汉语成语、典故、俗语、谚语与歇后语英译.ppt

1、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。,翻译磨刀石（直译）,声东击西 刻骨铭心 狗仗人势 口蜜腹剑,Shout in the east and strike in the west (look one way and row another / sell the dummy) Be engraved in ones heart and bo

2、nes (remember to the end of ones life) Be like a dog counting on its masters backing (be a bully under the protection of a powerful person) To be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted (a Judas kiss),翻译磨刀石（意译）,虚怀若谷 如虎添翼 噤若寒蝉 指腹为婚,To be modest and extremely open-minded With might redoubled (with added stre

3、ngth) Keep silent out of fear The two have been engaged to each other before they were born. (prenatal betrothal),其他例子：,挥金如土 To throw money about like dirt To spend money like water 掌上明珠 A pearl in the palm The apple of ones eye The beloved daughter,骨瘦如柴 To be as thin as sticks/a lath To be a bag of

4、 bones To be skin and bones 雪中送炭 To send charcoal in snowy weather To help a lame dog over a stile(台阶) Provide timely help,翻译磨刀石（套译）,顺水行舟 非驴非马 日暮途穷 本末倒置,Sail with the wind Neither fish, flesh nor fowl At the end of ones rope Put the cart before the horse,粗枝大叶 无孔不入 扬眉吐气 纸醉金迷 开门见山 单枪匹马 风雨飘摇,To be crud

5、e and careless (sloppy) to be all-pervasive/seize any opportunity To feel proud and elated/ hold ones head high A life of luxury and dissipation To come straight to the point To be single-handed in doing something To be in unstable / turbulent times,这类成语一般用意译或者套译,毛遂自荐 叶公好龙 南柯一梦 四面楚歌 锱铢必较 罄竹难书 初出茅庐 倾

6、国倾城 悬梁刺股,To volunteer ones services Professed love of what one really fears A fond dream or illusory joy To be besieged on all sides To haggle over every penny (of crimes) too numerous to be recorded At the beginning of ones career (inexperienced) To be exceedingly beautiful (gorgeous) To be extreme

7、ly hard-working in ones study,意译,套译,小题大做 赴汤蹈火 洗心革面 横行霸道 过河拆桥 乳臭未干 格格不入 魂不附体,Make a mountain out of a molehill Go through fire and water Turn over a new leaf Throw ones weight about Kick down the ladder Be wet behind the ears Be like square pegs in round holes Jump out of ones skin (to be scared out

8、of ones wits),翻译磨刀石（历史故事和寓言英译）,画龙点睛 三顾茅庐 掩耳盗铃 杀鸡儆猴,Add the touch that brings a work of art to life Repeatedly request somebody to take up a responsible post Plug ones ears while stealing a bell (to deceive oneself) Kill the chicken to frighten the monkey (punish someone as a warning to others),杞人忧天

9、groundless worry 绕梁三日 (of a song) so excellent as to let the audience feel it lingering for a long time 塞翁失马 a loss may turn out to be a blessing 闻鸡起舞 diligent and self-disciplined 煮豆燃萁 to do harm to ones own brothers or sisters,初生牛犊不怕虎 a newborn calf isnt afraid of the tiger; a youngster is a dared

10、evil. 吃一堑，长一智 a fall in pit, a gain in wit; Wisdom comes by suffering; the burnt child dreads fire; experience teaches 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 dont judge a man by his appearance and dont 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. 祸兮福

11、所依，福兮祸所伏 fortune or misfortune may lead to the opposite.,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

12、。,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

13、、特别谨慎，几乎有点过分。,见异思迁,change ones mind upon seeing something new; be inconsistent in inclination,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,调

14、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,脍炙人口,sliced and roast meat is pleasant to everybodys 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

15、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

16、 that he does not study well; be incompetent due to ones 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; unde

17、rstand 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 ones life security; regardless of ones 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

18、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

19、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 ones 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

20、使用的意思是因感到自己不如别人而非常惭愧。,百步穿杨,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 targ

21、et.,班女之才,(of a female) as capable as Ban Zhao; talented 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。 Note: Historic records have it that Ban N, whose name is Ban Zhao, the younger sister of Ban Biao, a historian famous for his monu

22、mental 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 emperors concubines.,伯乐相马,Bo Le is very capable of discove

23、ring 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 fosteri

24、ng talents.,东施效颦,An ugly girl follows the suit of the pretty lady Xishi by knitting her eyebrows; imitate awkwardly,董狐直笔,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)

25、 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 Duns distant brother Zhao Chuan took armed forces to attack the duke and killed him in a peach garden

26、. 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 Duns overwhelming power that might threaten his life. The allusion is later used to refer to speaking frankly.,负荆请罪,To make apology by carrying a twig of th

27、e 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 positi

28、on higher than Lian Pos 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 Zha

29、o. 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 Xiangrus mansion to make apology by carrying a twig and asking Ling Xiangru to beat him for his wrong doings.,风声鹤唳,To take the moan of

30、wind and the cry of cranes for enemys 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 Qins generals and soldiers took the moan of wi

31、nd and the cry of cranes for enemys shouting, and grass and trees for enemys chasing forces. This allusion is now used to refer to peoples 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

32、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 a

33、ll the way back home. The allusion is now used to ridicule those who imitate blindly.,惊弓之鸟,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

34、 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

35、 Leis 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

36、 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 Men

37、cius moved their home three times; moving ones home for the desired environment for the education of ones 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

38、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。 N 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 th

39、e earth began to separate, the four corners of the sky were fragmentary. Then N Wa, Fu Xis 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

40、such heroic deeds as salvation of the nation or pulling the people through crisis or natural disasters.,杞人忧天,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 St

41、ate 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

42、，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

43、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,The frontiersman loses his horse; a loss may turn out to be a blessing Note: Legend has it that a frontie

44、rsman 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

45、 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,To get out of bed to exercise ones

46、elf 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

47、 to him that cocks crowing in the middle night wasnt 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

48、 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

49、 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,A meal in give, a thousand taels of gold in return; to cherish others kindness at heart and repay it Note: Historic records have

50、 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

51、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 lad

52、y 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 C

53、hen 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

54、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

55、时也用之指才思敏捷。,To boil beans by burning beanstalks; to do harm to ones 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 Zhis talent. Then he often tried to find excuse to kill Cao Zhi. Once Cao

56、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

57、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 ones brother or any other blood relative.,不看僧面看佛面,dont blame the monk for the Buddha sake; dont blame the inferior or the young for the sake of his super

58、ior or the old; forgive one person for anothers 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,dont listen to your old people and you will suffer very soon; taking the advice for the old generat

59、ion 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 dont commit any sin, you will not be afraid of the devil knocking at your door; an upright man isnt 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