Unit 9 translation of Chinese idioms

1、Unit NineTranslation of Chinese IdiomsI.The translation of Chinese set phrases我們看一條漢語成語翻譯的實(shí)例：我們看一條漢語成語翻譯的實(shí)例：黛玉道：黛玉道：“跌了燈值錢呢，還是跌了人值錢？你又不跌了燈值錢呢，還是跌了人值錢？你又不穿慣木屐子。那燈籠叫他們前頭點(diǎn)著；這個(gè)又輕巧又穿慣木屐子。那燈籠叫他們前頭點(diǎn)著；這個(gè)又輕巧又亮，原是雨里自己拿著的。你自己手里拿著這個(gè)，豈亮，原是雨里自己拿著的。你自己手里拿著這個(gè)，豈不好？明兒再送來。不好？明兒再送來。-就失了手也有限的，怎么忽然就失了手也有限的，怎么忽然又變出這又變出這剖腹

2、藏珠剖腹藏珠的脾氣來！的脾氣來！” “Which is more valuable, lamp or man? Youre not used to wearing pattens, so get them to carry the horn lantern in front and take this one yourself, since its handy and bright and meant to be used in the rain. Wouldnt that be better? You can send it back later. And even if you drop

3、it, it wont matter. Whats come over you suddenly that you want to cut open your stomach to hide a pearl?” (translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang)Group 1:1）涸澤而漁）涸澤而漁to drain a pond to catch all the fish (=kill the goose that lays the golden eggs)2）打草驚蛇）打草驚蛇to stir up the grass and alert the snake

4、 (=wake a sleeping dog)3）易如反掌）易如反掌to be as easy as turning over ones hand (=as easy as falling off a log)4）玩火自焚）玩火自焚to get burnt by the fire kindle by oneself (=fry in ones own grease)5）揮金如土）揮金如土to spend money like dirt (=spend money like water)6）掌上明珠）掌上明珠a pearl in the palm (=the apple of ones eye)

5、7）對牛彈琴）對牛彈琴to play the lute to a cow (=cast pearls before swine 豬豬)8）守口如瓶）守口如瓶to keep ones mouth closed like a bottle (=keep a still tongue in ones head)9）雪中送炭）雪中送炭to send charcoal in snowy weather (=help a lame dog over a stile （階梯）（階梯）)10）畫蛇添足）畫蛇添足to draw a snake and add feet to it (=paint the lil

6、y)Group 2:1）聲東擊西）聲東擊西to shout in the east and strike in the west2）刻骨銘心）刻骨銘心to be engraved on ones heart and bones3）井底之蛙）井底之蛙to be like a frog at the bottom of a well4）調(diào)虎離山）調(diào)虎離山to lure the tiger from the mountain5）口蜜腹劍）口蜜腹劍to be honey-mouthed and dagger-heartedGroup 3:1）勞苦功高）勞苦功高to have spent toilsom

7、e labour and won distinctive merits2）屢教不改）屢教不改to fail to mend ones ways after repeated admonition3）牢不可破）牢不可破to be so strongly built as to be indestructible4）攻其不備）攻其不備to strike sb. when he is unprepared5）史無前例）史無前例to be without precedent in historyGroup 4:1）粗枝大葉）粗枝大葉 to be crude and careless（死譯：（死譯：wi

8、th big branches and large leaves）2）無孔不入）無孔不入 to take advantage of every weakness（死譯：（死譯：to get into every hole）3）揚(yáng)眉吐氣）揚(yáng)眉吐氣 to feel proud and elated to raise the eyebrows and let out a breath 4）燈紅酒綠）燈紅酒綠 dissipated and luxurious（ with red lights and green wine）5）紙醉金迷）紙醉金迷 (a life of) luxury and dissi

9、pation（with drunken paper and bewitched gold）6）開門見山）開門見山 to come straight to the point （死譯：（死譯：to open the door and see the mountain）7）單槍匹馬）單槍匹馬 to be single-handed in doing sth. （死譯：（死譯：with a solitary spear and a single horse）8）大張旗鼓）大張旗鼓 on a large and spectacular scale （死譯：（死譯：to make a great arr

10、ay of flags and drums）9）海闊天空）海闊天空 (to talk) at random （死譯：（死譯：with a vast sea and a boundless sky）10）風(fēng)雨飄搖）風(fēng)雨飄搖 (of a situation) being unstable （死譯：（死譯：The wind and rain are rocking）Group 5:1）毛遂自薦）毛遂自薦to volunteer ones service2）葉公好龍）葉公好龍professed love of what one really fears3）東施效顰）東施效顰crude imitatio

11、n with ludicrous effect4）南柯一夢）南柯一夢a fond dream or illusory joy5）四面楚歌）四面楚歌to be besieged on all side6）罄竹難書（）罄竹難書（of crimes）too numerous to mention7）初出茅廬）初出茅廬at the beginning of ones career8）傾國傾城）傾國傾城to be exceedingly beautiful9）懸梁刺股）懸梁刺股to be extremely hard-working in ones study Group 6:1）小題大做）小題大做ma

12、ke a mountain (out) of a molehill2）赴湯蹈火）赴湯蹈火go through fire and water3）洗心革面）洗心革面turn over a new leaf4）七顛八倒）七顛八倒at sixes and sevens5）橫行霸道）橫行霸道throw ones weight about6）大發(fā)雷霆）大發(fā)雷霆blow ones top7）過河拆橋）過河拆橋kick down the ladder8）乳臭未干）乳臭未干be wet behind the ears9）格格不入）格格不入be like square pegs樁樁 in round holes1

13、0）魂不附體）魂不附體jump out ones skinGroup 7:左右為難左右為難 between the devil and the blue sea進(jìn)退維谷進(jìn)退維谷 stick in the mud騎虎難下騎虎難下 between the horns of a dilemma不上不下不上不下 at a nonplus迷惑迷惑進(jìn)退兩難進(jìn)退兩難 hold a wolf by the ears無所適從無所適從 with ones back to the wallII. Translation of ProverbsGroup 1:1）明槍易躲，暗箭難防。）明槍易躲，暗箭難防。It is

14、easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from hiding.2）城門失火，殃及池魚。）城門失火，殃及池魚。A fire on the city wall brings disaster to the fish in the moat護(hù)城河護(hù)城河.3）路遙知馬力，日久見人心。）路遙知馬力，日久見人心。As a long road tests a horses strength, so a long task proves a persons heart.4）初生牛犢不怕虎。）初生牛犢

15、不怕虎。New-born calves make little of tigers. Group 2:1）失之東隅，收之桑榆。）失之東隅，收之桑榆。What one loses on the swings秋千秋千 one gets back on the roundabouts. （ “l(fā)ose where the sun rises and gain where the sun sets”)2）塞翁失馬，焉知非福？）塞翁失馬，焉知非福？A loss may turn out to be a gain. (“When the old man on the frontier lost his m

16、are, who could have guessed it was a blessing in disguise?”）3）慶父不死，魯難未已。）慶父不死，魯難未已。There will always be trouble until the trouble-maker is removed. (“Until Qing Fu is done away with, the crisis in the state of Lu will not be over”.4）此地?zé)o銀三百兩。）此地?zé)o銀三百兩。A guilty person gives himself away by conspicuousl

17、y protesting his innocence. ( “No 300 taels of silver buried here.”） Group 3:1）一次被火燒，二次避火苗。）一次被火燒，二次避火苗。A burnt child dreads the fire. （直譯（直譯: A burnt man always evades fire.）2）半瓶醋，出事故。）半瓶醋，出事故。A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. （直譯：（直譯：A little learning gives rise to accidents.）3）少見多怪。）少見多怪。W

18、onder is the daughter of ignorance. （直譯：（直譯：Seeing little is the cause of amazement.）4）三思而后行。）三思而后行。Look before you leap. （直譯：（直譯：Think thrice and then do it.）III. Customary UsageGroup 1:1）連根拔）連根拔 tear up by the roots2）走后門）走后門 get in by the back door3）捋虎須）捋虎須 stroke a tigers whiskers4）走下坡路）走下坡路 go d

19、ownhill5）一窩蜂）一窩蜂 like a swarm of bees6）及時(shí)雨）及時(shí)雨 timely rain7）九牛二虎之力）九牛二虎之力 the strength of nine bulls and two tigers8）病急亂投醫(yī)）病急亂投醫(yī) turn to any doctor one can find when critically illGroup 2: 1）卷鋪蓋）卷鋪蓋 pack up and quit2）飽眼福）飽眼福 feast ones eyes on sth.3）單打一）單打一 concentrate on one thing only4）咬耳朵）咬耳朵 whi

20、sper in sbs ear5）扇陰風(fēng)，點(diǎn)鬼火）扇陰風(fēng)，點(diǎn)鬼火 fan the winds of evil and spread the fires of turmoilGroup 3: 1）門外漢）門外漢 a man outside the gate（改譯成（改譯成 the uninitiated或或 a layman）2）小廣播）小廣播 a small broadcast station（改譯成（改譯成 spreading of hearsay傳聞的傳聞的 information 或套譯或套譯 bush telegraph）3）風(fēng)涼話）風(fēng)涼話 cold words（改譯成（改譯成 irr

21、esponsible and sarcastic remarks）4）扣帽子）扣帽子 put a cap on sb.（改譯成（改譯成 put a label on sb.）5）尋短見）尋短見 look for a short view（改譯成（改譯成 commit suicide或或take ones own life）Group 4:1）賠了夫人又折兵）賠了夫人又折兵 give ones enemy a wife and lose ones soldiers as well（改譯（改譯:suffer a double loss instead of making a gain）2）跑了和尚

22、跑不了廟）跑了和尚跑不了廟 The monk may run away, but the temple cant run with him. （改譯（改譯:A fugitive逃亡者逃亡者 must belong to some place that can provide clues .）3）不到黃河心不死）不到黃河心不死 not stop until one reaches the Yellow River（改譯（改譯:not stop until one reaches ones goal）4）說曹操曹操就到）說曹操曹操就到 mention Cao Cao and there he is

23、 (改譯改譯:talk of the devil and he will appear )Group 5:1）殺風(fēng)景）殺風(fēng)景 be a wet blanket2）拍馬屁）拍馬屁 lick sbs boots3）放空炮）放空炮 spout hot air / talk big4）繞圈子）繞圈子 beat around the bush5）擺架子）擺架子 put on airs6）露馬腳）露馬腳 let the cat out of the bag7）戴高帽子）戴高帽子 lay it on thickGroup 6:1）開綠燈）開綠燈 give the green light2）潑冷水）潑冷水 p

24、our cold water on3）唱反調(diào)）唱反調(diào) sing a different tune4）挖空心思）挖空心思 rack ones brains5）試金石）試金石 touchstoneIV. Translation of enigmatic folk similes1）那個(gè)寶玉是個(gè)）那個(gè)寶玉是個(gè)丈八的燈臺(tái)丈八的燈臺(tái)照見人家，照照見人家，照不見自己不見自己的的 As for Baoyu, hes like a ten-foot lampstand that sheds light on others but none on itself. 2）“咱們倆的事，一條繩拴著兩螞蚱，誰也跑不咱們

25、倆的事，一條繩拴著兩螞蚱，誰也跑不了！了！” “Were like two grasshoppers tied to one cord: neither can get away!”3) 啞巴吃黃連，有苦說不出。啞巴吃黃連，有苦說不出。He was like the dumb man eating the bitter herb: he had to suffer the bitterness of it in silence. 4) 肉包子打狗，一去不回頭肉包子打狗，一去不回頭.A dog given a bone who doesnt come back for more!5) 他心里像有十五個(gè)