參考譯文

　　The Four Great Inventions refer to the four inventions in ancient China that had great influences on the world. They are papermaking, printing, gunpowder and compass. Papermaking and printing lead to revolutionary progress in recording and transmitting information. The invention and spread of gunpowder changed the mode of war in the Middle Ages. And the compass greatly helped the European navigators to explore new routes. The Four Great Inventions are symbols of advanced science and technology in ancient China and of great significance in the development of Chinese and the world's civilizations.

　　翻譯詳解

　　1.第1句中的定語“對世界有巨大影響的”較長，故將其處理成定語從句，表達為that had great influences on the world。“中國古代”(in ancient China)置于中心詞“四種發(fā)明”之后。

　　2.第2句中的“幾”實為“它們是”，譯為they are。

　　3.第5句中的“大大地幫助 了......”可用短語greatly help... to...,也可用短語be of great help to...來表達。“探索新航路”表目的，故將其譯作狀語，用不定式短語to explore new routes來表達。

　　4.最后一句“四大發(fā)明是……的象征，在……中都有著……的意義”可用并列結(jié)構(gòu)譯出：the Four Great Inventions are symbols of... and of great significance...。“有著……意義”用短語be of 表達，此處承前 省略are。“古代中國先進科學和技術的”譯為advanced science and technology in ancient China。“在中國和世界文明發(fā)展中”表達為 in the development of Chinese and the world's civilizations。