Owing to the different thinking styles and language habits of English and Chinese, some parts of speech have to be converted into others during translating to convey the proper meaning of the original. Mainly there are four ways of such conversion:

 

I.                   Conversion into Verbs

1)      Nouns Converted into Verbs:

1.      Nouns derived from verbs（动词派生的名词）

e.g. The 1967 UN document called for the settlement of the Middle East conflict on the Israeli withdrawal from West Bank and Gaza Strip.

   － 1967年联合国文件要求以色列从约旦河西岸和加沙地带撤军以解决中东冲突。

 

2.      Nouns containing verbal sense（含有动作意思的名词）

e.g. A look at his photos reminded me of our school days.

   － 看到他的照片使我想起了我们的学生时代。

 

3.      Nouns with suffix “–er” do not always stand for people’s identity or profession; sometimes they embody a verbal sense instead. These nouns are often converted into verbs during translating, especially when they do not have Chinese equivalents.（一些加后缀-er的名词有时并不指其身份或职业，而是含有较强的动作意味。在汉语中没有对应的名词时，往往译为动词。）

e.g. He is a very good story-teller.  － 他极善于讲故事。

e.g. Some of you in your class are good singers. 

－ 你们班上有些人歌唱得很好。

 

4.      Nouns as the principle part of a fixed expression（作为习语主体的名词）

e.g. Shall we have a rest?  － 我们休息一下，好吗？

   He made no mention of his resignation.  － 他没提到他辞职的事。

 

2)      Prepositions Converted into Verbs:

e.g. Did you see the boy in blue?  － 你看到那个穿蓝衣服的男孩了吗？

   Drug taking is against the law.  － 吸毒是违法的。

 

3)      Adjectives Converted into Verbs:

英语中表示知觉、情感、欲望等心理状态的形容词，在联系动词后做表语时，往往转译成动词。例如：able, afraid, angry , anxious, ashamed, aware, careful, cautious, certain, concerned, confident, delighted, doubtful , ignorant, glad, grateful, sorry, sure ,thankful, etc.

e.g. The doctors said that they are not sure whether they can save his life.

   － 医生说他们不敢肯定能否挽救他的生命。

e.g. I have to be cautious.  － 我必须小心谨慎才是。

 

4)      Adverbs Converted into Verbs:

e.g. With only one day off in a week, working people barely had enough time to arrange the household.

   — 一周只休息一天时，上班族几乎没有足够的时间安排家务。

 

II.                Conversion into Nouns

1)      Verbs Converted into Nouns:

1.      Verbs transformed from nouns（名词转化的动词）

e.g. The design aims at automatic operation, easy regulation, simple maintenance and high productivity.

   — 设计的目的在于自动操作、调节方便、维护简易、生产率高。

e.g. To them, he personified the absolute power.

   — 在他们看来，他就是绝对权威的化身。

 

2.      Passive voice（英语被动句式常可译为受到/遭到/予以/加以＋名词的形式）

e.g. The invasion of another independent country must be stopped.

   — 侵犯另一个独立国家的行为必须予以制止。

 

2)      Adjectives Converted into Nouns:

e.g. Crying is considered to be characteristic of woman.

— 人们认为爱哭是女人的特点。

e.g. In this fission fragments are very radioactive.

— 在裂变过程中，裂变碎片具有强烈的放射性。

 

*此外，the + adj.往往表示一类人，通常也汉译为名词。

e.g. Do not look down upon the poor.  — 不要看不起穷人。

 

3)      Adverbs Converted into Nouns:

e.g. Nowadays many people in the society are materially rich but spiritually poor.

   当今社会中，有许多人物质富有却精神空虚。

 

4)      Pronouns Converted into Nouns:

e.g. Radio waves are similar to light waves except that their wavelength is much greater.

   — 无线电波与光波相似，但无线电波的波长要长得多。

 

III.             Conversion into Adjectives

1)      Nouns Converted into Adjectives (a/an + n.):

e.g. Independent thinking is an absolute necessity in study.

   — 独立思考对学习是绝对必需/ 必不可少的。

2)      Adverbs Converted into Adjectives:

e.g. This film impressed him deeply.  — 这部电影给他留下了深刻的印象。

 

IV.              Conversion into Adverbs

1)      Adjectives Converted into Adverbs:

e.g. Only when we study their properties can we make better use of these materials.

   — 只有研究这些材料的特点才能更好地利用它们。

e.g. A helicopter is free to go almost anywhere.

   — 直升机几乎可以自由地飞到任何地方。

 

2)      Nouns Converted into Adverbs:

e.g. I have the honor to inform you that your request is granted.

   — 我荣幸地通知你，你的请求已得到批准。

 

Classroom Exercises

1.      Meanwhile, half-starved and often ill, Crane continued to write.

2.      The language of the poem is colloquial, yet it's deep in its understanding of human emotions.

3.      Independent observers have commented favorably on the achievements you have made in this direction.

4.      Traditionally, there had always been good relations between them.

5.      No wonder the sight of it should send the memories of quite a number of people of the old generation back 36 years ago.

6.      It is impossible to live in society and be independent of society.

7.      The lecture was called Thieves, and was a demonstration that the proprietor of an unearned income inflicted on the community exactly the same injury as a burglar does.

8.      The young scholar worked long hours, on meager food, in cold hut, by dim lamp.

9.      She skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda and into the porch.

10.  Most U.S. spy satellites are designed to burn up in the earth’s atmosphere after completing their missions.

 

Reference Version:

1. 在此期间，克兰处于半饥饿状态，而且常常生病，但他仍坚持写作。（a.→n.; a.→v.）
2. 诗的语言虽很通俗，但对人的感情的揭示/理解却有深度。（a.→n.）
3. 有独立见解的观察家们对你们在这方面取得的成就给予了积极的评价。(v.+adv. → v.+a.+n.)
4. 他们之间一直保持着传统的友好关系。（adv.→a.）
5. 难怪老一辈的人见了这个就会想起36年前的往事。（n.→v.）
6. 生于社会，就不可能脱离社会。（a.→v.）
7. 演讲的题目是“贼”，表明了一个攥取不义之财的人对公众造成的危害和盗贼是完全一样的。（n.→v.）
8. 年轻的学者吃着简单的饭食，住在寒冷的茅屋，靠着昏暗的灯光，长时间地工作着。(prep.→v.)
9. 她轻盈地越过草地，跑上小道，跨上台阶，穿过凉台，走进了门廊。(prep.→v.)
10. 大多数美国卫星完成使命后，按其设计在大气层中焚毁。（v.→n.）