核心问题
在汉语里,“您最好……”,是提出建议、请求或劝告的一种很客气、很委婉、很有礼貌的说法。把它译成英语,便是 you had better。不知它们之间有无区别?
词典解答
在英语里 you had better 并不是提出建议或请求的一种很客气的说法。因此,它并不与汉语的“您最好”等值。记得有一篇文章提到,一位中国译员经常对一位外国客人说 you had better,结果引起了这位外国客人的反感。为什么呢?因为在英语里 you had better 含有“有义务做某事(have a duty to)”的意思,近似于 you should, you ought to。例如:
He warned me that I had better not say anything about that. 他警告我对这件事最好只字不提。
因此,在客气、委婉的请求或建议中应避免使用它,而换用其他表达方式:
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Could you help me? (BEU) 您能帮下忙吗?
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Would you like to come for a walk? (LEG) 您来散散步好吗?
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Will you come for a walk? (LEG) 您来散散步好吗?
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Could you possibly open the window? (LEG) 您把窗户打开好吗?
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I wish you wouldn't smoke any more. (London) 我希望你不要再吸烟了。
[参见('d) better, may as well, might as well/had better]