本文翻译自日文版，译者 七姑娘

连词“while”具有两种意义，因此为了避免误用，使用时需多加注意。

“while”作为连词来使用的时候，表示“同时性”或“对比性、对立”。根据文章的内容可明确该词具体表达了哪一种意义的情况固然存在，但如同下文中所展示的相反情况同样存在。

The temperature decreased while the growth rate increased.

这句话可产生“温度下降的同时生长速度加快了”和“与温度下降所不同的是，生长速度却加快了”两种翻译。

正解是：若要使后者的翻译成立，“decreased”和“while”之间的逗号必不可少，因此目前的情况下无法直接确定此句的翻译。为了使上文的句意能够明确，就该如同下文的例句一般进行修改。

同时性：

(1) The temperature decreased as the growth rate increased.

(2) The temperature decreased, and simultaneously, the growth rate increased.

(3) As simultaneous phenomena, the temperature decreased and the growth rate increased.

对比性：

(4) Although the temperature decreased, the growth rate increased.

(5) The temperature decreased, though the growth rate increased.

(6) The temperature decreased, but the growth rate increased.

(7) Whereas the temperature decreased, the growth rate increased.

(8) The temperature decreased, whereas the growth rate increased.

(9) Despite the fact that the temperature decreased, the growth rate increased. 

*“while”除了连词以外还能作为其他此类来使用，不同的词性皆具其特有的意义。

化学论文中的「while」使用实例

While progress in this area has been rapid, the realisation of complementary processes that exploit the activation of C–C bonds, which are also found in almost all organic molecules, has proven more challenging. 引用: 10.1039/c6cc04359c

Modern methods, while capable of introducing 18F-fluoride into a more diverse range of structures, often suffer from the need for complex starting materials, operating or purification procedures.　引用：10.1038/nature17667

However, while this idea is simply stated, such Diels–Alder reactions are rare, often needing multi-step or mechanistically distinct solutions such as double Michael additions. 引用：10.1002/anie.201500925

本文出自 Enago学术英语academy（日文版）