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!

5 k) A! L( Z' [. t　　01

5 m, P* l" \" N$ \* A& Y  X　　爱屋及乌
" ^. D0 Q  ]' G8 Y/ j
) L! Y" j3 k# t2 n　　Love me, love my dog.

　　02

: V) ]: p( v: \' F, \; f+ t# R: \　　百闻不如一见
2 @* G! w$ e& l
　　One look is worth a thousand words.

/ j' G: e. R6 w& ~4 Y- I　　Seeing is believing.
% Y3 O6 j; U, {9 A. S
* X5 @- B! J8 S% r/ H4 [0 _9 a; i　　03
5 O$ Z  N0 z7 W
　　比上不足，比下有余

　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

　　04
$ T) ~% J; J# Z
4 c+ c' L* ~5 E4 j: w, j/ W　　笨鸟先飞

2 h; A2 `& ]% Z) ^　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
0 I+ h8 S# |% E+ C9 g* W- i9 f
　　05
0 d% n$ N1 m. i. y: z1 Q) Y
2 P+ S' v; m1 I( B3 A7 L( o' @　　不遗余力
& Y$ M% b6 }. _8 l
　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
9 j# c5 M0 x8 x9 R( {# }) z
　　06
* U. j1 h, d6 d' a. N
　　不打不成交
# x7 }, H9 z( K& q# S
　　No discord, no concord.
; C- p* s* B1 B, [  k
& z3 R' ?  q# }2 V! k! V　　07
, M3 ]! c6 d3 q- E0 ]( M1 m9 Z
+ L9 U) v3 `; f! {# O  w　　拆东墙补西墙

# [. C  X: E' h# q; t( t+ }: X　　rob Peter to pay Paul

1 j. |- B% F# m* |+ N5 _　　08
) |8 ~- c. `/ u- ]6 c8 V+ [
" n& a( a7 f& ~6 }　　辞旧迎新
2 q/ h" H# l& k0 M1 [! ?6 q
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

/ W6 ?' x$ n* h, x6 ?0 Q4 Q/ ~　　09

' `* i8 X& s0 X( a! r$ C9 c7 l8 ^　　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
: c0 K6 l2 Y4 C$ N9 u, H: j
　　10

　　大开眼界

* J! y7 a# k) |  Y  K) W　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
( g! h. n0 }1 c$ z+ W7 Q! N
　　11

　　国泰民安
; J4 `. D# ^" e3 e! j: q! F% ^$ u
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

" n; P7 [  n! Q. q# f0 M　　12

6 l/ S+ I* @0 |! d2 k# H　　过犹不及
8 F5 q$ t5 s% o  C$ n9 ^
* a- s, v" s* ^( w; d) e6 F9 _; D5 J　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

4 N  q9 F. Y& R  E0 D　　too much is as bad as too little

7 j8 p( H; _/ y  R$ b: r　　13

: f, ~) N/ T' l# q+ C( l3 p6 f$ e　　好了伤疤忘了疼

. |, `4 r2 V5 f2 ~* @" Z0 m　　once on shore, one prays no more
1 _$ b3 }' i9 }" b& z: F; ]7 c
. K0 [! z$ L0 x) z　　14

　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
8 p1 T% f1 ^) A7 U$ x
　　Bad news travels fast.
3 X; x. I& V4 a! \/ \6 b  L
! x2 H' t+ a  q% F7 J0 H' x& O　　15
+ `; [( [1 c! z) z* s
　　和气生财
' s* ]% R# L0 e0 w1 p
　　harmony brings wealth;

　　friendliness is conducive to business success
8 R5 w! n$ X6 O: E8 Y0 {
　　16

( l3 N0 f! ]$ G+ j1 Y4 f0 {; i　　活到老学到老

% Y8 _8 P8 d- w　　never too old to learn

4 T1 v; [1 c) E8 a. W- I　　17

　　既往不咎
$ n# \& ^; B+ Q' y" W5 g: [
　　let bygones be bygones

( ]& d2 {, m( |% a6 u& Q　　18
9 x. R  }" P  I
, z& n- _! y' z/ F9 b　　金无足赤，人无完人

　　There are spots even on the sun.
+ w* s# S/ \6 K+ z. p7 i
; p" f" a7 N2 C5 `' z　　19

' [$ N. d- Z- }% C; p　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.

　　20
! s- T( F0 t7 h, S3 X) H6 P5 q
　　脚踏实地

- y* y8 _: T9 w, @6 g. G! P　　be down-to-earth

　　21
# i) j: K9 y  Q( ~# v* a9 f
　　脚踩两只船

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

4 o) ]1 X$ T4 P! I　　22

3 m* j! J, d( m3 @　　君子之交淡如水

/ v3 n' X. O% n; T! w　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
; O( ~( ]: w" O6 X# X% W' a# C5 r: q
) x( ^! p) w9 t( j3 v$ w  y　　23
$ C5 P: A( @# u( Y
! E; L) ^4 M1 l0 i$ L　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
3 Q: W4 b) j) O( ?
　　cut and dried; cliché

! N) D* t, g, d# Z* {　　24

　　礼尚往来
' I$ l9 {) O0 t- b0 ?; s& C
# `" Z0 W: v& V. w2 F2 D- x( g$ ^　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
4 D8 g4 X+ H0 ~  p: [
* E% ~7 j" k6 B1 d/ T; m　　25

+ O, X3 Q  _) o- A# X/ E5 ~, _　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
8 V) ]0 @. ~8 g2 i7 }, B0 L) V# D" C
; X4 P- B6 l! I( U' A　　Where there is life, there is hope.
+ R& P0 h2 @! _3 P  y
　　26

　　马到成功
8 A+ C0 `1 V$ @/ K
, r' @& z3 D- T- K0 \9 |" g　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
1 |4 q- }3 D) _- Z) P2 s. j
. k  E! E9 i2 q3 _6 v5 C; F: I+ y$ A　　27
! {) B: c' q& y8 p6 U0 \1 g
; W/ O& ^" _- _- }　　名利双收

　　gain both fame and wealth
$ Y2 p: {7 y: g- i8 s! n
% X, m  T+ N! v2 X　　28

2 G1 e0 o5 A  ^6 ^6 M. w0 h# |　　茅塞顿开
8 E  m' ?& S! L  w8 d
　　be suddenly enlightened
) M* z6 y3 n4 l8 O# U0 b
　　29
* m/ u. L, G7 q9 f& R" o
. J/ I- |- g- o4 t' @/ ]! Z　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

　　30
1 F+ s6 A6 G. g) V
# b7 q8 s( }. o* e6 @/ y2 @　　每逢佳节倍思亲

$ _! p/ V! K' D1 w$ N& i! W　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
7 D: y% Q% Y5 }
. G+ D3 y( K( A4 A　　31
& q( z& x) z( Y3 O' s8 P
　　谋事在人，成事在天
, j. L0 T' ]. d4 p7 ^  l8 ]. u  W
. J  p% W9 C1 p' v' K+ F　　Man proposes; God disposes.
; u6 L" r1 ^! `  {* i5 e
　　32
  S" {2 F4 y- z" u( y  P0 y
　　弄巧成拙

　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
* I7 N3 U' s  X& _- s2 n
) l9 t& H* L- k( A: V　　33
) S6 I4 ~& l3 _0 B
　　赔了夫人又折兵

. ~  j* A# ]2 G　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

4 c( I" G1 S9 a- X- G' H　　34
/ e& b+ Q: T- q& W4 Z3 W3 ?
( b+ J- M* u" j6 C# v8 F  l　　抛砖引玉
  w7 d$ Q& G: `  L  e' M
　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
: m2 T+ L' L) K' N
; E0 S# U% j2 ]9 Y! x% l( `3 l/ b' ~　　35
- f3 u( w/ S$ i+ f( G8 h+ C$ |/ ~
) ~, J! r: {& s/ Q3 v　　破釜沉舟

2 U' ?( g) d& \* C6 Q8 H5 I0 i　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

+ q3 V8 J1 e; H　　36
( u/ k4 P& [- d4 S( x! b  f
$ |# b) x6 E5 ?5 \3 S9 ]" j　　抢得先机

　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37
4 z( ^- }: B" v) l& F  s
　　巧妇难为无米之炊

# H) _# n& h1 f$ y- ?& X　　One can't make bricks without straw.
$ ?% G. M3 n; }# ]0 ]
　　38
, [3 {- T0 a4 _3 \. \
　　千里之行始于足下

　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

　　39

5 I) H5 l* n$ g4 I1 v/ b　　前事不忘，后事之师
7 h+ f- L4 H$ X+ Z, ~
* N3 Y6 u2 }. N+ G  d/ O" [; M　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
5 ]: Y, N. N. ?; J/ N0 s$ J. k
　　40

( h- u4 {7 f1 ]+ V% X　　前怕狼，后怕虎

　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

& }. U7 e/ F, P- x0 n: p+ n5 V　　41

& ]" E4 e2 N% @% z8 d; f9 H& B　　强龙难压地头蛇
4 [! H1 q' }1 W3 L3 x$ L
　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
; h# l0 D& @! x
. X) n1 R0 |' x7 y" M# `* d0 F　　42

　　瑞雪兆丰年

　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43
7 S2 c# Y  ^- O% k+ ?/ ?' g9 ^
9 R; A. K9 T: N5 Y' V1 T9 e7 o　　人逢喜事精神爽

　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

. G* O. V* f5 j% A/ Z　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
7 q' U& ?1 N, C; E. E! v
　　45

" j0 f8 S! V8 V  G　　世外桃源

- X1 g; z6 d1 h# W0 _　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
4 Q. h7 {+ m$ x8 P& j
　　46

5 W( O! G- Z% k/ L' ?　　人之初，性本善
/ Z8 a0 w: P8 [  m# Q3 m8 a
　　Humans are born good.

4 m& W2 t' M  b1 r$ ^/ D4 k　　47

　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

$ p1 M+ [; I  e2 a' i2 s　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;
/ w! t' M& W3 }0 e. ^% H/ s0 A' I
, F" V9 R  m1 T6 V, j2 R+ [! A　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

　　49

0 S7 P! T9 `5 i- E　　三十而立
$ ]9 ^6 p2 O/ V' E% }6 ?" w+ t  X7 K
/ P, g: O" Z, M+ n8 J% v1 ]( y　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

　　50

9 N: ]7 U4 Q" v* U9 i' M& Y' [3 r　　水涨船高

　　A ship rises with the tide

　　51
+ O6 W3 z/ c, c
  P" {* A; Z. R- h' J　　时不我待
! y* e" u; F8 B3 c3 m* W& x
　　Time and tide wait for no man.
+ A7 O- _3 P0 k3 ?. G
　　52
: f5 {' \. z: [) j7 N2 O. r
& V' }' N1 n6 K- p: o　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

4 s) l1 g  D0 y. h　　53
. o" ~+ p. b! e* y$ N) k0 a
　　实事求是
+ f& _- }4 c" M% y3 }2 M
8 P: {& |- \& Q5 k　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

  ~$ V5 i- B" w8 G6 x; W) J% S- Q　　54

/ z8 Z+ V$ P. u( ]4 s% g/ N$ w　　说曹操，曹操到
6 I2 Q, G3 M4 r' R7 ]4 \
　　speak of the devil

　　55
& \+ Y3 {* S; Z
　　实话实说

8 r) u2 t9 e1 c1 [　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
, Z$ r( ~9 x; s: i; H" K
　　56

) t# ^$ t2 I# m3 S1 l6 _8 z　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
% m: @; E: F  e% S
3 `. W; Y, Q8 j: m9 ?/ Z1 g1 d　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
- z0 R! G% t; z& A$ j. Z. M5 s. b
2 L) B4 _; q2 A0 A  @9 \　　糖衣炮弹

　　sugar-coated bullets59
1 Z9 a0 V# s! f4 t, w
7 y' Y2 {" u0 O$ C1 r　　天有不测风云
( _8 S8 U' F: H; Y% l. E
　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

　　团结就是力量

  B' q! M, o, q( K8 x) v) k1 _　　Unity is strength.
' Y" s3 U( z, `; B% Z
6 E" U1 q8 Z. y# [/ b" e　　61

# \) t; J$ X% M. s3 L* f　　跳进黄河洗不清

8 K) M0 m2 ^+ O; g( V+ o4 S4 j2 Z　　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
( ~2 z# k) l" T( s
　　62
1 `" K, b2 @) R! [; ]' S7 g
5 ]1 @8 X. z; {8 L# C. ?　　歪风邪气
* ?$ }7 I& l7 j2 }: y' e+ |9 E; B4 s
　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
! _+ |; D1 |' s4 t# a& ?
　　63
5 o2 K- ~' m  K
　　物以类聚，人以群分
" ]% a8 l3 z  g! j
　　Birds of a feather flock together.
$ l( Y1 M- N* |4 m/ @
- G  x* b, |* Y  k　　64

- D, J- n4 ^9 z* V3 ?; W  i　　望子成龙

  ^) ]8 g0 Y+ ^: P　　hold high hopes for one's child

0 q" w1 ?. Q) B3 y2 z2 h& V6 v" x5 J　　65

0 |7 r. G! w. W　　唯利是图

　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
' k! n3 K# I% T# j0 ]. K4 v
　　66
' o' F) A: j7 {; Z
, d- }& H- ?0 q' W　　无中生有

4 T3 }7 |; @. Y4 j' z& P# I! K　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

　　67

3 H5 W  I- }2 V) v4 c　　无风不起浪
1 X( E. u9 h) z8 t. i% M
2 q' t% s9 P, q8 a' B, D: c& \4 }& L　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
+ v3 V' B; c$ t0 ?7 Q+ L; O
　　68
8 x7 B! T5 g. f& g+ Z
　　徇私枉法
  y, `6 a5 T. m- u% t$ N- D
  t( E& d8 H2 o$ W6 |　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
* h, W" ?" V7 c- z% K1 Y3 i* l
　　69
$ Q' |  ]4 T# p# j& n& ~; T5 S
2 x9 d2 [# {" A+ j% E　　新官上任三把火

　　a new broom sweeps clean
4 u5 F  K* a! S) r
　　70

6 E+ b9 k: c9 X  L　　蓄势待发
% Y8 `2 L5 j- O
　　accumulate strength for a take-off
. n! m  i& O* J" v5 u) [4 H! G
7 X7 ^9 u  H- H2 `$ c- z　　71

　　心想事成

　　May all your wish come true
" R  g2 T1 Z8 W: l. R; ^
6 Z5 a$ {. A( r+ N　　72
2 h1 G* [  N; `
　　心照不宣
  g  S$ X* l2 O: c7 p' E3 Z+ d! e
　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
( N5 y8 {! P* {1 R% r, o
% z8 J3 j  f/ x8 ~& N　　73

9 F' T2 b# f4 v* P0 P　　先入为主
6 e2 S5 C* k& T; [
7 o) M; ]' C! N' |5 M9 ^　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

) X  n6 g7 [) G' N# E/ I% @　　74
: R6 M8 y; J3 f7 G3 I7 {
3 ]0 w3 J% Z2 K" K: H7 r' g: D2 |/ j! L. ]　　先下手为强
  n5 K" h( O2 i. v7 T$ @
, N$ D& ~+ v) w5 R: a- D8 y! U　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
# p1 G* S) W. @$ W- j* \
　　The best defense is offense.
3 m; e1 ~& J% P! _3 q, H7 t
　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁

　　ants on a hot pan
9 L0 k0 h) k& T+ b4 k  H
　　76
9 F: Z6 E% ~" F3 A5 k
* c6 I# H- h' ^# p  N　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
  e+ B# `- ?) X/ U% l5 U! N3 X
4 u- `+ o5 J7 X' @5 ^7 H6 \( a　　77

　　息事宁人
$ X% C) Y5 w8 u1 [$ l2 L4 I6 w
0 _' a* N1 g2 b3 X6 T/ a　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
" r& a0 q# O. T
; X" R* {' g  C( k　　78

& Z! E$ u7 z) d/ `2 ]' y, e. i% C　　循序渐进

　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
5 H4 k0 L+ b; m& ^* m" G
　　79
* v  ~( P- k. H+ j# v
　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

- {* M& w" }1 R  L; z% T　　80
3 G. d3 i0 B$ y8 ~4 d+ E
　　有情人终成眷属
0 ^% J9 ^& y* ?
' L- R. v6 @5 R& t　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
0 x5 U2 X& v1 m% Y9 d- I+ x
　　有钱能使鬼推磨
" A3 d( ?5 v+ C" U. |
　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

/ }6 l* a( c5 I# @  c% r　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
+ u4 t* i2 `0 y6 O- j3 v
, R% W& a. I  q　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84
4 o: _2 S8 w2 {
3 s* r/ |) C' q8 L　　有缘千里来相会
% l# d  Z6 a0 a1 |
　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进

- y: I3 E/ P" s　　keep pace with the times86

　　以人为本

, x3 U1 Z9 s' g6 \　　people-oriented

: l9 ~* ?: m8 R) c* p! D( }　　87
9 J, S0 x# r: ~
　　因材施教
7 l$ _( T; Z6 I1 F0 i
　　teach students according to their aptitude

% C! p' \* c% i7 T3 H　　88
( w3 o3 s% X8 T
2 ]: Y( ^# T/ R  G/ t9 {7 H8 p　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
" D4 x% H7 g, G  ~* h+ B# S
　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

: I/ k9 D, v8 r　　89

　　欲速则不达

' L& ~! _2 ~- k+ b$ F" T  K2 C　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
1 f/ P% c0 q' m
3 h; p: c+ d) ]+ ~1 G: S& N  E　　90

7 @% Y: ~4 m- D. F6 Z! p: v　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest
, h2 u. x+ J' D& l6 h& w% D
　　91
0 t, g5 }. J; p- K" H
* Z" l4 _' w& Q' `. H　　英雄所见略同

* ~) c: B. G3 Z$ M+ E　　Great minds think alike.

　　92

. W. x; s4 ?+ b5 J) H　　冤家宜解不宜结

( h" C- W7 D) ^, {　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93

　　冤假错案
/ t  [) h( u4 y" r& k% b& [
. J& R" _) ]$ X3 A7 P# b$ L. A　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
* ]: a6 R" [3 w0 o
　　94

　　一言既出，驷马难追
4 G. k# [  Y8 s
　　A promise is a promise.
7 d' b6 j4 R% K, ]
+ r) Y" M# s8 @( v3 E: X; Y　　A real man never goes back on his words.

　　95
* A7 {' [  m4 `. ?: q
3 ?6 s. j6 j" ~; v. ^5 Q　　招财进宝
' O  s9 S2 n4 a; k6 W
　　bring in wealth and treasure
3 \, j. U: m5 P. O. J
　　96

　　债台高筑

& Y7 B5 f( w5 t, ?　　become debt-ridden

　　97

( ?, k1 V# [8 g2 C7 G  r7 y　　众矢之的
2 i) i& `- L0 G9 V
　　target of public criticism
2 w$ x% l: J5 X
0 Z7 v- F* |! v; V; Z. s　　98

* N$ u" y* U0 Y　　纸上谈兵
' L1 w* Z8 h, ]1 `
7 B; j/ i* ]" F6 ^　　be an armchair strategist
7 k2 L2 Y5 {# n1 c* e" g# O1 E( S- e
# `9 j" F* ?5 f! k8 r$ }: |3 \　　99

4 [: B, P6 {6 R3 G　　纸包不住火
- u! h! J2 c; K4 p; P
8 H$ r: M! p3 \9 k　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

+ R$ a( Y% X: K5 i& G' J$ ]　　What's done by night appears by day.

6 @0 N/ l% L0 N( {　　100
9 L6 J0 q1 X( t% P: C; U8 Y
　　左右为难

　　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。