汉语说“年轻一代”“年老一代”等,说成英语是young (old) generation还是younger (older) generation?许多同学可能认为是前者,因为汉语意思中并没有比较意味,所以要用原级。恰恰相反,在这两个结构中,英语习惯上要用比较级。如:
Many representatives of the older generation were there. 老一辈的各类人都在那里。——摘自引自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第四版(商务印书馆)的representative 词条
I feel pretty ancient when I see how the younger generation behaves. 看到年轻一代的举止行为, 我觉得我太老了。——引自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第四版(商务印书馆)的 ancient 词条