唐朝时期,人们就在昌南建造窑坊(kiln),烧制出一种青白瓷(bluish white porcelain)。青白瓷色彩晶莹,有“人造玉器”的美称,因而远近闻名,并大量出口欧洲。当时,欧洲人还不会制造瓷器,因此中国特别是昌南镇的瓷器很受欢迎。 在欧洲,昌南镇瓷器是备受珍爱的贵重物品,人们以能获得一件昌南镇瓷器为荣。因此,欧洲人就以“昌南”作为瓷器和生产瓷器的“中国”的代称。久而久之,欧洲人就把昌南的本意忘却了,只记得它是“瓷器”,即“中国”了。
【参考翻译】
In the Tang Dynasty, people started to build kilns tomake bluish white porcelain in Changnan. The bluishwhite porcelain was glittering and had thereputation of artificial jade, so it became famoushome and abroad and was exported to Europe inlarge amount. At that time, Europeans were not able to make porcelain,so porcelain fromChina,especially from Changnan,was warmly welcomed. In Europe,porcelain from Changnanwas luxurious article cherished by everyone, and obtaining even one piece of it would makepeople feel very proud. In this way,Europeans used Changnan as the code name for china(porcelain) and the place of its production,China. Gradually, Europeans forgot the originalmeaning of Changnan,only remembering it is “china”,namely“China”.
【词汇解析】
1.烧制出一种青白瓷:可译为make bluish whiteporcelain, 烧制可译为 make,“青白色的”可译为bluishwhite。
2.色彩晶萤:可译为glittering,意为“闪闪发光的”。
3.远近闻名:可译为be famous home and abroad。
4.以…为荣:即be proud of,文中译为…make people feelproud。
5.久而久之:理解为“逐渐地”,可用gradually来表达。
6.只记得它是瓷器:根据前后句,本句可译为only remembering it is “china”, 用现在分词作状语来表达。