(2) blue-sky 不切实际的,空想的
blues伤感的民歌,蓝调
once in a blue moon 千栽难逢 out of the blues 募然地
till all is blue直到酩酊大醉
blue book蓝皮书,英国官方报告
(3) He is green with jealousy. 他醋意大发。
to be looking green 苍白;脸上有病色 a green face 苍白(发青)的脸
green-eyed 妒忌的
a boy green to his job (a green hand )新手
另外,紫色在英语中象征“supreme power, the power of an emperor”的意思,而在汉语中,表达类似意思的词是“货色”。如:to be born in the purple (皇室出身), to rise to the purple(黄袍加身)。
3. 文学作品中颜色词的翻译
文学作品中常常使用颜色词,以唤起人的视觉联想,烘托氛围,抒发情感。英国作家哈代就是一位善于描写自然景物的作家,他常常用颜色词来刻画人物,渲染气氛。
(1) She was a fine, handsome girl — not handsomer than some others, certainly — but her mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes added eloquence to color and shape.她是ー个面容清秀的姑娘 --- 当然不是说比其他女孩都美 --- 可是她那似动非动的双唇,如盛开的芍药花,一双大大的眼睛,带着清纯无邪的神气,让她显得格外动人。(对乡村少女苔丝第一次出现时的外表描写)
(2) She stood on the threshold, between the steely starlight without and the yellow candle - light within. 她站在门口进退不得,屋外是铅灰的星光,屋内是昏黄的烛光。(用"steely描写星光,用“yellow”描写烛光,成功渲染了苔丝孤苦伶饤,进退两难的心境)
(3) ...on the river where the water-meadow are fresh and green, and the stream sparkles on among pleasant islands, murmuring weirs, and whispering rushes. ......河边ー片片的嫩草青翠欲滴,湍流在美丽的岛屿、水声潺潺的河堰和沙沙作响的苇草之间的河水银光闪闪。(这一句同时使用了拟声词和颜色词,唤起了读者的视觉和听觉想象,描写了一派静谧美好的自然风景,起到了绘声绘色的艺术效果)