whereas更接近“但是”,而不是“尽管”

摘要:Some of the studies show positive results, whereas others do not. (一些研究显示了积极的结果,而另一些则没有。)[牛津高级学者辞典]

《牛津高级学者辞典》对whereas的释义是used to compare or contrast two facts(用于比较或对比两个事实),例句如下

【例句1】Some of the studies show positive results, whereas others do not. (一些研究显示了积极的结果,而另一些则没有。)[牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句2】We thought she was arrogant, whereas in fact she was just very shy. (我们认为她很傲慢,而事实上她只是很害羞。)[牛津高级学者辞典]

《剑桥高级学者辞典》对它的释义是compared with the fact that; but (与随后事实相比;但是),例句如下

【例句3】You eat a huge plate of food for lunch, whereas I have just a sandwich. (你午餐吃了一大盘食物,而我只有一个三明治。) [剑桥高级学者辞典]

《柯林斯高级学者辞典》就whereas的用法说to introduce a comment which contrasts with what is said in the main clause(引入与主句中所述内容形成对比的评论),例句如下,

【例句4】Pensions are linked to inflation, whereas they should be linked to the cost of living.(养老金与通货膨胀挂钩,而其实应与生活成本挂钩。) [柯林斯高级学者辞典]

【例句5】Whereas the population of working age increased by 1 million between 1981 and 1986, today it is barely growing. (1981年至1986年间,劳动年龄人口增加了100万,而今天几乎没有增长。[柯林斯高级学者辞典])[柯林斯高级学者辞典]

《朗文当代英语词典》就它的用法说to say that although something is true of one thing, it is not true of another(说虽然某件事是真的,但另一件事不是真的),例句如下,

【例句6】The old system was fairly complicated whereas the new system is really very simple.(旧系统相当复杂,而新系统实际上非常简单。) [朗文当代英语词典]

【例句7】Whereas the city spent over $1 billion on its museums and stadium, it failed to look after its schools. (尽管该市在博物馆和体育场上花费了超过10亿美元,但它未能照顾好学校。) [朗文当代英语词典]

梳理上述四本主流词典,可知:

1) 除了《朗文当代英语词典》有“尽管”外,其它词典都偏向“但是”。

2) 此“但是”并非二者平衡的那种,而是通过与whereas所引的句子的对比来强化主句的表达效果。

3) whereas所引导往往在主句后面,而汉语的“尽管”往往在主句前面。

词源上,whereas=where+as。

where字面义是“在物理上的地方”,但引申为position(境况),situation, 即in which position(处于某境况), in which situation(处于某状况)。

as补充引导境况/状况信息。

因此whereas的含义,“处于.......某境况/状况的背景下”。当它所引导的句子位于主句前,可勉强翻译“尽管”,但它的典型位置是在主句后,此时用“而、但是”更顺溜一点。

不过,表达重心依然在主句,whereas从句是衬托信息。

来源:罗罗学英语

相关推荐