第三章　词语翻译（三）

第三章　词语翻译（三） • 习语的翻译策略 • 四字格的翻译策略

习语的翻译策略 • 一.直译直译能够比较完整地保留原习语的比喻形象、民族色彩和语言风格，但必须以不引起读者误解和不违背译文表达习惯为前提。例如：（1）处理人民内部的矛盾，必须坚持和风细雨的方法，坚持“团结-批评-团结”的方法。 It is essential to persist in using methods as mild as a drizzle and as gentle as a breeze, and to adhere to the formula of “unity-criticism-unity”, in dealing with contradictions among the people. （2）所以这李纨虽青春丧偶，且处于膏粱锦绣之中，竟如“槁木死灰”一般，一概不问…… So this young widow living in the lap of luxury was no better off than withered wood or cold ashes, taking no interest in theoutside world… （3）他一家子在这儿，他的房子、地在这儿，他跑？跑了和尚跑不了庙。 Escape? But his home and property can’t escape. The monk may runaway, but the temple can’t run with him. （4）咳！这一来，竹篮子打水一场空了！ Ah! We are drawing water in a bamboo basket.

二.意译 当直译有困难或勉强译出而英语读者无法理解式，一般应采用意译法。这主要是翻译时抓住内容和喻义，牺牲形象、结合上下文比较灵活地转达原意。（5）她怕碰一鼻子灰，话到了嘴边，她又把它吞了下去。 She was afraid of being snubbed, so she swallowed the words that came to her lips. （6）她好久不来信了，一家子盼了星星盼月亮。 For many months no letter came from her.Till her whole family worried over her day and night. （7）我要是有个三长两短，你给玉山捎个话！ If anything should happen to me, let Yushan know! （8）你不能戴着木头眼镜，只看一寸远。 The trouble with you is you cannot see an inch beyond your nose.

三.节译 在汉语习语中，常有并列的对偶结构，用两个不同的喻体表达相同的喻意。对此类汉语习语通常可采用节译法，即省去并列重复的部分，保留它的基本喻意。（9）冷淡的阳光照着他们的愁眉苦脸和长发白眼。 The cold, pale sunlight fell on their gloomy faces, long hair and lustreless eyes. （10）最可恶的是行里的同仁背后骂我是个老糊涂，瞎了眼，叫一个不学无术的三等货来做我的襄理。 What is most detestable is that all my colleagues in the bank call me a blind old fool behind my back because I have engaged an uneducated thirdrater as my assistant. （11）忽闻有人在牡丹亭畔，长吁短叹。 Suddenly he heared a rustle in the peony pavilion and someone sighing deeply. （12）“这断子绝孙的阿Q！” 远远地听得小尼姑的带哭的声音。 “AH Q, may you die sonless!” sounded the little nun’s voice tearfully in the distance.

四.直译和意译兼用 在采用直译以保留原文比喻形象的同时，又兼用意译，又是略作适当补充，使译文能更加清晰地传达原文含义。（13）我说二三百两银子，你就说二三十两！戴着斗笠亲嘴，差着一帽子！ When I say two or three hundred taels, you say twenty or thirty! It’s like kissing in straw helmets ---- the lips are far apart! （14）她一个单身人，无亲无故…… But this girl was all by herself and far from home, without a single relative or friend to help her. （15）王冕一路风餐露宿，九十里大站，七十里小站，一径来到山东济南府地方。 Braving the wind and dew, Wang Mian travelled day after day past large posting stations and small, till he came to the city of Jinan.

五.借用英语中的同义习语 英语里有一些习语和汉语的一些习语采用相同或相似的形象或比喻，表达相同或相似的喻意，可以借用英语同义习语来翻译。（16）如今便赶着躲了，料也躲不及，少不得要使各“金蝉脱壳”的法子…… Well, it’s too late to hide now. I must try to avoid suspicion by throwing them off the scent… （17）只有大胆地破釜沉舟地跟他们拼，也许还有翻身的那一天！ All you can do is to burn your boats and fight them in the hope that one day you’ll come out on top. （18）我没想到他对同志们的批评竟充耳不闻。 I didn’t expect him to turn a deaf ear to the comrades’ criticism.

天长地久 as old as the hills 胆小如鼠 as timid as a hare 泰然自若 as cool as a cucumber 水中捞月 to fish in the air 苦如黄连 as bitter as wormwood 鸡皮疙瘩 goose-flesh 轻如鸿毛 as light as a feather 旁观者清 The onlooker sees most of the game. 艳如桃李 as red as rose

狐假虎威 ass in the lion’s skin 物以类聚 Birds of a feather flock together. 非驴非马 Neither fish, nor flesh, nor fowl. 如释重负 to take a load off one’s mind 挥金如土 to spend money like water 弱不禁风 as weak as water 瞬息之间 in the twinkle of an eye 泪如泉涌 a stream of tears 瓮中之鳖 a rat in a hole

扬眉吐气 to hold one’s head high 一针见血 to touch one on the raw 不翼而飞 to take wings to itself 小题大做 to make mountains out of molehills 格格不入 a square peg in a round hole 山穷水尽 at the end of one’s rope 冷若冰霜 as cold as marble 半斤八两 six of one and half a dozen of the other 胸有成竹 to have a card up one’s sleeve

孤注一掷 to put all one’s eggs in one basket 纸上谈兵 armchair strategy 白费唇舌 to speak to the wind 同行相嫉 Two of a trade can never agree. 一文不名 without a penny to one’s name

质地优良 to be exvellent in quality 品种齐全 in complete range of articles 款式繁多 with various patterns 选料考究 choice material 做工精细 fine wormanship 色泽鲜明 bright-coloured 零售价格 retail price 批发价格 wholesale price 货到付款 payment against arrival

翻译以下各句，注意划线的习语的译法： 1. 咱们不能黑影里点灯，只看脚下。 2. 那么，什么时候解决战斗？还是老牛拉破车，慢慢吞吞的吗？ 3. 他咯咯地笑着说：“这叫画饼充饥!” 4。“人勤地不懒”，这话真不假。 5。失败乃成功之母。 6。最重要的是，她不是小姐堆里娇生惯养出来的人。 7。人怕出名猪怕壮。 8。薛蟠也来上学，不过是三日打鱼，两日晒网。 9。送君千里，终有一别。 10。东风压倒西风。 11。夫妻无隔夜之仇。 12。打蛇先打头，擒贼先擒王。 13。她觉得丈夫这句话说的对，真是一阵见血，点头附和道…… 14。木已成舟，也只好如此了。 15。青黄不接的季节……

第三章 词语翻译（三）