中國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)英譯

中國(guó)習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)英譯一桶水搖不響，半桶水響叮當(dāng)有人照字面譯成：Thefullpotofwatermakesnosound;thehalf-emptypotofwaterisnoisy.老外聽(tīng)后，也許會(huì)感到困惑。他們有自己的說(shuō)法：Alittleknowledge(orlearning)canbe(oris)dangerous.（一知半解很危險(xiǎn)）或者說(shuō)：Stillwaterrunsdeep.（靜水深不可測(cè)）也可以說(shuō)：Hewhoknowsthemostsaystheleast.（懂得越多的人，反而說(shuō)得越少。）至于“大智若愚”，通?？梢赃@么說(shuō)：Atrulywisepersondoesnotshowoffhis(her)ability.（真正聰明的人，是不會(huì)顯要自己的能力）水落石出有人照字直譯為：Asthewaterlevelsinks,thestonesareexposed.這樣說(shuō)，恐怕老外還是聽(tīng)不懂。他們的說(shuō)法是：Allsecretsmayeventuallycometolight.(所有祕(mì)密最后總會(huì)曝光。)也可以說(shuō)：Eventually,everysecretwillbedisclosed.這山望到那山高有人譯成：Theapplesontheothersideofthewallarethesweetest.（意思是：墻那邊的蘋(píng)果最甜）當(dāng)然，如要譯成：Ifyoustandonamountain,youfeelthedistantmountainseemshigherthanyours.老外也勉強(qiáng)能接受。而他們的最習(xí)慣說(shuō)法是：Thegrassalwayslooksgreenerontheotherside.（另一邊的草，看來(lái)總是綠些。）烈火煉真金，患難見(jiàn)真情有人譯成：Fireisthetestofgold；adversityisthetestoffriendship.這句譯文，雖然很好，老外也能了解，但是他們還有另外的說(shuō)法：Liquorbringsoutaperson'struecolor.（烈酒能顯示一個(gè)人真正的特色）或者說(shuō)：Winerevealsaperson'strueheart.雖然老外不用“烈火煉真金”的比喻，但有“路遙知馬力”的說(shuō)法：Byalongroad,weknowahorse'sstrength；attimesofdifficulty,wediscoverafriend'struecharacter.雷聲大，雨點(diǎn)小有人譯為：Thethunderroarsloudly,butlittlerainfalls.或者說(shuō)：Allwehearisthunder,butnorainfalls.雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解，但是老外的說(shuō)法是這樣的：Actionsspeaklouderthanwords.(行動(dòng)勝于言談)或Allweheariswords,butthereisnoaction.（只動(dòng)嘴不動(dòng)手）或Actionsandwordsshouldgohandinhand.(言行必須一致)另外，還有英語(yǔ)里還有這樣的說(shuō)法：Anemptybarrelmakesbiggestsound.（空洞的話說(shuō)得太多了。）人不可貌相，海水不可斗量有人譯為：Amancannotbeknownbyhislook,norcantheoceanbemeasuredbyadipper.這樣的譯法只是直譯，如果能夠稍加修改，老外就能了解：Amancannotbejudgedbyhisappearance,norcanthewaterintheseabemeasuredbyabucket.不過(guò)，老外通常的說(shuō)法是這樣的：Wecannotjudgeapersonbyappearanceonly.或Youcannotjudgeabookbyitscover.(意思是：一本書(shū)的好壞取決于它的內(nèi)容，而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否。)口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀有人譯為Hismouthishoney;hisheartisasword.外國(guó)人聽(tīng)了會(huì)對(duì)這樣的比喻摸不著頭腦，如果要形容某人“口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀”，我們可以說(shuō)withhoneyonone'slipandmurderinone'sheart,或者h(yuǎn)oney-mouthedbutdagger-hearted.也可以更直接的譯成Heisanevilmanwhohasamouththatpraisesandahandthatkills.少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲有人譯成Ifyouneglectstudywhenyouareyoung,whatmayhappentoyouroldage?這句問(wèn)句會(huì)把老外問(wèn)得云里霧里，因?yàn)樗麄儧](méi)有“學(xué)而優(yōu)則仕”的思想，也不認(rèn)為功課差，將來(lái)就會(huì)傷悲。他們勸告子女經(jīng)常說(shuō)的是Studying/workinghardcanleadyoutoabrighter/morepromisingfuture.(努力用功會(huì)帶給你光明的前程。)當(dāng)然也可以對(duì)年輕人說(shuō)：Studyhardwhenyouareyoung.Itwillpayoffwhenyougetolder.(年輕時(shí)好好努力，到老的時(shí)就會(huì)覺(jué)得學(xué)有所值。)學(xué)如行舟，不進(jìn)則退如果直譯成：Learningislikerowingupstream;nottoadvanceistodropback.老外聽(tīng)后，也許會(huì)感到一頭霧水。這樣修改一下，表達(dá)可以清晰一些：Learningseemslikerowingupstream(逆流);ifonedoesnotadvance,onewillfallback.Learningislikerowingagainstthecurrent(激流),ifonedoesnotadvance,onewillretreat.更直接的說(shuō)法是：Ifyoudon'tmakeprogress,youwillfallbehind.一日為師，終身為父有這樣的譯法：Hewhoteachesmeforonedayismyfatherforlife.Ifyouaremyteacherforevenoneday,youwillbemyteacher(mentor)allmylife.Hewhoteachesmemaybeconsideredmyfather-figureforlife.這幾種譯法意思都是“老師即使對(duì)我只有一天的教誨，也會(huì)讓我一生都受用不盡。”外國(guó)人也有他們表達(dá)師生關(guān)系的諺語(yǔ)，如：Teachotherstofishandtheywillfishforalifetime.(授人以魚(yú)，不如授人以漁)Giveamanfish,hewillhaveameal;teachhimtofish,hewillhavefoodallhislife.忠言逆耳，良藥苦口有人譯成Faithfulwordsarecontrarytotheears;goodmedicinetastesbittertothemouth.也有人反譯為：Bitterwordsaremedicine;sweetwordsbringillness.Goodadviceoftenjarsontheears;bitterpillshavegoodeffects.這些說(shuō)法，老外也會(huì)“一知半解”，不如直接一點(diǎn)說(shuō)成：Honestadvicemaybedistastefultotherecipient.Honestadviceishardtoaccept.Truthisahardpilltoswallow.更簡(jiǎn)單的說(shuō)就是：Truthhurts.近墨者黑，近朱者赤有人直譯為：onewhostaysnearvermiliongetsstainedred,andonewhostaysnearinkgetsstainedblack.(vermilion是朱砂或鮮紅色的意思)也有人譯成：Whenyoutouchblack,youbecomeblack;whenyoutouchred,youbecomered.這種說(shuō)法，恐怕老外一時(shí)無(wú)法理解真正含意。不過(guò)他們倒有這么說(shuō)：Onetakesthebehaviorofone'scompany.(一個(gè)人的行為，往往受到朋友的影響。)或Onetakesontheattributesofone'sassociates.(attributes復(fù)數(shù)時(shí)是指品