刺激经济

句子：政府已推出一系列刺激经济的政策，提振了我们的信心。

误译：The government has pushed out a series of policies to provoke economy, enhancing our confidence.

正译：The government has pushed out a series of policies to stimulate economy, enhancing our confidence.

解释：“刺激经济”的“刺激”有“激活”、“激励”或“推动”的意思，是个褒义词。而 to provoke 的意思是 to stimulate sb to do sth by making him angry，即“激怒”或“招惹”，是贬义的“刺激”，后面要跟人。英语中没有 to provoke economy 这样的搭配。“刺激经济”可以译为 to stimulate economy。

“刺激”的第一个意思是“内、外因作用于人或动物的感觉器官”。动词可以译为to stimulate, to irritate。例如：他喝浓咖啡来刺激神经。He drinks strong coffee to stimulate/ irritate his nerves.

“刺激”的第二个意思是“招惹”。英语可以译为 to provoke。例如：他失恋了，别刺激他。Dont provoke him, for he is unlucky in love.

“刺激”的第三个意思是“使人难受”。英语可以译为to upset。例如：看到邻居买彩票中奖，给他很大刺激。He was very much upset by his neighbour who had won a lottery prize.

“刺激”的第四个意思是“激励人或推动事物，使起积极的变化”。英语可以译为 to stimulate。例如：这些新建铁路刺激了这个地区的经济发展。These newly built railways have stimulated economic development in this area.

中国政府有望很快发布更多的刺激消费的政策。The Chinese government is expected to issue more policies to stimulate consumption very soon.

“刺激”的第五个意思是“激励的手段”，即“物质刺激”。 英语可以译为 incentive。例如：一味追求物质刺激，会把人们引向歧途。The mere pursuit of incentives will lead people astray.▲ （本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）