英汉成语翻译
“这断子绝孙的阿Q!”(鲁迅) "AhQ,may you die sonless!"
3.对于具有较明显的民族和地方色彩,或附有一定的人名、地名的成 语,翻译时,通常不能拿来互相替换。 如:
To carry coals to Newcastle(运煤炭到纽斯卡尔去--多此一举), 不要译成:带着瓷器上浮梁。(浮梁是中国古时盛产瓷器的地方。 4.确切理解,不要望文生义
路遥知马力,事久见人心。
A long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a man's heart.
二、借用法
英汉语都拥有丰富的成语,有的在内容和形式上都相互符合: 有相同的意义/隐意,又有相同/相似的形象或比喻。 这时,可借译/ 用。 burn one's boats Walls have ears. go through fire and water Man proposes, God disposes. 破釜沉舟 隔墙有耳 赴汤蹈火 谋事在人,成事在天
毛遂自荐
初出茅庐
volunteer one’s service
at the start of one’s career
1.对同一习语的译法不是一成不变的,可根据上下文灵活处理。 2. 要注意保全原文的风格,如果成语是古语,就要翻得古雅些,如 果成语是口语,就要翻得生动、口语化一些。 如: 老子说:“民不畏死,奈何以死惧之。” Lao Tze said,"The people fear not death, why threaten them with it." 以其人之道,还治其人之身。 Do unto him as he does unto others. 己所不欲,勿施于人。 Do unto others as you would be done by.
口蜜腹剑,笑里藏刀 直译: His mouth is honey; his heart is a sword. 意译: with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart. 少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲 直译: If you neglect study when you are young, what may happen to your old age? 意译: Studying hard can lead you to a brighter promising future.
黄金时代 摊牌 揭开新的一页
He laughs best who laughs last
谁笑在最后,谁笑得最好。
a Judas kiss 犹大之吻,表示叛变、背叛 We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. 井干方知水可贵。
做一天和尚撞一天钟。 So long as I remain a bonze, I go on tolling the bell. 天下乌鸦一般黑,老狼都是吃肉的。 All crows are equally black, all wolves eat meat.
to have other fish to fry to rain cats and dogs
有别的事要做 下倾盆大雨
have a bee in one„s bonnet (有带子女士帽!)胡思乱想
hit the nail on the head
切中要害
叶公好龙
professed love of what one really fears
Every official is hand in glove with him. 当官的跟他穿一条裤子。
6.英汉互译时,为方便读者理解,可适当添词或减词 。如: Show off one's proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban,the master carpenter. 如不在译文中加上the master carpenter Lu Ban,恐怕大多数外国人都 不知Lu Ban是何许人。 有时也可以省译。 如: 山雨欲来风满楼。The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains. 只保留原文的主要比喻,省略了“山”,“楼 ”的字眼 四字成语往往含义重复,在修辞上优美匀称,但翻译时,只要译出其中 一组的意思即可。 如: 花言巧语 fine words 油嘴滑舌 glib tongue 长吁短叹 sighing deeply 精疲力竭 exhaustion,exhausted 发号施令 issue orders 土崩瓦解 fall apart
7.有时,英语原文没用成语,但译文却用四Байду номын сангаас成语。 如:
Over the past several weeks, she had grown increasingly restless. 过去几周,她越来越六神无主。
2013030902
张梅
关于英汉成语
这里所指的成语是广义的,包括谚语和习语。成语 一般具有言简意赅、趣味隽永的特点。准确熟练 地运用成语可以增强表达能力,表明个人掌握使 用语言的水平。 成语好比一面镜子,反映出一个民族的文化特点, 因此也是一种语言与别种语言差异最大,最难翻 译的部分。 现从几个方面说明英汉成语互译的特点。
to kill two birds with one stone crocodile tears 一石两鸟/一箭双雕
鳄鱼之泪/黄鼠狼给鸡拜年
声东击西
to shout in the east and strike in the west/to
look one way and row another
掌上明珠 对牛弹琴 a pearl in the palm/ the apple of one’s eye play a lute to the cow/ cast the pearls before swine
fish in troubled waters
pour cold water over / on
混水摸鱼
泼冷水 了如指掌
know something like the palm / back of one„s hand Constant dripping wears the stone pour oil on fire 火上浇油
5.分辨褒贬义,注意有褒贬两可的。 如: To be hand and (in) glove with 即可用于褒义,又可用于贬义。不能不加 区别,一概译成“亲密无间”。 比较: The two friends are hand in glove with each other. 这两位朋友亲如手足。 The traitors and the enemy were working hand in glove with each other. 卖国贼和敌人相互勾结。
又说早上给四个晚上给三个,猴子们就都高兴了。原比喻作诈欺骗,
后来比喻反复无常。
一、直译法:
直译不是一字对一字的死译,而是照字面翻译,不做太 多的引申和注释。在成语所包含的比喻和语言内涵被另一种 文化完全接受的情况下,可以直译。
Golden age To show one„s cards To turn over a new leaf
雷声大,雨点小 直译: The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls. 意译: Actions speak louder than words. 人不可貌相,海水不可斗量 直译: A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper. 意译: We can not judge a person by appearance only.
对于英国人来说,狗既用来看门打猎,也是人的伴 侣/宠物。英国人对狗一般有好感,常用来比喻人的生 活。
Dog tired 非常疲倦
跟某人走
To dog one„s steps Top dog Lucky dog
重要的人 幸运儿 像狗一样忠诚
As faithful as a dog
Love me, love my dog
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. 心有余而力不足。 to have an old head on young shoulders Birds of a feather flock together. 少年老成
物以类聚…
三、直译套译均可
鉴于有些成语有对应的,但有些人喜欢把意思直接译出来
他年轻时过着花天酒地的生活。
中国自古就是以农业大国,成语中有很大一部分农谚。如:斩 草除根;解甲归田;拔苗助长;顺藤摸瓜;瓜熟蒂落;桃李满天下。 英国是一个岛国,有很大一部分成语源于航海。 如:
“朝三暮四”出自《列子.黄帝》,有个养猴子的人拿橡子喂 猴子,告诉他们早上给三个橡实,晚上给四个,猴子都不高兴。他
四、意译法
在直译和借用汉语成语都不妥当时,为了确切表达原意,可根 据上下文进行意译: 一桶水摇不响,半桶水响叮当 直译:The full pot of water makes no sound,the half-empty pot of water is noisy. 意译:A little knowledge can be dangerous. 水落石出 直译: As the water level sinks,the stones are exposed. 意译: All secrets may eventually come to light. 烈火炼真金,患难见真情 直译: Fire is the test of gold,adversity is the test of friendship. 意译: Liquor brings out a person's true color.