汉语成语、典故俗语、谚语与歇后语英译

本节为汉语成语、典故、俗语、谚语和歇后

语英译。汉语成语，有时又称成语典故。本节将成语与典故分别处理，虽然二者难以截然分开。俗语、谚语与歇后语有时也统称熟语，这三种熟语在本节中也将分别处理。因此本节将分为五个部分：汉语成语、汉语典故、汉语俗语、汉语谚语和汉语歇后语英译。另外，无论是成语、典故，还是俗语、谚语、歇后语都有带数字的和不带数字的。由于本章单独设有汉语带数字的词语英译一节，故带数字的成语、典故、俗语、谚语和歇后语原则上不作为本节的内容。 上述五类汉语词语英译，是汉语词语英译的一大难题。虽不乏共性，但各有特点。成语、典故基本上是书面语言，俗语、谚语和歇后语基本上是口头语言。另外，成语与典故，尤其是典故，都有出典，俗语、谚语和歇后语虽也涉及典故，但数量较少，也更为通俗。汉语成语典故，四字格者居多，汉语俗语、谚语和歇后语中，四字格者如有也仅为凤毛麟角。如前所述，歇后语有自己的固定格式，酷似谜语。它们之间的这些差异以及下面将要具体阐述的其他差异都会反映到选择翻译策略的差异上。 翻译涉及的因素很多，既有语言层面的，也有文化层面的、时空层面的，还有译者与读者层面的，要翻译到没有斧凿之痕是很不容易的。因此翻译得是否到位，对译者而言，在很大程度上，是个是否尽了力的问题。从接受的角度看，翻译汉语成语、典故、俗语、谚语和歇后语，要尽量采用接受方读者喜闻乐见的形式，如果较多地采用异化译法，使读者感到难以卒读，就难以达到翻译的目的。另外，异化是一个循序渐进的过程，有赖于历史积淀，切忌急转直下。下面，我们将

本着尽力的原则，本着对读者负责的原则，以及上面的一些想法，对汉语成语、典故、俗语、谚语与歇后语英译分别予以阐述。 汉语成语英译 如前所述，人们习惯上将成语与典故统称为成语典故，本节分而治之，先介绍汉语成语英译。《现代汉语词典》将汉语成语定义为“人们长期以来习用的、形式简洁而意义精辟的、定型的词组与短语。”《辞海》称之为“习用的固定词组”。许多成语词典或其他工具书，如倪宝元的《成语辨析》、《成语例示》，对成语都没有下定义，只是按照自己的理解决定取舍。我们虽不准备对成语下一个精确的定义，但选用的都是成语词典或其他工具书上收录的成语，是大家普遍认为比较典型的成语。 成语作为短语或词组在句中可担任一定成分，如主语、谓语（包括能愿合成谓语、判断合成谓语、兼语句谓语、连动句谓语等）、宾语（包括介词宾语）、定语、状语、补语和成分等，还可以分句的形式存在。但成语作为句子成分往往深埋在一定的层次中。从结构上看，成语可分为联合式、动宾式、主谓式、偏正式、连动式、兼语式、紧缩式等，如山盟海誓（联合式）、为所欲为（动宾式）、盛气凌人（主谓式）、泰然自若（偏正式）、投笔从戎（连动式）、引狼入室（兼语式）和脍炙人口（紧缩式）（倪宝元，1984）。成语的意义涉及的面很广，涉及到生活、语言、文化、历史等各个层面。 英译汉语成语是件很不容易的事，涉及语言、文化与时空，涉及这些因素的相互交叉，涉及对语言、文化、时空及其交互因素的跨越。一般说来，很难译出汉语成语的语言结构，只能译出意义，尤其难以做到既译出语言结构又译出意义。就是翻译意义，有时也往往难

以兼顾本义与现在人们通常使用的意义，因为从本义到现在人们通常使用的意义有一个变迁过程，在变迁过程打下了时空的烙印。汉译英中的跨语言文化因素，又增加了翻译的难度。下面我们选择20个浅近的汉语成语并对之进行英译。 如果既有本义又有现在人们通常使用的意义，我们先译本义，再译现在人们通常使用的意义，翻译之后对该成语的结构、本义与现在人们通常使用的意义等用汉语简要地予以说明。翻译本义时往往采用字对字的翻译方法，翻译现在人们通常使用的意义时，更多地考虑英语的行文规范。这样做，或许能使读者了解一点汉语成语意义演变的概貌，进而从一个侧面窥视汉语的思维文化。这种翻译方法，通常称为意译。一般说来，直译很容易使读者茫然。另外，汉语成语英译多采用意译，是因为英汉两种语言的成语，很少具有对应性。我们有时将kill two birds with one stone译成一箭双雕，严格地说，是很勉强的，所以后来多倾向于译成一石双鸟。像这样直译成语，在某种意义上属于巧合。因此，英译汉语成语时，我们很少选用具有一定对应性的英语成语。 ? 粗枝大叶 thick branches and large leaves; in doing things, do not take due care; careless or carelessly 粗枝大叶为联合结构，字面意义是，枝子很粗，叶子很大，很不精细。通常当马虎大意和粗心大意使用。 闻所未闻 hearing what has never been heard before; rarely or seldom heard of 闻所未闻为动宾结构，字面意义是听到了从未听到过的，通常用于指事理或论述的新鲜、奇特。 ? 盛气凌人 so arrogant as to impose oneself upon others; arrogant or

domineering in manner 盛气凌人为主谓结构，字面意义是骄横傲慢以气势压人，通常与不可一世、咄咄逼人等词语同义。 ? 洋洋得意 extremely pleased as to be too proud; pleased and too proud; pleased to the extent of being too proud 洋洋得意也可以说成得意洋洋。洋洋得意是偏正结构，洋洋修饰得意；得意洋洋也是偏正结构，具体地说是动补结构，但依然是洋洋修饰得意。字面意义是满意到了骄傲的地步，得意到溢于言表。 ? 小心翼翼 particularly careful, extremely cautious 小心翼翼为偏正结构，翼翼用做补语修饰小心。翼翼的字面意义是多多，小心翼翼的字面意义是小心多多，使用时的意义为非常小心、特别谨慎，几乎有点过分。 ? 见异思迁 change one’s mind upon seeing something new; be inconsistent in inclination 见异思迁是连动结构，字面意义是见到了不同的东西就想丢掉原来的，换上那个不同的。主要用于描写人们容易改变主意，喜爱不够专一，有时用于描写男的喜新厌旧，见到了不同于妻子的女人就想“换片子”，当然也可以用来描写这样的女性。 ? 剜肉补疮 cut flesh to patch an ulcerate; take short-term measures to do something which requires long-term measures to be taken; to pull through a light crisis or solve a problem at the expenses of the future 剜肉补疮为连动结构，剜肉的目的是为了补疮。字面意义是，某人生了疮，为治疗这个疮竟然将自己的好肉割下来补上因生疮而烂掉的那块坏肉。人们通常用它来表达这样的意思：为了救眼前之急，竟然牺牲未来。 ? 调虎离山

lure the tiger so that it will leave the mountain where it lives; lure somebody to leave his advantageous location so as to overwhelm him 调虎离山是兼语结构，字面意义是，想办法引诱老虎使它离开它所生活的山，因而使其失去地理优势，以便战胜老虎。此成语多用于指称战争策略。战争中，一方占据地理优势，另一方为了改变这种局面，故意引诱它离开占据优势的地方，以便使其失去优势进而战而胜之。 ?脍炙人口 sliced and roast meat is pleasant to everybody’s taste; poems and pieces of prose are so excellent as to please every reader 脍炙人口中，脍是切成精细的小片的鱼肉或肉，炙是烤肉。脍炙人口为紧缩结构，字面意义是，好吃的东西人人都爱吃，多用于比喻好的诗文令大家赏心悦目。 ? 昂首阔步 march with head raised stiffly; stride proudly ahead 昂首阔步为联合结构，字面意义为，昂着头大踏步向前迈进。用时多有意气风发、斗志昂扬的意思，有时略有态度高傲的意思。 ? 半途而废 stop halfway; give up halfway 半途而废为偏正结构，字面意义是，走到半路上就不走了，用时多比喻做事干到一半就style='color:black;background-color:#A0FFFF'>放弃了，含有惋惜甚至责备的意思。 ? 不学无术 one is not skilled with anything due to the fact that he does not study well; be incompetent due to one’s ignorance; incompetent and ignorant 不学无术为联合结构，不学和无术间既可理解为并列关系，也可理解

为因果关系。因此字面意义为，由于不学习而没有本领，也可以理解为，既没有学问也没有本领。用于他人多含贬义，用于自己多表自谦。 ? 触类旁通 knowledge of an example enables one to understand the relevant category; comprehend something by analogy; understand things of a kind upon touching an example 触类旁通为连动结构，含有如果触类了就可以旁通的因果意义，因此，本义是接触到某一类知识，就懂得了类似的或相关的知识。用时多用本义。 ? 奋不顾身 in charging the enemy or accomplishing a risky task, pay no attention to one’s life security; regardless of one’s security or life 奋不顾身为偏正结构，意思为勇往直前到不顾个人安危的地步，用时多用本义。 ? 泰然处之 behavior with composure; not slightly affected 泰然处之为偏正结构，意思为遇到事情能冷静对待，用时多用本义。有时也用泰然自若。 ? 想入非非 indulge in fantasy; be unrealistic or illusory 想入非非为主谓结构，意思是思考问题时想法不符合实际，用时多用本义。 ? 心怀叵测 harbor evil intentions at heart that are not predictable; ill-intentioned 心怀叵测为主谓结构，意思是心中怀着难以估测的歹意，用时多用本义。另一种说法为居心叵测。 ? 无地自容 feel so ashamed as to find no place to hide oneself in; feel too ashamed to see others 无地自容为连动结构，本意是因做错了事而羞愧到了极点，羞于见人却又找不到藏身的地方，用时多用本义。 ? 忠心耿耿 be whole-heartedly loyal; be extremely

loyal 忠心耿耿为主谓结构，意思是非常忠诚，用时多用本义。 ? 自惭形秽 be ashamed of one’s inferior appearance; feel inferior 自惭形秽为主谓结构，本意是因看到自己的容貌举止不如别人而感到惭愧，现在通常使用的意思是因感到自己不如别人而非常惭愧。 ?汉语典故英译 《现代汉语词典》将典故定义为“诗文里引用的古书中的故事或词句”。《辞海》将典故定义为“诗文中引用的古代故事和有来历出处的词语”。应该说，典故多涉及古代故事或古人的诗词歌赋与其他作品中的词句，但也不尽然。例如，人们常用的华威先生、国外常用的某某门涉及的都是现代与当代事件。因此，我们可以概而言之，典故多源于历史、寓言、神话、传说和事件，多见于历史记载、文学作品和报刊杂志。例如，焚书坑儒源于历史事件，买椟还珠源于寓言，精卫填海源于神话，伊朗门源于当代事件等。这些典故，有的见于历史记载，有的见于诸子百家，有的见于现代报刊。 如上所述，典故往往与成语一起合称成语典故，语法功能和结构与成语的语法功能和结构也基本相同，因此这里不再说明典故的语法功能和结构。 汉语典故英译是个棘手问题。典故既有本义也有转义，如果希望读者真正理解它的本义和转义，还得介绍典故的出处。我们这里采用这样的做法，紧接在将要翻译的典故之后用汉语简要说明该典故的出处，翻译时，先翻译本义，再翻译现行的使用义，最后用增加注释的方法用英语简要地译介该典故的出处，但不是严格地将该典故的汉语部分译成英语，而是用比相应的汉语介绍更为简略的英语来介绍。下面我们选择20个典故并对之进行英译。 ? 百步穿杨 典出《战国策.西周

策》，有关情节可大致简述如下。楚国有个叫养由基的，十分善射，在百步之外能射中杨柳的叶子，百发百中。后来用百步穿杨来形容人们善射。 To shoot an arrow through a willow leaf at the distance of 100 steps; extremely good at shooting Note: The allusion goes back to Yang Youji, an excellent shooter in the Zhou Dynasty, who could shoot an arrow at a willow leaf one hundred steps away and never missed the target. ? 班女之才 典出《后汉书.列女传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。班女名班昭，班彪之妹。班彪编著《汉书》，剩下八表和《天文志》没有写完就去世了。班昭接替其兄，完成了他的未竟之业，她还是皇后与贵人的老师，被认为是极富才学的女性。班女之才多用于描写才高的女性。 of a female as capable as Ban Zhao; talented Note: Historic records have it that Ban Nü, whose name is Ban Zhao, the younger sister of Ban Biao, a historian famous for his monumental work of A History of the Han Dynasty. However, the historian died leaving the writing unfinished. Then Ban Zhao was assigned the task and completed the writing. For her talent, Ban Zhao was also appointed tutor for the empress and the emperor’s concubines. ? 伯乐相马 典出屈原《怀沙》，有关情况可大致简述如下。伯乐姓孙名阳，善于相马。后来经常用伯乐比喻善于发现人才的人。 Bo Le is very capable of discovering best horses; as capable as Bo Le in discovering talents Note: Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet of the State of

Chu in the Warring State period, believed it that Bo Le was very capable of discovering best horses. The allusion is now often used to refer to persons capable of discovering and fostering talents. ? 东施效颦 典出《庄子.天运》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代著名美女西施因患有心痛病，经常颦额或者说皱眉头。村里有个丑女看见觉得很美，于是也学着颦额，结果反而更丑了。后来多用东施效颦比喻胡乱模仿，结果反而不美。 An ugly girl follows the suit of the pretty lady Xishi by knitting her eyebrows; imitate awkwardly Note: Legend has it that Xi Shi, a lady living in the State of Yue in the late years of Spring and Autumn period and famous for her beauty in ancient China, often knitted her eyebrows due to her illness. An ugly girl in the village saw this, believing that the behavior added much to her beauty. Then she followed Xi Shi’s suit by knitting her own brows the way Xi Shi did. However, it turned out that she became all the more ugly. ? 董狐直笔 典出《左传.宣公二年》，有关情节可大致简述如下。春秋时晋灵公欲杀赵盾，赵盾逃亡。他的从弟赵穿起兵攻打晋灵公并在桃园将他杀死。史官董狐认为，此举是赵盾弑君，并不畏赵盾的权势，冒着生命危险将这件事载入了史册。后来多用此典比喻人们不为权者讳、不为贤者讳，在史册或其他书籍中，实事求是地记载或谈论他们的过失。 Dong Hu, a historian in Spring and Autumn period, recorded historic facts as they were without any

distortion to appease officials for their vanity; in recording historic events call a spade a spade as Dong Hu did Note: Historic records have it that during the Spring and Autumn period, when Duke Ling of Jin was going to kill Zhao Dun, who then escaped by running away, Zhao Dun’s distant brother Zhao Chuan took armed forces to attack the duke and killed him in a peach garden. Dong Hu, the historian, believed that it was an act of regicide on the part of Zhao Dun and recorded the act in history this way despite Zhao Dun’s overwhelming power that might threaten his life. The allusion is later used to refer to speaking frankly. ? 负荆请罪 典出《史记.廉颇蔺相如列传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。廉颇和蔺相如都是赵国人，廉颇是赵国大将，蔺相如出身低微，但在对秦国的斗争中多次建立功勋，被拜为上卿，官位高于廉颇。廉颇不服，屡屡找茬子羞辱蔺相如。蔺相如为国家计，顾全大局，总是退让。后来廉颇知道了，蔺相如屡屡退让，不是怕他，而是担心将相不和，秦国会乘机侵略赵国。那样，赵国就会灭亡，老百姓就会遭殃。此事感动了廉颇，于是他身背荆杖到蔺相如府上请罪。后来多用此典指犯了错误又主动承认错误、改正错误的举动。 To make apology by carrying a twig of the chaste tree and asking the one to whom the apology is made to beat him or her; making an active apology Note: Historic records have it that Lian Po and Ling Xiangru were courtiers of the State of Zhao.

Lian Po was the famous general at the time. Born humbly, Ling Xiangru was promoted to the position higher than Lian Po’s for his outstanding contributions in the struggles against the State of Qin. This made Lian Po jealous and tried to slight Ling Xiangru, who thought that if he and Lian Po were in discord or conflict, then the State of Qin would take the opportunity to invade the State of Zhao. Therefore, Ling Xiangru always tried to avoid any possible conflict with the general. Having learned of this, Lian Po realized that he was wrong and went to Ling Xiangru’s mansion to make apology by carrying a twig and asking Ling Xiangru to beat him for his wrong doings. ? 风声鹤唳 典出《晋书.苻坚载记》。这个典故也常常说成风声鹤唳，草木皆兵。有关情节可大致简述如下。东晋时期，国家，南北对峙，北方的前秦主苻坚率兵攻打南方的东晋，结果被东晋打得惨败而归。苻坚等人站在城楼上观望对方，见东晋军容整齐，将八公山上的草木也当成晋军。此前，在淝水被击败而逃亡之时，将风声与鹤声也当成了追兵的呐喊声。淝水之战是我国历史上有名的以少胜多的战例，后来常用风声鹤唳或风声鹤唳，草木皆兵来形容人们由于非常害怕，便捕风捉影，将不是那回事也当成那回事了。 To take the moan of wind and the cry of cranes for enemy’s shouting; fearful at any slight omen; very apprehensive Note: Historic records have it that when Qian Qin, a state on the north, was utterly defeated by Dong Jin,

a state on the south, on their way of escaping, Qian Qin’s generals and soldiers took the moan of wind and the cry of cranes for enemy’s shouting, and grass and trees for enemy’s chasing forces. This allusion is now used to refer to people’s groundless fears. ? 邯郸学步 典出《庄子.秋水》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代燕国有一个少年看到邯郸人走路姿态很优美，就学他们的样子走路，结果没有学会，反而将自己原来的走路方法也忘了，只好爬着回去。后来用这个典故形容人们盲目地模仿他人，结果反而弄糟了。 To walk as people of Handan do; to imitate awkwardly Note: Legend has it that a youngster from the State of Yan saw that the Handans’ walk was very graceful and then tried to acquire the walking manner but only to find that he did not learn anything at all and had forgotten how he originally walked. Therefore, he had to crawl all the way back home. The allusion is now used to ridicule those who imitate blindly. ? 惊弓之鸟 典出《战国策.楚策四》，有关情节可大致简述如下。有一天，更羸和魏王在一起，看见有一只鸟从天空飞过。更羸对魏王说，我将弓拉开，不搭箭虚射出去，鸟会应声而落。魏王不信。更羸果然拉虚弓而使飞鸟落地。其实，那是一只受了伤的鸟，听到弓弦响就吓得坠落下来。后来用这个典故形容人遭受打击后，心理非常脆弱，常产生不必要的恐慌。 A bird that fell down at the sound of an arrowless shooting; a deadly frightened

person Note: Tradition has it that Geng Lei and the king of the State of Wei were once together, seeing a bird flying across the sky. Geng Lei said to the king that if he shot without an arrow, the bird would also fall down. The king did not believe it and Geng Lei did as he had said and the bird really fell down. It turned out that the bird had been wounded by a previous shooting and was frightened down at the sound of Geng Lei’s arrowless shooting. The allusion is now used to refer to people who, having experienced a crisis or danger, are still affected by the lingering fear. ? 劳燕分飞 典出《乐府诗集.东飞伯劳歌》，有关诗文的细节可大致简述如下。劳为伯劳鸟，它和燕子一个飞到东，一个飞到西，两下分开了。后来用之比喻夫妻或情侣两离分。 The bird of Bo Lao and the sparrow fly apart; be separated Note: In a poem, it was said that the bird of Bo Lao and the sparrow flew separately one eastward and the other westward. The allusion is now used to refer to separation of a couple or lovers. ? 孟母三迁 典出《烈女传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。为了孟子和其他孩子有一个良好的成长环境，孟母（孟子的母亲）三次搬家以避免不好的成长环境。后来人们常用此典褒奖那些教子有方的女性，有时也用以指好邻居。 The mother of Mencius moved their home three times; moving one’s home for the desired environment for the education of one’s children Note:

Tradition has it that Mrs Meng, mother of Mencius, moved her home three times for an ideal neighborhood for the education of her son Mencius and his brothers. The allusion is now used to give praise to those who are good at educating their young. ? 女娲补天 典出《淮南子.览冥训》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代天的四极是残缺的，神人伏羲的妹妹女娲炼五色石以补天，斩断巨鳌的足来支撑四极。后来人们常用此典来褒奖人们救国救难、匡正乾坤的壮举，也用于指治理灾难。 Nü Wa patches the sky; to save the populace by patching the sky or doing a great deed Note: Legend has it that when the sky and the earth began to separate, the four corners of the sky were fragmentary. Then Nü Wa, Fu Xi’s sister, fostered stones of color to patch the sky and cut the four legs from a giant tortoise as poles to support the sky. In this way, she contributed a great deal to the mankind. The allusion is now used to such heroic deeds as salvation of the nation or pulling the people through crisis or natural disasters. ? 杞人忧天 典出《列子.天瑞》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代杞国有个人害怕天崩地陷，无处安身，终日忧愁，以致寝食俱废。后来多用此典指有些人对有些事产生不必要的担心与害怕。 A certain person from the State of Qi worries that the sky would fall down and he would have no place to harbor himself; groundless worry Note: Legend has it that a certain person from

the State of Qi worried that the sky would some day fall down and he then would have no place to shelter himself from the disaster. He worried day and night as to neglect his meal and sleep. The allusion now applies to the case of groundless worry. ? 绕梁三日 也有说成余音绕梁的，典出《列子.汤问》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代有个叫韩娥的歌手，在去齐国的路上没有办法，在雍门卖唱乞食。唱得很好，走了之后三天之内人们仍感到余音未散，仿佛还在梁间回绕。后来用此典形容优美的歌曲。 Whirling around the beam for three days; of a song so excellent as to let the audience feel it lingering for a long time Note: Legend has it that in ancient time, Han E once on the way to the State of Qi had no food but to beg by singing. She sang so beautifully that three days after she left, the audience still felt that the song was lingering in the hall. The allusion now applies to the description of excellent songs or music. ? 塞翁失马 也有说成塞翁失马，焉知非福的，典出《淮南子.人间训》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代边塞有位老翁丢了马，人们都来安慰他。他却说，马丢了，说不定还是一种福气呢。后来那匹马回来了，还引回了胡人的一匹马。此时人们又来向他贺喜。他说，说不定是一种祸事呢。正如所言，不久他的儿子因为骑那匹马摔断了腿。后来人们用此典形容祸福相依，相互转化，难以逆料。 The frontiersman loses his horse; a loss may turn out to be a blessing Note: Legend has it that

a frontiersman once lost his horse and his neighbors came to comfort him. However, he said to the neighbors that the loss might turn out to be a blessing. Later, the horse came back with another horse of the Tartars and then his neighbors came to extend their congratulations. However, he said on the occasion that the blessing might turn out to be a misfortune. It really so happened that his son rode the horse, fell down from it and had his leg broken. And the story continues in that line. The allusion now applies to comforting others when they have a bad fortune. ? 闻鸡起舞 典出《晋书.祖逖传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。祖逖与刘琨都做司州主簿，非常要好，经常一起睡觉。有一次半夜听到鸡叫，祖逖将刘琨踢醒说，半夜听到鸡叫并非坏事，于是两人起床舞练。后来多用此典形容人们立志发奋图强。 To get out of bed to exercise oneself when the cock crows in the middle night; diligent and self-disciplined Note: Historic records have it that Zu Di and Liu Kun were good friends on their posts as secretaries and spent their nights on the same bed. Once they heard cocks crow in the middle night. Then Zu Di woke up Liu Kun and said to him that cocks crowing in the middle night wasn’t a bad thing and they rose to exercise themselves. ? 相濡以沫 典出《庄子.大宗师》，有关意思可大简述如下。水干了，鱼被困于干地，亟需水来维持生命，于是相互吐沫以湿润对方。后来

多用此典指在困境中相互救助，也指老年夫妻或一般夫妇相依为命。 To moisten each other with pit when water becomes dry; 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 Note: Legend has it that when water became dry, fish were in difficulty on the dry land so that they pitted to moisten each other. The allusion is now used to mean help each other in the time of need though the helper is also involved in difficulty or to describe an aging couple who help each other in their remaining time or any couple who help each other in their life. ? 一饭千金 典出《史记.淮阴侯列传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。东汉开国功臣韩信年轻时穷困潦倒，经常在城边的河里钓鱼。有位漂纱的老夫人见到韩信饥饿就将自己的饭分给他吃，一连吃了几十天。韩信非常感激，离开那儿时他对漂母说，今后如果有出息，一定要用千金报答她。后来韩信帮助刘邦建立了帝业，被封为楚王。他招来这位漂母，赐给她千金。后来多用此典说明人们知恩图报。 A meal in give, a thousand taels of gold in return; to cherish others’ kindness at heart and repay it Note: Historic records have it that when young, Han Xin was in poverty and often went fishing by the river near a town. He had no food to support himself and on seeing this, a yarn rinsing old lady gave him half of her own meal. She had done this for tens of days on end.

Appreciative of her kindness, Han Xin said to the lady on his departure that if he could climb high, he would return her kindness by giving her a thousand taels of gold. Then Han Xin helped Liu Bang in utterly defeating Xiang Yu and establishing the Han Dynasty. For his contribution, Han Xin was appointed King of the Kingdom of Chu. Then calling the lady to his official mansion, Han Xin gave her a thousand taels of gold as he had promised. The allusion is now used to mean repaying others’ kindness. ? 张耳陈余 典出《史记.张耳陈余列传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。张耳陈余都是秦末汉初人，起初为刎颈之交，后来起兵反秦，因产生嫌隙，积怨日深，相互交恶，乃至兵戎相见。后来用此典指势利之交，不能永远。 Not devoted to each other throughout like Zhang Er and Chen Yu; disloyal friends Note: Historic records have it that Zhang Er and Chen Yu were great figures by the end of the Qin Dynasty or at the beginning of the Han Dynasty. At first, they were bosom friends and took armies to overthrow the Qin Dynasty. For reasons, discords developed between them and finally they became enemies and attacked each others by resorting to armed forces. The allusion is now used to refer to disloyal friends. ? 煮豆燃萁 典出《世说新语.文学》，有关故事可大致简述如下。三国期间，魏文帝曹丕妒忌其弟曹植的才能，经常找茬子整他。有一天，他限令曹植在七步之内口吟一首诗，

否则就要杀他的头。曹植果然有才，踱到第七步口吟五言诗一首。大意是说，用豆秸煮豆子，豆子在锅中哭泣着对豆秸说，我们本是同根生的，你何苦苦苦相逼呢？后人多用这个典故指手足相残，有时也用之指才思敏捷。 To boil beans by burning beanstalks; to do harm to one’s own brothers or sisters Note: Tradition has it that during the Three Kingdom period, Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of the Kingdom of Wei, was jealous of his brother Cao Zhi’s talent. Then he often tried to find excuse to kill Cao Zhi. Once Cao Pi ordered Cao Zhi to pace seven steps and within the duration of time he should compose a poem. Otherwise, he would impose capital punishment on Cao Zhi. Really talented, on finishing the seventh step, he composed a poem, which roughly reads: Being boiled by the beanstalks burning, the bean in the wok cried, saying: Stalks and beans are kin though, why should you burn me hard so? This allusion is now used to describe the act of doing harm to one’s brother or any other blood relative. ? 汉语俗语英译 《现代汉语词典》将俗语定义为，“通俗并广泛流行的定型的语句，简练而形象化，大多数是劳动人民创造出来的，反映人民的生活经验和愿望。”《辞海》将俗语定义为，“流行于民间的通俗语句，带有一定的方言性。指谚语、俚语及口头上常用的成语等”。定义虽然下得很精辟，其实俗语与谚语是很难分开的。我们倾向于认为，谚语多与农业耕作和节气有关。这样的理解应该是可行的。但由于本

章其他部分收录了节气方面的内容，我们在区别俗语和谚语时就采用了照书行事的办法。具体地说，本节的俗语都选自徐宗才、应俊玲编著的《常用俗语手册》，而谚语都选自季成家、高天星、尚延令、张祚羌编著的《中国谚语选》，选时注意了俗语与谚语的典型性，以便于区分。另外，有些俗语也涉及典故。考虑到典故多了，不利于学生学习，因此本节没有选用涉及典故的俗语。 许多俗语只有字面意义，有些俗语有比喻意义。然而所有俗语都涉及中国文化，尤其是民俗文化。俗语翻译的困难主要也难在民俗文化的表达上。下面我们选择20个俗语并对之进行英译。考虑到外国人理解俗语的字面意义有一定的困难，我们英译时，先翻译字面意义，再按照英语规范翻译其常用意义。 ? 不看僧面看佛面 don’t blame the monk for the Buddha’ sake; don’t blame the inferior or the young for the sake of his superior or the old; forgive one person for another’s sake 不怕官，只怕管 not afraid of an official but afraid of an administrator; it is not the official but the person directly in charge that matters 不听老人言，吃苦在眼前 don’t listen to your old people and you will suffer very soon; taking the advice for the old generation will save you from trouble or suffering 不撞南墙不回头 he will not turn back until he bumps onto the southern wall; he will go ahead until blocked; he will go ahead until reaching the dead end 不做亏心事，不怕鬼敲门 if you don’t commit any sin, you will not be afraid of the devil

knocking at your door; an upright man isn’t afraid of anything 财大气粗 a wealthy man speaks louder; money talks 差之毫厘，失之千里 an error the breadth of a single hair can lead you a thousand li astray; a slightest error can lead to a greatest deviation; a slight carelessness can lead to a severe mistake 成事不足，败事有余 unable to accomplish anything but likely to spoil everything; impossible to achieve but possible to ruin 胜者为王，败者为寇 victorious, you will be a king, but defeated, you will be a bandit; victory makes a king of the winner while defeat makes a bandit of the loser; whether you will be a king or a bandit depends on whether you can win or not 吃不了兜着走 if you can’t eat it up, you have to take it away; get more than one has bargained for; you will have to take full responsibility if you are over-engaged 痴心女子负心郎 a heart-devoted lady meets a heartless man; a heart-devoted lady but a heartless man 船到码头车到站 a boat reaches its harbor and a bus its station; one who has completed his work will retire like a boat reaching its harbor or a bus reaching its station 春雨贵如油 the spring rain is as dear as vegetable oil; the spring rain is dearer than oil 聪明一世，糊涂一时 intelligent for life but muddled for a moment; confused for the time being for that intelligent man 打狗要看主人面 when you are beating

a dog, you have to take the owner into consideration; don’t beat the dog for the owner’s sake; love me, love my dog 打人休打脸，骂人休揭短 in beating a person, don’t slap his face, and in condemning a person, don’t disclose his weakness; be careful with his dignity in criticizing a person; be careful with their dignity even in conflict with others 打是亲，骂是爱 beating is affection and abusing is love; superficial beating and abusing reveal profound affection and true love 打肿脸充胖子 pretending to be a fat man by slapping his own face swollen; pretending to be a wealthy man 大人不记小人过 man of high position don’t care about the mistake of a person of lower position; man of dignity will certainly forgive a humble man; broad minded as you are, you won’t take my mistake into heart 大事化小，小事化了 reducing great trouble to small, and small to nothing 汉语谚语英译 《现代汉语词典》将谚语定义为，“在群众中流传的固定语句，用简单通俗的话反映出深刻的道理”。《辞海》将谚语定义为，“熟语的一种。流行于民间的简练通俗而富有意义的语句，大多反映人民的生活和斗争的经验”。正如我们在上面所说的，谚语与俗语很难区分，下面的谚语都选自季成家、高天星、尚延令、张祚羌编著的《中国谚语选》。和俗语一样，谚语也是人民大众喜闻乐见的语言，体现着中国的民俗文化。谚语中也有少数涉及典故的，为学生计，本节没有选用。另外，许多谚语除了字面意义之外还有比

喻意义。谚语的字面意义和比喻意义都不难翻译，难的是照字面意义和比喻意义翻译成英语了，英语读者不一定好理解。因此在下面的翻译中，如果既有字面意义又有比喻意义，我们先翻译字面意义，再译比喻意义，以便英语读者对之有一个比较清晰的理解。当然，如果只有字面意义，我们一般仅提供一种译文。如果有通过翻译仍不好理解的，我们适当地进行阐释性翻译。下面我们选择20个谚语并本着上述原则对之进行英译。 ? 实践出真知，斗争长才干 genuine knowledge comes from practice, struggle improves one’s competence 新来乍到，摸不着锅灶 a new comer isn’t familiar with either pots or the kitchen range; a new comer has to familiarize himself before starting work 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 if you don’t enter the tiger’s lair, how can you catch the cubs? you can’t achieve the goal without a risk 当家才知柴米贵，养儿才报父母恩 you won’t have any idea of the high prices for rice and firewood before running a house, and you won’t repay your parents until you have your own sons and daughters; experience teaches the young how to live 看花容易绣花难 it’s easy to appreciate than to embroider; you won’t know the difficulty until you are engaged in the work 事大事小，人到便了 whether it matters or not, your coming will drive the trouble out 初生牛犊不怕虎 a newborn calf isn’t afraid of the tiger; a youngster is a daredevil 吃一堑，长一智 a fall in pit,

a gain in wit; experience teaches 脑越用越灵，手越用越巧 thinking improves one’s intelligence and working one’s skills; working improves one’s intelligence and skills 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 don’t judge a man by his appearance and don’t measure the sea with a dou or bucket; he may be more capable than he looks; a man may have more potential than you know 老马识途 an old horse recognizes the way back; an old hand is a good guide 生姜还是老的辣 old ginger proves more pungent; an old hand has more experience 无古不成今 any modern time has a history; modern times are based on history 旧的不去，新的不来 if you won’t discard the old article, how can you get the new one? discard the old article and you’ll have to get a new one 尺有所短，寸有所长 on some occasions, a chi, consisting of ten cun, might prove shorter while a cun, a tenth of a chi, might prove longer; the stronger may have weakness while the weaker may have strength; the advantageous may have disadvantage while the disadvantageous may have advantage 不怕一万，就怕万一 not afraid of ten thousands but afraid of a ten-thousandth; always prepared for the unexpected risk in a million doings; take every care just in case 有利必有弊 advantages are necessarily accompanied by disadvantages 十个指头有长短，荷花出水有高低 out of the ten fingers, some are

longer than others, and similarly, of lotus flowers, some are higher than others; differences are only too natural 祸兮福所依，福兮祸所伏 misfortunes may promise fortunes while fortunes may promise misfortunes; fortune or misfortune may lead to the opposite 磨刀不误砍柴工 sharpening your knife won’t waste your time for cutting your faggot; preparation may quicken the process ?汉语歇后语英译 《现代汉语词典》将歇后语定义为，“由两个部分组成的一句话，前一部分像谜面，后一部分像谜底，通常只说前一部分，而本意在后一部分。”《辞海》将歇后语定义为，“熟语的一种。多为群众熟悉的诙谐而形象的语句。运用时可以隐去后文，以前文示意”。我们的看法是，歇后语是俗语的一种，它与俗言和谚语的区别主要在形式上。歇后语很像谜语，通常由两部分构成，前一部分为谜面，后一部分为谜底，谜面通常具有比喻性质。 歇后语分类 例如，门里出身――强人三分、八仙聚会――又说又笑、王羲之写字――横竖都好、李双双见到丈夫――有喜旺（希望）了和火爆玉米――开心等歇后语之间是有许多区别的。 首先，李双双见到丈夫――有喜旺（希望）了利用了汉语的谐音，其他几个例子没有利用谐音。另外，八仙聚会――又说又笑和王羲之写字――横竖都好都用了典故，其他歇后语没有用典故。但在利用典故的歇后语八仙聚会――又说又笑和王羲之写字――横竖都好中，前者用得比后者更为广泛，因为知道王羲之的人远没有知道八仙的人多，虽然八仙具体指哪些家不一定很清楚，在传说中八仙指八位道家大家也不一定很

清楚。另外，在现实生活中，王羲之确有其人，八仙则是传说中的人物。 火爆玉米――开心 则利用爆过的玉米，里面被炸开来的形象来比喻开心。另外，还有利用歧义的。对于不同的歇后语，在翻译过程中，我们采取不同的处理方法。涉及谐音和歧义的，如果没有现成的谐音和歧义译文可资翻译之需，我们就增加注解；涉及典故的，我们也增加注解。其他歇后语我们就采取先翻译字面意义，后翻译常用意义或适当地予以阐释的方法予以处理。下面我们选择20个歇后语并按照上述原则对之进行英译。 ? 门里出身――强人三分 born into a family of a special line――more advantageous than others by 30 percent；a man with specialized training is stronger than others without such backgrounds 铁打的馒头――一个硬似一个 mantou made of iron――one harder than another；they are like steamed bread made of iron, one is harder, more stubborn or determined than another 火爆玉米――开心 a blasted corn grain――opened at heart or happy at heart; like a blasted corn grain with inside out, the person concerned is exhilarated 八仙聚会――又说又笑 a gathering of Eight Immortals――speaking and laughing; like the Eight Immortals at a gathering, they are talking and laughing merrily Note: The Eight Immortals refer to the eight Taoists in a Chinese legend, namely, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lü Dongbin, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe and He Xiangu. 王羲之写字――横竖都好 a character

out of Wang Xizhi’s hand――vertical strokes are as good as horizontal ones; like Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy, it is good in every way Note: Wang Xizhi was a famous Chinese calligrapher and a Chinese character is usually composed of strokes, of which the vertical and horizontal ones are the most commonly used. Hengshu here has two interpretations: 1 the horizontal and vertical strokes; 2 horizontally or vertically, that is, in any way. 饭店里卖服装――有吃有穿 selling clothes at an inn――enough to eat and enough to wear; like a department store with an inn in it, there is enough to eat and enough to wear; in a department store with an inn in it, you will have a decent living 李双双见到丈夫――有喜旺（希望）了 Li Shuangshuang sees her husband――she has Xiwang now; like Li Shuangshuang meeting her husband Xiwang, a homophone for the Chinese word xiwang meaning hope, there is hope now Note: There was a film entitled Li Shuangshuang, of which the hero is Sun Xiwang, whose given name is a homophone for xiwang, meaning hope in Chinese, and the heroine is Li Shuangshuang, Xiwang’s wife. 井底雕花――深刻 carving a flower design on the bottom of a well――carving deeply or get to the essence of something Note: the Chinese word shenke is ambiguous in that the literal meaning of the word means carving deeply while the figurative meaning is profound

or getting the essence of something. 运动场上赛标――寸土必争 throwing javelins on a sports ground――strive for every inch of the land; like throwing javelins on a sports ground, they fight for every inch of land Note: The Chinese word cuntubizheng can be interpreted ambiguously in that on one hand, it can be interpreted as striving for every inch of land on the sports field but on the other, it can be interpreted as striving for every inch of land in a battle or striving for any benefit in a struggle or business confrontation. 长工吃犒劳――难得的好处 hired hands enjoying rewarded food and drinks――an unusual privilege; like rewarded food and drinks offered to hired hands, it is an unusual privilege 王小二过年――一年不如一年 Wang Xiao’er spending the New Year――one year is worse than another; like Wang Xiao’er’s life, one year is worse than another Note: Wang Xiao’er in Chinese can mean any poor fellow at the bottom of the society. 飞机上跳伞――一落千丈 bale out from a flying plane――drop down a thousand zhang or suffer a drastic decline; like jumping from a flying plane, they decline drastically Note: A zhang is equal to 11/3 meters. 丫头当媒人――自身难保 a maid serving as a matchmaker――hard to protect herself from the danger of being engaged; like a maid serving as a matchmaker, it is hard to pull herself from one’

s own crisis Note: The literal meaning of this allegorical saying is that since the maid herself is single, in doing the job of a matchmaker, she herself may fall in love with the man. 热锅上的蚂蚁――走投无路 ants in a hot pot――nowhere to escape; like ants in a hot pot, they find nowhere to escape 秦叔宝卖马――穷途末路 Qin Shubao selling his horse――the last resort to overcome his difficulty; like Qin Shubao selling his horse, they are driven into a dead end Note: Qin Qiong, styled Shubao, was a famous general in the Tang Dynasty. Before becoming a general, he was once penniless and had no way out but to sell his own horse. 白骨精骗唐僧――一计不成又生一计 the White Bone Demon deceiving Monk Tang――when one scheme failed, she turned to another; like the White Bone Demon in trapping Xuanzang, a famous monk from the Tang Dynasty, they have thought out one scheme after another Note: On his way to the west to obtain Buddhist scriptures, Xuanzang, a famous monk of the Tang Dynasty, met the White Bone Demon, who thought out one scheme after another to deceive the monk so that she could eat the monk and then would prolong her life forever. However, this is the story contained in the fiction entitled Journey to the West. 李林甫当宰相――口蜜腹剑 Li Linfu serving as the prime minister――a man with honey at lips but swords at heart

or a honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted man Note: Li Linfu, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, was notorious for his cunning and people say that he was honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted. 灶王爷扔石头――砸锅 the Kitchen God throwing stones――to break the pot or ruin the matter Note: The literal meaning of zaguo is to break a pot but it is usually used to mean ruining the matter. 飞机上扔――抬高自己，打击别人 throwing a bomb from a plane――to raise yourself but to attack others; like throwing a bomb from a plane, to raise oneself and attack others attacking others while raising oneself or raising oneself while attacking or attacking others in order to raise oneself 牛角抹油――又尖（奸）又滑（猾） spreading oil on an ox horn――to make it sharper and more slippery or cunning and treacherous Note: the Chinese character jian, meaning sharp, is a homophone of jian, meaning cunning, and the Chinese character hua, meaning slippery, is a homophone of hua, meaning treacherous. ? 练习 （见练习册相应部分） * 第二节：成语典故、俗语、谚语与歇后语英译 程永生著 汉语成语、典故俗语、谚语与歇后语英译 汉翻译英教程 汉语成语英译 汉语典故英译 汉语俗语英译 汉语谚语英译 ? 汉语歇后语英译 目录 Go Go Go Go Go 出师表

两汉：诸葛亮

先帝创业未半而中道崩殂，今天下三分，益州疲弊，此诚危急存亡之秋也。然侍卫之臣不懈于内，忠志之士忘身于外者，盖追先帝之殊遇，欲报之于陛下也。诚宜开张圣听，以光先帝遗德，恢弘志士之气，不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失义，以塞忠谏之路也。

宫中府中，俱为一体；陟罚臧否，不宜异同。若有作奸犯科及为忠善者，宜付有司论其刑赏，以昭陛下平明之理；不宜偏私，使内外异法也。

侍中、侍郎郭攸之、费祎、董允等，此皆良实，志虑忠纯，是以先帝简拔以遗陛下：愚以为宫中之事，事无大小，悉以咨之，然后施行，必能裨补阙漏，有所广益。

将军向宠，性行淑均，晓畅军事，试用于昔日，先帝称之曰“能”，是以众议举宠为督：愚以为营中之事，悉以咨之，必能使行阵和睦，优劣得所。

亲贤臣，远小人，此先汉所以兴隆也；亲小人，远贤臣，此后汉所以倾颓也。先帝在时，每与臣论此事，未尝不叹息痛恨于桓、灵也。侍中、尚书、长史、参军，此悉贞良死节之臣，愿陛下亲之、信之，则汉室之隆，可计日而待也

。

臣本布衣，躬耕于南阳，苟全性命于乱世，不求闻达于诸侯。先帝不以臣卑鄙，猥自枉屈，三顾臣于草庐之中，咨臣以当世之事，由是感激，遂许先帝以驱驰。后值倾覆，受任于败军之际，奉命于危难之间，尔来二十有一年矣。

先帝知臣谨慎，故临崩寄臣以大事也。受命以来，夙夜忧叹，恐托付不效，以伤先帝之明；故五月渡泸，深入不毛。今南方已定，兵甲已足，当奖率三军，北定中原，庶竭驽钝，攘除奸凶，兴复汉室，还于旧都。此臣所以报先帝而忠陛下之职分也。至于斟酌损益，进尽忠言，则攸之、祎、允之任也。

愿陛下托臣以讨贼兴复之效，不效，则治臣之罪，以告先帝之灵。若无兴德之言，则责攸之、祎、允等之慢，以彰其咎；陛下亦宜自谋，以咨诹善道，察纳雅言，深追先帝遗诏。臣不胜受恩感激。

今当远离，临表涕零，不知所言。