“查词典”用 look up something in the dictionary, look up something in a dictionary 肯定是可以的。但对于 look up the dictionary, look up a dictionary 呢?有的人说它不符合英语习惯,也有人说完全可以这样用。请专家老师说说看法,谢谢!
看了几位老师的分析,很有收获!下面是我的两条小小补充,与大家一起探讨!
▲刘老师在解答中引用了拙作《中学英语高频词详解词典》的观点和例句,书中说“请看以下摘自权威词书的实例”,但书上并没有给出到底是“哪本权威词书”。其实该书原稿上本来是有的出处的,但书出版时被出版社的编辑删除了(可能是考虑到作为学生用书,没必要在书上引用例句出处)。下面是这两句的材料出处:
1. I spend more time looking up the dictionary than reading the book.
该句出自 L.G. Alexander的《新概念英语》第2册的测试题答案。原句为:
Perhaps it is (an exciting story), but it's too difficult for me. I spend more time looking up the dictionary than reading the book.
2. Look up the dictionary and explain the meaning of the italicized words.
该句我记得是出自张汉熙的《高级英语》,该书在其练习的标题中多次出现过这个句子。(由于多次搬家,该书被弄丢了,手头有该书的朋友可以核实一下)
▲表示“查词典”,英语除可用 look sth up in the dictionary 和 look up the dictionary 外,根据情况还有其他多种表达,比如:
I decided to consult a medical dictionary. 我决定去查医学词典。(《牛津英语搭配词典》)
Look in a Cobuild dictionary for more detailed information. 查查柯林斯词典了解更详细的信息。(《柯林斯·英语语法大全》)
I always refer to a dictionary when I come upon a new word. 我遇生词时,总是查词典。(《新牛津英语双解大词典》)
If there are any words you don’t understand, use a dictionary. 若有任何不认识的单词,就查查词典。(《剑桥中级英语语法》)
▲完全同意曾老师和刘老师的以下观点:学生在考试时最好还是用 look up sth in the dictionary 较为保险。
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赵振才教授在《英语常见问题解答大词典》增订版中指出:
look up 的宾语应当是查找的具体内容,如 word (单词)、address (地址)、telephone number (电话号码)等,而 consult 的宾语应当是参考资料,如 dictionary, map, notebook, watch 等等。
1. You should look the word up in a dictionary. 你应当翻词典查一查这个词。 2. I looked up his address. 我查了他的地址。 3. He consulted his watch. 他看了看手表。 4. He consulted the dictionary. 他查了词典。 5. I don't know how to get there either—perhaps we'd better consult a map. 我也不知道怎样才能到达那里——也许我们最好还是查看一下地图。
所以, look up the dictionary 和 look up a dictionary 都是错误的。
关于这个问题,陈根花老师在其《中学英语高频词详解词典》有说明如下,可供参考:
汉语中的“查字典”,说成英语通常是 look up sth in a dictionary 或 consult [refer to] a dictionary。如:
You can look the word up in the dictionary. 你可以在词典里查这个词。
I refer to the dictionary frequently. 我经常查阅词典。
He often consulted a dictionary when he read the book. 他读这本书时经常查字典。
有不少人认为不能直接说 look up the dictionary, 其实这种表达在现代英语中也可以用,请看以下摘自权威词书的实例:
I spend more time looking up the dictionary than reading the book. 我读这本书时查字典的时间还多些。
Look up the dictionary and explain the meaning of the italicized words. 查字典然后解释斜体词的意思。