翻译题目
胡同(Hutong)是北京的一大特色，有着与北京城一样久远的历史。最早的胡同出现在元朝(the Yuan Dynasty)，如今大部分胡同是在明清时代(the Ming and Qing Dynasties)形成的。据专家考证，“胡同”一词源 干蒙古语(Mongolian)的“井”。自古以来胡同都是北京城里普通市民生息的场所，可以说是北京平民文化的代表。但随着人口的增加，很多古老的胡同已经消失，取而代之的是现代化的却没有特色的高楼大厦。
表达难点
1.第1句中的“有着与北京城一样久远的历史”用介词短语witha history as long as that of Bering city来表达，以插入语形式置于主语之后，这样整个句子的中心更突出。
2.第2句“最早的胡同出现在……”翻译时转换成“胡同最早出现在……”(Hutong first appeared…)更符合英语的表达习惯。“胡同是在明、清时代形成的”虽然形式上是主动的，但意义上却表被动，故翻译时转换成被动讲态，译作Hutongs were formed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
3.第4句“自古以来胡同都是……”用完成时态Hutong has always been…与since ancient times搭配，很好地表达了这种状态的延续性。
4.最后一句中的“取而代之的是现代化的却没有特色的高楼大厦”如果逐字对译为and are replaced by the modern but not characterized high-rise buildings则显生硬，不如选用意为“给……让出地方”的短语to make way for来作前一个分句的目的状语，这样译文更生动流畅。
参考译文
Hutong, with a history as long as that of Beijing city, is a major feature of Beijing. Hutong first appeared during the Yuan Dynasty, and most of today's Hutongs were formed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. According to experts, the word "Hutong" came from Mongolian language, meaning "a well". Hutong has always been the living place for ordinary residents since ancient times and it's said to be a representative of Beijing civilian culture. However, with the increase of the population, many old Hutongs have disappeared to make way for modem but not characterized high-rise buildings.
