英语四级翻译考前指导之2

例（2）Even a skilled writer probably could not describe all the features that make one face different from another.

【分析】此句中that引导的定语从句修饰先行词“features”，考生只要用合成翻译法把该定语从句变成一个前置性定语。

【译文】即使是老道的作家也很可能不能完全描述出决定人的面孔各不相同的所有特征。

但是，如果定语从句较长，将它翻译成前置的定语，就会不符合汉语表达的习惯。在此种情况下，往往把该定语从句用转换法把翻译成并列的分句或作插入语，放在原来它所修饰词后面。

例（1） They are striving for the ideal which is close to the heart of every Chinese and for which， in the past， many Chinese have laid down their lives.