熟语的翻译

influence. 暗中势力；幕后人物
2. 汉语中的成语
成语（idiom; set phrase）是语言中经过长期使用、锤
炼而形成的固定短语，它是比词的含义更丰富而语 法功能又相当于词的语言单位，而且富有深刻的思 想内涵，简短精辟易记易用。
3. 能够直译的成语
1). 兔死狐悲 直译：Foxes will grieve at the death of the hare.
To be exceedingly beautiful
⑤ 悬梁刺股 To be extremely hard-working in one’s study
grind away at one's studies
谚语的翻译
1. 谚语（old saw; aphorism; proverb）是熟语的一
偷鸡不成蚀把米
Go for wool and come back shorn
5). 有些成语在英语中没有对应的表达而无法套译，
也不能根据字面直译，否则读者无法接受和理解， 从而造成误解； 一般则采用比较保险的意译法。
意译法，虽然难以保全成语的文化特色和具体形象，
却能简洁明快地反映出成语的喻意。
4). 骨瘦如柴 例句：他骨瘦如柴，只穿着一条夹裤和一件败色的旧
薄棉袍。 《日出》曹禺 套译：to be a bag of bones, to be skin and bones He is a bad of bones and he is wearing only a pair of lined trousers and an old, faded, thin wadded gown.
例句：获曰：“‘兔死狐悲，物伤其类’，吾与汝皆是各
洞之主，往日无怨，何故害我？” 《三国演义》罗贯中 “When the hare dies the fox mourns,” said Meng Huo. “One sympathizes with one’s own as a rule. We are both chiefs and have been friends. I know not why you injure me?” 意译：All things are sorry for their own kind.
① 眉飞色舞
Eyebrow are flying and countenance is dancing. （直译，
Unacceptable） To beam with joy （意译，Acceptable）
② 粗枝大叶
With big branches and large leaves （直，U）
藕断丝连 Have not cut off relations completely
归心似箭 Be very anxious to return home 开门见山 Come straight to the point 黔驴技穷 At one’s wits’ end 守株待兔 Trust to chance and stroke of luck
3. 适合直译的谚语
① 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. ② 路遥知马力，日久见人心。 As a long road tests a horse’s strength, so a long task proves a person’s heart. ③ 初生牛犊不怕虎 New-born calves make little of tigers.
2).打草惊蛇 例句：不要动声色，不要打草惊蛇。我们不妨看看他们如
何活动。 《山乡巨变》周立波 套译：to wake a sleeping dog Don’t say anything about it; we mustn’t wake a sleeping dog. There is no harm in our keeping an eye on the sort of activities they engaged in.
To be crude and careless （意，A） ③ 灯红酒绿
With red lights and green wine （直，U）
Dissipated and luxurious （意，A） ④ 开门见山 To open the door and see the mountain （直，U） To come straight to the point （意，A）
其他套译举例：
笑掉大牙 Laugh off one’s head 乱七八糟 At sixes and sevens 东张西望 Look right and left
抛砖引玉 To throw a sprat to catch a herring
缘木求鱼 Seek a hare in hen’s nest
直译法:保留原文表达方式，能最大限度在译文
中再现成语中的形象和感情色彩。
其他诸如： 如鱼得水 Feel just like fish getting into water 临阵磨枪 Sharpen one’s spear only before going into battle 狐假虎威 The fox borrows the tiger’s terror
2). 调虎离山 直译：to lure the tiger out of the hills 例句：“……我中了他的调虎离山计啦。” 《林海雪原》 曲波 “…I’ve fallen for his luring the tiger out of the hills scheme. ” 意译：to lure the enemy from his base.
② bury the hatchet
They had been enemies for ages, but after a fight they buried
the hatby the cut of one’s jib I see you are a sailor by the cut of your jib. 从外表上看 ④ backstairs influence He met the congressmen in secret to exert backstairs
胆小如鼠 As timid as a hare/ rabbit 瓮中之鳖 Like a rat in a hole 无风不起浪 There is no smoke without fire 挂羊头卖狗肉 Cry up wine and sell vinegar 新官上任三把火 New brooms sweep clean
种，是流传于民间的简练而且言简意赅的话语，多数反 映了劳动人民的生活实践经验，一般都是经过口头传下 来的，多是口语形式的通俗易懂的短句或韵语。
2. 常用谚语举例：
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。
路遥知马力，日久见人心。
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量。 家有良田千顷，不如一技随身。 人无完人，金无足赤。 养儿防老，积谷防荒。
其他成语意译举例：
手忙脚乱 In a frantic rush 立竿见影 Get instant results 明火执仗 Do evil things openly 牵肠挂肚 Be full of anxiety and worry
快马加鞭 Speed up
熟语的翻译
Translation of Idiomatic Phrases
成语、谚语、歇后语和惯用语等
成语的翻译
1. 英语中的成语 ① give a lick and a promise You did not wash your hands; you just gave them a lick and a promise. 敷衍塞责
4). 如坐针毡 直译：to feel as if sitting on a cushion filled with needles.
例句：且说林冲在柴大官人东庄上，听得这话，如坐
针毡。 《水浒传》施耐庵 Lin Chong, however, was in the east village of the Lord Chai and heard all the talk of him, and when he heard it was as though he sat on a filled with needles. 意译：to feel terribly uneasy
对牛弹琴 Play the harp to a bull
4. 能够套译的汉语成语 一些汉语成语在意义上和英语 成语一致，但表达的形
象和意象不同，可以采用套译法翻译
1).挥金如土 例句：少卿兄挥金如土，为什么躲在家里用，不拿来
这里我们大家玩玩？ 《儒林外史》吴敬梓 套译：to spend money like water I understand you spend money like water, sir. In that case, why have you been hiding at home for so long, instead of bring your money here to give us all a good time.
3). 走马观花 直译：to ride out on horseback to enjoy flowers 例句：调查有两种方法，一种是走马观花，一种是下