“江湖”怎么译？
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人在江湖，身不由己
幼年时，爱读武侠小说，常常被武艺高强、闯荡江湖的侠客所吸引。长大后，学习英语，常常想怎么将“江湖”二字译成英语，但是因为找不到合适的对应词，而深感困惑。“江湖”二字含义深奥，体现了中国文化的博大精深，一般汉英词典提供的释义往往不能令人满意。当年，金庸先生的《笑傲江湖》一书曾打动多少人的心弦，古龙先生一句“人在江湖，身不由己”，曾引起多少人的共鸣。但是将“江湖”译成英语，常常会失去汉语的韵味和魅力。我所做的只是试图将“江湖”的意思用英语表达出来，以抛砖引玉。
《维基百科》采取简便办法，直接音译，用汉语拼音jianghu表示“江湖”：
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set. In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set. Each wuxia novel has its own jianghu setting, although in Louis Cha’s Condor Trilogy it will be one with continuity; whereas Gu Long’s jianghu would be distinct in every novel. (Wikipedia)
“江湖”的第一个意思是“江河湖泊”，英语可以译为rivers and lakes。例如：
今年这个非洲国家由于大旱，一些江湖快干涸了。
As there is a serious drought in this African country, some of its rivers and lakes have nearly dried up.
“江湖”的第二个意思是“四方”“各地”或“到处”，英语可以译为here and there、hither and thither、from place to place、all corners of the country。例如：
他18岁时离家，后流浪江湖，以占卜为生。
He left his home at the age of 18, and roamed here and there, earning his living as a fortune-teller.
“江湖客”指“流落江湖的人”，英语可以译为vagabond、drifter、itinerant wanderer。例如：
这位江湖客凭借一时心血来潮，想去哪里就去哪里。
The vagabond roams wherever he pleases, following the whim of the moment.
“江湖”的第三个意思是“复杂的社会环境”，英语可以译为complicated human world、complicated human society。例如：
人在江湖，身不由己。
As we live in a complicated human world, we have to adapt ourselves to the changing circumstances.
“江湖”的第四个意思是“豪杰侠客所闯荡的社会”，英语可以译为circle of swordsmen、circle of outlaws、circle of martial arts practitioners。例如：
江湖各路人马聚会，各显其能。
The forces from various circles of martial arts practitioners gathered and displayed their prowess respectively.
“江湖义气”的意思是“豪杰侠客之间看重情谊而替人担当风险的气概”，英语可以译为loyalty to brotherhood、 loyalty to fraternity。例如：
豪杰侠客之间，江湖义气最为重要。
Among the martial arts practitioners, the loyalty to brotherhood goes beyond everything.
“江湖”的第五个意思是“文人士大夫隐居的地方”，英语可以译为seclusive place。例如：
唐朝时，这位官员辞去官职，遁迹江湖。
In the Tang Dynasty, the official resigned from his post and led a solitary life in a seclusive place.
“江湖”的第六个意思与“到处流浪，靠卖艺、占卜或卖药为生的人”相关。“江湖艺人”英语可以译为itinerant entertainer、wandering performer、roaming performer。例如：
通过刻苦练习，这个江湖艺人最后成为著名的歌手。
Through assiduous practice the itinerant entertainer finally became a well-known singer.
“江湖医生”或“江湖郎中”的意思是“自称懂医术的庸医”，英语可以译为quack、mountebank。例如：
当你赶集的时候，你必须小心卖假药的江湖医生。
When you go to the fair, you must beware of the quacks selling spurious medicinal herbs.
“江湖骗子”的意思是“使用花招到处骗钱的人”，英语可以译为swindler、hustler、charlatan。例如：
这个江湖骗子利用药托儿骗钱。
With the help of a drug shill, the hustler tricked people into giving him money.
“江湖气”的意思是“走江湖的人特有的鄙俗油滑的习气”，英语可以译为slick in the ways of the world。例如：
他多年走南闯北，沾染了一身江湖气。
Having travelled widely for many years, he became slick in the ways of the world.
本文摘自《英语“说文解字”》，最早发表于2013年5月《英语世界》，有删节。
解词：解释英语单词的意义用法
释义：论说词语的文化内涵
翻译：追寻英汉互译的方法技巧
应用：探讨中西文化的异同之处
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