汉语中定语通常放在名词之前。即使几个定语连用或很长的词组作定语，也都要放在名词之前。而在英语中，单词作定语时一般放在名词之前，特殊情况下才放在名词之后；但词组或从句作定语时则要放在名词之后。

【例1】他就是那位著名的美国科学家。

He is the distinguished American scientist.

【例2】上海是我国最大的工业基地之一。

Shanghai is one of the largest industrial bases in our country.

【例3】差不多同时开放的几千朵美丽的红玫瑰，在春季里吸引了许多人到公园来。

Thousands of beautiful red roses that blossom almost at the same time make the park the great resort of people in spring.

翻译时，定语应尽量与中心词靠近。

【例4】我参观了青岛四方区，自我离开该区之后，那里已经发生了很大变化。

误译：I paid a visit to Sifang District of Qingdao，which had changed a great deal since I left.

非限定性定语从句which had changed a great deal放在“青岛”之后，容易让人误解为青岛变化很大，而不是四方区变化很大。

正译：I paid a visit to Sifang District of Qingdao.This district had changed a great deal since I left.