很地道的成语翻译

丹尼尔

中华文化博大精深，成语俗语都是智慧结晶，但翻译成英文如果表达不当，却容易引起误解。所以，一起来学学常见中文成语的英译很有必要!

　　01
# {8 d  W$ y9 d
　　爱屋及乌
, W+ g9 o# i( N
　　Love me, love my dog.
  f2 j, e$ x: s- p  D0 d# S8 c# R
　　02
# S- K: D. ~" B. t( r% ?
　　百闻不如一见
- f7 X, T( c4 c# \+ I! ^9 r: {
　　One look is worth a thousand words.

8 z7 ?2 }  A2 X/ T- O- l) z　　Seeing is believing.

7 J3 D% T% [" I1 [( w. o3 C　　03

　　比上不足，比下有余
# x* _! U. O) B2 I3 m0 l
　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
5 g) P9 W( p) k+ \, m
　　04
5 p# a" L/ E- [6 O; U" A
* T- w" B/ d4 |9 U/ u　　笨鸟先飞

, ]5 |) K# y5 I4 U' n" p" v　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
3 B! i! }+ e- G, }
/ }6 W9 Z: y4 {/ |9 @# ]  P# }　　05
0 s5 H9 N( _1 W2 t1 I
　　不遗余力
$ P1 U; j+ u4 t
& \6 z/ }: d2 n$ Q' |+ z" r( z　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
! t% R, ^+ U1 A" k- Y
' @$ b) @6 A* W( R　　06
/ G3 @, N8 h2 i, U  Y  a  m" H8 X
　　不打不成交

1 c3 U; E( R5 Y) |' [　　No discord, no concord.

$ b2 c% D( q0 z　　07
5 A5 `" d" `7 E1 |
& h# \0 j7 {% q7 q7 m1 x　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul

  A2 Y' N! x( |" b: B# }& M# m7 K: A  g　　08

　　辞旧迎新
/ H% V( h, D; v/ u: D
$ M2 N6 H8 ~0 q  Q　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
4 a. q" u7 J% Q4 k: Y
　　09
2 c" |0 l5 j9 c1 C, P
　　大事化小，小事化了

5 R$ d& d# h9 Z　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

　　10
+ x& Z, @. V# \& ]8 j" |- H
　　大开眼界
+ v( V7 E( ^8 S- O: y' C0 D% g
6 z( C/ T6 u) I% t　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

9 N" P; S& z: }6 @9 t0 b　　11
8 J) k+ d! V/ N
　　国泰民安
/ c2 Z- X/ ?: w+ G+ m
5 W& g: ?* |5 L　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
2 Q: |0 b# a( m2 S. p  C
　　12

　　过犹不及

2 s. Z# V6 v4 R4 h　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

: Y# g/ R: |( L: K  C　　too much is as bad as too little
; P  \9 T& H( ?+ ^1 q! l6 h9 {
　　13

* F' O! K5 q  m  H' S) f　　好了伤疤忘了疼
7 {6 N# M  i2 j( n% {" \% u
' h% b( U; c$ U+ E: M　　once on shore, one prays no more
8 B5 ]6 r  w# ~) W" z7 w6 D0 k
　　14
, {% S  v$ I* i) p" r+ c! p% Y
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

　　Bad news travels fast.
+ I  H+ x* I3 r+ g
, z  H3 z2 Z) A7 H% }　　15

' x0 B1 ]+ J7 i  T# n/ ?　　和气生财
" p/ v& t5 Y2 a' N9 k. N
　　harmony brings wealth;
1 _! {" V2 R/ R! n- h
! D$ ]+ }( n) T7 U. A# o6 o　　friendliness is conducive to business success
# G7 q9 x9 ]1 t3 g& |8 o6 o& J5 d
　　16
- l; a- C  @+ I! t
! A& w7 k$ n% [, ?7 o3 j* U2 A* c6 h　　活到老学到老

' K: N" V# Q3 o　　never too old to learn
3 t8 x+ b4 x; m; n/ O3 j, u
　　17
4 j. P( ~! J3 }( w. i2 X
3 J- M5 V8 i$ b4 U　　既往不咎
, J  b/ u6 t* c- Y1 t
# w6 J" [6 A: N* e8 L* W  u( L　　let bygones be bygones

6 w9 u1 M+ |3 K2 z# m　　18

+ `" I1 H9 y  N+ V5 |8 X　　金无足赤，人无完人
6 O) O* f2 h0 j/ X) c& C+ P& `: {+ y
　　There are spots even on the sun.
4 p- b" |3 e1 \  |/ @; O" y& \
9 k# e* b5 Q. V* r( W　　19
4 R8 r( w$ f: K, ^0 _9 w+ k3 b
　　金玉满堂

3 Z9 c" [& A' W( x/ `　　Treasures fill the home.
. t1 R; b' x" R& @0 f: z4 C5 Q; `4 Q
* K" }3 x+ [7 r# Y( e6 o　　20
9 ?3 O- x5 Y% L! A, H- z4 m6 c
　　脚踏实地
+ q) v* A, x  z1 @5 W; S5 {( h
. C% l% H5 ?7 ^3 ^# g6 ]　　be down-to-earth

　　21

　　脚踩两只船
/ j  f/ {/ w$ J4 m" M9 M8 o8 v
　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

　　22
& \6 `) }3 N0 |# i2 R* l
　　君子之交淡如水

) {4 _5 I+ c" [　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

6 A" @. N: r+ H2 _　　23

+ t% R- T( y* |+ Z$ O9 Z　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché

- c: B) F+ z. g1 d' [　　24
( M2 n5 o  J" w% d/ Y& d
1 k2 F2 p5 `+ v" J: h( x4 P7 v　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
# k) @" V' d% _" b% s
6 [2 |+ A% b, z0 S　　25

　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

$ r4 o% a% z8 Y1 p  }# D- ~　　Where there is life, there is hope.

　　26

, M8 g  Q) }5 T% u- I* Q　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
8 ^; r7 @- [0 c6 A# C% g% r
( \' ]6 q) R; A# X6 b5 k　　27
0 T. g  j6 C& }7 ?0 p2 N
+ q- w% ^$ p! Z! Q5 b　　名利双收

　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28

　　茅塞顿开
7 B3 ~, l1 E1 t+ s  h2 K& q; W
) x6 n$ a+ s/ T　　be suddenly enlightened
* n7 g3 g% Y3 N9 ]( g
　　29
, w7 [9 [% O' M& }+ M
　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

; \6 y8 g, Z: l* V1 F! S2 }7 U) `7 A　　30

+ h) T7 h9 ^5 ^  p0 Z8 U　　每逢佳节倍思亲
0 A/ _8 P4 y, r7 C' t
7 u* b- U! _' e　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
( K4 A* S& h' R
& j7 ?! O. h. V　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天
/ Y# R5 n) w8 K$ |" U" ?5 v
$ s* B2 w7 h+ d　　Man proposes; God disposes.
( e, u' c6 {- F" N. W. ~9 `" C) s* |
　　32
' D' c, i# [3 r3 w5 ^; b% M' t
　　弄巧成拙
" x. ^* R7 F' M
( K/ X) c) [# X" @　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
! S1 G! P- R/ i) m: U
- ]" O5 G4 ~$ J) P8 Y, V( g+ Y) z* S　　33
: w; u1 G- b- x( J( F  ]! q
　　赔了夫人又折兵
6 _4 }( ]8 V7 l5 A2 [
　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
* X7 l$ v  C3 D# {0 ]& @
* B# U* F% d9 ~2 e9 [　　34

　　抛砖引玉
: ^0 |. B6 \/ ?" Y0 o; h
* C& O8 E+ i5 ~  @　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
+ l/ @; Z2 r: c, c0 {
　　35

　　破釜沉舟
) I0 ]" d( A1 F: Y$ g( J
　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

( F1 k0 I. j# ?  X( ^! c6 U" Q7 V　　36
+ f. E# X3 a# H9 w
　　抢得先机

　　take the preemptive opportunities
; m/ z- B: [! ]
　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊
9 j( N; g* e6 x' A+ f
2 ~; h9 H2 c5 @% i3 R. D: J0 n( G　　One can't make bricks without straw.

2 ?& a9 N1 \8 b! W! I0 b　　38
5 K: K, h1 D+ t6 O6 Z- s! v9 R
　　千里之行始于足下

  I* O! E% j6 G0 t! ]( {" g　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师

; s$ d# E( n5 V3 Z3 m' C　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
9 D% I: h1 f* W
　　40

　　前怕狼，后怕虎

- \; ~% F, W4 p4 M* S/ K　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

: E& B. Q8 U) u4 d　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
/ W" ^- Q1 F9 P
' n$ b* r7 o( J. W5 P* M% D　　42
$ o1 e3 o* T7 u! ]' a% v, k% d4 A
+ N$ B' D0 |6 i  r$ Y+ G% o　　瑞雪兆丰年
% c" @5 l/ m  j
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
- @- l% r# W$ G' {
3 W  s! q8 G! D5 z- s% K　　43

　　人逢喜事精神爽

! |1 [2 k: y( t3 q! g( z* |2 P( N: E　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
$ {& c9 M$ M( W+ h5 ^
6 {3 `$ @; p' v. D! {1 s) y5 z　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
! i4 _& o/ F) T, m4 S
　　45
" n: O/ ~: h) N/ V
　　世外桃源

5 o9 G0 e8 b+ q" W3 c- ^　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
9 h2 m: I9 q1 W; [8 ^. ?  j/ Q
# q, H0 j# C3 e: v0 i　　46
! K1 K" s' a) l+ Y6 X( L* C0 e
　　人之初，性本善

　　Humans are born good.

　　47

　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
  K5 T( B5 K3 W( i% q
　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
: B- H& I1 P+ ~7 v" q2 ?+ d  b
　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
/ j3 o1 L4 [2 u. }& r' h! H
  z; }) v3 f! a. b+ k　　a blessing in disguise;

　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
5 c9 R+ }+ I# C: ^
3 k5 U, J: X% A7 q0 L+ h+ s) O6 B1 [　　49

7 Q3 F1 j, q. O) R! B$ Q4 e  C; l! n　　三十而立
3 v( o, g" v; U; O' y" Y
5 y) g: l' z; e0 p　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
) i/ d4 i& o' t1 m, |  P. _; b; P
. z9 R  f9 a* {7 {) M! c3 U　　50
) @& }/ B- B' j7 g, [! w. o/ c  V
, s9 ?; n) |" T( K" z) I4 t　　水涨船高

　　A ship rises with the tide

　　51
7 O! ]: e& u6 ]( g: ^9 z9 i) B8 G
4 W  n- s- n3 W  ~9 }7 T' R　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

1 W! b: L" ^' s! L　　52

　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

+ m$ f$ i$ V: A7 W$ r. y　　53

5 `+ J0 h! ?3 D& E　　实事求是
& g8 L+ E* c7 b3 Y, }6 V
　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
( t- T. k; ^' e: C# ?7 L, _
　　54

　　说曹操，曹操到

　　speak of the devil
1 h* u8 i$ ?* Q
! o# b$ [0 |1 z0 l　　55

　　实话实说
  P3 A# n9 ^" o: h! W# a# w& x, q$ V
2 ?  q) Y- c& r) {1 X1 V( S# Y3 ~　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

　　56

　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
% Q. M7 `8 L, W8 p) }8 A
( g. k9 h; i. m, @　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

　　糖衣炮弹

. L* S1 g- G/ A. L( H　　sugar-coated bullets59

' ]# x1 R  O* X; M0 Y& q0 Z$ E　　天有不测风云
- K* o' {! ]3 U
　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
+ i( S$ E7 `* c6 K0 I
　　团结就是力量

+ ^) @2 h  ~; K7 {9 g　　Unity is strength.

, `2 n+ m  p2 T4 g% S3 x　　61

, u7 q  m( c7 ^7 L1 v- _7 J5 a　　跳进黄河洗不清
2 |5 Y/ K7 [: u! F" b: H/ L
　　Even if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean - there's nothing one can do to clear one's name

. w) Q3 e, k1 _! l; g6 e( p　　62

  Z% w) \! {$ R9 ^　　歪风邪气
/ E5 E$ }% O, a3 D, m- C
) l$ r; [% [( C2 |. I& g* E. }' W7 B　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
  F" ]) K  H  B" k. r/ y' [8 D
8 x2 ~  O7 r4 w. @$ {; ]2 O" B  r　　63

　　物以类聚，人以群分
9 e0 M0 K' @; ^) E0 B
5 I; a, q. Y% u) [! q  V　　Birds of a feather flock together.

$ T( \- W8 {6 P" |　　64

　　望子成龙

　　hold high hopes for one's child
1 ~& R( h5 ]8 q' [
, Y8 Q6 R' F3 Y# r　　65
) n2 V" D( L, @
　　唯利是图

- j! J5 S* x) O: G& U4 d' i　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
) {0 y: E) W* r6 d& Q
& h6 Z' K) r, X) ^　　66

　　无中生有
. L7 g8 }+ I8 y: C2 R: a$ f# A: z& j
3 {3 u+ T% a9 }% m* Z: \& [　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

. B5 \* ~1 J0 w, v  t9 j7 R　　67
2 M5 z5 M/ b" E' y6 [) X/ c
　　无风不起浪

　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

8 \" A# u  }$ z　　68
+ j( M) Z% g( u- u9 V: S
　　徇私枉法
. Y& f5 ^# }/ V, j( L- j- ?  n
　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
. w. h) Y  R+ Z7 j7 {
0 ]/ q' l, A0 L( s6 K1 F3 K1 M( G/ F　　69
8 I9 O6 N6 m4 O
　　新官上任三把火
6 ~" |4 G2 _4 c8 z% B  j0 P
　　a new broom sweeps clean

& W0 J' E" G3 R9 q5 t8 c: Q. [　　70
" t. }3 A! `' w* \* T7 r$ K3 u" V: O! l
) x* m7 J# j: }5 \( a7 X　　蓄势待发
* }- A# p) u: ^/ u
, q+ p/ m; t7 D! ?　　accumulate strength for a take-off
& _$ I; w  v  H/ N6 i
　　71

　　心想事成
* r7 C. F) J1 ?& s
6 D+ g/ \7 g+ N　　May all your wish come true

3 o4 ]. J, V* R  j- E　　72
) E$ A5 ~  m: ~
　　心照不宣

7 F' k0 J5 j4 r  [. R　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

. q; O; i# M2 A! D% o6 i. g　　73
' u" v) X( R! ]7 Z1 H* V
* r( R& b' D3 X0 U8 R　　先入为主
1 X5 I& k1 A6 ~
　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

( x' _+ j* ~! b0 D　　74
, S# G& w% C+ O+ X0 R1 B7 `
　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

  n" w, Z0 v) m　　The best defense is offense.

　　75
6 Z! n; l$ T- G, v8 j
　　热锅上的蚂蚁

4 a- P& o8 d- g* {' V　　ants on a hot pan
2 ]4 U& f  U4 l- q% x
- O8 t' V# \- a! U: C0 f; {: X　　76
* o& |2 F) Z/ D, R( j' q
3 M$ S1 J( a8 O" B　　现身说法

6 o2 {2 o1 [) [: [; U4 j9 s! h5 F# W　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

　　77
2 n0 E, s' w# \9 I7 I6 t
　　息事宁人
! W+ k" |) w. u! ]6 x; {8 `
6 u  a3 u: f9 }/ z3 n　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

3 v* l( o# E  J, F. m/ C　　78

5 |2 f2 i$ y& i1 `3 R. |　　循序渐进
7 w! _% z$ t- n0 m5 _
: L3 |3 R' S; z+ ^4 u　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
8 S+ u9 F. q+ I- e# u) H
; X( Z, z1 q, a2 Z8 N　　79

　　严以律己，宽以待人
- j. K6 m3 V* s  u
4 f1 M0 X6 A8 F& c8 w" }) b　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
- u7 X. t) g5 U) Y8 N2 F+ X
　　80
  d0 {0 H* S  `4 k" v* B
8 Z* O6 j' q) [8 ?# _6 T　　有情人终成眷属

　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
% P- B6 A$ K4 z- w  Q
+ L" |/ J/ u  {  u2 o　　有钱能使鬼推磨
3 k$ N# e) p7 c9 u7 A2 z  x
- G$ }6 O6 i" @  ]( A　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
: t9 n: W8 ?/ |# L  ]% C& M
0 {1 r( K$ t: i7 I7 t, b. S4 u$ P　　有识之士
; r/ b" r5 }+ h: r+ H
$ G, f  ^' p3 C0 f3 q　　a man of insight83

8 ?+ W8 S) ?$ _/ S/ W/ o+ E　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会

　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
! |! T2 A( T, \& [& w
　　与时俱进

1 P5 q% U/ Q" S0 n* S　　keep pace with the times86

! a9 Q+ X* d( o, z! C　　以人为本

　　people-oriented

　　87
4 n: s4 w3 o4 B# t' V$ p# P
　　因材施教

) E- [3 }1 z7 W" J4 P. L+ d2 G1 W　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88

3 @4 }5 J& ]2 e# M+ a9 W  P　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
) u0 [$ m% Z& |1 G
  U7 M1 I' {7 f4 }$ a" A* M2 U( a　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
, f" m$ h: r" _9 L* Z2 C, I
　　89

$ b4 b5 t/ S  ~5 }$ R. ?　　欲速则不达

( o/ [- i* H! y. [' Z. K　　Haste makes waste.
) ?# j3 s8 z( r& m  P$ P$ h* c
' f6 [6 ^7 V6 ~% z$ T5 G. n% e1 `- D7 D　　More haste, less speed.
& @$ @! b" @+ D8 }5 [$ h/ f
/ |. B( e5 o# q　　90

　　优胜劣汰
. t, b, o1 P+ l: W8 ?/ A$ X
: [* \. V7 K: \  k+ Q( a　　survival of the fittest

3 K: E% V2 D' x- K1 h" P　　91
9 `' i8 u- V) `3 @
　　英雄所见略同
( X/ }, S# F5 h- r1 o/ ?, d2 D% z
　　Great minds think alike.

　　92
; E7 c, e9 p% h3 H2 V* b
　　冤家宜解不宜结

# p( M; r0 [) b( x. S9 @' P　　Better make friends than make enemies.

* E$ w* s# X1 h1 Y$ F3 J　　93
& o. \  h. G% X
　　冤假错案
& L1 A9 {) {& B! q8 d0 }" o
　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
/ `5 T0 {4 F- R7 k% j% w. n8 ^
- b9 @: q5 l: m　　94

　　一言既出，驷马难追
! M# r* H+ ?. P0 T) w, n  J9 C
　　A promise is a promise.

+ o% Z. i6 B* S6 H0 j% N# l　　A real man never goes back on his words.
( ?$ p6 _) X1 `- `; d0 W
　　95

　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure

) Z$ N9 U; [7 z  y- w5 g* _　　96

2 U8 I( }! R1 v& p　　债台高筑

0 v7 Z; R0 L$ f% ]0 W　　become debt-ridden

# g2 p! T  R2 G2 l& g: g, B" e/ `　　97
9 [6 g% m& u8 i
2 `; d) J" O5 u- m4 W' ]　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism

　　98

, d7 U' m, h( _　　纸上谈兵

! t9 j  Y3 M: {+ ]　　be an armchair strategist
9 @! T/ j5 U) r4 u; Z
9 i5 G3 i& M0 H/ z　　99

+ p  g# U7 ~; V( m0 j' E3 l# l0 S　　纸包不住火

　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
8 ?: K1 U5 d3 n, O: t* l
　　What's done by night appears by day.
! w9 E- X8 w# o( U' V8 f+ c, o
6 P. o+ L: p  }! m　　100
3 D5 A% \/ U& |' v
　　左右为难

3 X, t9 q/ P9 g) Q　　caught in a dilemma; between the devil and the deep blue sea

Justing

应根据前后语境翻译，同一成语可以有不同译法。