雅思口语:中文俗语用英文怎么说
1. 人山人海:有人直译为:People mountain people sea.
这就是「中国英文」,老外很难理解。他们指「人多」时,通常只说:「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:「There is a long movie line.」
不过在诗词用语 里,老外也有使用:「a sea of faces」,颇有咱们「人山人海」的味道。例如:
Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.
Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.
可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有「人海」的感觉。因此,可以说:I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不说:「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说:「There is a sea of faces.」只说:「I saw a large crowd of people.」
2. 家家有本难念的经:有人译成:Every family cooking - pot has a black spot.
这样说法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是:
Many families have skeletons in the closet.
或者说:
Every family has its own source of shame.
说白些,就是:
Every family has its own problem.
3. 天下无不散的宴席:有人直译为:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
老外听后,也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法,也许更易理解:
All good things come to an end.
假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:
Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart.
4. 平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚:有人照字直译为:When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.
这种说法,老外也会「一知半解」。美语里一般说法是:
Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity.
对学生也可以说:
If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming.
5. 挂羊头,卖狗肉:有人照字直译为:He advertises mutton, but sells dogs flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheeps head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.
这两种译法,恐怕老外都难理解,尤其谈到「狗肉」,他们更会「反感」,因为狗是他们最爱的宠物,不过老外倒有相近的说法:
He applied bait-and-switch tactics in business.
This store uses bait and switch policy.
或者简单的说:
Let the buyer be aware! ; 或 Say one thing and do another.
6. 一言既出,驷马难追:有人译成:One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.
这两种说法,中文味道嫌重,老外未必理解。不过他们倒有类似的说法:
A word once let go cannot be recalled.
或者说:
You can not take back what you have said.
7. 祸从口出,言多必失:有人译为:The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.
老外听了,恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成:
Careless talk leads to trouble. ; 或 The less said the better.
甚至也可以说:
Shut the mouth and open the eyes.