英語表示倍數增減或倍數對比的句型多種多樣,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型⑵、⑸、⑹、⑻、⑿ 等)很容易譯錯,其主要原因在于:英漢兩語在表述或對比倍數方面存在著語言與思維差異。現將常用的英語倍數句型及其正確譯法歸納如下:

倍數增加

(一)A is n times as great (long, much, ...) as B. ⑴

A is n times greater (longer, more, ...) than B. ⑵

A is n times the size (length, amount, ...) of B. ⑶

以上三句都應譯為:A的大小(長度、數量、……)是B的n倍,或A比B大(長、多、……)n-1倍。

eg: This book is three times as long as that one. / three times longer than that one. / three times the length of that one.

這本書的篇幅是那本書的3倍(即比那本書長兩倍)。

注:當相比的對象B很明顯時,than (as, of) B 常被省去。

(二)increase to n times ⑷

increase n times / n-fold ⑸

increase by n times ⑹

increase by a factor of n ⑺

以上四句均應譯為:增加到n倍,或增加n-1倍。

eg: The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times as compared with last year.

集成電路的產量比去年增加了兩倍。

eg: The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against 1986.

化肥產量比1986年增加了4倍。

eg: That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times.

那可使代謝率提高到原來的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。

eg: The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four.

漏電壓增加了3倍(即增加到原來的4倍)。

注:在這類句型中increase常被raise、grow、go/step up、multiply 等詞所替代。

(三)There is a n-fold increase / growth... ⑻

應譯為:增加n-1倍,或增至n倍。

這個句型還有其它一些形式:

eg: A record high increase in value of four times was reported.

據報道,價值破記錄地增長了3倍。

(四)double(增加1倍)、treble(增加2倍)、quadruple(增加3倍)⑼

eg: The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled.

這些機器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。

(五)此外,英語中還有一種用again而不用倍數詞來比較倍數的方法,如:

A is as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is twice as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑽

應譯為:A比B多(大、長、……)1倍。

A is half as much (large, long, ...) again as B. = A is one and a half times as much (large, long, ...) as B. ⑾

應譯為:A比B多(大、長、……)一半,即A是B的一倍半。

倍數減少

(一)A is n times as small (light, slow, ...) as B. ⑿

A is n times smaller (lighter, slower, ...) than B. ⒀

以上兩句均應譯為:A的大小(重量、速度、……)是B的1/n,或A比B小(輕、慢、……)(n-1)/n。

eg: The hydrogen atom is nearly 16 times as light as the oxygen atom.

氫原子的重量約為氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子約輕15/16)。

eg: This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper.

這種薄膜比普通紙張要薄一半(即是普通紙厚度的1/2)。

注:當相比的對象B很明顯時,than/as B 常被省去。

(二)decrease n times / n-fold ⒁

decrease by n times ⒂

decrease by a factor of n ⒃

以上三句均譯為:減少到1/n,或減少(n-1)/n。decrease常被reduce、shorten、go/slow down 等詞替代。

eg: Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times.

新型晶體管的開關時間縮短到1/3(即縮短了2/3)。

eg: When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current is stepped down by ten times.

電壓升高9倍,電流強度便降低9/10(即降低90%)。

eg: The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5.

該設備誤差概率降低了4/5。

(三)There is a n-fold decrease / reduction... ⒄

應譯為:減至1/n,或減少(n-1)/n。

這個句型還有其它一些形式,

eg: A rapid decrease by a factor of 7 was observed.

發現迅速減少到1/7。

eg: The principal advantage of the products is a two-fold reduction in weight.

這些產品的主要優點是重量減輕了1/2。

從以上倍數增減句型及其譯法中不難看出:與漢語不同的是,英語在表述或比較倍數時,無論使用什么句型(除了不含倍數詞的again句型外)都包括基礎倍數在內,因此都不是凈增或凈減n倍,而是凈增或凈減n-1倍。所以句型 ⑶、⑸ 表示的倍數增量=句型 ⑷;句型 ⒀ 表示的倍數比差=句型 ⑿,且decrease (by) 3 times應譯為“減少2/3”,而不是“減少3/4”。