短文We Are on a Journey翻译分析（4）    翻译不能字对字的翻译，因为汉语和英语属于不同的语系，差异较大。只要翻译出原句要表达的意思，有些单词甚至是小句都可以不译。下面是原文： Are you nearer to your port today than you were yesterday? Yes, you must be a little nearer to some port or other; for since your ship was first launched upon the sea of life, you have never been still for a single moment; the sea is too deep, you could not find an anchorage if you would; there can be no pause until you come into port. 句中的since your ship was first launched upon the sea of life 如果译成“自从你的船第一次在生命的海洋上起航”，意思没问题，但从风格上讲就不如译成“自从你驶入生命的海洋”更符合本文风格及汉语表达习惯。 段落中的从句if you would的意思已经在这个句子中包含了，就可以不翻译。如果翻译出来，汉语句子不通顺，有画蛇添足的感觉。这个小段可以译成： 你今天比昨天更接近你的港湾了吗?是的，你肯定离某个港湾更近了，因为自从你驶入生命的海洋，你从未有片刻地静止。海洋如此深邃，你找不到抛锚停泊处，在你驶入港湾之前不能停下脚步。