英语陷阱(14)

"When do you expect them?"
"I expect them this afternoon."
"你想他们什么时候会来?"
"我想他们今天下午会来."
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  这两句不能译作:"你什么时候等你们?"--"我今天下午等他们."
  一般的英汉词典大都将expect译作"期待"和"等待",实际上, 在某些场合下,
expect的真正涵义是"现在认为(或相信)某一事将会发生", 相当于英语的
to believe or think that something will happen. 因此,
上面两句中的expect不能译作:"期待"或"等待",这两个句子相当于:
  When do you expect them to come?
  I expect them to come this afternoon.

  现在请注意下列句子的汉译:
  Do you expect him at Kowloon City Pier?
  你想他会在九龙城码头吗?
  I expect to see your brother there.
  我预料会在那里见到你的兄弟.
  You are expected tomorrow.
  希望你明天来.
  They arrived before I expect.
  我没料到他们会到得这么早.
  I didn't expect you till five o'clock.
  我知道你要到五点钟才会来.
   
  在另一些场合下, expect强调客观的可能性, 不涉及到主观愿望. 例如:
  Everybody must expect to grow old.
  每一个人都要变老的.
   
  在口语里, expect还可以作"想像","认为"解, 相当于suppose或think.例如:
  Who did it? --I expect it was Hsiao Li.
  这是谁干的? -- 我想是小李干的.
  Is there any lobsters in Jumbo today? --I expect so.
  今天"珍宝"酒家有龙虾吗? --我想会有的.
  Do you think they will object?-- I expect they will, though I wish they wouldn't.
  照你看他们会反对吗? -- 依我看, 他们会反对的, 虽然我希望他们不反对.