汉语习语翻译
中文习语的翻译
Translation of Chinese Idioms
中文习语种类很多，包括谚语、惯用语以及 歇后语等。 谚语的特点是：比喻生动，寓意深刻，用词 精炼，讲究对仗和韵律，朗朗上口，如：一 瓶子水不响，半瓶子水乱晃。 惯用语是口头上常用的洗练、含蓄的语言， 比书面语更具含蓄讽刺、生动形象的比喻性， 如门外汉、风凉话、说曹操曹操就到。 歇后语是中国百姓中广为流传的一种特殊语 言形式，生动形象、诙谐幽默。一般由两部 分组成，前半截为形象的比喻，后半截是前 面比喻的解释、说明。如：哑巴吃黄连—— 有苦说不出。
“我们这是梅香拜把子——都是奴才啊！” We’re all birds of a feather--- all slaves here.
意译：还有相当一部分习语由于语言结
构和文化背景的缘故，不但没有对应的英 文谚语可以套译，而且硬行直译反而会使 译文读者不知所云，或使译文牵强附会。 此时最好使用意译的方法，以帮助译文读 者更好地理解原文。
可是她心中却想：咱骑着毛驴看唱本——走 着瞧吧，看究竟是啥原因。 But she was still thinking to herself: “Let’s wait and see what the reason for it turns out to be in the end.” 我在家里呢，是灯草拐杖，做不得柱（主） 的。 My position in the family doesn’t permit me to make a decision individually.
惯用语的意译：
风凉话 Irresponsible and sarcastic remarks (不能译为cold words) 炒冷饭 Dish up the same old stuff (不能译为fry the cold rice) 寻短见 Commit suicide or take one’s own life. (不能 译为look for a short view)
中英习语翻译
课堂互动1： 翻译下列习语（参考译文）
7．We still love each other very much, but we fight like cat and dog.
【译文】我们常吵闹，但仍很相爱。
谚语翻译 补充练习
8 A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.
【译】和坏人打交道，必须提高警惕。
14He knows most that speaks least. /Who knows most says least.
【译】博学者寡言。
5 A book is the same today as it always was and it will never change.
【译】广交友，无深交。
9A great poem is a fountain forever overflowing with the waters of wisdom and delight.
【译】一首伟大的诗篇犹如一泓清泉，不断喷吐出智慧 和快乐的水花。
10 Justice has long arms.
翻译下列习语（参考译文）
1. They that know nothing fear nothing.
【译文】无知则无畏。/初生牛犊不怕虎
2. Too wise to live long.
【译文】人太聪明寿不长。
3. Courtesy costs nothing.
【译文】礼多人不怪。
课堂互动1： 翻译下列习语（参考译文）
【译】天网恢恢，疏而不漏。
11 A word is enough to the wise.
【译】对智者一点就通。
古代习语翻译
古代习语翻译德不孤，必有邻。
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors恻隐之心，仁之端也；羞恶之心，义之端也；辞让之心，礼之端也；是非之心，智之端也。
人之有是四端也，犹其有四体也。
The feeling of commiseration is the principle of benevolence. The feeling of shame and dislike is the principle of righteousness .The feeling of modesty and complaisance is the principle of propriety. The feeling of approving and disapproving is the principle of knowledge. Men have these four principles just as they have their four limbs.没有义务的地方，就没有权利Where there is no obligation there is no right.人类文明史也是一部同疾病和灾难的斗争史。
病毒没有国界，疫病不分种族。
面对来势汹汹的新冠肺炎疫情，国际社会没有退缩，各国人民勇敢前行，守望相助、风雨同舟，展现了人间大爱，汇聚起同疫情斗争的磅礴之力。
习近平The history of human civilization is one of fighting diseases and tiding over disasters. The virus does not respect borders. Nor is race or nationality relevant in the face of the disease. Confronted countries have tackled the virus head on. Around the world, people have looked out for each synergy in the fight against COVID-19.富而可求也;虽执鞭之士，吾亦为之。
汉语习语翻译英文
“知人知面不知心”•“You can know a man’s face but not his heart.”杨宪益•“Appearances certainly are deceptive!” Howks霍克斯•水中捞月•to catch the moon in the water /to make an impractical attempt•fish in the air;•cry for the moon;•plough the sands;• a wild goose chase•胸有成竹•直译：Before an artist can draw a bamboo, he must have the image in his mind •意译：to have a well-thought-out plan before doing sth.•意义相等的英语成语：to have a card up one’s sleeve剖腹藏珠Penny wise and pound foolish声东击西To shout in the east and strike in the west刻骨铭心To be engraved on one’s heart and bones眉飞色舞to beam with joy粗枝大叶To be crude and careless无孔不入To take advantage of every weakness竭泽而渔Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs打草惊蛇Wake a sleeping dog井底之蛙To be like a frog at the bottom of a well调虎离山To lure the tiger from the mountain口蜜腹剑To be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted纸醉金迷(a life of) luxury and dissipation开门见山To come straight to the point单枪匹马To be single-handed in doing sth大张旗鼓On a large and spectacular scale海阔天空(to talk) at random易如反掌As easy as falling off a log玩火自焚Try in one’s own grease挥金如土To spend money like water掌上明珠The apple of one’s eye对牛弹琴Cast pearls before swine守口如瓶Keep a still tongue in one’s head雪中送炭Help a lame dog over a title画蛇添足Paint the lily小题大做Make a mountain out of a molehill赴汤蹈火Go through fire and water洗心革面Turn over a new leaf七上八下At sixes and sevens横行霸道Throw one’s weight about大发雷霆Blow one’s top过河拆桥Kick down the ladder•左右为难Between the devil and the deep sea•进退维谷Stick in the mud•骑虎难下Between the horns of a dilemma•左支右绌Between two fires•不上不下In a fix dilemma/ quandary/ predicament•无所适从Hold a wolf by the ears莫衷一是• 1. An Apple of Discord 争斗之源；祸根• 2. the Heel of Achilles / the Achilles' Heel唯一弱点；薄弱环节；要害• 3. Helen of Troy• 4.The Trojan Horse木马计；暗藏的危险；奸细• 5.Greek Gift(s) 阴谋害人的礼物；黄鼠狼拜年，不安好心• 6. Win/Gain Laurels获得荣誉;赢得声望•7. Under the Rose秘密地; 私下得; 暗中•8.Adam's Apple喉结孟母三迁moving one’s home for the desired environment for the education of one’s children •邯郸学步to imitate awkwardly•班女之才talented•百步穿杨extremely good at shooting•伯乐相马as capable as Bo Le in discovering talents•东施效颦imitate awkwardly•负荆请罪making an active apology•惊弓之鸟a deadly frightened person•劳燕分飞be separated•杞人忧天groundless worry•绕梁三日(of a song) so excellent as to let the audience feel it lingering for a long time •塞翁失马a loss may turn out to be a blessing•相濡以沫to help each other in the time of need;•(of an aging couple or a couple in general) to help each other in their remaining life or life in general•一饭千金to cherish others’ kindness at heart and repay it•初生牛犊不怕虎•New-born calves make little of tigers•Young people are fearless•明枪易躲，暗箭难防It is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from hiding.•城门失火，殃及池鱼A fire on the city wall brings disaster to the fish in the moat.•路遥知马力，日久见人心。
习语等解释性翻译
中英习语解释性翻译或形象具体互译一、以《浮生六记》为例1.一灯如豆…The light of a rapeseed oil lamp was then burning as small as a pea.2. 但李诗宛如姑射仙子，有一种落花流水之趣，令人可爱。
…but Li Po’s poems have the wayward charm of a nymph. His lines come naturally like dropping petals and flowing waters, and are so much lovelier for their spontaneity.3. 兼之玉碎香埋，不堪回首矣。
… and the woman I loved is dead, like broken jade and buried incense. How sad indeed to look back upon these things.4. 芸初缄默，喜听余议论。
余调其言，如蟋蟀之用纤草，渐能发议。
Yun was at first very quiet and loved to hear me talk, but I gradually taught her the art of conversation as one leads a cricket with a blade of grass. She then learned the art of conversation.5.……有女名憨园。
亭亭玉立，真一泓秋水照人寒。
She had a girl by the name of Hanyuan, who was a very sweet young maiden, still in her teens. Her eyes looked“like an autumn lake that cooled one by its cold splendor”.【2】二、Double-way: literal translation; borrowing; paraphrase1.过街老鼠（直译）like a rat crossing the street(意译) the object of universal condemnation; a bad man hated by everybody2.门庭若市(直译) the courtyard is like a market.（意译）a much visited house; a busy town; bustling; crowded3.望梅止渴（直译）to gaze at plums to quench one’s thirst（意译）to console oneself with false hopes; to feed on fancies (illusion); imagined satisfaction; a Barmecide （《一千零一夜》中一个口惠而实不至的人物）feast.4.危如累卵（直译）as dangerous as a pile of eggs（意译）hazardous in the extreme; great insecurity; in a precarious condition; at stake, at risk; at hazard; in peril; in danger; perilous; risky; critical...5.山雨欲来风满楼（直译）The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains.（意译）A turbulent situation foretells a big event; Coming events cast their shadows before.6.树倒猢狲散（直译）When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.（意译）Members run away when the family (constitution) falls; when an influential person fallsfrom power, his hangers-on disperse; Rats leave a sinking ship.7. 三个臭皮匠顶得上诸葛亮（直译）Three cobbers with their wits combined equal ZhuGeliang the master mind.(意译) eamwork; Brainstorming; Many hands make light work.; Two heads are better than one. (拙译) wits combined are wits of great mind; Wits combined are wits that satisfy;8. 螳螂捕蝉,黄雀在后（直译）The mantis stalks the cicada but behind them lurks the oriole (金莺；黄莺儿).(意译) Be careful about the hidden/implicit\potential risks; hazards;9. 比上不足，比下有余（直译）worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst; better off than the worst and worse off than the best;（意译）fairly well-off; fairly contented life;10. 不以物喜，不以己悲（直译）not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personal losses;（意译）take one’s personal gains lightly; to be philosophical about; be open-minded;11. 金无足赤,人无完人(直译) Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect;（意译）Human beings are human beings三、形象—具体1. 哭得泪人似的A.The child was in floods of tears.B.Be drenched in tearsC.He became a wretch of tearsD.While Mother was feeling so wrought, the slightest cross word or ill-judgedremark could reduce her to tears.当母亲感到过分劳累紧张时，哪怕是听到一点点令人生气的话或不妥之词，都会使她伤心得落下泪来。
汉译英 习语翻译
Features of Idioms
5、习语常利用声音的和谐来达到易懂易记、顺口入耳、生动有力的目的。 习语常利用声音的和谐来达到易懂易记、顺口入耳、生动有力的目的。 利用韵脚：狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心；一招鲜，吃遍天；良药苦口利于病，忠言逆 利用韵脚 耳利于行； A friend in need is a friend indeed. East or west, home is best. Man proposes, God disposes. Health is better than wealth. Beggars should not be choosers. fair and square; high and dry; wear and tear. 利用双声： 利用双声：八面玲珑，聪明伶俐，慷慨激昂，明媚灿烂 Alliteration: as blind as a bat, as busy as a bee, as clear as crystal, as dead as a doornail, as cool as a cucumber, as red as a rose, as proud as a peacock, at sixes and sevens, spick and span, then and there through thick and thin tit for tat neither fish, flesh or fowl Care killed the cat. Money makes the mare to go. Many men, many minds. Speech is silver (silvern), silence is golden.
一年之计在于春 一箭双雕 趁热打铁 一个巴掌拍不响
(完整版)Ⅷ.习语、谚语、俗语、诗句的翻译.
一、习语、谚语、俗语、诗句的翻译每种语言的背后都有深厚的文化积淀,各国各族人们在长期实践和使用过程中不断提炼出一些习语,反映本国、本民族的社会历史、文化、风土人情,用简练、优美的语言体现出深厚的文化底蕴和丰富的意义。
这些习语是语言的精华,是人类智慧的结晶。
汉语和英语均是使用广泛的语言,都有十分丰富的习语,人们在交往过程中往往使用习语来表达深刻的道理,增加语言美以达到更好的交际效果.在国际交往中也是如此。
另外,人们也常引用一些经典诗句来表情达意。
因此,在进行口译时经常会遇到需要快速传译习语、诗句的情况。
例如温家宝总理在纽约演讲时就引用了一句古诗“会当凌绝顶,一览众山小”(I will ascend 1the mountain's dominant peak—to have a commanding view all in a sweep;在哈佛大学的演讲中引用了“天下兴亡,匹夫有责”(Everybody is responsible for the rise or fall of the country、“衙斋卧听萧萧竹,疑是人间疾苦声”(The rustling of bamboo outside my d oor sounds like the moaning of the needy poor;迎接外宾时人们常会说“有朋自远方来,不亦乐乎”(It is such a delight to have friends coming from afar。
在这些情况下,若口译员平常没有训练过习语、诗句的口译,没有熟记一些常用的习语、经典诗句,而是临场翻译,势必难译其妙,甚至会语塞卡壳。
习语、诗句的转译对口译人员来说是艰难而又必须跨越的障碍,因此,了解和掌握一些耳熟能详的习语和经典诗句对提高口译质量将大有益处。
1.百花齐放,百家争鸣。
Let a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend.2.搬石头砸自己的脚。
汉语习语的翻译
例 句
闰土来了⋯项上套一个明晃晃的银项圈，这可见他 的父亲十分爱他，怕他死去，所以在神佛面前许下 心愿，用圈子将他套住了。(鲁迅《故乡》)
Run-tu had come ⋯ a gleaming silver necklet round his neck, showing that his father doted on him and, fearing he might die, had made a pledge with the gods and Buddhas, using the necklet as a talisman.
她怕碰一鼻子灰，话到了嘴边，又把它咽了下去。 She was afraid of being snubbed，so she swallowed the words that came to her lips．
套 用
有的英语谚语和汉语谚语在内容和形式上都 相符合，双方不但有相同的意义和修辞色彩， 并且有相同或大体相同的形象比喻，在英译 汉时我们遇到这种情况，不妨直截了当地套 用汉语的同义谚语，这样既保留了谚语的形， 又传达了谚语的神。 Walls have ears. 隔墙有耳。
直译法
千里送鹅毛，礼轻情意重。 The gift itself maybe as insignificant as a goose feather，but sent from afar，“conveys deep feelings．
他是不到黄河不死心。 He would not stop until he reached the Yellow River---to give up until his hope has gone．
例句
你要爱他(她)，不值什么，我拿平儿换了他 (她)来好不好?那薛老大也是“吃着碗里瞧 着锅里”的„„