第五章习语翻译ppt.PPT

Translation of Idioms Both the Chinese and the English languages are abundant in idioms and idiomatic phrases. The proper use of them in the translation from Chinese into English can serve as the critical touch (like dotting an eyeball in painting a dragon) and your version will be supplied with brevity. 1. Literal Translation Literal translation can help keeping completely the figure of speech, national color and language style of the Chinese idioms. 浑水摸鱼 to fish in troubled water 火上加油 to pour oil on the flame 轻如鸿毛 as light as a feather 以牙还牙 a tooth for a tooth 趁热打铁。 Strike while the iron is hot. 欲速则不达。 More haste, less speed. 有志者事竟成。 Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 星星之火，可以燎原。 A single spark can start a prairie fire. Translating with the synonymous English idioms. 断断续续 off and on 针锋相对 to give tit for tat 乱七八糟 at sixes and sevens 大发雷霆 to blow one’s top 掌上明珠 the apple of one’s eye 锦囊妙计 ace in the hole; wise counsel 小题大做。 Make much ado about nothing. 无风不起浪。 No smoke without fire. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 Nothing so bad, as not to be good for anything. Chinese has a lot of vivid and imagery idioms. When translating those idioms literally, we can try to contain the figure of speech while transferring the original meaning. 外强中干 outwardly strong but inwardly weak 易如反掌 to be as easy as turning one’s hand 挥金如土 to spend money like dirt 守口如瓶 to keep one’s mouth closed like a bottle 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。 As long as green hills remains, there’ll never be a shortage of firewood. 初生牛犊不怕虎。 New-born calves make little of tigers. 瞎子点灯白费蜡 as useless as blind man lighting a candle 2. Liberal Translation Liberal translation of Chinese idioms means transferring the essential implication and making explanation. 开门见山 to come to the point 扬眉吐气 to feel proud and elated 单枪匹马 to be single-handed in doing sth. 嗟来之食 food handed