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!

9 s/ B9 t7 `# O$ P7 I" U( D- P　　01

7 O( P) [! O/ S) H' f" M1 v　　爱屋及乌
3 F# X- d0 t, p. G: M" g* A
　　Love me, love my dog.
6 y0 h  J2 x- e" v( [
& P  F9 B: V! q5 h: J　　02
. v9 y/ D% `# A+ e' D$ q
　　百闻不如一见
0 p, |/ Y5 i4 g
　　One look is worth a thousand words.
" j' B. V; b6 C% G: S( A0 U) ?
　　Seeing is believing.

2 O' y) v# U( s' ]1 V　　03
  e9 b8 O7 i; q. Z" }. y
- I8 c8 v" a1 B) @. B( d. ]" m　　比上不足，比下有余
# q. M' P/ D* F! u; k
　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
, b9 c$ e9 h% k( J9 Z+ n* w0 g
　　04
  ~, s# w, c# T# r; }& o
　　笨鸟先飞
# L/ _. I( A  m  j
　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

( o7 q2 l) D+ b" {5 w0 s; h4 Z  K　　05

) }$ Y3 ^' ?! A4 l& C0 |　　不遗余力
) i* `( p, V3 k: K/ g& Y2 `
　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
9 ]* p5 J& v3 E/ {! k% W; o
6 ~  G# ~$ v% j1 Y# T　　06
' @# N& f8 j3 t
+ P9 g$ f4 I; U3 k! q5 j　　不打不成交
. \; [. z( M$ v! C# @0 r7 g
# @7 w! }- o& a1 s4 _' }　　No discord, no concord.
) }2 i3 c7 S3 p4 I# {
) J0 g' D* L/ I3 b8 J" s　　07
: L. E1 t8 d& I% `
; Y( z( j& T( t　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul
$ ]7 V0 u2 }' S4 W- d' |
　　08

  N7 g1 r& L3 Q) |3 \: t# K　　辞旧迎新

  ]2 Q+ Q* l0 W% W　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

" i1 ]/ o$ A$ E$ R　　09
- ^1 B5 j! Q! H- M2 a0 a6 Y
　　大事化小，小事化了

' h  f4 t6 t% y' g# A( F5 m0 a" {　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
2 g9 U: D# R, t7 r. @
% M* |! O+ s: _5 f# P0 J  X$ @) X, `　　10
4 A0 z4 o- a9 F% h2 Z
　　大开眼界
6 u" i0 h: w' U" W' o; g
  h8 r; l: Z- N# t　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
, F( m* r, B5 d% i
　　11
  v, x) W& K' j
　　国泰民安

0 ?& G8 C1 A: ?! Q　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
6 t. S* O, L2 S* _& l
: l" v# g" J: U* Z; {　　12
4 F& K  f- K6 [1 b. v7 y
　　过犹不及

　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
+ z1 G8 z& P6 R1 k4 T
　　too much is as bad as too little
# ?8 ]# K5 t: J: O6 |: e
. s0 Q! \  C) H4 }- E　　13
) c% h: L& Y8 ]2 ?0 X
! f1 e3 {' [5 K/ n' @! Z　　好了伤疤忘了疼
4 _* J& S* G( y# \! l/ C
　　once on shore, one prays no more

8 v' ^: U9 ~! L' g+ R; o　　14
) a7 k6 z* o; k
9 J# H3 h4 ]4 ]2 V# n　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
: O0 d% O- h; _' k: J
　　Bad news travels fast.

! B1 B6 ?8 e! E0 z! l　　15

8 V/ E9 X  t6 g! l　　和气生财
. ~. U1 M( a# v3 {
　　harmony brings wealth;

　　friendliness is conducive to business success

  c4 W( S+ X  k5 s( l$ c　　16
. r8 ?/ X0 q$ ~* j# s* G# a
' V# L5 A' L. o　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn

# ^3 F7 N. a% G- q9 z' ]+ g　　17
: [5 z  s7 T/ Q6 ~
　　既往不咎
; Y7 ~) M6 n+ L- m) E$ c
　　let bygones be bygones
5 P+ ]& U5 G7 p7 [7 R( R
- A* W: f! \# Y9 |　　18

　　金无足赤，人无完人

& U; d5 p2 _# x5 F　　There are spots even on the sun.

: E6 n$ B6 Y! K- x　　19

! i6 y4 G& ?4 n. Q; q　　金玉满堂
7 b& \3 w; R% i& [5 i8 X
　　Treasures fill the home.

9 w# q1 }! j8 K# U7 C, U0 C4 D, a　　20
# w( P5 J$ t  G: ?9 h; E
/ e/ k! }" }  h8 b- q9 r　　脚踏实地
0 E% K0 z) M/ \1 E
　　be down-to-earth

* A0 T3 J, M) N6 V5 _/ H　　21

　　脚踩两只船
+ A9 r" P' J1 `2 E: ?& L3 x
% c% [  ~$ W( v2 m0 r  A( k8 W0 |　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

5 t% E) F3 W; y) E3 ^8 A; \# R　　22

　　君子之交淡如水

4 H- L& {' j9 t* Z7 z& w0 f/ o) S　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
7 g" d. {8 {& T2 N4 g4 G. J: m5 c
　　23
' g* \" Y3 d" \* j
　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

# S' R) G% ^5 O) _+ M9 S　　cut and dried; cliché
0 Q, P/ A' I$ B
　　24

　　礼尚往来
8 a) q  Q, D, _- T
% U7 ?4 O- c+ J# m　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
" M0 Z( Q: \" H/ W, f
) ]9 [/ B2 x# v5 z　　25
. Z1 J7 [' r+ G, E7 n1 ~
& j7 s- T! Z/ H/ R4 _3 l  U; f) g/ d$ W　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.
- e" q5 ^$ x5 p% p5 c- F, g
5 F& e4 ^; x3 _2 N! \　　26

　　马到成功
) n+ X$ m; b' [0 o+ G
　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

7 ?: z2 j* U8 d9 T8 b; |　　27
: ^: o4 ]! c9 N, {3 E+ Q
. L7 e% z# J6 G  Y　　名利双收

' E  v* E( k3 Z6 S3 K) d　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28
3 |9 P7 i; [' s; I, F7 A
　　茅塞顿开

, z  b/ K4 Z$ O% |　　be suddenly enlightened

8 t1 u) ~. b, D* z9 ~" L1 _　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆
. f5 p* S5 }" s: S* ]! _
% a; }3 B. C. R* f　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
0 `0 @+ g3 ?2 G: z9 l* ^8 Y% t! p
; @9 r+ \! E1 L# G# p　　30

) s  C; `6 w' w3 W: N+ ~/ w　　每逢佳节倍思亲

　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
8 F9 n) x+ m$ u# s. ]9 {
/ l( k( j) o+ C1 @: z　　31
# \# a( |4 D% U, \0 k: ^/ s" {1 M
. W% w8 p% L+ E　　谋事在人，成事在天

　　Man proposes; God disposes.
( ~% G' T  Q! V6 [
! t2 i( C) b" z8 s　　32

　　弄巧成拙

% P* H+ G6 A9 [/ w! b　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
+ o, h. ?- M7 w$ M9 a
& y, ]. W& h5 O9 S% G　　33
% _/ p4 H/ c, }9 M
　　赔了夫人又折兵

　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
6 n3 j+ ?& p4 a1 e7 @: g3 y
　　34

9 K. K5 e, b- Y. j$ W* `　　抛砖引玉

　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
- y5 h8 k& C! r3 a8 B, M1 {
　　35
* w4 r4 R* ^, M. x
+ t, ^1 v+ F. u. i4 }　　破釜沉舟
1 R3 o2 k" }* Q
　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
- R& O) y* V' G1 u
6 {! J8 b) A' F8 Q8 l; Z7 b　　36
- L+ j5 k. X; j" |* v
4 A6 e8 v/ }; x　　抢得先机
- |$ o; l# Y0 F
; m! p7 j9 Q" \2 Y4 B　　take the preemptive opportunities
# H" N& Q- K/ p% B
* t- j7 G; w( }' A4 g8 ~8 G+ u) I" E7 `　　37
, p$ P6 F7 T0 a6 m8 p8 F
7 ?& C! Y0 t; }* ?, F. E5 y- z　　巧妇难为无米之炊

! k* s# X4 g4 m  M+ I/ w3 k　　One can't make bricks without straw.
0 {7 o% E1 Y% M1 m+ p
! u: R* N: ]# i& e6 D$ u+ G1 J  b　　38
3 f3 k' F8 E/ ^
% H, M; |3 U8 Q+ a　　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
3 B4 Z: D/ E; u) z9 S( e% n
" }* P* ?3 F- V. T1 B　　前事不忘，后事之师

6 S, |$ L, i3 n, `6 w　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40

　　前怕狼，后怕虎
8 W+ \7 m" f$ Z0 l- y0 n: Z! p, j
# B9 S  k2 w$ s6 h　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
; q! q* b3 ~" N/ H  o! o- V" s
( H0 P1 S7 ?& _　　41
4 F. l" C1 t7 N( ?8 b  X7 n
　　强龙难压地头蛇

5 S6 H1 v9 o+ L! u" k% y$ x# o　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

# ^# o* j) P) U6 H　　42

8 C) P2 C. e$ ~8 H　　瑞雪兆丰年
9 [% o6 t: z, _: O+ v! u3 @& w& h- `
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43

* u; j; x) m! `; r) p$ S* j　　人逢喜事精神爽

+ d, W  v* d7 ]2 _! u　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

0 {2 K- W( D4 i; J" q　　44

! \3 P5 ^) |: @: G" j# C; l　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45

8 B" M! _; A2 Y& |　　世外桃源

; I- W$ X6 d5 z$ Q0 y1 \　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
$ b: S7 c) o4 O& a( U: v! d
　　46

+ _" r) `+ q5 D, F1 G　　人之初，性本善
& v( v3 u3 F# C, `. K
　　Humans are born good.
5 F* j# j9 j2 k& V
6 q6 _) {) G& d　　47
1 c, e. ]  ^( L' B2 L  {) W& e
* I. d3 M1 h4 p; y% n( v　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
# g. ^% f4 Q: P
　　48

( k0 ~. |. T0 J: u　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

" e) z4 r; x1 [　　a blessing in disguise;
1 J& E3 b2 z( \4 C8 u
　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

　　49
9 r) `" {8 i$ {  Z3 N4 i  q
9 N3 ^' D+ s, M( G% Q; P: {　　三十而立
5 l% O. T! k' r" T8 g0 ^
　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
) r( y/ a0 m. L: `' u; j
　　50

7 ]2 [) o- K3 h# r! T4 a( d　　水涨船高

　　A ship rises with the tide

. h8 N" F$ j( O8 q+ B; X　　51

　　时不我待

, h4 L* [7 @  Y' T　　Time and tide wait for no man.

7 C; ]$ [6 a* C) \4 \　　52
6 M1 i2 @  O2 A# X# ]% Z
4 ]5 C0 c0 ^0 J- C# ?% c　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
1 D& v3 b$ g, O# H
　　53

* M- s" x8 k; @2 K' d　　实事求是
+ u. ]4 x; S4 k" Y. A* e
* e# O( g' [3 n& y. ]: C　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
- U0 r+ T) g& j  n9 B, w* L3 K
　　54

! Q* B- I1 a  L& J　　说曹操，曹操到

; B' @+ k; Q" p0 O9 b　　speak of the devil
" o3 J% X1 _$ z% o! e+ `  H
　　55
& C: q, ]5 K" w$ S; e- b
% e# l7 J8 F4 O3 M( K　　实话实说

2 B0 J3 C8 J% h6 t8 R  r　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

　　56
7 f# ^% e' r4 _& [* R+ @  R! Q
1 u7 h4 k9 Q$ D　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

0 Z) o% }7 N+ ^/ d) l8 M8 j" C　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
( `) z, p( I) u- M+ R! P! m
　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

　　糖衣炮弹
* f. |2 N/ |, k8 K) [2 R
# Z1 e3 M+ n# J　　sugar-coated bullets59

　　天有不测风云
! L5 V1 `' E6 H! ^
　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

　　团结就是力量

$ `  T! e' W1 t( w4 Q2 U# e( Q* L　　Unity is strength.
4 r5 R' Q* u9 q! @) W5 y( k: [
2 S' r" a. G7 ]: d. k. c) Q　　61
/ L9 O8 p5 }" r" h: ]# i0 {
" m- J' T/ T2 q/ ^　　跳进黄河洗不清

9 D+ f/ ~  O, K, R8 ]! 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

　　62
) j0 A# T! R, E
　　歪风邪气

$ @/ u' W$ W* p* ], v. h% J　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

4 F& p; B0 C" @( h! X) f　　63

( ?! C6 R( h) F6 G　　物以类聚，人以群分
) a& U% l( n- d% e9 w4 Q
9 R3 }) z0 O4 Q. {; `　　Birds of a feather flock together.

$ i( u# D9 M8 M. r　　64

, V3 k0 S3 u5 j* y' v　　望子成龙
  S8 {9 k: ~$ ^& J+ M/ A+ D
　　hold high hopes for one's child
& B: p& p( A8 |
　　65
) I" O% y* n$ c0 N- f0 v$ N* u
　　唯利是图
; e" g8 w9 N8 G2 q: y
. y$ H& _2 S/ |8 g) ]& z　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

) ?. i% B- ~: _) j% d　　66
/ Y6 S9 b* [/ K) G+ n% C6 z$ z4 @
0 |8 B. D/ F2 N1 @- O　　无中生有

2 i" W/ ^6 h$ a7 g' y# J8 Y; E　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
7 i' R! s( d' k4 \# I0 {
9 t8 o" O; }( F( G7 W　　67

6 A2 ]' P. c  p, _0 j& x　　无风不起浪

" c. j3 I  @$ v　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

' D5 C. C8 h8 e& j　　68
1 P. |6 x8 C8 _
' l; C% W) _7 y　　徇私枉法

　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

　　69

7 r* _+ J7 K8 ]  b9 Y. @4 q# M5 g　　新官上任三把火
* G4 o, F; d7 d9 m
　　a new broom sweeps clean
. [2 L# r; ~4 W' @
7 A3 P5 y5 h/ f' {/ e　　70
1 J4 Y7 C  \5 s% U2 k" Z/ k
- _- M9 o/ q) C　　蓄势待发

& D$ Y' u9 c# Y% U# l- G6 R　　accumulate strength for a take-off
: e9 t. k: ?! z2 N# Y, t3 D
　　71
. S& r# \7 F' S9 ]( a2 C# z4 [  Z
2 g7 b1 h0 R3 r4 @　　心想事成

　　May all your wish come true

0 r, H* Y- S/ t% P　　72
, b) S- h: W- ?$ D6 P' b! t
; P5 q3 x, V) o  y( }- P　　心照不宣

　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
4 p- c4 }; B* d! m
　　73

　　先入为主
( d/ Q' \" B; A8 V0 T
2 m3 |0 \* \% N　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74

7 ^  |  ]; U$ ]4 d% P) y　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

8 y8 Q$ }* ~8 f5 C　　The best defense is offense.
! S" m' l  u5 ~2 w7 E
3 I. H: C) w7 T& ?$ k　　75
2 T$ X' H) X! ?0 b7 h" O
　　热锅上的蚂蚁
, A) a. g1 o: l1 l% _' ?, x3 a2 y
　　ants on a hot pan

4 }8 k  `5 s! i4 b% g0 I5 T/ \& M% u* Y　　76
$ C5 Y. [- C+ a2 _1 G; T' c# B
, [; I9 y% x" t4 y　　现身说法
! |, y3 O3 k! Y& Z; |8 e
+ d( }- H" O; P$ C　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

9 X% `8 R! u" _8 m  O　　77

: c; K' r) f& f* |, O# J$ W　　息事宁人

* m3 E# w2 a4 v% [5 `1 r- b* R　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
6 W* O' ?/ o6 M2 X1 p# S
7 z, O  @0 j0 V6 p& c3 L6 ?　　78
! ?+ o' l* t; v' F
　　循序渐进

　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order

　　79

　　严以律己，宽以待人

/ ?" E9 k) U* M: a$ o　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
- ~2 E. b7 a/ x3 o
( N4 ]& X, I4 @1 u( r$ E) T　　80

　　有情人终成眷属
; b# |- @& p, ]6 t4 P
* Z3 u) \1 T5 r& N9 d8 a　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

/ f" z# p7 C" V! G　　有钱能使鬼推磨
1 X) ~2 }% \: `- N! Y7 P3 `" Q
! p) i( L% U* k" d2 k* c5 \　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

$ p, h. X) c% k+ H9 p4 x1 \　　有识之士
- J, r" J$ T- _* b1 W$ s" Z* m3 K  A
　　a man of insight83

% Y) c5 w. q5 J) U8 b3 ~3 V1 v　　有勇无谋

8 H* P# s0 k! E" m) r2 U　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会
6 {* L# U1 Z) [6 {7 `) _( [4 `) u
5 @# y! J8 {# [; S# ]0 S1 o　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进
* q! H$ D6 \" P* q
　　keep pace with the times86
1 i# P; d* F9 b/ W1 r" F
5 _" ]  u. G, F! Z) o8 A5 q% `　　以人为本

& A* q% H* c( z+ l　　people-oriented
1 W  V; F5 x# K/ ?, c3 y3 I+ z/ d
　　87
. d! S' t' q$ o( R4 S
, m/ V- F! r- d3 ~  n( h  \3 J( H7 B　　因材施教

　　teach students according to their aptitude
4 V$ ?* Y  F2 p* X* E- B
6 g. c' t) `# ^% g$ i  P) X2 y　　88
2 u3 l& H' d9 s3 h- @1 _5 e
　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
/ `, g4 x- O& }$ ?9 }
$ u1 O" i0 h; a7 A7 m& a! t( ^　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
# e( d4 }% C; q+ ]1 B- Q6 j$ Z* k
　　89
0 G& P! P0 A( V
$ g% E- j7 o5 y  @1 v; D9 o& D　　欲速则不达

　　Haste makes waste.
: U( V- {1 ]( e: U+ n
/ N' u- `2 \# `' W/ I　　More haste, less speed.
3 D, f5 Z- N0 y3 G! A- m0 y  m  V
/ ]) O1 s' \7 T9 _7 z! v　　90
" z* e! K) O2 `, W
　　优胜劣汰
  o9 E9 V1 r0 f! G, Y
, E! k# A$ s1 v9 [　　survival of the fittest

* C: d/ q) m; ?2 E　　91

0 Q- q4 @8 `" v0 J　　英雄所见略同
3 Q7 B) Q2 l7 j' W7 |: M6 z6 T
　　Great minds think alike.
& x( s: d( [, V  B- U
　　92

　　冤家宜解不宜结

2 f, S+ {0 B$ \9 I　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93
1 }2 a5 @6 p% r# ~: z' `
　　冤假错案

, m6 V2 \- ^6 H% w# K( n　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
+ b  h% o' G* m# Q. Y9 |% d
　　一言既出，驷马难追

4 ^- N% D; Y; }) w/ v　　A promise is a promise.
# O4 I4 J) T# D: }  m0 c
　　A real man never goes back on his words.

　　95

! l: r' S+ S7 W9 o) X5 R　　招财进宝

* N3 {4 R5 T+ z( s) O" `/ Z3 i6 d) J　　bring in wealth and treasure

　　96
- R# n" z: y' z9 P+ ^, `0 R" G
　　债台高筑

3 h7 g7 e8 M, d3 j, {- L　　become debt-ridden
/ ^9 ]$ K6 ]4 g: V# A, i- z
% h5 j0 {; F! _2 D3 V　　97

　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism

　　98

　　纸上谈兵

　　be an armchair strategist

　　99
" _: z8 n* [+ v) w, D
　　纸包不住火

0 K, `" h8 u& o& J% L　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
6 K6 d. o4 d2 E1 ?- m
4 C- i6 P; i' z( M! k# X; G/ e　　What's done by night appears by day.
3 G# s8 m. D) ~' P7 Z% r) J& ]
　　100
  Y2 r- L9 C$ f9 B4 @- l
5 B* `" E; ]' C0 m　　左右为难
0 @) `7 U0 s6 y
　　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。