守株待兔
直译：to watch the stump and wait for a hare 意译：to wait for gains without pains (wait for windfalls) 这样他采取守株待兔的态度，还是当他的乡董。 Accordingly, having adopted this attitude of “watching the stump and waiting for a hare”, he continued with his councillorship.
如坐针毡
直译： 直译：to feel as if sitting on a cushion filled with needles 意译： 意译：to feel terribly uneasy 套译： 套译：on pins and needles 且说林冲在柴大官人东庄上，听得这话，如坐针毡。 且说林冲在柴大官人东庄上，听得这话，如坐针毡。 Lin Chong, however, was in the east village of the Lord Chai and when he heard all the talk of him, it was as though he sat on a cushion filled with needles.
1 可以直译的成语
中国文学和政论作品中大量使用了 一些非常形象的比喻成语。其比喻的本 体和喻体有着很强的关联性。其中一些 与英语的说法没有很大的文化差异和障 碍。这类成语可以字面直译。
引狼入室
直译：to bring the wolves into the house/fold (羊圈) 意译：to invite disasters “……是些什么人呢？干这引狼入室的勾当！” “…… “…Whoever they are, they are letting the wolf into the fold!”
打草惊蛇
套译：to wake a sleeping dog 意译：act rashly and alert the enemy 不要动声色，不要打草惊蛇，我们不妨看看他 们如何活动。 Don’t say anything about it; we mustn’t wake a sleeping dog, why not keep an eye on what they engage in?
部分成语带着特定的中国文化背景， 部分成语带着特定的中国文化背景，字面上含 有中国古代的人名、地名， 有中国古代的人名、地名，有的出于寓言或历 史的典故。这些成语，如加解释， 史的典故。这些成语，如加解释，就失去了成 语精粹的特点，所以一般绕开文化背景， 语精粹的特点，所以一般绕开文化背景，译出 其真正的内涵意义。 其真正的内涵意义。 历史故事类成语： 历史故事类成语： 完璧归赵；程门立雪；三顾茅庐；纸上谈兵； 完璧归赵；程门立雪；三顾茅庐；纸上谈兵； 南柯一梦； 南柯一梦；洛阳纸贵 寓言故事类： 寓言故事类： 拔苗助长；狐假虎威；亡羊补牢；坐井观天； 拔苗助长；狐假虎威；亡羊补牢；坐井观天； 叶公好龙；精卫填海； 叶公好龙；精卫填海；盲人摸象
2 可以套译的成语
涸泽而渔 套译：to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 直译：to drain the pond to catch all the fish 只为工业积累，农业本身积累得太少或者没有积 累，涸泽而渔，对于工业发展反而不利。 If agriculture accumulated only for industry and very little or none for itself, that would mean “draining the pond to get all the fish” and would only harm the development of indu掩耳盗铃 杀鸡儆猴 Add the touch that brings a work of art to life Repeatedly request somebody to take up a responsible post Plug one’s ears while stealing a bell (to deceive oneself) Kill the chicken to frighten the monkey (punish someone as a warning to others)
Bury the hatchet
成 语 翻 译 和 成 语 故 事
休战和好
They had been enemies for ages, but after a fight they buried the 他们敌对多年，但一场搏斗后却和解了。 他们敌对多年，但一场搏斗后却和解了。 hatchet.
这类成语一般用意译或者套译
毛遂自荐 叶公好龙 南柯一梦 四面楚歌 锱铢必较 罄竹难书 初出茅庐 倾国倾城 悬梁刺股 意译 To volunteer one’s services Professed love of what one really fears A fond dream or illusory joy To be besieged on all sides To haggle over every penny (of crimes) too numerous to be recorded At the beginning of one’s career (inexperienced) To be exceedingly beautiful (gorgeous) To be extremely hard-working in one’s study
翻译磨刀石（套译）
顺水行舟 非驴非马 日暮途穷 本末倒置
Sail with the wind Neither fish, flesh nor fowl At the end of one’s rope Put the cart before the horse
3、不能直译的成语
我们强调直译是成语英译的第一 选择，但并非所有成语都可按照字面翻 译，如“眉飞色舞”译成“eyebrows 眉飞色舞” 眉飞色舞 are flying and countenance is dancing”，势必贻笑大方，应该根据实 际意义翻译成to beam with joy (enraptured).
套译
小题大做 赴汤蹈火 洗心革面 横行霸道 过河拆桥 乳臭未干 格格不入 魂不附体
Make a mountain out of a molehill Go through fire and water Turn over a new leaf Throw one’s weight about Kick down the ladder Be wet behind the ears Be like square pegs in round holes Jump out of one’s skin (to be scared out of one’s wits)
调虎离山
直译：to lure the tiger out of the hills 意译：to lure the enemy from his base “……我中了他的调虎离山计啦！” “…I’ve fallen for his luring the tiger out of the hills scheme!”
More examples…
粗枝大叶 无孔不入 扬眉吐气 纸醉金迷 开门见山 单枪匹马 风雨飘摇 To be crude and careless (sloppy) to be all-pervasive/seize any opportunity To feel proud and elated/ hold one’s head high A life of luxury and dissipation To come straight to the point To be single-handed in doing something To be in unstable / turbulent times
一、汉语成语英译
成语是我们日常生活中非常重要的语言要素。 汉语成语结构稳定，绝大部分以四字格形式出 现，在翻译中是不可忽视的问题。 哪些汉语成语可以根据其字面意义翻译？哪些 只能翻译比喻意义？这完全取决于成语的字面 形式和比喻形象能否为译文读者理解和接受。 例如“胸有成竹”：
Have a bamboo in one’s stomach To have a well-thought-out plan before doing sth. To have a card up one’s sleeve
成语的英译（1）
Give a lick and a promise
成 语 翻 译 和 敷衍搪塞
Give someone the runaround
成 语 故 事
You didn’t wash your hands; you just gave 你根本没有洗手，只不过敷衍了事。 them a lick and a promise.
Backstairs influence
成 语 翻 译 和 成 语 故 事
暗中势力，幕后人物；秘密影响
He met the congressmen in secret to 他秘密会见了议员，暗中对议员施加了影响。 他秘密会见了议员，暗中对议员施加了影响。 exert backstairs influence.
其他例子：
挥金如土 To throw money about like dirt To spend money like water 掌上明珠 A pearl in the palm The apple of one’s eye The beloved daughter 骨瘦如柴 To be as thin as sticks/a lath To be a bag of bones To be skin and bones 雪中送炭 To send charcoal in snowy weather To help a lame dog over a stile(横栏 横栏) 横栏 Provide timely help