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
9 V& P* n" y! N8 ?) a+ t% ^2 C
4 @. p5 S$ i+ R7 W. M" u. C　　爱屋及乌
" `/ t1 \0 m9 t9 ]; a  g
# T6 U( K. b3 V# D: `! c8 \　　Love me, love my dog.

3 }$ Y# h4 n! F8 g: H　　02
+ Q; }& Z. J0 e' Z
　　百闻不如一见

　　One look is worth a thousand words.
& v" H* w  [; ~3 |3 _5 D
　　Seeing is believing.

　　03

2 Z  U  A  W* H- h; x6 @: D& N% U　　比上不足，比下有余
) t) Y% d4 M6 S& w
　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
9 l6 u) p+ r* h) b6 D# X
　　04
! _3 O+ X# C7 q$ j- `; V0 H
　　笨鸟先飞
* ]5 f' K" x% t1 y; _
　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

　　05
# K8 A* _& x7 p( f& }$ f
; u8 h* x. b3 H. F* n3 }7 U3 T　　不遗余力
' R  g" Q; s. R" q
　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

. e" [% i2 H( Q　　06
- B9 t2 Y& B6 B, ~2 O4 |$ N. F" ^9 B
1 m2 A3 e" O, B5 U/ s　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.
0 h! E- Y' K; v' p1 w
( \3 b$ S0 p% N8 g5 l3 ~　　07

　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul

　　08

　　辞旧迎新
. E2 _/ y& y- b( a4 \9 K; z: @/ U1 M
$ s7 p# h$ V& P4 z1 V5 q5 u6 I　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

6 l* w. Q- H  E* D, T6 g+ H! h　　09
. z1 [2 p# l  [: p6 _* P. q
　　大事化小，小事化了
( a: A' y& \3 T- h  o
　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

3 a# e2 y/ L- f& ~" q　　10
$ V. F1 J: e9 ^, |5 i/ f5 `
2 a$ n0 i' M' j5 P' ]　　大开眼界

　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
: @, v9 l5 u9 G. M% f  @! j! p
2 T: x6 U# N2 I3 M0 D- V　　11

　　国泰民安
* V# u- a' {' Y( X' p
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
; g5 U  [) z' I! @- w! g( S" F
　　12
% z, e# ?! w# K$ m
　　过犹不及
9 l: t6 b4 [) ^/ r4 S! C4 c
6 l/ H6 e) p; M　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

# s1 Q# W3 C  |7 U" L1 z　　too much is as bad as too little
7 T/ u* k7 E9 I
　　13
; y2 E& U# w+ \# K+ G
  T) j4 I! s/ O/ S9 Q) g　　好了伤疤忘了疼

. X1 P5 Q  _+ T* x% ^! D　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14
  `2 c# \$ m0 z4 S
% y" @) i. r8 b0 v3 x0 L8 e* {  N　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

　　Bad news travels fast.

5 l: d" m& ]+ d* f  [4 h* {1 Y　　15

; ?4 t. Z/ Y. j9 W" J　　和气生财
$ f5 J1 I  G; K0 ]0 ~
: f) Y6 A0 g& U" P) s' {　　harmony brings wealth;
0 m8 r( t* V# y) ?
　　friendliness is conducive to business success
' k$ C3 |. f) h  U
9 V, C; B9 ?$ J$ a; e　　16

& T4 w6 h4 L: l' ?. l　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn

) f! i9 R% q0 p0 C. t. q　　17
5 A3 Y2 }8 Y1 p. d1 ~9 n( \
4 O  d0 s6 O' ~! D9 K# C  d- C: d: r　　既往不咎
/ G1 r( o* ~" a3 H  n/ Q
/ q1 c1 o( z+ R, I/ D9 q& R; d　　let bygones be bygones

! b! _' x& [0 p4 n　　18
/ q5 e, @5 i9 t) h' d( S" w
# A3 ?7 d. c$ `4 r4 i　　金无足赤，人无完人

　　There are spots even on the sun.

　　19

　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.
0 w8 ]$ X' }5 y0 c3 Z' `6 d
4 H+ `' j( y* [　　20
' i9 R6 @6 V+ J" A5 w- W
& ~! r# @9 j, ?+ ?  `! x: m. I5 ~　　脚踏实地
+ @) U$ V# }$ ~# O3 y( m8 z
　　be down-to-earth
5 E; \: z& d( R& S4 X. J7 O& z. p% @; E
　　21

3 i! p6 @* |' f4 q0 u% r　　脚踩两只船

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

- l; `& i7 M5 c3 {　　22
3 j8 c0 A1 ~, y; J% x
% w9 O0 R9 ?% S1 |　　君子之交淡如水
. M6 N! [9 m0 @. e% q) Q
　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
2 l4 G5 M) l+ r
# O1 p8 |( k* x% a: F0 q　　23
! \2 g6 M' {. ^! V
( R# e! Q  w0 D( p5 _( {4 g　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
! f7 U6 x; p$ |# l  R
( F+ A. F9 @) L* n3 H/ O5 o0 b　　cut and dried; cliché
  h* ?' A4 Z* h. t& \$ I6 q, ^' m
4 }4 D, C) Q4 \2 a' |4 ?+ M0 C　　24

, J' O+ k4 k& p- }! g　　礼尚往来

% S9 m5 _* B2 A1 N　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

: ^3 c: f& B/ ~) i　　25

　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
2 l( j' V& [9 O1 F, k6 ?
　　Where there is life, there is hope.

　　26
& Z( T/ o& ~7 V/ q2 f, c0 C
　　马到成功

. _; v7 f' o- c　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
" V/ |% y1 d! M% \  u- |8 i
8 a& X7 }' }. h5 o! s5 I! p& v0 K　　27
( \# E2 K5 Q8 b* }, r* W5 f
　　名利双收

9 N& o4 t( a6 P5 f  ^, _: a: U　　gain both fame and wealth
* o* e  a: g, h3 _8 m4 C7 P
! H8 l: w) L/ ?3 ^　　28

　　茅塞顿开
: }5 v7 T" o0 X
　　be suddenly enlightened
/ h; h" [, v4 R* `
　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆
+ N# Z: a4 F9 G% c/ _
) {* f4 V4 V$ P2 r& f　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

) ?7 S9 v; B+ H) m　　30
5 Y. O5 G. N( T$ D0 R+ T
5 C; ^' t7 j8 G　　每逢佳节倍思亲
# N- [  {" [3 V  i0 b  `2 ?
　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

! l) W- B0 N! ?4 S　　31
: _3 k# V- K6 g5 E' Y! c
( C5 O+ r3 P$ Y  Z# q) ?, }　　谋事在人，成事在天
4 q: M$ l! v& P) r( y$ J
8 ^- Z" r) A; a　　Man proposes; God disposes.

1 r; C3 F" I1 F+ N　　32
7 }! W: v$ S5 k: n! i  Y* m
　　弄巧成拙

　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
/ }; U) f: |$ W* r% r2 {
　　33

　　赔了夫人又折兵
4 v6 D/ U( B1 s: w9 J+ l( ~
% U* Q" w9 C$ S# f4 v/ t　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
1 Q: n5 D5 l/ W
5 a' s0 @$ n0 k2 m0 U0 b8 q! A0 Z　　34

　　抛砖引玉

6 w/ O5 }. w8 b9 }. z　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

, {: W; y4 E3 _( d. N; j　　35

　　破釜沉舟

1 U  d( g+ P6 a5 a　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36
" Q7 R' |8 \: K9 ~, j4 z6 b
　　抢得先机
" ?; d& }- s: L6 `
, U0 r% ^0 N9 e+ a　　take the preemptive opportunities
' o0 p2 y8 Z. O% i  O# n
5 _* Y& U( f  |+ H　　37
6 Z- K0 n  b3 x5 N+ M1 p3 o
; g8 B4 Q) v% k5 j! ]9 H+ y　　巧妇难为无米之炊
$ [  T2 w  w8 O% t+ |2 D. J+ X
6 t/ v$ C: z, A( q* [( k　　One can't make bricks without straw.

　　38

  }$ x: L) z' D' A) {　　千里之行始于足下
' f0 K" L4 ?' O- J! `6 B: {8 u$ y4 {% ~
0 }8 F( Z7 A7 X" \2 a8 q, U0 H3 X　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
. a' n$ y! k  I/ k2 P  n8 @
　　39

$ R# {9 ^' v/ U5 \2 q8 M　　前事不忘，后事之师

4 t1 H! M3 R8 z1 h! U* D9 d$ O4 ^　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40

1 f2 [& m" G4 [　　前怕狼，后怕虎
; U0 m% c+ R1 y% }9 l' o0 s% p
　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
# f0 o% Z1 B, m( \5 W# s% ?! _/ U! M1 r
6 ~4 e4 V: C/ F% q4 Q9 w  ]0 M　　41
' Y7 J) r6 W- C1 r
- P9 k$ f* a, `! S3 A. ?3 }: U　　强龙难压地头蛇
) Z' r6 y3 b% C! ]
　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42

5 i8 B" ~8 C' H, `. g　　瑞雪兆丰年

　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

. ^6 n' ~* L8 C　　43

' ]. b$ L! p! E. L　　人逢喜事精神爽
& f1 x# D0 ?- \1 p# [3 J
　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

" W$ B  x3 U4 w, `8 q　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
1 ]" G% f! [7 Y: S
　　45

　　世外桃源
  r: G% `- Y/ W% ^
6 V5 r2 y+ p5 X. r: |　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

' V% W* o/ W5 \) J4 g  I9 N　　46

, e9 ]9 y) Y6 A4 {- Y0 A　　人之初，性本善

9 k2 Y' l" E( \1 ?4 Y+ Z) Q　　Humans are born good.
% i1 V% O2 W+ E4 F
　　47

# `1 u2 W2 r7 G' x4 }5 y! M) u　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
) z( d& H/ B" B
　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

2 P0 q- V7 A4 ~# \. f　　48

+ a- j; Z3 F/ d　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;
, m: V# b# {( X2 b2 j0 u2 L* p
+ x% `4 k# o* J　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

( d) Q& m$ t) v8 Y/ {+ p　　49

　　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.

/ F8 e2 {$ p$ b, X' G　　50
" z- K+ p# V( y- ~7 c
　　水涨船高

7 N2 v* k# N# V+ H# |- T& c7 u9 \6 x　　A ship rises with the tide
4 {/ N/ {4 R6 E. t
　　51
- `2 d" M9 k2 f/ Y2 G$ k
　　时不我待
( c3 S' d# B" y* k
　　Time and tide wait for no man.
) a( x/ W, v9 G
　　52

　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
1 S* l$ l) `1 a. q1 X1 D
- h) Y7 l, |7 L6 z　　53

　　实事求是

　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

& ]* R" z, R; j& Q/ A: Y2 N: L　　54

- K8 O8 U0 b' k/ N5 J1 r" Q# m　　说曹操，曹操到

　　speak of the devil

　　55
+ z4 K; @, k# P4 g+ Y" _9 s- y7 M2 p
: y* q- i2 G$ h  k　　实话实说

0 ~7 |3 m3 C! G. o- ^　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
1 ]" `/ t$ R$ r5 H
　　56

  i$ o  I; Z% H" b0 h/ P　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
0 z0 U; i) ~- U0 R+ _- G; u+ i, N+ }, P
　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
' t" I$ y6 k1 m3 S' v
　　韬光养晦
, {$ i/ k* b, H& h, H
　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
. [& m! o+ i1 n& O
　　糖衣炮弹

. H5 I7 A7 |" j1 \: x/ C" `. {　　sugar-coated bullets59

　　天有不测风云

　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

　　团结就是力量

: H1 X; w+ J' ?0 T% Q　　Unity is strength.

. G1 N% }1 D+ g' {4 h: |　　61

　　跳进黄河洗不清
. }4 S* f( [8 {2 g9 d
2 N% K5 a& D; `% C; f$ w/ u' t　　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

' ~0 o+ \  x( ]　　62
* l  V0 P5 D9 E- L% \% W  y
& L; M5 H  s: \6 R5 f　　歪风邪气

& J: C' f) `8 x: O2 d　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

) G! n2 ~- y7 ?1 V1 |; J　　63

- y; Q$ g) u5 G* u, o) @. s　　物以类聚，人以群分

+ F: f& n3 n& P7 [　　Birds of a feather flock together.

! U6 ]" h0 K$ |+ H+ l　　64

　　望子成龙
6 g% Z0 n+ R) ?( D! z) a
　　hold high hopes for one's child

2 V3 E# }. J3 D# u　　65
6 ^$ J5 a2 y( T, `. V  l- F8 b
　　唯利是图

　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

: S& i7 z' z1 t( j% ]3 C　　66

$ l5 a' ?5 k! J　　无中生有
8 i  w8 p% g# @1 l+ z% D
　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

　　67

　　无风不起浪
, x& U1 S+ V" U) Y+ x$ Q: W8 T
　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
) @* }* A" v: D
1 w+ _: H' {7 q; P. n. H7 D9 J* h　　68
' }' p, [7 E. `4 @# `! t1 ]
　　徇私枉法
% N! T/ k! K2 q+ |! q3 l7 n
　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
7 s" r. K, K, [2 J/ Q2 {) p
  w6 ^8 }0 b" o% [  c" N　　69
' d# `( h& Z. K- a& k
　　新官上任三把火

　　a new broom sweeps clean
1 K! G7 }$ ^" i
/ {( c6 U( Z, k9 g9 s4 \: U  t7 P　　70

: ^, w) S7 K) y　　蓄势待发
! B/ J  r1 p, D- ~! i
　　accumulate strength for a take-off
/ j2 C  [: }* D3 Y: M6 x8 e
　　71
) a: P% I! `6 p) V- l% [9 M
　　心想事成

　　May all your wish come true

  l# o! i5 t+ L  A9 Z4 w$ N　　72
: \, F) l6 T! `$ v! O# u/ _% v
/ y/ t9 [" |9 V( A  _　　心照不宣
/ o& a# W0 ]  C" h
　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
4 E+ h/ S; w# X$ j
　　73
6 D# S4 n& q2 S: o6 q5 L, Y
　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
0 ~" C% L" K' W9 X7 I# W8 t
2 H$ U1 `: ]5 y0 i7 U. M# z4 K　　74
# M: ~5 R) r3 V3 \5 k) M9 b
　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

　　The best defense is offense.
9 l. a" I& R: {% o% L# X$ i0 s/ z. `
　　75
! D6 Z; [4 K! P4 N1 |
& g! [0 q% A, D  G% Q, ]　　热锅上的蚂蚁
9 a1 S4 e3 V7 d) N9 l, V/ Q
　　ants on a hot pan

- ~& t& D1 Z8 T* u/ A　　76
3 |$ _. U$ K; s  c2 g
　　现身说法
; ~( D- ~5 e' \* a' I
　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

+ H+ P3 \- R9 z1 e　　77
& o/ X0 u: ]' r- E
　　息事宁人

: D8 a5 U# U6 _9 R) O& T3 {  W　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

8 _& h$ U5 e; A　　78

" j4 s) @  A) [; ]　　循序渐进
! {: m/ j2 n  ^8 H
7 ~. e  B. ?9 K. f9 V　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
1 [5 W7 }, z4 q: c- B, D
　　79

' r' e6 o) k! C# J7 [　　严以律己，宽以待人
( a# r3 d  b, @/ A  v5 q
0 B. N* ^! H* B0 \3 ^6 \　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

) T7 o' f& I8 F9 p　　80
" y9 Q  L# t5 |7 }/ q/ y( d/ L
. s- N3 A+ J0 f8 d# k. H+ k% E* D　　有情人终成眷属

) Q7 `. o) i2 @1 y" a　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
* }0 [9 C' Y3 H! O  ^% i  R: d
% }) K9 K9 i. i+ Z9 T5 H9 [- X　　有钱能使鬼推磨

　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
& a) w. x5 O# Q' t9 b9 ]0 F: B; ]2 Y
　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
; M& t  W% y  P* K* m4 S
　　有勇无谋
! o1 ~; M# f- h
- f1 J3 A: ^/ O7 e" C. ^. I, K' p　　bold but not crafty84

0 g+ X/ P+ I, H. j　　有缘千里来相会
7 w, C& d0 U+ F, O9 n
1 B8 E1 e0 r6 b5 }, G# f　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
  \; v  e; W  E6 m
　　与时俱进
) `+ A, K  q+ ^- s* t0 y3 \( I
- f% O/ \1 N: n3 Z/ |1 c, N　　keep pace with the times86

　　以人为本

　　people-oriented
6 s6 \+ C; e/ m0 a  O
　　87
; P. i+ H( m0 g: x1 h5 x' h  G9 i
　　因材施教

　　teach students according to their aptitude

- D' U, x; D$ \% [' E" @　　88
5 O" y0 I( B& Z+ Y+ `
　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
' N: B) L, I+ O1 @
　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
, u- n7 O6 Z+ g' ^8 n3 }
　　89

2 s5 Z9 P# M" F9 W! H　　欲速则不达
, U& D3 G% q4 {( s6 j  M
　　Haste makes waste.

. D9 T; O" N9 m* ?4 p! [$ N0 @6 W　　More haste, less speed.
3 I5 v* n2 ~) d4 x
　　90

3 K! {* H" ^; n1 H4 ?3 Z　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest
; n0 o4 b" _) @5 A
　　91
- Z: ~$ j& D. Z
" l+ E' v! c" }　　英雄所见略同
" q5 l  ^: K  K! L! X% `
　　Great minds think alike.

3 |4 B: {. _8 a1 [! @　　92

' c2 J, \9 o6 Q. W1 I; w& a' j　　冤家宜解不宜结

　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93

　　冤假错案
4 C* Z( J% z7 Q! C+ ^
　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

! Y" |3 e$ t7 k. g　　94
' |+ @% `8 _( s( Y7 w& w5 A
, g8 Y8 ?0 x+ n　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.

, j( h" g; f2 Z) C& V# [3 V' v　　A real man never goes back on his words.

/ M: y) t) s+ I　　95

　　招财进宝
1 D- K8 }- A7 n$ R- c
　　bring in wealth and treasure
* X: @' |) [8 `, [2 U9 l+ H" Z/ z
& D, F3 ]0 `# v$ V% E　　96

. ^2 S% ], J1 A  I) ^- Z3 C　　债台高筑
- F0 v# x* W3 N' O5 L  T
& k! K* N+ M8 H) l, O　　become debt-ridden
  V$ M0 b/ F6 {7 K+ P# i# p/ _: L
) |% N) W3 C, `, ]　　97
* S' b. A9 W6 h3 y9 ?
　　众矢之的
" v; `' }) j* I3 K
　　target of public criticism

/ S  _! D! y, @( Y  Z' A7 z8 n　　98

　　纸上谈兵

　　be an armchair strategist
; ^* p- [4 s8 }  L
　　99
. }5 @( R8 x& @+ S8 L1 R, q' Y
　　纸包不住火
0 s. I1 V; d3 i
, E3 V% ?! `1 Y/ a4 L; [' u& G* H　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
* B5 e" [, ]$ a$ a' @: l, p
* U2 [+ k$ H  L. u8 ?  n; I& S8 k　　100
5 E2 [5 I$ ^+ o4 j  u
　　左右为难
5 [6 x( ~& s8 }$ E
　　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。