that which/what

根据现代语言学家们的解释,只有在十分正式的语体中,that which 才是可以接受的,故在实际使用上比较罕见,常常用 what 来代替。

1. That which What }upsets me most is his manner. (CGEL) 最使我心烦的是他的举止。

2. That which is most highly valued in the tribe is valour. 在这部落最受推崇的是勇敢。

3. I eat $\$left\{ \begin{array}{l}\text {what} \\ \text {that which} \end{array} \right\} I like. (CGEL) 我吃我喜欢的东西。

4. That which pleases one party infuriates the other. (正式语体) 使一方高兴的事会激怒另一方。

A. S. Hornby 则进一步指出, that which 与 what 在语义上是有些区别的。that which 表示具体明确的事情, 例如, Don't criticise that which you don't understand. (对你不懂的事情不要乱批评)。这句话是与某个具体的事有联系的。而 what 则表示笼统的事, 例如, Don't criticise what you don't understand. (凡是不懂的, 就不要妄加评论。) 这句话指的是笼统的事。

1. The argument contains no evidence beyond that which is contained in the proposition. 此

论点除包含在命题之中的证明外，没有任何其他证明。

2. Mr Burke exclaims against outrage; yet the greatest is that which he himself has committed. 伯克先生指责暴行；然而，最大的暴行正是他自己干出来的。

3. That is the definition of faith—acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 这就是我对宗教信仰的定义——即相信我们想象的真实，盲从我们无法证明的东西。（《达·芬奇密码》）

另外，在谚语中也常常采用 that which 的用法：

1. That which is evil is soon learned. (Prov) 坏事易学。

2. That which is well done is twice done. (Prov) 一次做得好等于做两次。

3. That which one least anticipates soonest comes to pass. (Prov) 越是意料不到的事越容易发生。