《道德经》中“道”的英译

On English Translation of"Tao"in the Book of Tao Te Ching

《道德经》是中国古今一切著述中在西方翻译最多、发行量最大且长期持续增长的著作。其核心概念“道”,由于含义丰富且在英语中没有与之对应的概念,在不同译本中出现了Way、path、principle、law、Nature、Tao等不同译法。通过分析不同译法的优缺点,提出采用音译法,将“道”译为Tao,是保持中华思想文化术语统一性和含义完整性的有效策略,为维护中华思想文化术语的完整性、严肃性、统一性和规范性,促进中华文化的对外传播,避免曲解和误读,提供有价值的参考,增进文化自信,推进中国故事的全球化表达。

Tao Te Ching is the only book with the largest number of translated versions in the West and the largest and growing circulation among all the works in China.The core concept of"Tao"is rich in meaning and there is no corresponding concept in English,so there are various translations of the term such as way,path,principle,law,nature and Tao.By analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of different translations,this paper puts forward that transliteration of"Tao"is an effective way to keep the Chinese ideological and cultural terms′unity and completeness of meaning.The method of transliteration can provide valuable reference for maintaining the completeness,seriousness,unity and standardization of translated cultural terms so as to promote the external communication of Chinese culture,avoid misinterpretation or misreading of the terms,enhance cultural self-confidence and promote the global spread of Chinese stories.