“傀儡”常见的英文表达有 “puppet” 或 “marionette”,具体使用哪个词取决于语境:
“puppet”:使用最为广泛,既可指通过线、绳等控制的木偶(marionette是其一种,特指用线操控的木偶),也可比喻受他人操纵、没有自主权的人或组织。例如:
The president is just a puppet of the military regime.(总统不过是军事政权的傀儡。)
The country was a puppet state during the occupation.(该国在被占领期间是一个傀儡政权。)
“marionette”:更强调是线控木偶,在比喻义中相对较少用,但在特定语境下若要强调“受他人完全操控,如同线控木偶一般”,也可使用。例如:
The politician seemed like a marionette, being pulled by hidden strings.(这位政客看起来就像个傀儡,被暗中的力量操控着。)