(1)
the traffic light --- 是总的信号灯,
通常里面有 a red light, an amber light 和 a green light
drive through a traffic light 这不一定是闯红灯,也不见得不是闯红灯
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(2)
verb + a red light 闯红灯
run
jump
drive through
go through
blow through
ignore
cross
break
...
越往后越少用,run后不要加through.
翻译“闯红灯”的重点是“闯”,通常可用介词 through 来表达,如 drive through, go through 等。如:
It’s illegal to drive through a red light. 开车闯红灯是违法行为。
He was stopped by the police for going through a red light. 他因为闯红灯被警察拦住了。
有时也可以用动词 jump a red light。如下面一句摘自《剑桥高级英语词典》
The police fined her for driving through / jumping a red light. 她因为闯红灯而被罚款。
有时也可以用动词 shoot a red light。如下面一句摘自《牛津英语习语词典》
In this city people shoot the lights all the time. 在这座城市里人们总是闯红灯。
当然也可以用其他表达来“意译”。如:
The car didn’t stop at the red lights. 那辆车闯红灯了。
You should never attempt to pass the red light at a street crossing. 在十字路口绝不要想闯红灯。