对otherwise的理解

问题描述

In particularly wet years, short stretches of an otherwise dry stream-bed may have flowing water because the water table rises to intersect the land surface. otherwise在这里是什么意思？”short stretches of an otherwise dry stream-bed may have flowing water”要怎么翻译？

老师答疑

刘老师：

In particularly wet years, short stretches of an otherwise dry stream-bed may have flowing water because the water table rises to intersect the land surface. otherwise在这里是什么意思？”short stretches of an otherwise dry stream-bed may have flowing water”要怎么翻译？

【翻译】在特别潮湿的年份（指雨水多），不同地方的小段干涸的河床可能有水流动，因为地下水位上升到与地表相交。

【分析】

1. otherwise是形容词，意为“别的，不同的；另外的；不同场合的；其他场合的”。表示与上文的对比或对照，又如：

That was a bright spot in an otherwise dull day. 这是在单调沉闷日子里的惟一的欢乐时刻。

The sad news of her father's death was the only cloud on an otherwise happy year. 她父亲的死讯是她愉快的一年中唯一伤心的事。

The accident was a blemish in an otherwise perfect evening. 那个意外是那天晚上唯一美中不足的地方。

This is a very bad defect in an otherwise perfect piece of work. 这是一个非常差劲的瑕疵,否则将是一件完美的作品。

2. stretch表示距离，意为“一段”。