学语
欄目： 学语January 6, 2026
人上了年纪还在学语言，是需要点勇气的。有人或许会说学语言是“牙牙学语”，是小孩的事。其实，只要有求知的愿望，管他什么人有什么看法呢？
学语言，也要有“打破砂锅问到底”的精神。否则，到手的知识会被漏掉。今天我翻到一本通俗（我并不同意这种称谓的）小说，书名是“The Dogs Of War”。 这书名翻译成中文是”战犬“？当然，这样并不算错，关系也不大，这只是个书名。但是，请教了一下当今的AI。 居然有下面这么一大段：
The phrase “the dogs of war” originates from William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, where Mark Antony utters the line “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war” in Act 3, Scene 1.
Literally, it refers to war dogs—canines trained for combat—that would be released from their leashes to attack enemies after a military order to cause chaos and pillage.
The term “havoc” was a historical military signal in the Middle Ages, indicating permission for soldiers to loot and destroy after a victory.
Figuratively, “the dogs of war” symbolize the uncontrollable chaos, violence, and destruction unleashed by war, often representing the breakdown of civilized behavior among soldiers or the broader forces of conflict.
It can also metaphorically describe any destructive force set loose, such as weapons, political unrest, or military aggression.
The phrase has become a common idiom, often used to convey the idea that once war begins, it spirals into uncontrollable devastation.
The expression has been used in various contexts beyond Shakespeare, including literature—such as Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, where it describes cannon fire—and popular culture, including films, video games, and even sports events.
In modern usage, it can also refer to mercenaries or soldiers for hire, often with a derogatory connotation.
如果再请它翻译成中文：
“战争的犬只”（the dogs of war）这一短语源自威廉·莎士比亚的戏剧《尤利乌斯·凯撒》。在第三幕第一场中，马克·安东尼说出了这句台词：“喊出‘浩劫’（Havoc）！放开战犬！” 从字面意义上看，它指的是“战犬”——即受过战斗训练的狗，在军队下达制造混乱和劫掠的命令后，会被松开皮带扑向敌人。“浩劫”（havoc）一词在中世纪曾是历史上真实的军事信号，表示允许士兵在获胜后进行抢掠和破坏。
从比喻意义上看，“战争的犬只”象征着战争所引发的无法控制的混乱、暴力与毁灭，常用来表现士兵在战争中文明行为的崩溃，或更广泛的冲突力量。该短语也可泛指任何被释放出的破坏性力量，例如武器、政治动荡或军事侵略。如今，这一表达已成为常用习语，常用于传达“一旦战争爆发，便会演变为无法遏制的灾难”这一观念。
此表达在莎士比亚之后也被广泛用于其他语境，包括文学作品——如维克多·雨果的《悲惨世界》中用以描述炮火——以及电影、电子游戏甚至体育赛事等流行文化领域。在现代用法中，它也可指代雇佣兵或受雇士兵，往往带有贬义色彩。
是不是？仔细一看，如果只理解成”战犬“，的确是肤浅了。
