中国俗语英文对照.doc

中国俗语，英文对照1. 人山人海： 有人直译为：People mountain people sea.这就是中国英文，老外很难理解。他们指人多时，通常只说：There is a large crowd of people.如果看到电影院门前大排长龙，也只说：There is (was) a long movie line.不过在诗词用语 (poetic expression) 里，老外也有使用：a (the) sea of faces，颇有咱们人山人海的味道。例如：Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.（望着一片人山人海的听众， A先生发表一篇动人的演说。）Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.（柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。）可见，说话者通常要在台上或高处，才有人海的感觉。因此，可以说：I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中，就不说：I saw the sea of faces.也不说：There is a sea of faces.只说：I saw a large crowd of people.2. 家家有本难念的经： 有人译成：Every family cooking pot has a black spot. (意思是：每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)这样说法，老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是：Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)或者说：Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)说白些，就是：Every family has its own problem.3. 天下无不散的宴席： 有人直译为：There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.老外听后，也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法，也许更易理解：All good things come to an end. (意思是：所有好的事情，总有结束的一天。)假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天，那么可以说：Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)4. 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚： 有人照字直译为：When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.这种说法，老外也会一知半解。美语里一般说法是：Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神，不是只在困难时。)对学生也可以说：If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功，考试就不会形成压力。)5. 挂羊头，卖狗肉： 有人照字直译为：He advertises mutton, but sells dogs flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheeps head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.这两种译法，恐怕老外都难理解，尤其谈到狗肉，他们更会反感，因为狗是他们最爱的宠物，不过老外倒有相近的说法：He applied bait-andtch factics in business. (他经商的策略是先引诱顾客来，再改变货物的品质。)(Bait-and-tch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)This store uses bait andtch policy.或者简单的说：Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或 nSay one thing and do another.6. 一言既出，驷马难追： 有人译成：One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.这两种说法，中文味道嫌重，老外未必理解。不过他们倒有类似的说法：A word once let go cannot be recalled.或者说：You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话，就不能再收回来。)7. 祸从口出，言多必失： 有人译为：The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.老外听了，恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成：Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话，会带来麻烦); 或The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)甚至也可以说：Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说，张眼多看。)where there is a will,there is a way.有志者，事竟成。nothing is too diffcult,if you put your heart into it.世上无难事，只怕有心人。as every thread of gold is valuable, so every moment of time.一寸光阴一寸金。all things in their being are good for something.天生我才必有用。there is nothing permanent except change.唯有变化才是永恒的。a crooked stick will have a crooked shadow.身不正，影必斜。wisdom is to the mind what health is to the body.知识之于心灵正如健康之于身体。a word once spoken cannot be taken back even by a team of four horses.一言既出，驷马难追。very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene.改变自己往往比改变环境更为需要。a man is not old as long as he is seeking something. a man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.只要一个人还有所追求，他就没有老。直到后悔取代了梦想，一个人才算老。better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.今日一只蛋，胜过明天一只鸡。there is no friend so faithful as a good book.最忠实的朋友莫过于一本好书。brevity is the soul of wit.言贵简。deliberate slowly, execute promptly.谋虑要慢，行动要快。friendship cannot stand always on one side.友谊是双方的事。one tree does not make a forest.独木不成林。barking dogs dont bite.吠狗不咬人。what is done by night appears by day.若要人不知，除非已莫为。its never too late to mend.改过不嫌晚。man proposes, god disposes.谋事在人，成事在天。running water does not get stale; a door-hinge is never worm-eaten.流水不腐，户枢不蠹。sweep before your own door.正人先正已。a hero is nothing but a product of his time.时势造英雄。it is better to trust to valour than to luck.靠运气不如靠勇气。ignorance is the mother of impudence.无知是鲁莽之源。one careless move may lose the whole game.一步不慎，满盘皆输。words are like bees, they have honey and a sting.言语象蜜蜂，有蜜也有刺。its only the idle will be tired.只有闲人才会感到疲倦。there are two tragedies in life. one is to lose your hearts desire, the other is to gain it.失去心中所欲的和得到心中所欲的，是人生的两大悲剧。strong in action, gentle in method.行动要坚强，方式要温和。he who mistrusts most should be trusted least.最不信任别人的人最不应该得到信任。idleness is the root of all evils.懒惰是万恶之源。diligence redeems stupidity.勤能补拙。beware beginning.以谨慎开始。a friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。strike the iron while it is hot.趁热打铁。it takes two to make a quarrel.一个巴掌拍不响。when shepherds quarrel, the wolf has a winning game.鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利。a single spark can start a prairie fire.星星之火，可以燎原。ones sin will find one out.坏事终归要败露。a good name is better than riches.声誉胜于财富。haste trips over its own heels.忙易出错。a watched pot never boils.心急喝不了热粥。the greater the man, the more restrained his anger.人越伟大，越能克制怒火。speech is the image of actions.语言是行动的反映。better the devil you know than the devil you dont know.明枪易躲，暗箭难防。each man is the architect of his own fate.每个人都是自己命运的建筑师。birds of a feather flock together.物以类聚，人以群分。talents come from diligence, and knowledge is gained by accumulation.天才在于勤奋，知识在于积累。an open enemy is better than a hollow friend.宁有公开的敌人，不要虚伪的朋友。a still tongue makes a wise head.沉默者有智慧。it is but a step from the sublime to the ridiculous.从崇高到荒谬只有一步之遥。ordinary people think merely of how they will spend time, a man of intellect tries to use it.常人只想如何消磨时间，智者则努力利用时间。anger begins with folly, and ends in repentance.愤怒以愚蠢开始，以后悔告终。all lay load on the willing horse.人善被人欺，马善被人骑。he who commences many things finishes but a few.样样都搞，完成者少。courage and resolution are the spirit and soul of virtue.勇气和坚定是美德的精神与灵魂。fish begins to stink at the head.上梁不正下梁歪。first come, first served.先来先招待。easy come, easy go.来得容易去得快。mor