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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