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!

2 j& B. B, n9 C: m* a  p1 {. }+ d　　01
. c( z  H# V; o8 ?
' J$ f: D% D. d3 B2 U: w) e+ a　　爱屋及乌

( C6 q* V/ ~% ?, ^　　Love me, love my dog.

　　02

0 c! i$ K4 O3 C　　百闻不如一见

　　One look is worth a thousand words.
/ d, s. L; R8 O2 v' L& c, \; j. T
　　Seeing is believing.
% X% _2 ]1 K- i. r
　　03
* c+ L1 d; }" e+ K3 J4 C( K
　　比上不足，比下有余
1 y( R; V1 B7 c/ b! l! M- M! P
9 f6 j9 g- Y. ]. C　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

! C; a& p! b9 H9 c! N　　04
8 q/ r- ~' b- z! t- q& x+ A
$ [( R) E. L( f) G+ r  X/ @1 J　　笨鸟先飞

　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

* j) y* T2 n6 I& S" i, ^9 q; v& ^, ~　　05

　　不遗余力
3 {* l& F2 _$ D
　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

　　06
7 m6 i- r6 M" `: g+ E+ k' q( _
　　不打不成交
! m/ d3 R3 m, {; @6 F
　　No discord, no concord.

　　07

　　拆东墙补西墙
, M6 x  C- z! x0 I
　　rob Peter to pay Paul

　　08
8 X! j( e1 ?7 ^. Z- @) y2 U
: G4 Z  K7 Z1 T& r( x' ?# V　　辞旧迎新
" _8 u* p9 c% H8 N1 e
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
0 X& n: K8 `6 k! z+ c( u8 G
　　09

+ E, J% O* d& |- ]( o　　大事化小，小事化了
6 l, n  @9 U: d8 r
　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
  h  e1 L1 _3 W+ W2 ^
! d: Z' @: t6 R$ U　　10
% a/ `+ E3 T$ h& \- C! E+ c
　　大开眼界
7 f# m! L' {% A7 S
　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
" l$ g" [8 s# j+ H
　　11

( c, T5 M: d$ w7 p* r% k　　国泰民安
7 L' R1 K% }. E
3 P5 N* c% B/ o* r2 H, N: i- T& ?　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
) T. h7 E0 }6 O& }; N
0 j9 T* z5 i3 a. {7 k$ j6 a# Y+ H; N　　12
6 [$ t8 Y7 e. S, f5 C2 F7 ^* G
　　过犹不及
# M- U% T( l) e2 y9 y* L- H
　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
2 E9 U! C4 |: H( m) _( J; P
9 _5 e+ l) p8 ?1 @　　too much is as bad as too little

3 Q: y  x2 ]' g/ V7 n. z6 [8 J　　13
& L& N4 g4 B- [6 w
　　好了伤疤忘了疼

　　once on shore, one prays no more
9 a( s1 r, V: z* a% b
5 n9 {' s% J( i, }5 Y0 Q( @　　14

* n8 ~" q) A% C: |* Z: X; f" N　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

( }& U& _: g" V　　Bad news travels fast.

　　15

* ]' [5 i5 i7 o( ?  I# k　　和气生财

# q2 \3 e! _$ u* I* H0 C　　harmony brings wealth;
& q0 [, y, }0 K7 c
3 g" t7 F* E1 R* M　　friendliness is conducive to business success

7 \5 R$ x3 J7 L" ?　　16
" N: j3 i5 U' I4 l
　　活到老学到老
& B' j2 R( g/ s) n8 a" k
& \' _9 H8 i- B8 I　　never too old to learn

　　17

) P: Z- E& Y  S2 ~9 j) ~$ Q+ f　　既往不咎
2 V6 W- M7 ~) g3 [# u
3 Z' Y# l* @/ _$ B9 @( ^* q& q　　let bygones be bygones
! ^$ L/ g: x" q* U
　　18

. @+ b" v# A) b5 {2 z　　金无足赤，人无完人
3 |( D! |! I1 j$ E" d( ]
　　There are spots even on the sun.

　　19

/ j% Y0 {1 e; ?2 f/ f9 Q% s　　金玉满堂
8 k6 R& u5 W2 s( }" B
　　Treasures fill the home.

0 F% }0 \' p) A% k　　20

7 |6 b$ p8 U1 B7 S  M6 E4 l　　脚踏实地
6 G  o7 V3 E" l. I" ^% l9 {
　　be down-to-earth

5 V) v4 j9 _: c8 s6 n6 Y0 |7 x5 f　　21
' v  y# I$ }' z0 g
　　脚踩两只船

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

　　22
/ J, i5 ?4 G; c- X* h
　　君子之交淡如水
6 ^0 I; C3 i4 O) h
　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

3 G# e" h2 P$ \. g& n# E7 d6 C5 {　　23

, n0 `( c4 L2 e6 h* F' n3 i　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
4 m4 S( {% g% @; A8 L6 s2 w
　　cut and dried; cliché

, ?# y0 G6 w6 P　　24

　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25
- Z5 N0 b0 [2 i4 q, C3 U; A# N4 [% H
- ]2 ^2 l4 b' L/ U6 I& S$ x　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.

! N) e% G% `# K# H% A" j* ~  ?" u0 U　　26

　　马到成功

5 [1 \# ]- n4 M4 @0 B) g　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
& O3 x9 |. L1 M2 M) x5 Z
　　27
+ E1 e8 D. l4 b
　　名利双收
5 r+ ~! |5 _3 s6 C+ f& ?
　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28
9 W- Y: t: E2 h* J" X3 B( `
　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened
; D* W& x% F4 A4 r& e5 m0 g
　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆
+ l* d, n$ P& b# n  F
　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
( V, E, ?; B) @
3 {  d( }, ?1 g　　30
/ i' F9 Z& k. E6 b7 I
　　每逢佳节倍思亲
; u; X( s& j/ c
" _: O* S0 d3 `; V　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

　　31

3 D( Q% {! O- H  H7 n　　谋事在人，成事在天
4 ~1 h. ^: `9 P( x4 J  J
　　Man proposes; God disposes.

　　32
/ ?0 d5 S& F. U- \2 B, d1 k
1 D( W6 T9 Z- Z8 R　　弄巧成拙
7 e& P+ I2 P9 P; ?# d8 r
　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

/ j% r7 _. o% S　　33

　　赔了夫人又折兵

: v7 }+ t( L0 ]. k- V3 C/ b- d　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
9 n( `+ x0 P1 e  W
　　34

　　抛砖引玉

. O8 {' A* n2 o% E  l　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

　　35
8 V. R2 v+ E$ d8 u$ m# i( p6 ~
  b+ |% ?+ K, C$ B　　破釜沉舟
# e  G/ T* L( C7 }+ Y
$ P& F' u/ C  ]8 q1 }# y' O　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

8 h4 d0 L; l( [9 W# `7 ^0 w/ s; X　　36
, I, F$ x$ _* B- O
; R3 }4 d9 V9 {6 u. i& F　　抢得先机

　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37
. a! N( a2 u; v+ W! A0 K
# m3 z0 y! Y0 i: q9 \. t　　巧妇难为无米之炊
( W. n! I9 ~* ~; H5 }& {
+ G/ M6 u$ w9 C  }* y% S　　One can't make bricks without straw.
8 ?1 i% U3 G: n% W
6 ~8 u1 b) [+ Q　　38
! O+ J' [# k. P+ |' }
* ^2 _" k, t" q/ O. H4 l  g( V　　千里之行始于足下
) F& R2 c& l. k! P( j. J
% C- P* u4 W( O6 J! ]5 v% }　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

) M! V; b3 |( u, E3 ]6 O0 z- a; ]　　39
1 K( l' r$ J/ p. T3 H! l
' q5 k2 \5 l$ M' w　　前事不忘，后事之师
& ?# d; ?" s2 O* E7 g
　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40

" N5 k4 J+ _5 t: H' H/ \　　前怕狼，后怕虎
9 h+ {# m9 u+ h7 \9 v7 I+ e2 b
0 B7 J9 l2 H6 m7 y+ i* L2 o　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
* @1 ]8 t6 ~& o. {& J
　　41
+ c3 A! l+ |# D$ h+ Q
　　强龙难压地头蛇
, G7 a9 D9 e, R
3 h9 N! L4 X( W9 h: E) ?4 h　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42

　　瑞雪兆丰年
" O. H% I9 B2 X3 v( ^8 ]
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43

　　人逢喜事精神爽
( p* Z. x- ]. ?2 [3 C  y
. _' X! u  x% K" |  f) N3 s$ t# }　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
( R5 i3 I/ G! n! F; Y' b
　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
  x  O9 G" U' n* W6 C* b# i8 I9 L
! A  G2 a7 R" G　　45

　　世外桃源
0 \8 ]2 e4 A8 y0 s* P7 O( ]+ m+ q5 [
; X1 v( F4 W0 Y, l! _* m0 `　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

　　46

　　人之初，性本善
4 _/ B% z, L; N# ~7 P' \
　　Humans are born good.
& [4 l# j8 M8 S/ Z" |0 b8 `
! j& h: o) ~6 I: n　　47
2 `; r4 f; h& P; |0 F# [7 t7 h: _
+ O1 K+ ~$ g% e; `: ~　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
( g8 c  H# I7 y/ A# m
　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
/ \# {3 T3 F# }" `. j! O: M
8 s* \  ]7 g7 T3 @4 Y　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
3 o5 K2 I9 x6 e- s
) s9 o! {- Z% @8 K　　a blessing in disguise;
" V1 A3 x, {9 E6 s" E8 d
　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

　　49
7 A! v, e- U- ^3 y: {. n2 \
　　三十而立
2 P/ q/ R: Y( V3 M- w* y% S# C7 b* d
4 {0 Z+ c. Y3 S1 i5 f: w/ ]　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
) g( _2 U7 n0 k4 o
　　50
' w* a0 `$ r8 [  P! T
% G& x, k( Q* j　　水涨船高

0 I) S/ |- R% \; ~: U. j　　A ship rises with the tide

/ q/ h0 r8 Y; C2 m# `　　51
' N+ i8 L' @% O& G
　　时不我待
5 o7 X7 A* z- G+ H# l- w2 g
　　Time and tide wait for no man.
% j% \: h/ z. H3 K+ i& f
, e3 I8 J2 x3 z0 |, N! @5 ]) y　　52

+ L4 C% _4 k* R' e- R/ |4 |　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

; L$ e9 G+ W. J& k　　53
1 t7 E$ p8 v( s: X" r% d
　　实事求是

6 _/ ~& E& K0 k- L# u' M4 n　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
: o8 n6 c; T- V. Z8 y
　　54
" r% e% I- z- ^; u' Q
　　说曹操，曹操到
' E4 R, @$ ?) _9 s+ d
3 M: Y" o  Y. [% [　　speak of the devil
1 @# [/ k9 p2 G! `- u. ?
　　55
/ v/ t1 W6 t6 H. m. Z  ^
　　实话实说

5 `) c# Y( ^" X& e　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

5 J: E4 X4 E6 ?/ `) h8 p% c9 X　　56

　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
% f1 i& O* L% Y" ^6 q8 k6 U5 p
7 S  M3 d7 r% [4 E+ n　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57

/ E! i' j- p; `& n　　韬光养晦
8 Q3 O) n! c$ h  M9 T3 y$ k
6 j0 W9 h* {# @+ n　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
/ F! }4 c% V  l, g( |, w$ O
　　糖衣炮弹
/ B" U: W. Z8 d
　　sugar-coated bullets59
2 s! s* c+ Y5 ]" `
　　天有不测风云

" K! T! |! [4 [2 v% J　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
' h4 I( S) n# @
　　团结就是力量

/ C9 g8 r4 ?! @9 w6 g  P　　Unity is strength.
2 n- E6 m4 k; o" ^3 ]5 F& O' a# A
　　61
7 b: s) Q& }' g( C% y( B% _
　　跳进黄河洗不清

　　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
, t: H# C4 O: h8 {
　　62

% i% `" n: F) l3 m; D1 f; k- J( n　　歪风邪气

9 t% q1 `9 B3 K6 }+ j+ Y6 f5 C　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
9 n+ I8 U( y1 y% T
! v. a0 D, J( d% U8 N% }+ M0 p- h　　63

3 M: P2 ~; z- M# N　　物以类聚，人以群分
- |1 M* L0 C9 E% S, ?
' t/ ~6 a  l* b2 e　　Birds of a feather flock together.

　　64

　　望子成龙
! }$ `7 V0 }' V, Y# o
　　hold high hopes for one's child
; R2 }3 g# T5 q2 Z3 A
　　65
$ B' n. k" O) O- m  S
2 q; i. x" B3 F7 O: m/ }　　唯利是图
0 H% ?* s4 Q& v4 `, |% o
　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

. F8 `2 m- M7 J4 G　　66

8 u9 P! K* T5 J) z, H6 V　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
3 c% Y3 p# e: `4 H% i' |
6 x2 N/ {: w% _0 [$ ?" h　　67

　　无风不起浪

　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
8 }( P/ l7 ?3 W7 t+ A
　　68
5 I" p6 o  {% c( U$ U
　　徇私枉法

) f- @; M+ a3 [' m$ s! l! \+ u# v　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
$ M6 r1 b- P4 O2 |2 r4 L
; k  s* e8 a! m4 C# f　　69

　　新官上任三把火
( i- {% i( F+ V# e4 u: x# v
" Z2 X4 s8 B/ ?8 p% b1 q　　a new broom sweeps clean

! _  f& F  N) }$ g: Z　　70

　　蓄势待发
" f) f- q6 e- J% l" C" `- Q
　　accumulate strength for a take-off

　　71
( D9 ~2 @- o% m. [0 B9 ]2 g1 ^+ P3 R
* u, G' G; K* J! _　　心想事成

　　May all your wish come true
  h" Y5 w3 ]" B
　　72

% @9 g4 G7 b+ N" J) w: k/ C" N　　心照不宣

　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
: ?/ D4 G# |: ^- Q
　　73

6 J& Y5 m' C& t4 {　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

4 x9 g0 H- P5 [% t8 s( m$ B8 d  q　　74
; K6 ^  l: S: T4 H5 g" N
4 F* f- U3 g: T　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
" B& N. v1 N% y4 f: J1 B
8 J4 c' F( r4 N& a　　The best defense is offense.

　　75
, N' m+ x! g3 T  {1 ?" W8 [* n
. V& i# m$ E) H$ _' F0 ]　　热锅上的蚂蚁

  R# E9 a1 r& F7 P" K6 S& }　　ants on a hot pan
1 M, J  e7 X/ J+ ~- Q
　　76

　　现身说法
1 P8 n9 X5 W& u, L2 Q7 \& W
0 ~" }7 o) L; f6 S, w　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
/ w. v: i" Y0 m' G
, t1 E' {' }0 u* k1 g9 n# L　　77

　　息事宁人

　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
9 S5 l- `& A; P
　　78
, w' x" t; \0 a! }% h7 R
# \* d4 k1 [; d0 q7 r9 I! U　　循序渐进
; Q- q0 b: j$ u; o/ Y- e
7 _* v2 T) u$ Z　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
! Q  X6 g- g$ l& m; b2 S2 {
4 A# ?5 S+ ]- c$ f　　79
7 l* ~9 N; R7 f
　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
; `4 e3 L) y( Q, Y
8 M* }, U3 u% ?8 D　　80
) ^+ {- |$ R6 ^9 }+ r* r2 Y9 L4 i
　　有情人终成眷属
3 i& u; f$ \& ^" N3 X, U
　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

　　有钱能使鬼推磨

: m6 d1 @+ M4 `　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士
/ Q# N* C2 g- }$ a# P
　　a man of insight83

　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会

/ T# G2 z/ d4 F2 g! ]- B+ ~. Z　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进

& S& l0 O4 t7 z, I( n( L& f. ]　　keep pace with the times86
  b% P9 N( f; {( h
7 I1 N2 P; v6 P. r) c# N. Q　　以人为本

　　people-oriented
9 b  {3 o9 O2 ?( s3 H9 F
3 p3 B) O+ I7 r: j% c+ |　　87

　　因材施教

　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88

　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

% r/ h+ x8 f# v5 {& b# e+ `　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

　　89

5 T! F/ b( C3 K6 `5 I7 Z　　欲速则不达
  F/ T$ E. b0 |+ l' V% x
　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.

0 S9 [. C2 ?; H1 A0 q- x, n　　90
  z3 ^0 B" C" f
9 F+ P2 F! v2 k$ B! `- s. Z　　优胜劣汰
; x1 n; J. M7 g% j9 Z
& L! d: c; \8 G7 }! c　　survival of the fittest

　　91
% f. h8 a( g. _- S: K) h$ A& q
　　英雄所见略同

/ x/ y! x1 E- C. a　　Great minds think alike.

5 {# Q# i# \! b7 `+ c　　92

/ @. X; P5 i% }　　冤家宜解不宜结
4 p( y0 J; g, v7 ]! t; U1 t1 u
　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93
; I& e+ |) n3 [! v0 Y; V
　　冤假错案

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

3 ~! v" h5 {- k' c# Z6 F　　94

# G( z# o! c' S) P　　一言既出，驷马难追
  u. d: K# W# \7 [/ I% F6 N& B; z
　　A promise is a promise.
% D' j2 x, q0 U
　　A real man never goes back on his words.
; U0 ?0 V1 V. `# C. _5 j, R) q! j
3 z2 z: U2 s4 O5 o　　95

6 [1 [* E# k0 W　　招财进宝
3 L" j" d& ~! m; k' {$ l5 ~3 P- g
　　bring in wealth and treasure
* f6 X1 f, P9 X6 H+ J
　　96

0 r0 C1 M' |- }- t1 r　　债台高筑
7 O5 {- `6 J3 A2 ^9 ^' o6 @) x
　　become debt-ridden

- M" `7 B) q+ j: R& P( K　　97
0 H  z) j& @0 ^
  _2 b- d6 K" T4 b% F1 Y　　众矢之的
) q6 U, `! ^* R; J
, S3 p1 ~6 [0 N: V2 g$ q& x' l; N　　target of public criticism

# @: ~6 w5 S$ |; j; m/ }　　98

3 Z2 U4 c" e) ?1 J$ I　　纸上谈兵
' _& T2 Z7 R7 [
3 c% S% F+ s1 r% v/ `　　be an armchair strategist
0 q9 ]# ?7 B. e% C7 R" c7 H. C/ {" J
　　99
9 L6 v% |/ Z3 f/ K) t) B1 P# x) B
　　纸包不住火

( B" m' Y2 I# i- R9 i1 e　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.

# [' r; Q+ n0 A' B2 G$ b5 b　　100

. V0 v; x' J" j5 L　　左右为难
& T1 T" ]9 s$ X1 j
　　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。