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!
' [1 D3 e" t. P3 J
) ~- J% j9 U' |' b  \! p　　01

& N% W6 s/ _' D+ g2 C, Z　　爱屋及乌

　　Love me, love my dog.
' x- A" b- l0 V% {# `; C
　　02
& b7 i, r% L2 }6 a  }& n( e
　　百闻不如一见

　　One look is worth a thousand words.
5 T+ Y8 ~/ L4 h0 s5 e
6 p; X9 j' a; f- E) V　　Seeing is believing.
8 U* D; n* j; r2 c* ]  F
/ ]: M8 o2 Q$ q2 R& l3 \　　03
& l' u% i3 b( T8 L2 G' f( ]& e
6 m- `- a3 l- X. ~$ p　　比上不足，比下有余
7 R' f- M% v! r' t/ c
) K% H, n7 m3 f# S+ H7 k　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
1 `6 y7 V* k' j: }8 s# m/ `2 I* }
1 ~5 a, T" ]3 x- C7 s　　04
6 P" J: X% K  O2 \' i2 K6 |
8 G9 y; u7 h" U+ c6 t6 y　　笨鸟先飞

　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
9 @) X$ @% u8 r# _) G
　　05

- J9 n) Q5 R6 ^9 t4 R! N: F　　不遗余力
0 a- i( O# |3 P0 ^; b$ m
) L! k7 R& l/ c6 c. W　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

　　06

　　不打不成交
: V) e3 p! J: B% d
　　No discord, no concord.
+ W6 c9 c% K" x
　　07

  b1 O5 C) o. j4 y: k* u　　拆东墙补西墙
$ [4 u: h+ R- x  o
) C. O  d! P1 L$ L　　rob Peter to pay Paul

4 o8 |& n1 c! `/ R1 u5 c/ v　　08

　　辞旧迎新
. ~" |: @2 c! o4 v
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

' i; ~* u$ m8 V, m　　09
! L' b; y7 x0 C% `/ ?; i6 {! l
% Z- j+ i9 r; U1 p, w2 s& o　　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

　　10
" ~# n! u. x& t" c- c4 S
　　大开眼界

7 K: R6 A$ a  l! h7 u: ]2 E　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

5 `2 V6 d0 I3 L3 g4 Y　　11

1 C: }, \+ e& x( ^) \　　国泰民安

　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
. Z( ^( f- P  h8 ~) T4 X7 h
　　12
4 X; q( ^! ^/ M) S/ B
　　过犹不及

　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
5 ]. `7 b( d9 l: r9 O  _
　　too much is as bad as too little

　　13

$ h4 i4 i. V, ~4 _  ]+ J+ N6 A$ ~0 h: o5 m　　好了伤疤忘了疼
# U8 J3 M  g: Y! o
　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14
) `6 x2 n5 b6 Q9 S) ?" f
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
) \4 v! f. I. J. \
　　Bad news travels fast.

) {3 a* ~+ x" {1 f) K　　15

: H3 ]" T% }$ w　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;

! g! h; d9 H: [/ R/ X4 z　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16
/ v* \* u* M, ~1 _5 C, N, S* }
　　活到老学到老
( U2 t* ~9 x* X: K: L) \, s: u
- i  g0 I. _$ b) O) x: ]3 [- z　　never too old to learn

　　17

3 ?  J7 d. S) F1 b! q3 ^　　既往不咎

　　let bygones be bygones

1 t4 C1 g, a3 c" j! s　　18

　　金无足赤，人无完人
% k# o8 u- Z" `1 \
- |4 U& d# s% ?1 S# [　　There are spots even on the sun.
$ l7 G, I, C8 c  S9 L6 h( Y: p
/ _4 R' R9 b0 U　　19

　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.

9 U, G" V6 J) w* `+ p8 S1 p　　20
, {- ^' o% P2 G4 T
　　脚踏实地

; T0 d0 P- o5 F% ^: w- W　　be down-to-earth
9 u2 r" j) V1 W& ]9 W! x
　　21
/ \( n+ C$ G! q9 ~* s4 b. m
/ t. r8 i2 C& n" o, N; A, ]　　脚踩两只船
* \* b, F; _7 f, |
　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

' q( G# p' ]9 z　　22
; n; K1 x" p, L) Z4 v% I; v0 z$ v) n
　　君子之交淡如水

* [! \) u8 n- i1 a. u/ h　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
$ |2 [  ^' D- |+ o& g
8 u! x2 \, J3 X3 _. K: H* S　　23

　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché
  u5 J3 w0 J/ c
3 F6 V4 [8 D6 ]- E  o　　24

　　礼尚往来

0 h& X+ X3 L! T" S6 g9 _: J1 v　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
+ ]0 G6 v: `7 m
　　25

' c4 p9 I& \  `) `3 b: L　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

% x! L- |3 r. x9 a; L　　Where there is life, there is hope.

# ?9 @- i! X3 m/ w! V: C. L　　26
: L% ]4 p: ~" J& m
9 Q/ s$ T: P, ^2 Z4 {3 q; H4 n3 q　　马到成功
, j; L" p+ k0 s9 b$ o" E
8 N+ T- B1 ]$ X& B# B5 M! Q　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

　　27
# Q* D: A+ s1 n
) D. i. F! M# Y　　名利双收

8 e4 P5 U3 d+ c. f7 R7 `　　gain both fame and wealth
9 p* W3 H/ C5 Z# C: h- @
  l) U' L6 _% \# V8 J　　28
$ f/ K: D; q3 F7 e; a
　　茅塞顿开
/ K& Y) @7 t2 o* C$ L. ^
　　be suddenly enlightened

　　29

% i) ]2 I, j6 ?( w　　没有规矩，不成方圆

6 @! R' V! W7 {7 f1 R　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
8 n5 N$ w" J0 }3 }0 ], t* D
　　30
( S( _, h# s# i# a: [2 N
　　每逢佳节倍思亲

7 j0 \! M+ O% E1 R　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天

6 s2 g, t# \$ f- j' k* Y9 x　　Man proposes; God disposes.
$ v7 v# `7 l) t# T5 F: R
　　32

2 J% N: z+ S8 W　　弄巧成拙
0 C4 Z5 V) c: _( [' ?, N1 }5 r
! t/ k  I- |/ u　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

9 ?2 C* y6 [0 {, H4 G% {6 y( v　　33
, B1 K7 ~5 v* L% Q: U- H7 P" l
3 K& k+ L$ d* E- Z* [6 F% G　　赔了夫人又折兵

6 [" V. g9 E* A# z, @　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

　　34

　　抛砖引玉
% Z5 m. Q# ]2 ?
　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
  n( G1 k0 Z) |3 T8 S# D
　　35
2 k; k4 j8 n+ V5 f9 t* N
　　破釜沉舟
4 ]# Y7 U/ \; c2 Y: l+ |9 O2 e' O
　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36

　　抢得先机
+ m. Z( g3 E3 T* n  G, j% U" c/ f
- u! i% H4 P- M& _. G. ?( l' n9 e　　take the preemptive opportunities
# Z$ Q& q: [, T7 {, i
　　37
8 @3 f. J5 R3 j1 S: O
, @* r, e! Y! c$ d4 i　　巧妇难为无米之炊
9 I6 G( ^1 h5 Z7 [* b0 o
　　One can't make bricks without straw.
; Y$ e; D+ P! k! P# p
/ Z+ _" l2 d3 h+ r% c5 k　　38
9 E/ R' N+ l$ w! @
' g/ b! @3 h' B' \4 V, h　　千里之行始于足下

* _- f7 j8 [  k5 H6 m9 R& g　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

　　39
& ~5 Z' o$ Z% C: C+ C7 l
" |0 U( r8 b; m, v　　前事不忘，后事之师
. x+ A' B* \8 ~/ ]7 y7 X
9 h& _8 @  w& T, V6 D9 l. ]　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

& Y& ?' V. M) V2 o　　40

　　前怕狼，后怕虎
+ U9 G1 I0 r5 v, I
6 P1 V# _# R1 C) a2 B( |　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
( X: @& ?- Z2 v; B. M( w. t
　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
! P# b9 Q( D; k
　　42
1 R4 \. f4 P5 }& d: I9 ^
　　瑞雪兆丰年

　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
; w% ?8 r2 i9 u5 _, `9 n+ I- p
7 q6 f4 g: n( a" ?1 t- V　　43
, r. l, @5 v: |- L. w# @7 F6 Y
　　人逢喜事精神爽

: D& M+ k/ \6 k2 }/ R4 a　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
& ~/ `1 N  L! E' W6 K3 y( v
  V$ n8 }% s5 y7 C5 u$ |7 Z　　44
. p& D8 K( e9 z3 c, M
( s2 Q2 J# m5 c　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

( s/ I, R5 e3 s& l" x  M　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
, F8 q+ k3 @1 J. j+ I+ {8 `: L* |. L
　　45
7 ?7 W8 _0 r5 R. {  m7 [
　　世外桃源
% z# r( V. K5 q" t
, e; [3 H- M# w　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

　　46

　　人之初，性本善

/ @( E6 u8 K# Q; C　　Humans are born good.

　　47
6 W0 g9 G+ c+ k/ V% n5 M
　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
. e9 l% _) E& ?* x
　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
* }. p/ ^! y, [* a& T& v
　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;

　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
2 P- y! B8 x) S! z
- j$ q- N3 a% |0 O9 ~　　49

　　三十而立
; |' X# `, G, ]/ M
# H( k1 P- Z) u: r3 `, J7 Y　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
6 W7 X* J. A# {8 Z6 Y
　　50
" |+ t5 O" P2 i. u7 S% O. @
　　水涨船高

% O( _+ I  a, y　　A ship rises with the tide

　　51
! e) J. U. `  ^: L7 F
4 z+ i! i# S* J　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.
& G, d. ?2 a% h& V8 Z
　　52

　　杀鸡用牛刀
' p) ~* ~5 \9 v3 C4 h7 B- @% n0 m
8 q  O+ c: L6 @& W7 A" t7 R　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

　　53
5 h7 W1 H5 E3 i% `& z( p5 \# y
　　实事求是

/ Y( B! }+ D9 K/ _; M　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
; o7 ?7 D+ }6 A# J6 ~5 R0 n+ ]+ }
- K" S0 ^/ C1 b, ?& V' \　　54
5 q! D) |7 R2 v% S9 c( ~
　　说曹操，曹操到
( n( Q- K2 L- w2 w9 B
* z: e8 |! ?; E& @' J2 ~9 r5 b0 M- y　　speak of the devil
9 ~# r. D4 l) [! `, x
/ p* j  T; v4 I, C　　55

7 k: [; Q+ R( a1 P　　实话实说

　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

　　56

8 h. I7 @$ l$ ]! `. T/ U" I" h　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
& K8 l0 d6 }0 B  j! L  i# N
  Z/ a& [2 U- l* a& R　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
8 B: G7 z* {+ o
　　韬光养晦
# C2 W6 R* A; k
2 y9 K* `/ K' `4 k+ ?: G. g% J1 P! k　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
+ _7 R' ^* S1 q+ c9 f( e
　　糖衣炮弹

　　sugar-coated bullets59

　　天有不测风云
: t) K4 `! ^3 s4 O9 S/ ^& r0 q# p  Z
　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

　　团结就是力量
9 z4 U" p3 e6 h7 Y# @( f
　　Unity is strength.

　　61

　　跳进黄河洗不清
$ a2 F9 H5 E# O- w4 A
. e' D' D( h- M, P　　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

7 g) @+ c) P: Q' U　　62

　　歪风邪气
! S: x' a5 f( ~. E
$ K# ~% F8 `: p% v　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

　　63
; O& F" y* k$ f. F4 M7 d" x8 S
# [& ^+ ^+ x' {3 x& s$ A　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.

6 B$ y$ n2 R$ F7 T: H+ U  M8 V　　64

　　望子成龙
' B: e3 Q4 I0 m( f+ P
, T! ~/ g$ U1 v9 Q　　hold high hopes for one's child

6 _- ?  J0 t2 z) _" a5 M6 |, \　　65
9 U/ c/ B, F. j, K
! N: Y+ X- h) r; l: @5 d2 {" \: W　　唯利是图
! w% ], F  j& l6 D
% |2 `# v% u( x5 q7 h; A4 y　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

/ ]* V5 e5 p! j6 r0 N; a　　66
4 f* D$ I; c( z2 D
　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
! D( s- Y' h# ^2 r$ h8 f  S
; n$ u$ g) i$ n- y/ U6 o1 O　　67
* t6 s7 }  i/ V$ {4 s4 a. _& f
　　无风不起浪
) m2 [2 N; U* q% ]
　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

　　68
8 r) b+ }) r  n  g( }1 S9 I
　　徇私枉法
8 x% m; u- h5 N/ p7 s! E
　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

　　69
/ I" m8 L! O' ]8 y+ x  m5 r; S; }
5 D9 e2 Z0 c8 M" E- D3 k% }　　新官上任三把火
4 a6 Q% e4 c% B  D: m: A
! Q$ O, }+ t. N6 q& K　　a new broom sweeps clean
4 f8 u! q2 E/ o
. z6 n/ O  G, W0 Z) f6 j　　70

  i, f7 k9 L; b9 c5 J* \　　蓄势待发

1 |9 V1 F1 X; r$ I, l% S0 N- a' p　　accumulate strength for a take-off

3 v! V5 S# Z# F) Q" V　　71
  l5 A/ ~! b. o2 ?) q" C) w
$ j# R7 Z+ V7 N5 r　　心想事成
$ l1 b. D+ {5 r" V$ S6 Q
　　May all your wish come true

　　72
+ n5 K: q2 j* ?* j/ \
　　心照不宣

1 _9 O* V% _9 k) q: E8 ]: y9 l' k2 S　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

　　73
) N, O. U* ^% D" E5 C8 Q; Z
　　先入为主
' _: Y0 A4 @9 v1 d
　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74

　　先下手为强
  k- k' ?! o; j# l7 t% l- }- s
　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

* q# S" a* l0 n( J; I3 H' V5 Y　　The best defense is offense.
/ @$ g7 o, x- ]0 ]) k! K9 ]2 h5 b
　　75

; v, S/ x$ p- w8 c% `　　热锅上的蚂蚁

　　ants on a hot pan

　　76

, ~4 I; ~# z' v% H# d　　现身说法
, ]0 E! M% F6 E: _: g* G
  Y( F/ H5 |4 [) X# o& K　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
+ {& g4 M) W2 S+ W" A* c" ^; ~* `
　　77

$ v  b. u2 o5 N9 v2 f" H9 c　　息事宁人
( x6 \+ N+ p% D7 N9 p8 r; i/ T
, v* U/ q3 N6 l0 c4 V0 o- a　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
: d# B2 v2 r; V/ M+ g$ V; O& T
　　78

　　循序渐进

; [  h8 C/ g4 R% B! ?0 I　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
  J2 q9 Y4 ~+ D: r$ M
' Z& F) Y3 L7 h　　79
) g$ v$ l  @  W+ S) l
: D& ~% k/ [+ J　　严以律己，宽以待人
3 U# [8 f2 Y+ t) D
　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

　　80
: s2 g9 v$ b: g% E
　　有情人终成眷属
( b/ S) B2 r: _9 p, p( h
& O7 m# M4 T9 K" H: y　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

　　有钱能使鬼推磨
- h, L  W- }0 G* d- }
　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
1 x2 k. p( {+ K* Z  H
　　有勇无谋

5 w1 T( f* ]+ y# o' j, q　　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

$ \) \  U  q% X' g2 c　　与时俱进

' e$ G* ?, [/ h0 ~6 A4 [( A　　keep pace with the times86
$ Y. a! c8 P# N) P' M1 c5 U
　　以人为本

0 c0 s. J# i% O" V) K　　people-oriented
9 z+ Y* C: p2 z- O
　　87

　　因材施教
8 y: p+ @: E2 K  _# f* i0 J! D3 m
　　teach students according to their aptitude

2 i/ n2 g$ p2 j  A# \　　88
* j" a8 s( w/ U) j% F, x
+ c  G+ A' A; O- x6 ?& U　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

' q0 P) [  w4 n2 s2 V　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

/ `/ c! _% r0 H) _! B　　89
8 N: X2 G" z: s4 M/ S; h- V
　　欲速则不达
% V3 Z% L5 {; H6 z' Y# T
% n2 r+ ]2 ^' q+ K　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.

　　90

/ q6 K. C1 K4 R# |( m. w* Z- ]　　优胜劣汰

) ?5 O' i6 P( L1 t& n0 m) i* ~) U　　survival of the fittest
2 O. {5 g4 }$ J; u
　　91

　　英雄所见略同

　　Great minds think alike.

　　92
# }2 K. s, y: {9 h
  [( l% B. |" _　　冤家宜解不宜结
6 m( Q8 y$ N3 \) y! J. B! \4 \6 c
　　Better make friends than make enemies.
, M6 S4 C3 w+ ^# j' i5 M, u5 S
2 S7 f+ V! `$ C! a/ K* q　　93
3 f( o# B+ W2 Y
　　冤假错案

　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

; C3 [' G7 E4 S0 Q3 i5 i# J　　94

　　一言既出，驷马难追
% U3 p3 m3 `  p* f5 |1 @
　　A promise is a promise.
* @+ V; x4 F( n" n9 f: F3 P
　　A real man never goes back on his words.

　　95
, Z2 |, o2 N1 j; y; s. p9 G. J" a
8 V- ~& K; F8 s# R8 Z　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure
8 X' R; D  i% r8 {
2 \2 b) v/ r: _6 ?" ?* o　　96

　　债台高筑
6 c: x, r" i/ s; `5 [" u  }; Z2 a
: q4 T, ^4 l; @; D! \& T- s　　become debt-ridden

# Q5 E* t* ]4 y" e　　97

5 I  |0 f% u+ {: r$ C4 y5 u1 v　　众矢之的
0 ^7 |2 |$ N; ^* F  T& O
/ z7 j/ ]( B4 m- Q　　target of public criticism

0 A. C& Z3 @1 M" S$ j* \* q6 Y　　98
# h9 P* l: f8 b8 ~! K9 U6 I. o
　　纸上谈兵

  p3 g0 C; o3 ], u) w, O8 e9 a7 ~　　be an armchair strategist

　　99

　　纸包不住火
, t. r) y7 ^) u) o) Q$ K4 u& h
- ^; e) a; H! A' f% C% t- ~) M　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
% G3 i; S* r) K1 l) d
- I; `, g0 h+ x' |　　100
) Y, K- ?" f" u8 `9 H$ E! n
9 q% ~$ o' Q* i# _6 k0 X　　左右为难
, Q2 r0 r1 @( I- p
　　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。