As这个词由于用法较多，词义本身也较活跃，属于一词多义、一词多类。有时as具有明确、具体的含义，有时它只起语法作用，没有具体 的意思，不必译出。另外，as还能与其它词构成词组、习语等，并常常带来理解上的困难，造成翻译上的错误。在学习中要注意as在以下 几种典型结构中的译法。

1. as作介词，带出的明喻结构，翻译为“像…一样”。在很多情况下这种明喻结构与英语国家的文化紧密联系。我们在翻译时需考虑如何与 汉语对等，切忌照字面意思翻译。
Examples:
　　* as cool as a cucumber
　　　相当冷静（泰然自若）
　　* as blind as a bat
　　　有眼无珠
　　* as light as a feather
　　　轻如鸿毛

2. as作连词，引导同级比较状语从句时，翻译为“正（不）如…；既…又”。
Examples:
　　* The policy is as cynical as (it is) dangerous.
　　　这一政策既危险又冷酷无情。
　　* One is as light as the other is heavy.
　　　一个之轻正如另一个之重。
　　* David is not so cold as he seems.
　　　大卫不像他外表那样冷淡。

3. as作连词，引导让步状语从句，译为“虽然，尽管”。
Examples:
　　* Try as you may, you will never succeed.
　　　不管你怎样努力，你决不会成功。
　　* Gently as her words were spoken, there was no mistaking that she was displeased.
　　　尽管她话说得很温和，但谁都看得出她生气了。
　　* Boy as he was, he behaved like a grown-up.
　　　他虽然是个男孩，举止却像个成年人。

4. as作连词，常与so连用，表示比例或关系，译为“正像，随着…”。有时可不译。
Examples:
　　* As a man lives, so he dies.
　　　人有生就有死。
　　* As 2 is to 4, (so) 8 is to 16.
　　　2比4等于8比16。
　　* As time went on, (so) their hopes began to wane.
　　　随着时间的消逝，他们的希望开始变得渺茫。

5. 习语as it is / was 译为“实际上”，而as it were 译为“可以说，可谓, 在某种程度上”。
Examples:
　　* We were hoping to have a holiday next week — as it is, we may not be able to get away.
　　　我们原来盼望着下周去度假——看样子走不了了。
　　* I thought things would get better, but as it is they are getting worse.
　　　我原以为情况会改善，但实际上情况变得愈来愈糟。
　　* He'd been watching the water rising for two hours, preparing to meet his destiny, as it were, before help arrived.
　　　他在救援到来之前的两个小时中，一直眼看着水在上涨，可谓准备听天由命了。
　　* He became, as it were, a man without a country.
　　　在某种程度上，他成了一个无国籍的人。