汉英习语翻译

画蛇添足原文楚有祠者，赐其舍人卮酒，舍人相谓曰：“数人饮之不足，一人饮之有余，请画地为蛇，先成者饮酒。

”一人蛇先成，引酒且饮之，乃左手持卮，右手画蛇曰：“吾能为之足。

”未成，一人之蛇成，夺其卮曰：‘蛇固无足，子安能为之足？’遂饮其酒。

为蛇足者，终亡其酒。

译文楚国有个搞祭祀活动的人，祭祀完了以后，拿出一壶酒赏给门人们喝。

门客们互相商量说：“这壶酒大家都来喝则不足够，一个人喝则有剩余。

我们各自在地上比赛画蛇，先画好的人就喝这壶酒。

”有一个人先把蛇画好了，他拿起酒壶正要喝，却左手拿着酒壶，右手继续画蛇，说：“我能够给它画脚。

”没等他画完，另一个人已把蛇画成了，把壶抢过去说：“蛇本来是没有脚的，你怎么能给它画脚呢！”然后他便把壶中的酒喝了下去。

为蛇画脚的人，最终失去了酒。

成语寓意编辑以后人们根据这个故事引申出"画蛇添足"这句成语，比喻有的人自作聪明，常做多余的事，反而把事情办糟了。

比喻节外生枝，多此一举，反而坏事。

英译版本There was a man in the state of Chu who was engaged in sacrificial activities. After the sacrifice, take out a pot of wine for the door people to drink.When the door people saw that there was only one pot of wine, they agreed with each other, "this pot of wine is not enough for several people to drink together; if one person drinks it, there will be some surplus. We can draw snakes on the ground together. Whoever draws the snake first will drink the pot of wine. "So, we found branches and tiles and quickly drew them on the ground.A man drew a snake first, and was about to drink it when he picked up the wine. He found that no one else had finished the painting, so he held the wine pot in one hand, and then drew again in the other hand. While drawing, he said triumphantly, "I can also add some feet to the snake! "Before he had finished drawing the snake's feet, another man had finished drawing the snake. He grabbed the wine pot and said, "the snake has no feet. How can you draw feet for it? "After that, he raised his neck and gulped up the wine. The man who added feet to the snake stood beside him, looking blankly at the loss of a chance to drink。

A wolf in sheep’s clothing 披着羊皮的狼. to be on the ice 如履薄冰. to sit on pins and needles 如坐针毡. An ass is known by his ears 见耳识驴it is a sad house where the hen crows louder than the cock（）鸡司晨，家之不祥. it’s ill to waken sleeping dogs/ Let sleeping dogs lie 勿惹睡狗. A barking dog is better than a sleeping lion 吠犬不可怕，睡狮难提防. The great fish eat up the small 大鱼吃小鱼. He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount 骑虎难下. A good horse cannot be of a bad colour 好马无劣色. to be as mild as a lamb 驯如羔羊.合抱之木，生于毫末Great oaks from little acorns grow. 人靠衣服马靠鞍It’s the saddle that makes the horse and the tailor , the man. 旧瓶装新酒new wine in old bottles. 玩火者必自焚He who plays with fire gets burned. 羽毛丰满to become full-fledged. 风驰电掣to pass swiftly like the wind or lighting.The ap ple of one’s eye 掌上明珠. as timid as a hare 胆小如鼠. as strong as a horse 大力如牛. as poor as a church mouse 一贫如洗. Man proposes, God disposes 谋事在人,成事在天. Everyone for himself, God for us all 人人为自己, 老天为大家.A small bird wants but a small nest 燕雀无鸿鹄之志. Take notthe musket to kill a butterfly 杀鸡焉用牛刀. When the cat’s away, the mice will play 山中无老虎，猴子称霸王. You can’t sell the cow and drink the milk 鱼与熊掌不可兼得. Beat the dog before a lion 杀鸡给猴看Love me, love my dog 爱屋及乌. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of lion 宁为鸡口，不为牛后. He killed the goose that laid the golden eggs 杀鸡取卵.A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion 狗急跳墙. Carrion crows bewail the dead sheep, and then eat them 猫哭耗子假慈悲. castle in the air 空中楼阁. a bolt from the blue 晴天霹雳. six of one and half a dozen of the other 半斤八两. after one’s own heart 正中下怀. kill two birds with one stone 一箭双雕. show the cloven hoof 露出马脚. fish in the air 水中捞月. kick down the ladder 过河拆桥. between the devil and the deep sea 进退维谷.To draw one’s blood 伤人感情，惹人生气. to hang o n sb’s sleeve 依赖某人. to hang on one’s lips 对某人言听计从. to make a monkey of sb 愚弄某人. to bend an ear to 倾听，聚精会神地听. to bury one’s head in the sand 采取鸵鸟政策. to have an axe to grind 别有用心. to talk through one’s hat 胡言乱语. to leave no stone unturned 千方百计不遗余力. to call a spade a spade 直言不讳. to pull one’s leg 愚弄某人，开某人的玩笑. to eat one’s words 被迫收回前言,承认自己说了错话. to be full of beans 精力旺盛,精力充沛. to be like square pegs in round holes 格格不入. a skeleton in the feast 扫兴的人或事物. a fly in the ointment美中不足. with a grain of salt 半信半疑. with one’s tongue in the one’s cheek 说说而已，非诚心诚意.扬眉吐气to feel proud and elated. 灯红酒绿to be dissipated and luxurious. 开门见山to come straight to a point . 单枪匹马to be single-handed in doing sth. 大张旗鼓on a large spectacular scale. 风雨飘摇(of a situation)being unstable. 胸有成竹to have a well-thought-out plan before doing sth. 海阔天空(to talk) at random.四面楚歌to be besieged on all sides. 毛遂自荐to volunteer one’s service. 初出茅庐at the beginning of one’s career. 倾城倾国to be exceedingly beautiful. 罄竹难书(of crimes )too numerous to mention.To spend money like water 花钱如流水/挥金如土. to spring up like mushrooms 如雨后春笋般出现. a stony heart 铁石心肠. at one’s fingertips 了如指掌. to have a hand like a foot 笨手笨脚. as mute as a fish 噤若寒蝉. to shut one’s eyes against to 视若无睹. return good for evil 以德报怨. to turn a deaf ear to充耳不闻. Practice makes perfect 熟能生巧. to face the music 临危不惧. plain sailing 一帆风顺. at sixes and sevens 乱七八糟. to be dead drunk 烂醉如泥. laugh and grow fat 心宽体胖. to fly into a rage 勃然大怒. to look for a needle in a haystack 海底捞针. a leap in the dark 轻举妄动. to show one’s colors 原形毕露. to make a noise in the world 名噪一时More haste, less speed 欲速则不达. neither fish nor flesh 不伦不类. to pick holes in 吹毛求疵. to mind one’s P’s and Q’s 谨言慎行. to be at the end of one’s rope 山穷水尽. to log a dead horse 徒劳无益. to turn over a new deaf 改过自新to put all one’s egg in one basket 孤注一掷. to take French leave 擅自离开. Out of sight, out of mind 久离情疏. to hold the purse string 掌握经济大权. to have forty winks 迷糊了一会儿. to talk black into white 颠倒黑白. to give sb’s the green light 给某人开绿灯. to be armed to the teeth 武装到牙齿. to laugh off one’s head 笑掉牙齿. to be out at elbows 捉襟见肘. to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth 生在富贵人家. A rolling stone gather no moss 滚石不生苔.英雄所见略同Great minds think alike. 祸不单行Misfortunes never come alone. 隔篱有眼，隔墙有耳Hedges have eyes, andwalls have ears. 时不待我，岁月无情Time and tide wait for no man. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲A young idler, an old beggar. 健康胜于财富Health is better than wealth. 无官一身轻Out of office, out of danger. 居安思危In time of peace prepare for war. 前事不忘，后事之师/前车之覆,后车之鉴The remembrance of the past is the teacher of the future. 吃一堑，长一智 A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. 新官上任三把火A new broom sweeps clean. 杀鸡儆猴beat the dog before the lion. 班门弄斧teach fish to swim. 一言既出，驷马难追 A word spoken is past recalling. 一朝怕蛇咬，十年怕井绳Once bit, twice shy . 物以类聚，人以群分Birds of a feather flock together. 无风不起浪There is no smoke without fire. 本末倒置put the cart before the horse. 佛要金装，人要衣装Fine feathers make fine birds. 得寸进尺Much will have more. 喧宾夺主The sauce is better than the fish. 挂羊头，卖狗肉He cries wine and sells vinegar 青出于蓝而胜于蓝The pupil outdoes the master. 天涯何处无芳草There are plenty of fish in the sea. 棋逢对手Diamond cut diamond. 拿了收短，吃了嘴软Gifts blind the eye 天下乌鸦一般黑Dogs bite in every country. 滴水穿石Little strokes fell great oaks. 条条大路通罗马All roads lead to Rome. 百川入海，殊途同归All rivers run into the sea. 口蜜腹剑Peace on the forehead and war in themind. 身正不怕影子斜 A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe. 宁为玉碎，不为瓦全It is better to die with honor than to live with shame. 醉翁之意不在酒Many kiss the baby for the nurse’s sake. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子Nothing venture, nothing have. 入乡随俗Do in the Rome as the Romans do. 木已成舟/覆水难收Things done cannot be done. 为人不做亏心事，半夜不怕鬼敲门 A clear conscience is a sure card . 做贼心虚A bad conscience is a snake in one’s heart . 事与愿违All your swans are geese. 天网恢恢，疏而不漏Justice has long arms. 君子之交淡如水A hedge between friendship green. 大智若愚He knows most who speaks least/Still water runs deep. 自食其果As you make the bed, so you must lie in it. 盲目乐观count one’s chickens before they are hatched. 一失足成千古横Short pleasure, long lament. 若要人不知，除非己莫为What is done by night appears by day. 患难与共/有福同享，有难同当stick together through thick and thin. 江山易改，本性难移 A leopard(豹子)cannot change its spots/You cannot make a crab walk straight. 随遇而安Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福Accidents will happen/Every tide has its ebb. 智者千虑，必有一失The best horse stumbles. 罗马并不是一日建成Rome was not built in a day. 留得青山在，不愁没柴烧The shepherdwould rather lose the wool than the sheep. 小小漏洞沉默大船A little leak will sink a great ship. 心急吃不了热豆腐 A watched pot never boils.。

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。

英汉习语对比及其翻译【Abstract】Idioms are the essence of a language, which have strong national colors and distinctive cultural connotations. So it is difficult for both English and Chinese readers to understand the idiom translation thoroughly and exactly. This thesis first analyzes the similarity of English and Chinese idioms from the aspect of rhetorical means, such as alliteration, rhyme, repetition, antithesis and so on. Then it probes into the causes of the differences in English and Chinese idioms from the aspects of different living circumstances, different cognitions of things, different religions and beliefs, and different historical allusions and myths, etc. After that, it talks about the three typical problems in English-Chinese idiom translation, such as interpreting the English idioms too literally, copying Chinese customary sayings mechanically, and lacking in necessary explanatory notes. Finally, it summarizes five idiom translation methods, including literal translation with explanation, literal translation with association, transformation of meanings, application of Chinese couplet and equal consideration of both images and meanings. All the significance of this thesis is to convey the idioms’ cultural information as much as possible, which is very useful for the language learning.【Key Words】idiom; comparison; translation【摘要】习语通常包括成语、俗语、格言、歇后语、谚语、俚语、行话等。

英汉动物类习语比较及其翻译Ξ欧　忆　贾德江(南华大学大学外语部　衡阳市　421001)摘　要　动物习语在英汉两种语言中的出现频率都很高。

英汉民族思维方式和文化背景不同,同一动物所承载的喻义也就会出现差异。

一方面,指称意义相同的动物形象,其喻义,即它在原语和译语中的语用含义可能相去甚远,甚至完全相悖。

另一方面,有些动物形象,在原语中含有丰富的语用意义,而在译语中却丢失,因而在译语中不能产生等值的意象联想。

关键词　英汉习语　动物名称　设喻比较　动物习语来源　翻译手法Abstract　There are a lot of animal idioms in both English and Chinese.Their modes of thinking and cultural backgrounds are different,so the implied meanings of the same animal are possibly different.On the one hand, their conceptual meanings are the same but pragmatic implications are different.On the other hand,some animals’names have rich pragmatic implications in original language but not in target language,so they cannot produce e2 qual image association.K ey w ords　English and Chinese idioms　animals’names　comparison of metaphors　source of animal idioms　translation techniques 人类与动物可以说在生态环境中结下了不解之缘。

英汉动物习语在两种语言中都很常见，它们通常用来描述人的性格或行为。

动物习语可以帮助我们更好地理解某些概念，并且往往具有文化特色。

下面是一些常见的英汉动物习语及其翻译：As sly as a fox: 如狐狸一般狡猾As brave as a lion: 如狮子一般勇敢As busy as a bee: 如蜜蜂一般忙碌As strong as an ox: 如牛一般强壮As cunning as a snake: 如蛇一般狡诈As wise as an owl: 如猫头鹰一般聪明As stubborn as a mule: 如骡子一般固执As loyal as a dog: 如狗一般忠诚动物习语不仅在英语中使用，在汉语中也有很多类似的习语。

例如：如虎添翼: As fierce as a tiger如鹰擎天: As proud as an eagle如龙卷风: As fierce as a dragon如鸽子般温顺: As gentle as a dove通过比较英汉动物习语，我们可以发现，虽然它们的意思是相似的，但是用来描述的动物却不一样。

这反映了不同文化对于同一概念的不同理解和表达方式。

此外，在两种语言中，有些动物习语的用法也略有不同。

例如，在英语中，"as sly as a fox" 通常用来形容一个人狡猾、狡诈，而在汉语中，"如狐狸一般狡猾"则通常用来形容一个人阴险、奸诈。

另外，有些动物习语在两种语言中都有，但是在不同文化中的含义略有不同。

例如，在英语中，"as wise as an owl" 通常用来形容一个人聪明、有智慧，而在汉语中，"如猫头鹰一般聪明"则通常用来形容一个人有眼光、有远见。

总的来说，英汉动物习语不仅可以帮助我们更好地理解某些概念，还可以让我们了解不同文化之间的差异。

在学习一种新语言时，了解其中的动物习语也是很有意义的。

翻译英语习语：三大绝招必须掌握之套译
套译
套译就是借用汉语成语来翻译。

由于文化背景不同，原文的形象有时不符合中国习俗，若直译会使得寓意颇为费解，从而影响到原文意思的准确传达，这时，大多可以采用套译。

英汉习语形异义似时，便可采用这种译法。

例：
1、Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
宁为鸡首，不为牛后。

2、Some prefer turnips and others pears：萝卜白菜，各有所爱。

3、as lean as a rail：骨瘦如柴
4、clean hand：两袖清风
5、It was by no means a bed of rose.
这决不是安乐窝。

6、He cries wine and sells vinegar：挂羊头，卖狗肉。

7、as pale （or white）as ashes（or sheet or death）：面如土色
8、as red as rose：艳如桃李
9、as clear as daylight：洞若观火
10、All shall be well, Jack shall have Jill.
有情人终成眷属。

11、He robs Peter to pay Paul.
拆东墙补西墙。

12、Diamonds cut Diamonds.
棋逢对手，将遇良才。

英雄惜英雄
13、Pay on the spot and borrow a lot; pay slow and you’ll get no dough. 好借好还，再借不难。

A· A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. 一着不慎,满盘皆输.· All is not gold that glitters. 闪光的未必都是金子。

· A child is better unborn than untaught. 养不教，父之过。

· Art is long, life is short. 生命短暂，艺术长存。

· A friend is best found in adversity. 患难见真情。

· Although the sun shine, leave not your cloak at home. 未雨绸缪。

· A light heart live long. 心情开朗寿命长。

不恼不愁，活到白头。

· An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 日吃苹果一只，身体健康不求医。

· All covet, all lose. 样样垂涎，样样失落。

贪多嚼不烂。

· A good winter brings a good summer. 瑞雪兆丰年。

· All rivers run into the sea. 殊途同归。

· A small leak will sink a great ship. 千里之堤溃于蚁穴。

· All time is no time when it is past. 机不可失，时不再来。

· A baker's wife may bite of a bun, a brewer's wife may bite of a tun.近水楼台先得月。

· A short cut is often a wrong cut.欲速则不达。

试析英汉习语的异同与翻译【论文关键词】习语比较翻译【论文摘要】英汉两种语言都有着大量习语。

习语是一个民族语言的重要组成部分,蕴涵着丰富的文化内涵。

本文首先对英汉习语的异同进行了比较与分析,进而论述了几种英汉习语的翻译方法,以期能够对英汉习语的互译有所帮助。

Abstract: English and Chinese are both rich in idioms. Idioms are an important part of language and have rich cultural connotations. This paper analyzes and compares English idioms with Chinese ones and then introduces some translation methods of idioms.Key words: idioms; comparison; translation习语除了固定的短语或表达法外,还包括口语体、谚语、格言乃至一些俚语。

英汉两种语言同属较为发达的语言,故都拥有大量习语。

英汉习语源远流长,都有着极其丰富的文化底蕴。

英汉习语反映了两个不同民族的不同的历史、经济生活和思维方式。

英汉习语有极强的概括和表现能力,形象生动,寓意深刻,韵味隽永,为人们所喜闻乐见。

1 英汉习语比较1.1 英汉习语的基本共性1.1.1 结构的固定性习语从其结构来看,有其自身的完整性,其中各个组成部分是固定的,不可任意拆开或替换,如“pull somebody’s leg”(愚弄某人)不可变单数为复数;“by twos and threes”(三三两两)不可按汉语习语改为“by threes and twos”.又如汉语的“去伪存真”不能说成“去假存真”,“三言两语”不能说成“两语三言”,虽然前者和后者意思没有很大不同,但是相沿成习,习惯上人们说的是前者,不是后者。