核心问题
He knows quite a little about it. 有人译:他对此事知道得很少。这种译法是不是正确?
词典解答
quite a little 意为 quite a great deal(相当多), 因此上句应译为: 他对此事知道得相当多 (参见 quite a few)。
类例:
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We are not finished; quite a little is left to do. (DAI) 我们还没有干完;还有不少的工作要做。
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Cleaning the back yard needed quite a little work. 清扫后院,得干不少的活。
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A good teacher spends quite a little time in preparing a lesson. (IME) 好教师会花很多的时间来备课。