English Idioms VS Chinese IdiomsEnglish Idioms VS Chinese Idioms

He was in the seventh heaven last night.He was in the seventh heaven last night.Longman Dictionary of English Idioms: (not fLongman Dictionary of English Idioms: (not f

ormal) in a state of great happiness or conteormal) in a state of great happiness or contentmentntment

在宗教中，七重天是指上帝和天使居住的在宗教中，七重天是指上帝和天使居住的天国最高层。人能身居天国最高层，与上天国最高层。人能身居天国最高层，与上帝同在，自然是非常愉快的。帝同在，自然是非常愉快的。

The children are in the seventh heaven with tThe children are in the seventh heaven with their new toys.heir new toys.

English Idioms EC TranslationEnglish Idioms EC Translation

Six of one and half a dozen of the otherSix of one and half a dozen of the other

Burn the boat 破釜沉舟Castle in the air 空中楼阁

A bolt from the blue 晴天霹雳Hang by a hair 千钧一发Kill two birds with one stone

• Literal Translation

Literal Translation (Free Translation)Literal Translation (Free Translation)

Talk through one’s hatTo be as poor as JobNeither fish nor fowlCall a spade a spadeHave an axe to grind

胡言乱语家徒四壁不伦不类直言不讳别有用心

Wrong UnderstandingWrong Understanding

Pull one’s legPull one’s leg

Move heaven an earthMove heaven an earth

Eat one’s wordEat one’s word

Dog-eat-dogDog-eat-dog

愚弄某人，开某人玩笑

想方设法，千方百计

承认自己说错了话

残酷争夺

Chinese Idioms CE TranslationChinese Idioms CE Translation

Both literal translation and free translation Both literal translation and free translation can help readers to understand the original can help readers to understand the original meaning easily.meaning easily.

竭泽而渔 竭泽而渔 to drain a pond to catch all the fishto drain a pond to catch all the fish

=kill the goose that lays the golden eggs=kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

打草惊蛇打草惊蛇To stir up the grass and alert the snake To stir up the grass and alert the snake

=wake up a sleep dog=wake up a sleep dog

玩火自焚玩火自焚To get burnt by the fire kindled by oneselfTo get burnt by the fire kindled by oneself

=fry in one’s own grease=fry in one’s own grease

挥土如金挥土如金to spend money like dirtto spend money like dirt

=spend money like water=spend money like water

守口如瓶守口如瓶to keep one’s mouth closed like a bottleto keep one’s mouth closed like a bottle

=keep a still tongue in one’s head=keep a still tongue in one’s head

画蛇添足画蛇添足to draw a snake and add feet to itto draw a snake and add feet to it

=paint the lily=paint the lily

Mechanical TranslationMechanical Translation无孔不入无孔不入to take advantage of every weaknessto take advantage of every weakness

to get into every holeto get into every hole

扬眉吐气扬眉吐气to feel proud and elatedto feel proud and elated

to raise the eyebrows and let out a breathto raise the eyebrows and let out a breath

灯红酒绿灯红酒绿dissipated and luxuriousdissipated and luxurious

with red lights and green winewith red lights and green wine

开门见山开门见山to come straight to the point to come straight to the point

to open the door and see the mountainto open the door and see the mountain

单枪匹马单枪匹马to be single-handed in doing sthto be single-handed in doing sth

with a solitary spear and a single horsewith a solitary spear and a single horse

海阔天空海阔天空to talk at randomto talk at random

with a vast sea and a boundless skywith a vast sea and a boundless sky

Culture BackgroundCulture Background

毛遂自荐毛遂自荐to volunteer one’s serviceto volunteer one’s service

东施效颦东施效颦crude imitation with ludicrous effectcrude imitation with ludicrous effect

南柯一梦南柯一梦a fond dream or illusory joya fond dream or illusory joy

初出茅庐初出茅庐at the beginning of one’s careerat the beginning of one’s career

倾国倾城倾国倾城to be exceedingly beautifulto be exceedingly beautiful

悬梁刺股悬梁刺股to be extremely hard-working in one’s studyto be extremely hard-working in one’s study

ConclusionConclusion

Literal TranslationLiteral Translation

By adopting this approach, we can preserve By adopting this approach, we can preserve in the version not only the original meaning in the version not only the original meaning and form, especially the original figure(s)of and form, especially the original figure(s)of speech and figurative meaning, but also the speech and figurative meaning, but also the national and local colors and features in the national and local colors and features in the original. It will benefit the culture communioriginal. It will benefit the culture communication.cation.

Liberal TranslationLiberal Translation If we cannot find the corresponding If we cannot find the corresponding

expressions in the Chinese language, so expressions in the Chinese language, so culture vacancies exist in the TL. If those culture vacancies exist in the TL. If those sentences were translated literally or sentences were translated literally or mechanically into Chinese, we Chinese mechanically into Chinese, we Chinese readers would find them difficult to readers would find them difficult to understand. The Chinese version would be understand. The Chinese version would be unreadable, puzzling, and misleading. unreadable, puzzling, and misleading.