成语是东方文化的一大特色,它来源于古代经典著作、历史故事和民间传说。在东西方文化交流和摩擦碰撞的过程中,成语被翻译成英语,不止流传于市井,同样能登上庙堂。习近平主席就非常喜欢在外交辞令中引用成语甚至是古语来考验随身翻译的专业功底。作为英语学习者,不会几个中国成语的英文翻译,那怎么好意思呢?
1.爱屋及乌
Loveme,lovemydog.
2.眼见为实
Seeingisbelieving.
3.高不成低不就
Tofallshortofthebest,butbebetterthantheworst.
4.笨鸟先飞
Aslowsparrowshouldmakeanearlystart.
5.不眠之夜
Whitenight.
6.不以物喜,不以己悲
Notpleasedbyexternalgains,notsaddenedbypersonnallosses.
7.不遗余力
Sparenoeffort.
8.不打不成交
Nodiscord,noconcord.
9.拆东墙补西墙
RobPetertopayPaul.
10.功夫不负有心人
Everythingestohimwhowaits.
11.好了伤疤忘了疼
Onceonshore,onepraysnomore.
12.活到老学到老
Oneisnevertoooldtolearn.
13.既往不咎
Letbygonesbebygones.
14.金无足赤,人无完人
Goldcan'tbepureandmancan'tbeperfect.
15.脚踏实地
Bedown-to-earth.
16.脚踩两只船
Sitonthefence.
17.礼尚往来
Courtesycallsforreciprocity.
18.留得青山在不怕没柴烧
Wherethereislife,thereishope.
19.名利双收
Gaininbothfameandwealth.
20.没有规矩不成方圆
Nothingcanbeaplishedwithoutnormsorstandards.
21.谋事在人成事在天
Manproposes,Goddisposes.
22.弄巧成拙
Betoosmartbyhalf./Cunningoutwitsitself.
23.赔了夫人又折兵
Throwgoodmoneyafterbad.
24.抛砖引玉
Throwasprattocatchawhale.
25.破釜沉舟
Cutoffallmeansofretreat.
26.抢得先机
Takethepreemptiveopportunities.
27.巧妇难为无米之炊
Ifyouhavenohandyoucan'tmakeafist.
28.千里之行,始于足下
Eminenceistobegainedstepbystep.
29.人之初,性本善
Man'snatureatbirthisgood.
30.世上无难事,只怕有心人
Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.
31.塞翁失马,焉知非福
Misfortunemaybeanactualblessing.
32.水涨船高
Whentheriverrises,theboatfloatshigh.
33.时不我待
Timefliesandwaitfornoman.
34.杀鸡用牛刀
Breakabutterflyonthewheel.
35.实事求是
Betruetofacts.
36.说曹操,曹操到
Talkofthedevilandhees.
37.韬光养晦
Hideone'scapacitiesandbideone'stime.
38.天有不测风云
Aboltfromtheblue.
39.物以类聚,人以群分
Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.
40.屋漏又逢连阴雨
Misfortunesneveresingly.
41.唯利是图
Drawwatertoone'smill.
42.无源之水,无本之木
Waterwithoutasource,andatreewithoutroots.
43.无风不起浪
There'snosmokewithoutfire.
44.有勇无谋
Usebrawnratherthanbrain.
45.欲速则不达
Hastedoesnotbringsuccess.
46.优胜劣汰
Survivalofthefittest.
47.英雄所见略同
Greatmindsthinkalike.
48.冤家宜解不宜结
Bettermakefriendsthanmakeenemies.
49.君子一言,驷马难追
Arealmannevergoesbackonhiswords.
50.致命要害
Achilles'heel.