美國經典短片小說集中文翻譯

㈠ 英語短篇小說選讀課文翻譯

Burnt Norton 燒毀的諾頓
I
Time present and time past 現在和過去的時光
Are both perhaps present in time future, 也許都存在於未來之中，
And time future contained in time past.且未來的時光包含於過往。
If all time is eternally present假如所有時間都永恆存在
All time is unredeemable.所有時間都無法履行。
What might have been is an abstraction本該如此的是一種抽象
Remaining a perpetual possibility維持著永久的可能性，
Only in a world of speculation.僅僅在思索的世界裡。
What might have been and what has been 本該如此的和已經如此的
Point to one end, which is always present.指向同一端點，那始終是現在。
Footfalls echo in the memory 腳步聲回響在記憶里
Down the passage which we did not take沿著那條我們沒有選擇的走廊
Towards the door we never opened向著那扇我們從沒有開啟的門
Into the rose-garden. My words echo進入這玫瑰花園。我的話語
Thus, in your mind.就這樣，回響於你心中。
But to what purpose但是為了何種目的
Disturbing the st on a bowl of rose-leaves擾亂了一缽玫瑰葉上的塵埃？
I do not know. 我不知道。
Other echoes其他的迴音
Inhabit the garden. Shall we follow?棲息於這花園。我們應該跟上嗎？
Quick, said the bird, find them, find them,快點，鳥兒說，找到他們，找到他們，
Round the corner. Through the first gate,轉過牆角。穿過那第一道門，
Into our first world, shall we follow 進入我們第一個世界，我們是否應該
The deception of the thrush? Into our first world.聽從那鶇鳥的欺騙？進入我們第一個世界。
There they were, dignified, invisible, 他們在那裡，高貴威嚴，無影無形，
Moving without pressure, over the dead leaves, 輕飄飄的移動，於枯死的葉子之上，
In the autumn heat, through the vibrant air,在秋日的悶熱里，穿過蒸騰的空氣，
And the bird called, in response to 並且鳥兒鳴叫著，回應
The unheard music hidden in the shrubbery,那藏在灌木叢中無聲的音樂，
And the unseen eyebeam crossed, for the roses無形的眼神掃過，為著玫瑰們
Had the look of flowers that are looked at.曾有過現在眼前的花容。
There they were as our guests, accepted and accepting.他們在那裡，作為客人，被我們接待也接待我們。
So we moved, and they, in a formal pattern, 所以我們走動著，他們也是，以拘謹的隊列，
Along the empty alley, into the box circle, 沿著空寂的小巷，進入天井（what does box circle mean?)，
To look down into the drained pool.俯視枯竭了的池塘。
Dry the pool, dry concrete, brown edged, 乾涸的池塘，硬結的水泥，烘焦了的池沿，
And the pool was filled with water out of sunlight,池塘里卻被從陽光流出的水充滿，
And the lotos rose, quietly, quietly,蓮花升起來，靜靜的，靜靜的，
The surface glittered out of heart of light,池面從光明的心靈中閃爍著，
And they were behind us, reflected in the pool.他們在我們身後，倒映在池中。
Then a cloud passed, and the pool was empty.然後一朵雲彩飄過，池子空空如也。
Go, said the bird, for the leaves were full of children,去吧，鳥兒說，因樹葉叢中滿是孩子們，
Hidden excitedly, containing laughter.興奮地隱藏著，有著克制的笑聲。
Go, go, go, said the bird: human kind去吧，去，去，鳥兒說：人類
Cannot bear very much reality.無法忍受太多的真實。
Time past and time future過去和未來的時光
What might have been and what has been本該如此的和已經如此的
Point to one end, which is always present.指向同一端點，那始終是現在。

㈡ 坎特伯雷故事集序的中文翻譯

當四月的甘霖滲透了三月枯竭的根須，

是自然撥弄著它們的心弦：

游僧們也立願跋涉異鄉。

尤其在英格蘭地方，

他們從每一州的角落，

向著坎特伯雷出發，

去朝謝他們的救病恩主、

福澤無邊的殉難聖徒。

夏雨給大地帶來了喜悅，

送走了土壤乾裂的三月，

沐浴著草木的絲絲經絡，

頓時百花盛開，生機勃勃。

西風輕吹留下清香縷縷，

田野復甦吐出芳草綠綠；

碧藍的天空騰起一輪紅日，

青春的太陽灑下萬道金輝。

迷人的夏夜怎好安然入睡——

美麗的自然撩撥萬物的心弦，

多情的鳥兒歌唱愛情的欣歡。

香客盼望膜拜聖徒的靈台，

僧侶立願雲游陌生的濱海。

信徒來自全國東西南北，

去朝謝醫病救世的恩主，

以緬懷大恩大德的聖徒。

那是個初夏方臨的日子，

二十九人來自各行各業，

讓我佔用諸位一點時間，

依我之見似乎還很必要，

把每人的情況作些介紹。

談談他們從事什麼行業，

社會地位屬於哪個階層，

容貌衣著舉止又是如何，

那麼我就先把騎士說說，

所到國家之遠無人能比，

轉戰於基督和異教之邦，

因功勛卓著縷縷受表彰。

他攻打過亞歷山大利亞；

在普魯士慶功宴上有他，

這位佼佼者多次坐首席；

跟隨登陸大軍將敵戰敗。

十五次比武他大顯身手，

開價的底下是結識的布衣，

上上下下到處是斑斑污跡。

他風塵僕僕剛從戰場歸來，

片刻未休息就急忙去朝拜。

《坎特伯雷故事集》是一部詩體短篇小說集，敘述朝聖者一行30人會聚在泰巴旅店，這些朝聖者有騎士、僧尼、商人等當時英國社會各個階層的人士，他們准備前往坎特伯雷去朝拜聖托馬斯。

店主愛熱鬧，自告奮勇為他們擔任向導，並提議在往返聖地的途中每人來回講兩個故事，以解旅途中的寂寥，並由店主做裁判，選出講故事最好的人，回到旅店後大家合起來請他吃飯。眾人接受了店主的建議，於是次日一同踏上朝聖之途，並開始講故事

(2)美國經典短片小說集中文翻譯擴展閱讀：

坎特伯雷故事作者介紹

喬叟（約1343—1400）英國詩人。倫敦酒商的兒子。十幾歲起進入宮廷當差。1359年隨愛德華三世的部隊遠征法國，被法軍俘虜，不久贖回。喬叟與宮廷往來密切，當過廷

臣、關稅督察、肯特郡的治安法官、郡下議院議員。他曾因外交事務出使許多國家和地區，到過比利時、法國、義大利等國，有機會遇見薄伽丘與彼特拉克，這對他的文學創作產生了很大的影響。喬叟在庇護者失寵期間，被剝奪了官位和年金，經濟拮據。

他曾寫過打油詩《致空囊》給剛登基的亨利四世，申訴自己的貧窮。1400年喬叟逝世，安葬在倫敦威斯敏特斯教堂的「詩人之角」。

參考資料來源：網路-坎特伯雷故事集

㈢ 簡短的英文小說最好有中文翻譯好寫讀後感的。拜託了

《The Last Leaf O Henry》Many artists lived in the Greenwich Village area of New York. Two young women named Sue and Johnsy shared a studio apartment at the top of a three-story building. Johnsy's real name was Joanna.

《最後一片藤葉》歐 亨利許多畫家住在紐約的格林尼治村。兩個名叫蘇和約翰妮的女士共同住在三層樓房頂樓的一個小房間中。約翰妮的真實名字叫喬安娜。

In November, a cold, unseen stranger came to visit the city. This disease, pneumonia, killed many people. Johnsy lay on her bed, hardly moving. She looked through the small window. She could see the side of the brick house next to her building.

11月份，一次從未見過的感冒襲擊了這座城市。感冒引起的肺炎死了許多人。約翰妮躺在床上幾乎動不了了。她向窗外望著，只能看到靠近她這座樓的一座磚房的外牆。

One morning, a doctor examined Johnsy and took her temperature. Then he spoke with Sue in another room.

一天早晨，一位醫生對約翰妮作了檢查並測量了她的體溫，然後在另一個房間與蘇開始交談。

"She has one chance in -- let us say ten," he said. "And that chance is for her to want to live. Your friend has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. Has she anything on her mind?"

他說：「她只剩下一次機會了——可以說只有10天的時間。這是她可以活下來的機會。你的朋友認為自己的病沒法治了。她有什麼牽掛嗎？」

"She -- she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples in Italy some day," said Sue.

蘇說：「她——她希望有一天能夠在義大利畫那不勒斯海灣。」

"Paint?" said the doctor. "Bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking twice -- a man for example?"

醫生說：「畫畫？白日做夢！她有什麼事情值得再三牽掛的嗎——比如一個小夥子？」

"A man?" said Sue. "Is a man worth -- but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind."

蘇說：「一個小夥子？一個小夥子確實值得牽掛——但是可惜沒有，醫生；沒有這樣的小夥子。」

"I will do all that science can do," said the doctor. "But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages at her funeral, I take away fifty percent from the curative power of medicines."

醫生說：「我會按照科學的方法竭盡全力。但是當我的病人開始掰手指頭去數出席自己葬禮的馬車數量時，我認為葯效會降低50%。」

After the doctor had gone, Sue went into the workroom and cried. Then she went to Johnsy's room with her drawing board, whistling ragtime.

醫生走後，蘇走進繪畫間痛哭失聲。然後她帶著約翰妮的畫板，抽泣著走進約翰妮的房間。

Johnsy lay with her face toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she was asleep. She began making a pen and ink drawing for a story in a magazine. Young artists must work their way to "Art" by making pictures for magazine stories. Sue heard a low sound, several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside.

約翰妮臉向著窗戶側卧著。蘇停止了抽泣，以為約翰妮睡著了。她開始為一家雜志的一則故事畫一張簡筆畫。年青的畫家們必須通過為雜志做畫來為藝術而努力。她聽到了一個低低的聲音，並且重復了許多次。她開始迅速走到床邊。

Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and counting -- counting backward. "Twelve," she said, and a little later "eleven"; and then "ten" and "nine;" and then "eight" and "seven," almost together.

約翰妮的雙眼睜得大大的。她瞅著窗外數數——倒著數。她嘴裡喃喃自語：「十二」，一小會兒後數到「十一」；之後是「十」和「九」；再後是「八」和「七」，不一會兒就數完了。

Sue looked out the window. What was there to count? There was only an empty yard and the blank side of the house seven meters away. An old ivy vine, going bad at the roots, climbed half way up the wall. The cold breath of autumn had stricken leaves from the plant until its branches, almost bare, hung on the bricks.

蘇向窗外望瞭望。外面有什麼好數的呢？只有一座空空如也的院子以及七米開外的一座房子的外牆。還有一棵年久的葡萄藤，根部已經腐爛，藤葉爬到了半牆高。秋天的寒氣已經使藤葉脫落，藤枝幾乎光光如也，攀附在磚牆之上。

"What is it, dear?" asked Sue.

蘇問道：「親愛的，怎麼了？」

"Six," said Johnsy, quietly. "They're falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It made my head hurt to count them. But now it's easy. There goes another one. There are only five left now."

約翰妮靜靜地答道：「六片。它們現在掉得更快了。三天前還有大約100片。數它們數得我頭直發痛。但是現在容易了。又掉了一片。現在只剩下五片了。」

"Five what, dear?" asked Sue.

蘇問道：「親愛的，五片什麼？」

"Leaves. On the plant. When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?"

「葉子。葡萄藤上的葉子。當最後一片葉子落下時，我也不得不走了。我知道還剩下三天了。醫生沒有對你說過嗎？」

"Oh, I never heard of such a thing," said Sue. "What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? And you used to love that vine. Don't be silly. Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances for getting well real soon were -- let's see exactly what he said - he said the chances were ten to one! Try to eat some soup now. And, let me go back to my drawing, so I can sell it to the magazine and buy food and wine for us."

蘇說：「天哪，我從來沒有聽過這種說法。老葡萄藤葉與你病情好轉有什麼關系呢？以前你非常喜歡那棵葡萄藤。不要犯傻了。為什麼呢，因為今天早上醫生告訴我，你痊癒的機會不久就會出現——我們好好考慮一下他的話——他說痊癒的概率非常大！現在喝點湯吧。我去接著畫畫，好將畫賣掉為買些食物與葡萄酒。」

"You needn't get any more wine," said Johnsy, keeping her eyes fixed out the window. "There goes another one. No, I don't want any soup. That leaves just four. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I'll go, too."

約翰妮一邊兩眼緊盯著窗戶，一邊說道：「你用不著再去買葡萄酒了。又掉了一片葉子。不，我不需要什麼湯了。那些葉子只剩下四片了。我想在天黑之前看到最後一片葉子落下。到時候我也該走了。」

"Johnsy, dear," said Sue, "will you promise me to keep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until I am done working? I must hand those drawings in by tomorrow."

蘇說：「約翰妮，親愛的，你能對我許諾把兩眼閉上，直到我幹完活再注視窗外嗎？到明天我必須上交這些作品。」

"Tell me as soon as you have finished," said Johnsy, closing her eyes and lying white and still as a fallen statue. "I want to see the last one fall. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of thinking. I want to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves."

約翰妮閉上雙眼，臉色蒼白地躺在床上，儼然一具摔碎的雕像，說道：「你一畫完就告訴我，我想看著最後一片葉子落下。我等不及了。我懶得思考了。我想對一切都無所謂了，慢慢地死去，就如同一片可憐的、風雨飄搖的葉子。」

"Try to sleep," said Sue. "I must call Mister Behrman up to be my model for my drawing of an old miner. Don't try to move until I come back."

蘇說：「盡量睡一會兒吧，我必須給貝爾曼先生打電話，讓他作我所畫的一幅老礦工畫像中的模特。在我回來之前，不要動了。」

Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the apartment building. Behrman was a failure in art. For years, he had always been planning to paint a work of art, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little money by serving as a model to artists who could not pay for a professional model. He was a fierce, little, old man who protected the two young women in the studio apartment above him.

老貝爾曼是住在這座樓地下室的一個畫家。在畫畫上他是一名失敗者。許多年了，他始終在計劃畫出一幅傑作，但卻從未著手。他通過為付不起專業模特費用的畫家當模特掙一丁點錢。他是一位保護樓上兩位女士的勇敢的、不起眼的老頭。

Sue found Behrman in his room. In one area was a blank canvas that had been waiting twenty-five years for the first line of paint. Sue told him about Johnsy and how she feared that her friend would float away like a leaf.

蘇在貝爾曼的房間中找到了他。在屋子的一角是一張已經等了25年以便進行創作的空白畫布。蘇將約翰妮的病情以及她對於自己的朋友如同一片葉子一樣時刻會隨風而逝的恐懼告訴了他。

Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. "Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off a vine? Why do you let that silly business come in her brain?"

老貝爾曼對這樣一種想法非常生氣：「世界上有傻得因葡萄藤葉落下而自願等死的人嗎？你為什麼會讓她產生這樣的愚蠢想法？」

"She is very sick and weak," said Sue, "and the disease has left her mind full of strange ideas."

蘇答道：「她奄奄一息了，病情使她腦子里滿是奇思怪想。」

"This is not any place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy shall lie sick," yelled Behrman. "Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away."

貝爾曼吼道：「這不是一個約翰妮小姐可以好好養病的地方。有一天我會完成一幅傑作，好讓我們都可以搬出去。」

Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to cover the window. She and Behrman went into the other room. They looked out a window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other without speaking. A cold rain was falling, mixed with snow. Behrman sat and posed as the miner.

當他們上樓時，約翰妮正在睡覺。蘇將窗簾放了下來以擋住窗戶。她與貝爾曼走進另一個房間。他們驚恐地望著窗外的那棵葡萄藤。然後他們無聲地對視了一下。一場陰雨正在下著，其中還夾雜著雪花。貝爾曼坐了下來，開始擺出礦工的姿勢。

The next morning, Sue awoke after an hour's sleep. She found Johnsy with wide-open eyes staring at the covered window.

第二天早上，蘇在睡了一小時覺之後醒來。她發現約翰妮大睜著雙眼看著被擋住的窗戶。

"Pull up the shade; I want to see," she ordered, quietly.

她小聲地命令道：「拉開窗簾；我想看看。」

Sue obeyed.

蘇照做了。

After the beating rain and fierce wind that blew through the night, there yet stood against the wall one ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine. It was still dark green at the center. But its edges were colored with the yellow. It hung bravely from the branch about seven meters above the ground.

在經歷了一夜的狂風暴雨之後，在牆上還剩下一片葉子。這是這棵葡萄藤最後一片葉子了。葉子的中間依然綠中透黑。但是葉子的邊上透著黃色。它勇敢地挺立在距離地面七米高的葡萄藤枝上。

"It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fall ring the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today and I shall die at the same time."

約翰妮說：「這是最後一片葉子了。我以為昨天晚上它就會掉下來。我聽到了風聲。今天它就會掉下來，同時我也會走了。」

"Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down toward the bed. "Think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What would I do?"

蘇一邊將她蒼白的臉扭到床的另一側，一邊說道：「親愛的，親愛的！即使你不考慮自己，也應該想想我。我能夠怎麼辦呢？」

But Johnsy did not answer.

但是約翰妮沒有應答。

The next morning, when it was light, Johnsy demanded that the window shade be raised. The ivy leaf was still there. Johnsy lay for a long time, looking at it. And then she called to Sue, who was preparing chicken soup.

第二天早上，當天亮的時候，約翰妮命令打開窗簾。葡萄藤葉子依然掛在那裡。約翰妮躺在床上等了好長時間，雙眼緊盯著這片葉子。然後她招呼正在做雞湯的蘇。

"I've been a bad girl," said Johnsy. "Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how bad I was. It is wrong to want to die. You may bring me a little soup now."

約翰妮說：「我始終是一個荒唐的女孩子。最後一片葉子依然掛在那裡的事實說明了我是多少的荒唐。等死是錯的。現在你可以喂我一口湯了。」

An hour later she said: "Someday I hope to paint the Bay of Naples."

一個小時之後，她說：「我希望有一天能夠畫那不勒斯海灣。」

Later in the day, the doctor came, and Sue talked to him in the hallway.

這一天晚些時候，醫生來了，蘇在走廊上與他交談。

"Even chances," said the doctor. "With good care, you'll win. And now I must see another case I have in your building. Behrman, his name is -- some kind of an artist, I believe. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man and his case is severe. There is no hope for him; but he goes to the hospital today to ease his pain."

醫生說：「治癒的成敗機會是均等的。精心照料你就會成功。現在我必須去看一下這座樓里的另外一位病人。他的名字叫貝爾曼——我想是一位畫家。他患的也是肺炎。他是一個年老體弱的老頭，病情非常嚴重。對他來說沒有希望了；但是今天他才去醫院治療。」

The next day, the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You won. Nutrition and care now -- that's all."

第二天，醫生對蘇說：「她脫離危險了。你成功了。現在需要的就是營養與照料了。」

Later that day, Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, and put one arm around her.

那天晚些時候，蘇來到約翰妮躺的病床旁邊，用一隻胳膊抱著她。

"I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said. "Mister Behrman died of pneumonia today in the hospital. He was sick only two days. They found him the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were completely wet and icy cold. They could not imagine where he had been on such a terrible night.

她說：「小東西，我有話要對你說。今天貝爾曼先生在醫院去世了。他病了兩天。第一天早上，人們在他的地下室發現了病入膏肓的他。他的鞋子與衣服全濕透了，並且冰冷異常。人們不能想像出在這樣一個風雨交加之夜他去哪兒了。」

And then they found a lantern, still lighted. And they found a ladder that had been moved from its place. And art supplies and a painting board with green and yellow colors mixed on it.

「然後，人們發現有一盞燈依然亮著。人們發現這盞燈的位置挪動了。旁邊還有一些畫畫用的東西以及著了綠黃顏色的一張畫板。」

And look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it is Behrman's masterpiece - he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell."

「親愛的，向窗外望一下，看看牆上掛著的那片葡萄藤葉子吧。你沒有想過刮風之時它為何紋絲不動嗎？哦，親愛的，那是貝爾曼先生的傑作——就在那片葉子落下的晚上，他將它畫了下來。」

㈣ 求美國作家Eudora Welty 的短篇小說《The Whistle（哨聲）》的譯文~

2008年5月12日發生在四川西北部的特大地震及其慘重後果牽動了全國人民的心。如果我們在積極關注地震災難以及隨後的可歌可泣抗爭救災行動的同時也注意通過英語媒體了解情況，我們就可以掌握一些地道的英語表達，豐富我們的語言應用能力。
 美聯社5月16日的一篇報道中有以下一段文字：China has mobilized 130,000 army and paramilitary troops to the disaster area, but the quake buckled roads and triggered mountain landslides, meaning that relief supplies and rescuers have struggled to reach the worst-hit areas.
 Mobilize是一個平時不太常用的單詞，但是此次四川地震災難發生之後，全世界對於中國政府mobilize抗震救災力量的效率給予了好評，我們也可以對mobilize有一個全新的認識與了解。
 中國政府此次動員的抗震救災力量主要來自軍警，上述文字中的paramilitary troops 就是「准軍事部隊」的意思，也就是警察，包括武警。Paramilitary 是西方國家通常用來表達警察和武警部隊的英語詞彙，在我國的漢英詞典中，「武警」的譯文通常是armed police ，但這個表達遠不如paramilitary在英語國家中用的普遍。中國政府此次出動的抗震救災力量中除了軍人之外還有大量武警、森林警察、消防警察和普通公安幹警，這些警力在英語中可以統稱為paramilitary troops 。
 Buckled roads就是「阻擋道路」的意思，其中buckle這個單詞在這里使用得十分生動形象，因為「阻擋道路」我們一般是表達為block road的，而buckle的意思是「使扭曲」，「使彎曲」，「使變形」，對於在汶川地震中毀壞的公路來說，buckle這個詞顯然是再形象不過的了。
 triggered mountain landslides 就是「引發山體滑坡」的意思，其中的mountain landslide就是「山體滑坡」的意思。slide 屬於美國英語用法，指的是（土、石、雪等的）崩落，崩塌。常見派生用法有landslide（山崩，滑坡，塌方），mud slide 就是「泥石流」。Trigger這個詞用在這里也十分形象，因為它通常表示由於外來力量的作用而造成的某種後果。
 在美聯社的另外一篇報道中，「引發」的英語對應詞彙用的spark ，其釋義與trigger 相似，如 A strong aftershock sparked landslides near the epicenter of this week's powerful earthquake Friday, burying vehicles and again cutting off ravaged areas of central China.
 我們抗震救災中所急需的各類「救災物資」就是 relief supplies 。說到與「救」相關的詞彙，我們往往會條件反射想到save，其實不然。在各種災難救援行動中，rescue 是一個更常用的詞彙，下文的rescuers就是「救援人員」的意思，而「救援行動」本身在英語中就是relief 。「救援人員」還可以表達為relief workers ，如美聯社的這篇報道中就提到了以下一句話：Relief workers said food, water and tents were urgently needed.
 房屋collapse的後果就是被夷為平地，而英語中表示「夷為平地」的對應說法是flatten 。
 如美聯社報道說The magnitude 7.9 quake flattened houses, schools and offices the southwestern province of Sichuan. In Hanwang, the town's mostly older buildings were flattened or severely damaged by the quake.
 在抗震救災進入第二階段之後，震區防疫成為工作重點。「防疫」就是 epidemic prevention，其中的 epidemic是「流行病」，「傳染病」的意思，在這里指的是「疫情」。
 如美聯社的一篇報道說：There were concerns about epidemics if the dead were not soon buried or cremated. 這個句子中的 cremate 是人死亡之後進行火化處理的意思。
 此次慘烈的大地震造成了數以萬計的居民遇難，而且死亡人數還在不斷攀升。天災人禍中的死亡總數，英語中叫做death toll 。
 如美聯社報道說 The emergency headquarters of the State Council, China's Cabinet, said the confirmed death toll had reached 19,509--up more than 4,500 from the day before. The council said deaths could rise to 50,000, state media reported.
 與地震相關的其他詞語還包括地震的「震級」Richter Scale，「震中」epicenter ，「地震強度」magnitude 、「餘震」aftershock等等。
 而「地震」除了表達為earthquake及其縮略形式quake之外還可以說temblor，這是美國英語中用來表示「地震」的單詞。此外，由於此次地震造成的傷亡後果十分慘重，因此在修飾性詞彙方面，英語中用了多個不同單詞，如 massive/powerful/devastating/deadly/killer earthquake 。