Translation Tips：染色馒头

Translation Tips：染色馒头
Source: Globaltimes.cn
句子：上海一家超市被曝光多年销售染色馒头。
误译：A supermarket in Shanghai was reported to have sold dyed steamed buns for years.
正译：A supermarket in Shanghai was reported to have sold questionably tinted steamed buns for years.
解释：to dye的意思是 to change the colour of sth, especially by using a special liquid or substance，即“用染料上色或着色”。这种染色馒头不是用化学染料上色的，而是利用过期馒头为原料，添加着色剂制成的。因此不可译为 dyed steamed bun。染色馒头是一种有问题的添加色素制成的馒头。to tint 的意思是to add a small amount of colour to sth，即“添加少量色素”。笔者从网上找到 questionably tinted bun的说法。我们不妨用questionably tinted steamed bun表示“染色馒头”。

“染色”的第一个意思是“用染料使纤维等材料着色”。可译为 to dye, to colour, to stain。例如：
1. 苗族妇女用天然染色剂给她们的布料染色。The women from the Miao ethnic group dye their fabrics with natural colourants.
2. 他先给标本染色，然后再在显微镜下观察。He stained the specimen before looking at it under the microscope.

“染色”第二个意思是“用色素使食物着色”。可译为 to tint。例如：
3. 想不到这些诱人的玉米面馒头实际上是用着色剂染色制作的。Unexpectedly, these attracting corn-flour buns were actually made by tinting with colorant.
4. 根据当地习俗，人们在婚礼喜庆日子给鸡蛋染成红色作为礼物。According to the local custom, people tint the eggs red as gifts on a wedding day.

“染色”第三个意思是“将机体组织和细胞染成蓝、红、紫等颜色，以便于观察”。可译为 to colour。例如：
5. 这位科学家给细菌染色，以便在显微镜下容易观察。The scientist coloured the bacteria for easy observation under the microscope.▲（本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）

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