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高中英语语法-中国习惯用语英语新译

发布时间:2016-02-29  编辑:查字典英语网小编

  中国习惯用语英语新译

    一桶水摇不响,半桶水响叮当

    有人照字面译成:The full pot of water makes no sound;the half-empty pot of water is noisy.

    老外听后,也许会感到困惑。

    他们有自己的说法:

    A little knowledge (or learning) can be (or is) dangerous.(一知半解很危险)

    或者说:Still water runs deep.(静水深不可测)

    也可以说:

    He who knows the most says the least.(懂得越多的人,反而说得越少。)

    至于大智若愚,通常可以这么说:

    A truly wise person does not show off his (her) ability.(真正聪明的人,是不会显要自己的能力)

    水落石出

    有人照字直译为:As the water level sinks,the stones are exposed.

    这样说,恐怕老外还是听不懂。他们的说法是:

    All secrets may eventually come to light. (所有祕密最后总会曝光。)

    也可以说:

    Eventually,every secret will be disclosed.

    这山望到那山高

    有人译成:The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.(意思是:墙那边的苹果最甜)

    当然,如要译成:

    If you stand on a mountain,you feel the distant mountain seems higher than yours. 老外也勉强能接受。

    而他们的最习惯说法是:

    The grass always looks greener on the other side.(另一边的草,看来总是绿些。)

    烈火炼真金,患难见真情

    有人译成:Fire is the test of gold;adversity is the test of friendship.

    这句译文,虽然很好,老外也能了解,但是他们还有另外的说法:

    Liquor brings out a persons true color.(烈酒能显示一个人真正的特色)

    或者说:Wine reveals a persons true heart.

    虽然老外不用烈火炼真金的比喻,但有路遥知马力的说法:

    By a long road,we know a horses strength;at times of difficulty,we discover a friends true character.

    雷声大,雨点小

    有人译为:

    The thunder roars loudly,but little rain falls. 或者说:All we hear is thunder,but no rain falls.

    虽然这样直译比较容易理解,但是老外的说法是这样的:

    Actions speak louder than words. (行动胜于言谈)

    或All we hear is words,but there is no action. (只动嘴不动手)

    或Actions and words should go hand in hand. (言行必须一致)

    另外,还有英语里还有这样的说法:

    An empty barrel makes biggest sound.(空洞的话说得太多了。)

    人不可貌相,海水不可斗量

    有人译为:

    A man can not be known by his look,nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper.

    这样的译法只是直译,如果能够稍加修改,老外就能了解:

    A man can not be judged by his appearance,nor can the water in the sea be measured by a bucket.

    不过,老外通常的说法是这样的:

    We can not judge a person by appearance only. 或 You can not judge a book by its cover.

    (意思是:一本书的好坏取决于它的内容,而不是它的封面装帧的漂亮与否。)

    口蜜腹剑,笑里藏刀

    有人译为 His mouth is honey;his heart is a sword.

    外国人听了会对这样的比喻摸不着头脑,如果要形容某人口蜜腹剑,笑里藏刀,我们可以说 with honey on ones lip and murder in ones heart,或者 honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.也可以更直接的译成He is an evil man who has a mouth that praises and a hand that kills.

    少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲

    有人译成 If you neglect study when you are young,what may happen to your old age?

    这句问句会把老外问得云里雾里,因为他们沒有学而优则仕的思想,也不认为功课差,将来就会伤悲。他们劝告子女经常说的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / more promising future. (努力用功会带给你光明的前程。)

    当然也可以对年轻人说:

    Study hard when you are young. It will pay off when you get older. (年轻时好好努力,到老的时就会觉得学有所值。)

    学如行舟,不进则退

    如果直译成:

    Learning is like rowing upstream;not to advance is to drop back.

    老外听后,也许会感到一头雾水。这样修改一下,表达可以清晰一些:

    Learning seems like rowing upstream(逆流);if one does not advance,one will fall back. Learning is like rowing against the current(激流),if one does not advance,one will retreat. 更直接的说法是:

    If you dont make progress,you will fall behind.

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