happyjyl
第1楼2008/06/05
up to:直到、为止。
up to date:最新的
up to the minute:比up to date还新。一些新闻网站上常用。
我觉得在上面的例句里,up to two minutes 表示最多需要2分钟,而非一定是2分钟,所以这里的up to不能去掉。在表示一个确定的量时,就不用up to。比如配制溶液时稀释至刻度,只说“dilute to volume”,而不说“dilute up to volume”。
chengjingbao
第2楼2008/06/05
单纯从意思来讲,没有了它,咱反而好翻。从语法上讲,应该需要它。口语与书面语始终是有区别的。
poorlittle
第4楼2008/06/06
From http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Up_to
up to
1. Against; next to; near; towards.
Go up to the counter and ask.
2. Doing; involved in.
What are you up to these days?
3. Able; willing.
Are you up to lifting something that heavy?
4. As much as; no more than.
You can make up to five copies.
5. The option or decision of.
It’s up to you whether to get the blue one or the red one.
6. (mathematics) Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.
There’s only one rooted tree with two leaves, up to ordering.
我们现在讨论的是第4个意思。
但As much as 与 no more than 在语气上有小小分别。As much as 意译为可多 (长)达; no more than 不可多于。
第5个意思也很常用, It’s up to you : 你决定吧; 你说吧; 随便你……