Translation of IdiomsTranslation of Idioms

Both the Chinese and the English Both the Chinese and the English languages are abundant in idioms languages are abundant in idioms and idiomatic phrases. The proper and idiomatic phrases. The proper use of them in the translation from use of them in the translation from Chinese into English can serve as the Chinese into English can serve as the critical touch (like dotting an eyeball critical touch (like dotting an eyeball in painting a dragon) and your in painting a dragon) and your version will be supplied with brevity.version will be supplied with brevity.

• 1. Literal Translation1. Literal Translation• Literal translation can help keeping coLiteral translation can help keeping co

mpletely the figure of speech, national cmpletely the figure of speech, national color and language style of the Chinese idolor and language style of the Chinese idioms.ioms.

• 浑水摸鱼浑水摸鱼• to fish in troubled waterto fish in troubled water• 火上加油火上加油• to pour oil on the flameto pour oil on the flame• 轻如鸿毛轻如鸿毛• as light as a featheras light as a feather

• •

• 以牙还牙以牙还牙

• a tooth for a tootha tooth for a tooth• 趁热打铁。趁热打铁。• Strike while the iron is hot.Strike while the iron is hot.• 欲速则不达。欲速则不达。• More haste, less speed.More haste, less speed.• 有志者事竟成。有志者事竟成。• Where there’s a will, there’s a way.Where there’s a will, there’s a way.• 星星之火，可以燎原。星星之火，可以燎原。• A single spark can start a prairie fire.A single spark can start a prairie fire.

•

• Translating with the synonymous EnglTranslating with the synonymous English idioms.ish idioms.

• 断断续续断断续续• off and onoff and on• 针锋相对针锋相对• to give tit for tatto give tit for tat• 乱七八糟乱七八糟• at sixes and sevensat sixes and sevens• 大发雷霆大发雷霆• to blow one’s topto blow one’s top

• 掌上明珠掌上明珠• the apple of one’s eyethe apple of one’s eye• 锦囊妙计锦囊妙计• ace in the hole; wise counselace in the hole; wise counsel• 小题大做。小题大做。• Make much ado about nothing.Make much ado about nothing.• 无风不起浪。无风不起浪。• No smoke without fire.No smoke without fire.• 塞翁失马，焉知非福。塞翁失马，焉知非福。• Nothing so bad, as not to be good for aNothing so bad, as not to be good for a

nything.nything.

• Chinese has a lot of vivid and imagery iChinese has a lot of vivid and imagery idioms. When translating those idioms litdioms. When translating those idioms literally, we can try to contain the figure of erally, we can try to contain the figure of speech while transferring the original mspeech while transferring the original meaning.eaning.

• 外强中干外强中干• outwardly strong but inwardly weakoutwardly strong but inwardly weak• 易如反掌易如反掌• to be as easy as turning one’s handto be as easy as turning one’s hand• 挥金如土挥金如土• to spend money like dirt to spend money like dirt

• 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• 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。• As long as green hills remains, there’ll nAs long as green hills remains, there’ll n

ever be a shortage of firewood.ever be a shortage of firewood.• 初生牛犊不怕虎。初生牛犊不怕虎。• New-born calves make little of tigers.New-born calves make little of tigers.• 瞎子点灯白费蜡瞎子点灯白费蜡• as useless as blind man lighting a candleas useless as blind man lighting a candle•

• 2. Liberal Translation2. Liberal Translation• Liberal translation of Chinese idioms Liberal translation of Chinese idioms

means transferring the essential implicameans transferring the essential implication and making explanation.tion and making explanation.

• 开门见山开门见山• to come to the pointto come to the point• 扬眉吐气扬眉吐气• to feel proud and elatedto feel proud and elated•

• 单枪匹马单枪匹马• to be single-handed in doing sth.to be single-handed in doing sth.• 嗟来之食嗟来之食• food handed out in contemptfood handed out in contempt• 不到黄河心不死不到黄河心不死• not stop until one reaches one’s goalnot stop until one reaches one’s goal

• 3. Literal Translation with Liberal 3. Literal Translation with Liberal • TranslationTranslation• 风餐露宿风餐露宿• braving the wind and dewbraving the wind and dew• 贼眉鼠眼贼眉鼠眼• to behave stealthily like a thiefto behave stealthily like a thief• 狼吞虎咽狼吞虎咽• to wolf sth. downto wolf sth. down• 跃跃欲试跃跃欲试• eager to have a tryeager to have a try

• 4. Translation of Excerpts4. Translation of Excerpts• 毕恭毕敬毕恭毕敬• reverentlyreverently• 不屈不挠不屈不挠• unswervingunswerving• 长吁短叹长吁短叹• to sigh deeplyto sigh deeply• 天长地久天长地久• eternal like skieseternal like skies•

• 自给自足自给自足• self-sufficientself-sufficient• 经久耐用经久耐用• durabledurable• 小葱拌豆腐，一清二白。小葱拌豆腐，一清二白。• very clearlyvery clearly• 一寸光阴一寸金。一寸光阴一寸金。• Time is gold.Time is gold.

• 5. Amplification5. Amplification• Amplifying the implication after translAmplifying the implication after transl

ating the outward meaning.ating the outward meaning.• 木已成舟。木已成舟。• The wood is already made into a boatThe wood is already made into a boat

—what’s done is done.—what’s done is done.• 井水不犯河水。井水不犯河水。• Well water and river water leave each Well water and river water leave each

other alone—stay out of thing that doother alone—stay out of thing that don’t concern you.n’t concern you.

• Amplifying some words that don’t apAmplifying some words that don’t appear in the original text.pear in the original text.

• 惊弓之鸟惊弓之鸟• a bird startled by the mere twang of a a bird startled by the mere twang of a

bow-stringbow-string• 螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后。螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后。• The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware

of the oriole lurking behind itself.of the oriole lurking behind itself.

• 6. Literal Translation with Notes6. Literal Translation with Notes• 司马昭之心，路人皆知。司马昭之心，路人皆知。• This Sima Zhao trick is obvious to everThis Sima Zhao trick is obvious to ever

y man in the street.y man in the street.• — —Sima Zhao was a prime minister of Sima Zhao was a prime minister of

Wei (220—265) who nursed a secret ambWei (220—265) who nursed a secret ambition to usurp the throne. The Emperor oition to usurp the throne. The Emperor or Wei once remarked: “Sima Zhao’s inr Wei once remarked: “Sima Zhao’s intention is obvious to every man in the strtention is obvious to every man in the street.”eet.”

• 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮。三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮。• Three cobblers with their wits combineThree cobblers with their wits combine

d would equal Zhuge Liang the master d would equal Zhuge Liang the master mind.mind.

• 7. Evasion of Vulgarities7. Evasion of Vulgarities• 鲁大海： （忍不住，立起）你死就死了，鲁大海： （忍不住，立起）你死就死了，你算老几？你算老几？

• 鲁 贵： （吓醒了一点）妈的，这孩子！鲁 贵： （吓醒了一点）妈的，这孩子！• HAI: (rising, unable to contain himself HAI: (rising, unable to contain himself

any longer) Get on with it and die, then! any longer) Get on with it and die, then! Who do you think you are, any way?Who do you think you are, any way?

• LU: (brought back to earth with a jolt) LU: (brought back to earth with a jolt) Well, I’ m damned!Well, I’ m damned!

• 我要去就是王八蛋！我要去就是王八蛋！• I’ll be damned if I’ll go!I’ll be damned if I’ll go!• 他妈的，雨真大！他妈的，雨真大！• Blast it! What a heavy rain!Blast it! What a heavy rain!• 真该死，我没赶上末班车！真该死，我没赶上末班车！• Oh, hell. I’ve missed the last train.Oh, hell. I’ve missed the last train.• 你可以滚蛋了！你可以滚蛋了！• You can go to the devil!You can go to the devil!

练习与对比 （五）练习与对比 （五）• 1. 1. 一燕不成夏。一燕不成夏。• 2. 2. 君子之交淡如水。君子之交淡如水。• 3. 3. 玩火者必自焚。玩火者必自焚。• 4. 4. 谋事在人，成事在天。谋事在人，成事在天。• 5. 5. 杀鸡给猴看。杀鸡给猴看。• 6. 6. 天涯何处无芳草。天涯何处无芳草。• 7. 7. 胸有成竹胸有成竹• 8. 8. 旧瓶装新酒旧瓶装新酒• 9. 9. 调虎离山调虎离山• 10. 10. 直言不讳直言不讳

Reference Translation for Exercise No 5 Reference Translation for Exercise No 5 • 1. One swallow does not make a summer.1. One swallow does not make a summer.• 2. A hedge between keeps friendship green.2. A hedge between keeps friendship green.• 3. He who plays with fire gets burned.3. He who plays with fire gets burned.• 4. Man proposes, God disposes.4. Man proposes, God disposes.• 5. Beat the dog before the lion.5. Beat the dog before the lion.• 6. There are plenty of fish in the sea.6. There are plenty of fish in the sea.• 7. to have a well-thought-out plan before doing 7. to have a well-thought-out plan before doing

sth.sth.• 8. new wine in old bottles8. new wine in old bottles• 9. to lure the tiger from the mountain9. to lure the tiger from the mountain• 10.to call a spade a spade10.to call a spade a spade