please help me translate sentences for practice

[82riceballs]

As part of my practice of interpreting and writing Chinese, I try to translate English sentences into Chinese, but my translations always seem kinda weird. Can you please help me with the following translations?

Please tell me how the translations can be corrected:

“Dickens’s Mr. Gradgrind in the novel Hard Times is an example of a character with a dour and sullen disposition”

狄更斯的《艱難時世》裡的格萊恩先生是又嚴格又沉沉不樂的人物的例子。

Is there any phrase that can summarize "dour and sullen" instead of "又嚴格又沉沉不樂" which sounds kind of awkward?

“The residents of the Mississippi delta showed remarkable fortitude during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and businesses.”

密西西比三角洲的居民當洪水毀壞了他們的房子與公司時顯示了非凡的堅忍。

密西西比三角洲的居民面對毀壞他們的房子與公司的洪水時表現出非凡的堅忍。

Is the 1st one or the 2nd one better? or neither (both suck)?

“The recruits rushed into battle so that no one could gibe at them for cowardice.”　

新兵衝進戰場以免別人嘲笑他們膽小鬼。

“They were too proud to give any intimation of their financial difficulties.”

他們太驕傲，不敢讓別人知道他們的財政困難。

“If you have a full-time job outside the home, you may find it exceedingly difficult to be a meticulous housekeeper.”

你如果有專任的工作，可能會很困難當無微不至的家庭主婦。

Thanks!

[trien27]

家庭主婦 = housewife or "lady of the house", not housekeeper.

housekeeper = 管家

[Macro2Jam]

Here is my translation, hope it could be helpful.

“Dickens’s Mr. Gradgrind in the novel Hard Times is an example of a character with a dour and sullen disposition”

狄更斯在小说《艰难时世》里描写的格萊恩先生是一个典型的严厉而又阴沉的角色。

“The residents of the Mississippi delta showed remarkable fortitude during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and businesses.”

当洪水破坏了他们的家园和商业时，密西西比三角洲的居民显示出了非凡的坚韧。

“The recruits rushed into battle so that no one could gibe at them for cowardice.”　

为了不被別人嘲笑为胆小鬼，新兵们冲进了战场。

“They were too proud to give any intimation of their financial difficulties.”

他们太自负了，因此不愿意让別人知道他们的财政困难。

“If you have a full-time job outside the home, you may find it exceedingly difficult to be a meticulous housekeeper.”

如果在外面有一份全职的工作，你就会发现当一个无微不至的家庭主妇是非常困难的。

[studentyoung]

“Dickens’s Mr. Gradgrind in the novel Hard Times is an example of a character with a dour and sullen disposition”

狄更斯的《艱難時世》裡的格萊恩先生是又嚴格又沉沉不樂的人物的例子。

Is there any phrase that can summarize "dour and sullen" instead of "又嚴格又沉沉不樂" which sounds kind of awkward?

How about “嚴肅而沉悶”？

在狄更斯的小說《艱難時世》中，格萊恩先生是個性格嚴肅而沉悶的例子。

“The residents of the Mississippi delta showed remarkable fortitude during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and businesses.”

密西西比三角洲的居民當洪水毀壞了他們的房子與公司時顯示了非凡的堅忍。

密西西比三角洲的居民面對毀壞他們的房子與公司的洪水時表現出非凡的堅忍。

面對摧毀家園打擊百業的洪水，密西西比三角州的居民白鷳出非凡的堅忍。

First, “house” is “房子” and “home” is “家”.

Second, “businesses” here means “all kind of business in this area”, i.e. “在此地區的各行各業”. “各行各各業” in a short word is “百業”.

Cheers!

[enetguru]

How about combine "homes and businesses" to "家业"?

Simple and clear

[huisheng]

家业 is too ambiguous.

[LaVandez]

Hey quick question, did the people who offer translations have to put much work into this or was it as simple as looking at the sentence and within a few seconds coming with a solution?

[studentyoung]

How about combine "homes and businesses" to "家业"?

家业 usually means your family’s property. 业 here means "财产 property".

Cheers!

[82riceballs]

Hey quick question, did the people who offer translations have to put much work into this or was it as simple as looking at the sentence and within a few seconds coming with a solution?

That's what I'm wondering! I guess, if you have a pretty firm grasp on both languages, it'll only take a few seconds to translate a sentence.... I hope to be like that one day

Thanks guys!