Re: [問題] 一個句子請大家幫忙翻譯一下

[outofdejavu (Isolation)]

※ 引述《iamsychen (工程師)》之銘言：
: 這個句子之前的大意是說 有個人平時很愛說大話
: 不過一遇到事情就龜縮
: 句子是這樣的
: In reality, when confronted with the most trivial of threats,
: they are reduced to a whimpering, quivering lump;
: just as likely to soil themselves as they are to
: run screaming into the night.
: 以下是我的問題:
: 1)第一句的trivial怎麼翻譯比較好?

你手邊的資料真的是 "they are" 嗎？
a whimpering, quivering lump => 應該是 s/he is
(我找到的網頁上頭是 he is reduced ...、
 以及 He is just as likely to soil his britches as run screaming
 into the night.
 我猜你手邊的資料是修編過的，但是修得不好)

the most trivial of threats
最不構成威脅的威脅

when confronted with the most trivial of threats
似可譯為：一有風吹草動、即使遇到小事情

: 2)第二句我翻為 "他們會啜泣著, 顫抖地龜縮起來"
:   看起來跟原文有些許出入 不過這是對於遊戲的翻譯 因此這樣翻譯應該還OK
                  --------

    只要有出入，就不大 OK

:   不知大家是否有更貼切的翻譯方式?

: 3)第三跟第四句我就一點頭緒也沒有了 雖然這些字都認識 不過就是翻不好
:   在此請求大家的幫忙 感恩啊

就你的引文，只有兩句，沒有第三、四句

-----------

連貫起來的話，

　實際上，即使遇到小事情，他(們)*就會嚇到發抖、暗自啜泣，
　極有可能嚇到噴屎、鬼吼鬼叫地落慌而逃。


* 請確認上下文

僅供參考

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 220.134.53.250
推 lightnsalt:they are 後面是可接單數名詞的。我在經濟學人上有看過
→ lightnsalt:They are a problem of .....
"They are a problem of..." 如果有適當情境，they 後面是可以加 a ...

但是原PO的句子裡，真的是有點怪，英語人士也如此認為

參見 http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheyA/hgmvn/post.htm

-----------------------

> they are reduced to a whimpering, quivering lump

It's grammatical, but it does not seem to make very good sense. It would mean
that all of 'them' became one single lump, and I don't think that's what the
writer means.

--
The United States is doing its part to help find a diplomatic solution to
this problem. However, the solution must be multilateral in conception and
execution. North Korea's actions are not a bilateral issue between the United
States and North Korea. Rather, they are a problem of vital concern to the
entire international community. All NPT parties have a stake in preventing a
nuclear-armed North Korea, upholding the global nonproliferation regime and
promoting the success of the NPT.
--
Quoted from http://geneva.usmission.gov/press2003/0501NPTsemmel.htm
(in the tenth paragraph)

[...] this example makes sense.

--------------

推 lifegetter:尖叫著跑進深深的夜裡 ㄚ～～～～～～～～ 純繪境用
→ lifegetter:whimper 是細聲恩恩唉唉地哭，怕大聲哭出來會引來攻擊
嗯，LG兄（我以後都這樣叫好了）所言甚是...目前找不到合適用詞 = =a

→ lifegetter:whimp 是用來指人超沒用超沒膽，好像都用在貶男人（氣
推 languege:如果照life的說法"嗚咽"此詞是否適合@@?
推 TheRock:啜泣？
我把意思不對的譯文改掉了
※ 編輯: outofdejavu     來自: 220.134.53.250       (12/22 15:48)
推 iamsychen:感謝 對於非英文科系者 翻譯還真不容易啊
推 lifegetter:鴨鴨鴨～～我搞錯了，是 wimp...  ::whimper::