第三：中文和英文的對應詞有時意思并不相同或者不完全相同，不能照字面翻譯。例如下面例子中的“外國人”和foreigner：如果我們要把“他的英語說得真好，就像外國人一樣。”翻譯成這樣的英語He speaks English so well, he soundslike a foreigner. 那么這里的修飾語like a foreigner是指說得不好，聽起來很別扭。這種看上去非常準確的翻譯其效果卻適得其反。正確的翻譯方法應該是：He speaks English so well, he sounds like a native speaker.

       “拉動經濟增長”不能翻譯為pull economic growth，這不符合英語的表達習慣，而要用下列動詞才能與economic growth相匹配：push / lift / increase / boost / stimulate / spur / drive / fuel / speed up / accelerate / generate /  fire up / propel / facilitate / reinforce / aid / assist / support / promote / encourage / foster / (sustain / maintain)。

       我們也不能把“素質教育”翻譯成quality education，那是指“高質量的教育”。正確的翻譯應該是caliber-focused education 或trait-centered education。

       第四：有時候中文字面的意思表達不充分，部分信息被省略了或被隱藏起來了。例如下面的例子：特區是個窗口，是技術的窗口，管理的窗口，知識的窗口，也是對外政策的窗口。有人把它翻譯為：The special zone is a window. It is a window for introducing technology, management and knowledge. It is also a window for foreign policy.

       這樣的翻譯外國人是無法理解的，我們必須把那些被省略了或被隱藏起來的信息都翻譯出來：The special economic zones are a window opening onto the outside world. They are a window through which to bring in from abroad sophisticated technology, advanced managerial expertise and up-to-date know-how. It is also a window through which to disseminate China's external policies.

       與此相似的例子還有很多，如“退耕還林”不是return farmland to forest（把耕地退還給森林），而應該是restore "woodland-converted farm-plots" back for afforesting（把從林地開墾出來的耕地還原成林地，即重新進行植樹造林）。“春運”也不能簡單地說成是spring transportation（春季的運輸）而是the rush / peak season of passenger transportation during the Spring Festival（春節期間的客運高峰）。

       第五：有些中文詞語沒有什么特殊涵義，而與之相對應的英文詞語卻有著特殊的涵義。例如，與“便宜”、“價廉”相對應的“cheap”，它有時候會帶有貶義，成為“質次價低”的意思，如cheap jewelries，cheap dresses，cheap furniture等。我們可以說I bought a cheap watch for my child，對小孩無所謂；但不能說I bought a cheap dress for my girlfriend. 因為這樣說會冒犯對方。在后一種情況下必須用inexpensive一詞。

       第六：避免用中式英語進行表達，而要盡量用地道的英語進行表達。假如我們要把“我過去學過一些法語，但現在都忘了，都還給老師了”這句話翻譯成英語，最好不要說 I learned some French in the past. Now I have forgotten it. I've returned it to the teacher. 比較好的說法是 I used to know some French, but I've forgotten it. It has found its way back to my teacher.

       再比如我們要用英語說“我攢了一大堆臟衣服，等著周末來洗”，最好不要說I have accumulated a large amount of dirty clothes. I'm going to wash them at the weekend. 比較好的說法是I have a lot of laundry to catch up at the weekend.

       第七：根據不同場合，英語的表達有莊重（formal）與隨意（informal）之分。比如“禁止吸煙”（No Smoking）、“請勿吸煙”（Thank you for not smoking）和“為了您和他人的健康，請勿在此吸煙”（For hygiene's sake, please refrain yourself from smoking in this room.）。下面兩組例子中都各包含有formal - normal - informal 三種文體風格（style）：

       Please await instructions before dispatching items.

       Please wait for instructions before sending items off.

       Don't send anything off until you're told to do so.

       Essential measures should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.

       One should undertake any necessary measures at the earliest opportunity.

       You should do whatever you have to as soon as you can.