成语和四字格的英译笔记.doc

成语、四字格的翻译英汉成语的相似性按照汉语成语和英语成语的语法功能和结构成分来分析，汉语成语可以分成动词性、名词性、形容词性和副词性成语等四大类。英语成语也包括这四大类。Eg: 弃恶从善（动词性） turn over a new leaf （动词性） 兴高采烈（形容词性） （as）jolly as a sand boy （形容词性） 千方百计（副词性） tooth and nail （副词性）直译法 如履薄冰 be on thin ice 临阵磨枪 sharpen ones spear only before going into battle置若罔闻 turn a dead ear to 得寸进尺，得陇望蜀 give him an inch and he will take an ell谋事在人成事在天 man proposes, God disposes以德报怨return good for evil浑水摸鱼 fish in troubled waters水滴石穿Constant dropping wears the stone.意译法开门见山 to come straight to the point (死译：to open the door and see the mountain)油嘴滑舌 mealy-mouthed (死译：with a slipped mouth and tongue)望子成龙 to expect ones son to become an outstanding personage 不测风云 Something unexpected may happen any time 开门见山 come straight to the point藕断丝连 have not cut off relations completelyDont cross the bridge till you get to it.不必担心过早。Dont count your chickens before they are hatched.不可过早乐观。Every cloud has a silver lining.天下没有绝对的坏事。把几千年的封建地主的特权，打得落花流水。 译为：As a result，the privileges，which the feudal landlords have enjoyed for thousands of years, are being shattered to pieces“打得落花流水”意即打得粉碎，打得一败涂地，语言很形象，如直译为：“,are being shattered like flowers and floating waters.”译文读者可能看不懂，因此采用意译法。套译法 （1）两个成语的字面意义和蕴涵意义基本一致。 破釜沉舟 to burn ones boats2）两个成语的比喻形象有所差异，但比喻意义基本一致。 “朝三暮四”翻译为blow hot and cold加注法省略法汉语成语有些是对偶词组,前后两对含义相同,修辞上优美匀称,尤其是在四字结构的成语中,多呈现“同义反复”的现象。这种现象在崇尚简洁的英语中是最忌讳的。为了避免“同义反复”,翻译这类成语时,译者准确地译出其形象的含义就可以了。愁眉苦脸gloomy faces 五光十色multicolored 字斟句酌weigh every word无影无踪without a trace成语翻译时应注意的几个问题 一、 不可望文生译二、 要注意保持成语的民族和地方特色三个臭皮匠，合成一个诸葛亮(顶个诸葛亮）。Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang the mastermind.The combined wits of three blinds equal that of Huge Liang, one of the masterminds.two heads are better than one “一人不如两人智”情人眼里出西施 Beauty lies in lovers eyes三、 具有褒、贬含义的成语的翻译“物以类聚，人与群分” birds of a feather flock together （前者看起来并无贬意，但一般只用于消极意义）To be hand and glove with1.The two friends are hand and glove with each other.“情同手足”（褒）2.The two traitors and the enemy were working hand and glove with each other.“相互勾结”（贬） 四字词组的汉译英几种翻译四字词组的常用方法。一、将原文的四字词组译成英语的一个词这些词主要是名词、形容词、副词、动词。一部分汉语四字词组译为英语时只需用一个英语单词替换就足以表达它的意思。例如：这是走向繁荣昌盛的唯一道路。This is the only road leading to prosperity.虽然我们前面的道路崎岖不平Although the road before us is rough.使我国五亿多农民实行社会主义改造这样一种惊天动地的事业，不可能是在一种风平浪静的情况下出现的Its impossible to carry in an atmosphere of tranquility such an earth-shaking task as getting some 500 million peasants to undertaking socialist transformation.他马马虎虎地看了看那张便条就走了。 He carelessly glanced through the note and got away.二、 将四字词组译成短语，如介词短语、副词短语、不定式短语这种方法往往是套用英语中最简单的词组或句型。如广告中常用的典雅大方elegant and graceful，轻柔松软 soft and light。某位领导的讲话要求外交人员“立场坚定、目光远大、头脑敏捷、业务熟练、才华出众、风格高尚”，“A Chinese diplomat should be firm in stand, broad in vision, swift in wit, qualified in profession, outstanding in talent, noble in character.” 原文的六个四字词组在译文里换作六个 “adj.+ in +n.” 结构的短语，同样对称整齐，简明扼要，与原文相比，形式不同，功能却相似。因此用这个结构来翻译四字词组达到了异曲同工的效果，既保留了原文的风格，又使译文自然贴切，具有可读性。三、套用英语中意思相同及功能对等的习语 她读莎士比亚的作品给他们听，那简直是 对牛弹琴。 She read them Shakespeare, but it was casting pearls before swine. 得知本国发生了强烈地震，总统一直心乱如麻。 The president, being told of the strong earthquake in his country, was on tenterhooks every minute.TRANSLATION APPRECIATION1.It is too late to grieve when the chance is past.坐失良机，后悔已迟。 2.Its never too late to learn.活到老，学到老。3.Joy at its height engenders sorrow.乐极生悲。4.Justice has long arms.天网恢恢，疏而不漏。 5.Keep something for a rainy day.未雨绸缪。6.Let sleeping dogs lie.勿惹麻烦。7.Let things slide.顺其自然。 8.Lies have short legs.谎言是站不住脚的。1. 山中无老虎，猴子称大王。Among the blind the one-eyed man is king.2. 上梁不正下梁歪。Fish begins to stink at the head. / If the upper beam is crooked, the lower one is out of plumb.3. 仁者见仁，智者见智。Everyone thinks in his way.4.生米煮成熟饭了。Whats done cannot be undone.5. 人怕出名猪怕壮。Fame portends trouble for men just as fattening does for pigs.6.少小不努力，老大徒伤悲。A man who neglects his studies in youth will regret it in later years. / A young idler, an old beggar. / To idle away the time in youth will leave sorrow in old age.7. 胜者为王，败者为寇。Losers are always in the wrong.8. 人人都有弱点。Every man has his weak side.9. 少说话，多观察。Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.10. 什么人交什么朋友。A man is known by his friends.11. 石沉大海，杳无音讯。Like a stone dropped into the sea, it has produced no reaction.12. 杀鸡取卵；竭泽而渔。Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.13. 打的主意 have an eye on14. 明白事理 know whats what15. 成为泡影 end in smoke1. 天长地久2. 胆小如鼠3. 泰然自若4. 水中捞月5. 苦如黄连1. as old as the hills2. as timid as a hare3. as cool as a cucumber4. to fish in the air5. as bitter as wormwood6. 鸡皮疙瘩7. 狐假虎威8. 物以类聚9. 如释重负10. 挥金如土6. goose-flesh7. ass in the lions skin8. Birds of a feather flock together.9. to take a load off ones mind10. to spend money like water11. 泪如泉涌12. 翁中捉鳖13. 扬眉吐气14. 一针见血15. 孤注一掷11. a stream of tears12. a rat in a hole13. to hold ones head high14. to touch one on the raw15. to put all ones eggs in one basket16. 纸上谈兵17. 白费唇舌18. 一文不名19. 体无完肤20. 鸦雀无声16. armchair strategy17. to speak to the wind18. without a penny to ones name19. tear apart to scold someone20. were completely still / a stone silence21. 一箭双雕22. 装模作样23. 铁石心肠24. 易如反掌25. 半途而废21. kill two birds with one stone / bear all at once22. put on all the air23. a heart of stone24. as easy as turning the palm25. give up halfway26. 甘拜下风27. 提心吊胆28. 千辛万苦29. 水落石出30. 粗枝大叶26. take a back seat27. remain on pins and needles28. be through hell and high water29. the truth would have been out30. to be crude and careless31. 扬眉吐气32. 无孔不入33. 大张旗鼓 34. 风雨飘摇35. 趁热打铁31. to feel proud and elated32. to take advantage of every weakne