在新闻报刊中，常常要对一些专有名词进行翻译，特别是对一些热点关注问题的核心词汇的翻译更是出现了多种版本，那么，到底怎么翻才算是合情合理的呢？下面就以"三通"，"四项基本原则"和"五好家庭"为例，来简要介绍一下：

1.三通

字面英译：three links

常见释译：three (direct) links (across the Taiwan Straits, namely, link of trade, travel and post); link of trade, travel and post (between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits)

解释说明：若不做解释性增译而是把"三通"照字直译为"three links"的话，估计没有多少外国读者看得懂，恐怕连有些中国人也不懂。"三通"是个概括的说法，特指海峡两岸之间的通商、通航和通邮。新闻翻译要使人一目了然，不可晦涩难懂，需酌情作些解释性增译。上述译文清晰地显示了"三通"的内容。

 
曾有人把"三通"译作"three exchanges, the exchange of trade, travel and post"。这样译似不妥，一是严格说来，英语中trade这个词所表示的语义本身就是双向的，本身就含有exchange之义。二是"exchange"的词义是"交换"或"交流"，与"三通"中的"通"的含义有较大的距离。换言之，用"three exchanges"来译"三通"，"通"的含义不明显，改译成"three links"或"three direct links"，"通"字所表示的意义就译出来了。

实证举隅：Mass media here call on Taiwan authorities to take immediate¹ positive steps towards realizing the link of trade, travel and post between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

2.四项基本原则

字面英译：the Four Cardinal² Principles

常见释译：the Four Cardinal Principles (i.e. adhering to the socialist³ road, the people's democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought)

3.五好家庭

字面英译：Five Virtues Family

常见释译：Five Virtues Family (outstanding in such five aspects as law-abiding, diligent study, family planning, domestic harmony, and industrious and thrifty management of the household);