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!

8 x/ p/ G6 w) [　　01
7 `: n7 }* w* Z4 @
　　爱屋及乌
* ?0 r$ e$ ]3 a; p, J, @
　　Love me, love my dog.

3 c4 ]& D/ }. ?7 \0 G2 O3 n　　02
8 }# Y6 p# f% o9 S
　　百闻不如一见

　　One look is worth a thousand words.
, t; H7 [  x3 z+ [
　　Seeing is believing.
' W# j: e6 f( w# ?3 T% L
4 ?2 q( @3 W' N3 p6 p: M4 t" Y8 K　　03

2 F+ B5 |! ~. F　　比上不足，比下有余
# t2 _! r0 N" b5 g- K5 C  U
　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

, B4 V. [! j- b+ P1 ?$ _) |4 t　　04
" A& L3 E0 @% N" z. ]' V9 i6 _  a/ S
　　笨鸟先飞

　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

　　05

$ `& C4 c& r* o, T. m　　不遗余力

; {+ g, M7 u; B* X/ n　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
  `0 I# I1 \: b1 P, T7 J
　　06

　　不打不成交

& y" X, u! ]0 ~4 o- g0 w　　No discord, no concord.

$ M& I* X8 \% E) Y　　07

　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul

　　08
- X; e7 i8 e( S) R5 |
9 o2 L/ h6 N$ P0 R　　辞旧迎新
0 O4 c/ X; _& z+ D6 N
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

3 q# H* x+ ]( i1 I1 T+ i- Y, {% D　　09

　　大事化小，小事化了

　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

- u. s5 _2 }6 ?　　10
1 L2 A, x5 X" I% f, U1 k
　　大开眼界
) r5 o. ?3 C4 {2 m5 k: H- G* \" ~4 Z
　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
: h( _4 K* ]8 R( o# o/ R
　　11

　　国泰民安

　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
, A1 b$ x1 ~( A% f$ f$ R4 }
! I+ t9 r8 [6 |' J0 w# J4 G　　12

　　过犹不及
7 T, K! W+ U( |% a7 ~0 i8 U& S
　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

　　too much is as bad as too little
, c- A- E) g0 m
　　13
! ~8 Y$ U& Z  B
/ l' ?5 o# O1 f5 p7 Z  Q　　好了伤疤忘了疼

% v  S, W( I& v" j1 \* o" A　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14
' D' Y9 [2 n7 D! a& ^9 s* J
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

( z' z7 |: S: f9 u2 h# r　　Bad news travels fast.
5 H% U# h3 l$ r
　　15

　　和气生财
" [6 `  [- [8 W
9 w' V) ?. G+ M$ K　　harmony brings wealth;
: j, D+ ~( _1 E# p% X
　　friendliness is conducive to business success
$ J: p  t" \" ~
　　16
3 F3 o4 D% Y- x
1 s* Z0 L5 [, q9 L　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn

　　17
$ d0 {+ g7 G! ?1 P, X
　　既往不咎
' z' r' B) T6 N$ n0 ?9 H
　　let bygones be bygones

$ I# m, W- N' o: v# F" E6 y　　18
$ i( i! B# a7 H1 K9 U9 X- \* y/ N
$ E  _" N4 M% Q( G: j3 I1 b　　金无足赤，人无完人

　　There are spots even on the sun.
) Z0 P! t% o( S/ @4 J, f
9 b1 F8 l  B; m1 M　　19
" U! r" V( g; W
　　金玉满堂

* d: E: }0 G: c- r　　Treasures fill the home.
1 U4 ^8 v8 B" F" r+ V! W* C
　　20
/ z4 g2 o5 O/ I9 J
　　脚踏实地
" p6 Z% K% C' f
　　be down-to-earth
+ a: {6 S( [: V; P6 o- E
　　21

　　脚踩两只船

　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

1 A' E) G7 S( r　　22

　　君子之交淡如水

　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

　　23

7 m1 r* ]4 ], ]: t, S, |- \　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché

　　24

) Y  Y0 J9 u# d. j. e　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

) Q* j; ~& G: O/ O; v/ b3 s3 `　　25

$ {8 u: o6 n8 J6 @5 w- x+ ]) J% g& n　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
7 [) _. i& m3 B4 g4 r* r
　　Where there is life, there is hope.
; U% m% _4 O% L6 L. G: T5 Y( u
( G& `! h- V6 ]　　26
5 a5 L5 j. |( B7 y- A# v' c
　　马到成功
; @, I3 n2 ^% X
　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

　　27
: E; N1 K) ~5 l1 k" _( K$ I7 x
　　名利双收
" w  ^. A* [. k  Q( B4 F1 b) K; p: V
. Y9 s, G1 I. Q9 r+ w　　gain both fame and wealth
9 f, z' E9 c0 l
　　28
1 c8 O, W: X- K' c' V
　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened
& o, z& G4 D2 h' M, ^* F
　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

　　30

　　每逢佳节倍思亲
* z; C% r/ z+ S4 _( y, ?2 [  B5 o
: N  P# ^9 v& t* t& a( n- ]. C7 g　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
5 \" h( F' Z# T( U; {4 t
& Z- Q: o/ ]# I' D' w　　31
0 e/ p/ H4 o( @. v) H
　　谋事在人，成事在天
4 R* e' j# [) Q7 u
　　Man proposes; God disposes.

) v. b: H2 `6 S" N6 A/ ^8 N+ k- p　　32

- L+ L  \4 ?# p5 _( r$ I3 X　　弄巧成拙

0 I8 ?5 y9 z! L1 f　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

　　33
" h: a# R5 t5 w! t! `
　　赔了夫人又折兵

8 m& L' {) O* ?+ k. H9 b0 t　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

　　34

. H3 k( @% i5 ?4 r. i$ G' m: v　　抛砖引玉

% R3 F5 G& Y& A; n) P5 Y　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

　　35

% U  v# c. ?; _9 O　　破釜沉舟
+ H5 N! Y# t8 O- @# f
7 t, i! f$ T0 G' g# E　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36
) ?0 ~; A# O* x
　　抢得先机

　　take the preemptive opportunities
. s; M* z- y* z6 l
- T9 q0 h; o5 n2 A! R) W1 y　　37
- a. M$ w: _" p% Q, Z! |
　　巧妇难为无米之炊
3 k, g/ @& X! l/ m( K
　　One can't make bricks without straw.

　　38
( W& {2 L& O* Z% D# s8 H/ m
' g' |6 E- \7 M+ r) E) f( i0 U　　千里之行始于足下
& N3 r- m6 Q3 V5 ?; `6 d0 P6 P+ a& n
　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
* ~  d" h, `$ ^; S$ R" @
　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师

　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40
4 d4 e# s. D: h! E, K- @' `& E
　　前怕狼，后怕虎

+ R1 v9 |2 g" b- {( N　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

( ]5 l0 G: a5 g5 E( E% S6 ?　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42

- B3 Z! R' w8 x$ S/ g, w' v　　瑞雪兆丰年
: h/ M3 n8 R+ Z/ x
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

- X/ e: }: D; f) Z$ U; x6 g　　43

* n; s( F3 J* V　　人逢喜事精神爽
9 g: m$ U% }6 p
$ P; z+ d- L2 s3 q( H% [　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

3 `8 N, A" m8 P/ R　　44

6 x; X1 X: d# ]5 m　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
! _6 D3 c1 z, c! @1 C
3 @+ @. g0 a% a+ B　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45

　　世外桃源

/ H: \+ T. B; `, F' R# D2 V. C　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
- Z8 `, B9 ]9 V# s0 k
　　46
! i; G" F; K, N! ~# A. f# j
8 H- {% r& Z* _5 y2 I" J  `　　人之初，性本善

　　Humans are born good.
: ]. D( d: _5 ~' o* {. V2 ~
　　47

5 a3 ^3 q: ~& N. F+ W　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

, C( g3 @+ }# ~% ?; O　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
/ C0 v5 \& Q! L4 e% J1 g! D
　　48

5 A2 X# U, ~4 ?/ O) ]9 L# ?$ d　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
6 h6 Q: o; [- R
　　a blessing in disguise;

/ S, c/ m2 U, n5 }# L　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
4 J: a3 T  n4 t( E! ~
　　49

9 L5 w. R2 ~4 ~- E　　三十而立

　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

　　50

8 D1 m4 k5 ?9 K) b( f: H4 I　　水涨船高

6 @! J2 G2 }# ?4 s2 g5 `0 `　　A ship rises with the tide
. s/ o/ i" R* J: e3 R
- p, c4 B$ X$ P8 b7 O" o　　51
. O* m. T( O8 _* R6 n) G
　　时不我待

' w( l0 j( j4 A0 v& k! s( [' \: {/ E　　Time and tide wait for no man.
% y% x+ d* e; A
* m8 a( H7 b% s9 e　　52
. w1 {- b) T6 R: s( q8 A' e/ p
6 B. }% d2 C5 Q* W! }　　杀鸡用牛刀
  ?0 @' Q& q8 k
2 |3 S% M' a  N. a" u% D　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

/ T3 k+ J  m$ R* T　　53
" x8 e! X+ r4 U. y' u- o2 x, }1 p% V
  H# e+ \# x5 |　　实事求是
: D, O& F; |& X
　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

　　54
' x  h9 i4 B* ~
' `6 B* M, U- B5 M- R; B7 w$ m　　说曹操，曹操到
* o% m( \# n! U4 g" |. |, m
. x& b, d! P' Y) y  a3 G　　speak of the devil
% V4 L5 s7 g2 V! q
　　55
' A7 S' v$ Z5 q- Y& |3 u4 z
! ]7 f, ]0 n$ ^( a$ F9 \6 M# q　　实话实说
$ T7 q' ]2 q4 X2 X
　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
7 V8 ?$ I% o8 p' s6 s. s. i
3 W: j# b- D+ x+ Q# j7 U　　56
) k1 V- R7 Y7 {
　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
0 Z( @- V( k( a$ M* k- `
& }2 W, r- G; b. P6 e　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
0 E0 O# o3 v9 T1 X% G7 ]' ?6 @
8 b7 I( n) x8 C　　糖衣炮弹
% T) `' s/ [3 t
　　sugar-coated bullets59

; k' C9 r. ^4 P　　天有不测风云
7 x8 H0 d2 C# E9 Q! F  v3 U
5 V& Z* F! P8 _8 Z6 T. h+ [, e' q　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
* o4 W2 n; Z: F/ H: f
　　团结就是力量

/ f7 m, G1 i& }* l" D! u& u1 E# @: I/ N' m　　Unity is strength.

6 d1 Y. R' z; [" G+ |/ @　　61
. d2 j  V* l) \# j
　　跳进黄河洗不清
5 G( H+ \! k( }
　　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
6 O+ I0 y( L) @- j7 b
　　62

　　歪风邪气

　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
2 w: N6 W6 u5 N4 p' \
2 d, h+ Y4 r2 V8 U  g　　63
; T. m' S# T2 k
: I& C6 }) D4 K4 J2 F　　物以类聚，人以群分
1 l. S9 x4 J3 ~. x5 f: \6 O
　　Birds of a feather flock together.

- O# L& M! z$ h　　64

　　望子成龙

4 K( c' z$ G5 K　　hold high hopes for one's child
' [3 M. k0 t1 K# B' v4 y0 @, V1 s
$ a7 f( I# Y& m- Z　　65
1 q! K  R. O% E  i" W- V0 I
+ H. w5 h; M9 t  h　　唯利是图

　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
1 T" ^( L# L' k0 o/ V
　　66
$ d3 `8 ?8 \3 M1 `2 b2 h6 J/ o
2 q; i3 n0 Y2 ~5 \1 n3 v: [　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
6 }$ f4 B5 s1 _* j0 i  f
* J8 L7 o7 d3 ]　　67

　　无风不起浪
. t1 E, v/ s4 P9 F5 Z
　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
6 ^. J% p6 a5 X1 N7 X( g
　　68

  [4 E- F- q+ D& c7 H. `　　徇私枉法

　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
3 S7 R" t( }: h/ O. ^* a1 k) f
* A+ a/ X' o( B# f. b　　69
0 K9 \5 K' W8 h* }- g$ S* V
6 [& q; S+ c+ A3 j( i4 e　　新官上任三把火

/ v& }. c' O: @0 B　　a new broom sweeps clean
! b& y) e! O; q
. ?( p# T- Z! N( q　　70
6 P: x" U6 W' V  s) U" k
4 S6 ^- E, I% _) o9 e; o4 R) i　　蓄势待发
% ~# n2 [# n4 N/ O7 x5 g( @
　　accumulate strength for a take-off

　　71

　　心想事成

　　May all your wish come true

　　72
, y% B1 {: T  h% }3 @2 V: w
, g% w& k- T) r" r4 I　　心照不宣
! Y4 r. @, N" @" [) ~
4 H+ F6 m& ~- h/ }& }9 X: D1 @　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
9 F: r. I# A! }' o$ x
; g. ~- q" V# m; [  s　　73

. i8 r  r4 {% I　　先入为主
! R$ d. s8 G5 M& o9 c
　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

* x4 _& v) |' x1 W$ f, Q: W$ X　　74

　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
7 L0 x0 R6 o/ [. }
　　The best defense is offense.

　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁
' J0 d9 ^1 g6 ^+ R" @9 i$ k
5 v' h' T8 S3 \' V5 O　　ants on a hot pan
% b: f. \' y8 R6 }, E( m
　　76
( G+ P! g9 U, e2 ^9 Z4 g) R3 D
　　现身说法
/ m7 C$ y  q9 u1 t
　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
# K; e0 Z  J; h# F5 E$ ~
3 g5 @+ ~8 s* S9 z& U! q　　77
' }9 Z/ m5 \( H
　　息事宁人

- C7 t7 }* w. i　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
* n& g3 L/ j& W3 |; }; [
　　78
9 F% u- v' G; S0 a, v
　　循序渐进

　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
, w# ^$ P- i, |6 C; F. d
　　79
' X4 }; L6 D6 W2 U1 q
& B( T/ g. r7 D8 b: V  v　　严以律己，宽以待人

0 C0 V8 K8 j& `& Z# m$ O* f　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
. a' M: z1 z+ [  T3 v( S6 r1 G
　　80
: g# h  D2 B8 w. j" n9 j
　　有情人终成眷属

　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
) l3 T9 h# e2 |  T; b. `
　　有钱能使鬼推磨

% y" m5 Z2 T* Q1 e　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
$ y5 ~8 }! I3 y6 l5 V
　　有勇无谋

, B- f* A* ^5 Q　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会
4 o/ B; |2 r9 _% `% W1 ?7 @. Q, l
: u: N* v, Y; R　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进

& q% h- ^6 C- `. \- B7 `- b, f　　keep pace with the times86
) B/ P$ M' R+ e
2 W3 U1 i- Z; \1 A8 U　　以人为本
; h6 d! v/ k; ]& F. Z, u# ?- e) R' U4 C
　　people-oriented

- c* `9 e/ i; e+ @( A, b　　87

7 c2 q  {% ^$ o! M　　因材施教
. J( B7 E4 E* p# `7 p
　　teach students according to their aptitude
, T, s# f: z& X4 l8 }1 w
　　88

3 v0 L, L+ a; p$ F; g2 W　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
7 q' |# \0 ?: E" B# q0 [
; `3 Q, r: J' g, _) G% c) T+ L　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

　　89
* p6 ?/ |. r% ^
- a# ?5 [1 `# q: j　　欲速则不达

　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
, v% w2 T- T+ ~' [. ]' E
4 j4 o8 d& R- F  \+ w  F, D　　90
( x7 \+ w' z  c' y; d- Z
　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest

" b/ m  X8 Y6 v4 i　　91

　　英雄所见略同
; E7 ]; h: C/ i1 S( ~( T8 Q0 Y2 e9 Q
　　Great minds think alike.
& a+ B2 P; y# z& V# J6 |9 E
# k. }4 F" k& r6 V　　92

　　冤家宜解不宜结

4 z9 J- E+ b, y  E9 h　　Better make friends than make enemies.
. S' E" {) W7 j
　　93

　　冤假错案
  Q9 b: p* b/ q5 z2 y( B
" |' @0 z9 o& S% d( f+ J$ q& u　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

+ \% K. R8 u* [: [) f4 d" @　　94

0 L2 F  \7 z. Q4 ?　　一言既出，驷马难追
% y. |- Y6 \3 r( T4 d
" F: a; p5 Q5 B  s* G　　A promise is a promise.
5 Z8 p# k* l/ f3 g1 H0 q1 b4 b
　　A real man never goes back on his words.
) l4 @9 M$ X$ C0 ?% D
% H' `' D. ^9 d$ D) ^2 t　　95
# e: \1 ^$ a) x  K6 e3 j
4 O% Q7 D8 x$ U# A# a3 F; \　　招财进宝

/ _1 f8 ~8 M! c8 s! n/ |  @  B　　bring in wealth and treasure

　　96
3 Y% a6 \0 p/ t9 [6 i2 S
8 X% p& ^% h1 f/ @3 u: Y4 ]　　债台高筑

　　become debt-ridden
  v2 B6 S  M# a4 q: r4 r: A
2 s0 f% O1 |% X+ A　　97

　　众矢之的
* O3 a! s% |4 }% R6 U' `4 j3 x$ Q
8 ~6 `: A! a: M; ?$ C　　target of public criticism
) z2 F" g/ [/ ?0 Y3 W+ r
/ A$ q1 z& p6 Z! H, ]& x& h4 W　　98

　　纸上谈兵
; l$ Z* w) t- c5 ^: \8 m$ W
; A# i: C4 i, _6 S　　be an armchair strategist
; ^4 W' W: L" W2 w3 p
　　99

" o6 `9 p# G  H. [' F- K& s　　纸包不住火

  Y9 B7 \+ S$ m8 P4 u! j3 G4 H' k! O$ r　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
! t% M" F  t2 @* c. |+ y
# f8 i) f+ N, {9 v$ P& T6 o　　100

3 r! a& ?% a! ?* G2 N1 ^* r) I9 t2 D　　左右为难

3 A) A+ Y! K& w* I. K; x　　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。