有关连,即犯过事、有案底。翻译做英文,许多人就会不加思索觉得应该系 a criminal record。record,纪录,既然有纪录,即是之前做过。「他有前科」﹕he has a criminal record.
he has to withdraw his candidacy in the election because of a criminal record he got when he was 19. 因为19岁时的前科,他要退出选举。
for young people, a criminal record should not be a life sentence. 年轻人纵有前科,不应等于要终生受罚。
留意 a life sentence 是终身监禁,但这里的 sentence,更重的意思是「惩罚」。如果有得拣,我会译做「终生烙印」?!
问题是,如果说的前科,根本与犯罪无关,假设有个姿态举止夸张的女子(英文可叫 drama queen、「戏剧王后」)又在哭闹了,有旁人说﹕别理她,她有前科!意思是,这个场面可不是第一次了。用英文讲,可以是﹕
never mind the drama queen. this is not the first time!