A is to B what C is to D : A is to B as C is to D : (A之於B 正如 C之於D)

 A is to B what C is to D :

A is to B as C is to D :

(A之於B 正如 C之於D)

(A之於B : 不熟悉者) 正如

"what, 或 as" (C之於D : 已熟悉者)

例1.

Water is to fish as air is to animals.

(水之於魚 正如 空氣之於動物.)

例2.

Books are to the mind

what food is to the body.

(書之於心靈 正如 食物之於身體.)

注意 :

1. what 當 連接詞 有三種意義:

a. 兼 "疑問代名詞"(或疑問形容詞):

什麼(事/物)

b. 兼 "複合關係代名詞" :

"所有"(的)(事/物)

c. 如 本單元 的 "如, 正如, 猶如"

2. as 當 連接詞 有 五種意義:

a. because : 因為

b. when : 當 ... 的時候

c. although : 雖然

d. as : 隨著

例. as time went by :

隨著時間的消逝

e. just as : "如, 正如, 猶如" ,

如 本單元

特別注意:

1.A之於B 是 聽者(/讀者)不熟悉者,

但是 C之於D 是聽者(/讀者)已熟悉者

2.本單元是 說話者(/筆者)

用譬喻(/譬如)方式, 讓聽者(/讀者)

用已熟悉的, 去了解不熟悉的.

例如 要世界各國人士了解 "蔡英文" 身份,

可用 "蔡英文之於中華民國"

"正如"(as, 或 what)

"川普之於美國"

例3.

Water is to fish as air is to animals.

=

As air is to animals , water is to fish.

(水之於魚 正如 空氣之於動物.)

例4.

Books are to the mind

what food is to the body.

=

What food is to the body ,

books are to the mind.

(書之於心靈 正如 食物之於身體.)

例5.

Rings are to trees

what wrinkles are to man.

(年輪之於樹木 正如 皺紋之於人.)

類似句型 :

(Just) as ... , so (子句要倒裝) ... .

( Just as 子句, 中文 "後翻譯", 已熟悉者 )

( so 子句 , 中文 "先翻譯", 不熟悉者 )

例5.

Just as you sow , so shall you reap.

=

As you sow , so shall you reap.

（種瓜得瓜, 種豆得豆.)

(/你將必有收獲, 正如 你所播種的.)

例6.

As you treat others ,

so will you be treated.

=

Just as you treat others ,

so will you be treated.

(你怎麼待人, 人家就怎麼待你.)

(/你將如何被(人)對待 正如 你如何待人.)