中國習慣用語英語新譯法

水落石出

有人照字直譯爲:As thewater level sinks, the stones are exposed.

這樣說,恐怕老外還是聽不懂.他們的說法是:

All secrets may eventually come tolight. (所有祕密最後總會曝光.)

也可以說:

Eventually, every secret will bedisclosed.


烈火煉真金,患難見真情

有人譯成:Fire is the test of gold;adversity is the test of friendship.

這句譯文,雖然很好,老外也能瞭解,但是他們還有另外的說法:

Liquor brings out a person's truecolor.(烈酒能顯示一個人真正的特色)

或者說:

Wine reveals a person's true heart.

雖然老外不用"烈火煉真金"的比喻,但有"路遙知馬力"的說法:

By a long road, we know a horse'sstrength;at times of difficulty, we discover a friend's true character.

有人譯爲:

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

雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解,但是老外的說法是這樣的:

Actions speak louder than words. (行動勝於言談)

或Allwe hear is words, but there is no action. (只動嘴不動手)

或Actionsand words should go hand in hand. (言行必須一致)

另外,還有英語裏還有這樣的說法:

An empty barrel makes biggest sound.(空洞的話說得太多了.)

有人譯爲:

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

這樣的譯法只是直譯,如果能夠稍加修改,老外就能瞭解:

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

不過,老外通常的說法是這樣的:

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

(意思是:一本書的好壞取決於它的內容,而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否.)

有人譯成 If you neglect study when you are young, what may happento your old age?

這句問句會把老外問得雲裏霧裏,因爲他們沒有"學而優則仕"的思想,也不認爲功課差,將來就會傷悲.他們勸告子女經常說的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / morepromising future. (努力用功會帶給你光明的前程.)

當然也可以對年輕人說:

Study hard when you are young. It willpay off when you get older. (年輕時好好努力,到老的時就會覺得學有所值.)

有這樣的譯法:

He who teaches me for one day is my father for life.

If you are my teacher for even one day,you will be my teacher (mentor) all my life.

He who teaches me may be considered myfather-figure for life.

這幾種譯法意思都是"老師即使對我只有一天的教誨,也會讓我一生都受用不盡."外國人也有他們表達師生關係的諺語,如:

Teach others to fish and they will fishfor a lifetime. (授人以魚,不如授人以漁)

Give a man fish, he will have a meal;teach him to fish, he will have food all his life.

有人直譯爲:

One who stays near vermilion getsstained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black. (vermilion 是硃砂或鮮紅色的意思)

也有人譯成:

When you touch black, you become black;when you touch red, you become red.

這種說法,恐怕老外一時無法理解真正含意.不過他們倒有這麼說:

One takes the behavior of one'scompany. (一個人的行爲,往往受到朋友的影響。) 或

One takes on the attributes of one'sassociates. (attributes 複數時是指品質、特性;associates 指朋友、同事)

簡單的說,就是:

Watch the company you keep! (小心交朋友!)

或者也可以說成:

As he who lies with dogs will ride withfleas, how could your son learn anything good by mixing with those people? (你兒子跟那些人混在一起,能學出個好來?)