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!
( x  M4 x5 v: \1 j2 P7 w5 C
　　01

　　爱屋及乌

0 F' Q" O4 E. T4 E; w! ~9 p　　Love me, love my dog.
% `2 E. ?' W; j/ g  X3 E
　　02

　　百闻不如一见
) L* {% ^( ~: |2 P$ `/ y
7 }. U0 L7 c4 X5 X　　One look is worth a thousand words.
- J0 U8 e  s& c& x( x# `1 Q! n
　　Seeing is believing.
7 G. Z0 p) L* e! l3 ]8 G/ L& K) c' R
　　03
4 H# @  h& u( d. }# v
　　比上不足，比下有余
1 l/ M2 J* y; Q; v. o
- e! v# N4 M, F. u, c' N　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

　　04

5 d5 Y2 @* k) B0 g　　笨鸟先飞
/ {1 f% G+ y. J5 s8 u* ^* j
: x& ^3 }4 O! C9 j- o$ b' [0 T　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

5 T% f) x# |, A　　05

　　不遗余力

8 |: J( s, x& k5 t　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
1 ]+ w6 n$ f  {; l+ h, L
　　06

, W" I  ]& j6 j2 A8 P7 I2 k9 O( M　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.
" W! A8 s1 }0 K
　　07
0 [9 Y& B6 l2 ]
　　拆东墙补西墙
. R5 N9 J% D# X' Q& r  F2 o3 {
- C: f4 `2 Q' u1 L/ h7 k　　rob Peter to pay Paul
' b3 V! K1 `( N; B/ K7 o
　　08

　　辞旧迎新

　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
2 v) Y% `# A: _0 R6 R3 N
　　09
9 L  H& b9 N* U) P$ c- e
　　大事化小，小事化了
  `& j2 {! u* T. h" ~6 r
　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
& K- c7 O( A' V, p
# j; L" `+ _, L( Q　　10
. d% ^0 p; o; w( G) H
# S- m  z7 {  v% G3 E) a9 D　　大开眼界
. Y4 T5 ^7 k# g% }
; P* s: ^& B1 ^6 l6 r9 j　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
7 C8 u  G. y6 W  B
　　11

　　国泰民安
9 r' P* |. j# P  }. r8 }
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
; U+ j; ~% E, S
5 |# W. c3 J1 }$ ~# O  B　　12

" t3 {! f0 [# I8 o0 r; q9 I　　过犹不及

3 d* D( S5 Q  x* m) P/ ?# M　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

　　too much is as bad as too little

　　13
' Y  H5 ?4 Y2 G( X, }7 M
　　好了伤疤忘了疼
4 t* t. t/ E" x$ r* x
　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14
* Z" s# _  ^+ k! l7 H- \. Z$ m
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

　　Bad news travels fast.
6 n) Y7 _) g* K* k3 R
　　15
2 c3 q3 D5 o+ l/ K
　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;
: t; Q* x1 l% N8 z2 h
' E4 ^2 P0 d' z5 g　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16
: I4 Q4 I0 w. E
6 A5 `# N# N$ b　　活到老学到老
( z1 ^' m* |- G0 i' a9 G# U* t: y
　　never too old to learn

6 K5 a5 T0 A4 d8 S) c　　17
! U2 W4 B! |0 K! ^/ U( ~2 z7 s
　　既往不咎

' u$ l! W0 Z) m5 P8 z. a- ^　　let bygones be bygones
( N  q3 M% R6 X% u
4 m8 H' i' V, x, |+ f　　18
3 L( w4 h2 L( [2 P/ {% H1 M
　　金无足赤，人无完人
; R% A+ U& F1 t$ R% o$ {: G3 g
7 K( m* s3 p  t6 f4 R6 a8 m　　There are spots even on the sun.
+ u" L  f8 [6 n! Y+ }, g
5 S- j% N$ Q8 [7 K# z0 ?; ^　　19
7 M; r, y, D0 _, }" m; B
　　金玉满堂
  h% _! S1 K" ?7 d
( }, u  E/ Y! z" c) D; Q7 I8 G　　Treasures fill the home.
! v9 P  l! M- d" W. S
　　20

　　脚踏实地
6 K7 m1 g6 M' \4 b" ~& W, h' g6 i
　　be down-to-earth
- _& @! _: U+ \- O2 J: M! L4 s9 F
　　21

　　脚踩两只船

　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
2 x  m/ M+ _4 ]; q/ \+ @0 ]* ~
5 F6 I  F+ }2 y" h　　22
& L6 b; ~; p9 f- D: f" q' K: _% h3 F3 F
2 A7 H8 N. x6 q7 ^( t# B　　君子之交淡如水
* d1 ~. A" |7 k) K& r. V  i
　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
1 Z4 X1 ~  D+ o% S/ l- b! z
; v" y% j  o  K1 {　　23
4 F8 s/ ]. I* _7 h! Y+ x) N5 s: \/ b
7 N$ g% X  g- f8 h8 S: f' a! F( n4 L　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
; p0 }0 i- A) f9 v+ N5 f7 `
　　cut and dried; cliché

8 G, h8 i- }4 W& r" G" [　　24

　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

8 t9 c* a, D! V  ]　　25

　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.
. @3 c  Q- ~" P
　　26
) G0 H) F/ L% e) ~, ~# e8 X, j7 Y
+ \) y- N  G; S: j/ U8 C2 w3 u4 W　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
' U( v1 w8 d  _/ g
3 P4 Y  c- C  s( n. u　　27
2 c. A/ ~; v4 _( h( l
5 A; H" W- S8 c6 y/ n　　名利双收
; |8 i& V. k( _( Z' ]. A
　　gain both fame and wealth
* S8 K' O) |8 x% }; u& _
: a1 w' o" N0 P, q* M4 S( A6 W　　28

: |* G2 b- n( F7 J! \9 v5 X3 C/ R　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened

/ o9 U1 U. r) o. ~　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆
# s8 ~1 D0 w' d
　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
! c8 B# X! N8 H1 K4 P. i  j
　　30
, a4 K5 a8 C6 t) Q5 V9 F
　　每逢佳节倍思亲

　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
& n5 A1 h' c$ c! O
　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天

) V& n. D6 q* @, W1 G+ ^- {* V- T　　Man proposes; God disposes.

# L7 S" ^8 |+ V6 ?　　32
8 U) O! U% l2 d
2 }, _/ ^+ ~9 g0 S* y- l+ G　　弄巧成拙
* ]. I& n1 |: G; j3 a
! \% n5 z8 W3 Y( o/ S  Q　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
& e/ x0 U5 W, Q+ U" W2 W& k# _
　　33

7 X8 l; I5 X4 v/ @　　赔了夫人又折兵
" d  q! }2 R( `1 z  A% l/ [5 M
2 j  p1 u8 @+ \/ v　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
/ b. b% Y% ]# m
　　34

　　抛砖引玉
3 E4 m9 ]. G  q, i" ?: E3 Z
3 J4 Z' ?/ O0 u2 O4 E　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

　　35

  S  c$ t) z2 [5 F* k　　破釜沉舟
( E" d, ?& m; J8 |0 s5 \7 c
+ O3 R0 W2 N' J$ C& ~　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36
' H; f5 ^3 O5 v: \6 T
! R; V6 \5 J6 q- q& S- v　　抢得先机

7 \% S5 S# W5 a4 K　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37
" O0 j4 X& j9 y# N9 g% o
　　巧妇难为无米之炊
" V1 m# u2 \5 `* _0 K+ J
" i& t) `# M. r* b- u' J1 X$ Z　　One can't make bricks without straw.

! b0 z1 |: d, w. G4 r' i; ?6 _　　38

) s9 m$ Z2 Y4 v" `. S( h　　千里之行始于足下

. h: U: G5 O0 N/ c* B8 W　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

4 @5 ^# f% s0 ~5 U" U6 B3 ^: T; l) t　　39
0 z1 R6 o5 Q9 S- P" [9 N4 F
$ F) k, D! Y4 x8 r" S# o　　前事不忘，后事之师
; `* d/ c) {5 p, l3 E+ o3 @
4 Z1 j: [+ Z( F# L: l$ V# |　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
5 N  @& q) }2 q
$ D+ N+ n+ J0 M1 r　　40
  {1 s, J) l  G- L4 y+ ?
　　前怕狼，后怕虎
1 y" _, q& a' |5 ]' i
　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
4 d. F* i/ G& g, J! l
　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

* w+ C- i! L- h: q5 P- K4 \　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
. y4 E8 g( O  N0 y3 E
& j+ P. p* Z" d+ q　　42

8 y+ S" O% v, K# O+ W　　瑞雪兆丰年

  u; f7 t0 F8 m, ?　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43
( g) W  Z0 i) T0 Y: n* f1 ^
$ U! ^$ E6 ]0 {" c3 k　　人逢喜事精神爽
$ ~+ z' H0 \. \
; n* [. j3 C" A0 [1 s- b+ }　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

! ?, |1 G6 h! \# H, b& R　　44

% c2 f$ j# c  l( F' v# i5 R# u　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
) ^+ Y, g" w( v5 B
　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
4 u  E8 D2 V; I4 ?* b
　　45
( ]7 {5 U0 q; d/ s
* Q+ G# `9 j# Q7 S5 Q4 u2 E+ E) ~　　世外桃源
. m/ I" {" b- L- h& v
1 c* E- U  n0 h8 ?2 J　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
) U) M4 C( U- n% f- u1 W2 u' }
　　46

　　人之初，性本善

　　Humans are born good.

　　47

2 x8 c1 |) i0 ?; s$ O　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
: X3 `% N: ?9 K* X2 `
　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
9 |5 g& J5 T- ~8 q5 }
　　48
$ r: P) K2 c; ]4 X
　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
8 [  a3 ~6 ]# |! G* S, O2 Q. e3 x
5 X1 D+ g1 R6 y　　a blessing in disguise;
' c4 k7 B) h$ F3 w3 P  ~6 i
, m- O6 n* X: X5 c　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
% H' Z- |/ ]: y: }, ^
　　49

8 e2 A$ T8 {4 }4 l) @　　三十而立
# p7 o$ ]5 U6 n6 Z
　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
% ?/ k, |: J0 X) t) S
　　50
& r0 ]0 f) a9 N
6 d* ]8 I7 v% H4 t　　水涨船高

6 ]$ _4 Y7 S$ W4 Q6 I8 w. r1 z　　A ship rises with the tide

( s2 m' M5 N# Z# v( h* O6 ~　　51
3 U6 H4 ?! w( C' ]3 M9 v0 S
' n5 x8 I, M: o( q9 P　　时不我待

9 A% o8 S# H" J4 x5 B8 j+ T　　Time and tide wait for no man.
# e& i, V9 s- D! Z
4 `: M) @8 p  e7 ~3 H6 d1 R9 _　　52
' [6 r6 g: U$ [
　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

5 |, J4 P2 M# L) _9 w/ [　　53

　　实事求是

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

, t* B8 }0 p- U+ ?$ d% B4 J7 S　　54

　　说曹操，曹操到

　　speak of the devil

' u+ z8 D  E5 g2 J& H) D- }1 p　　55
3 [1 a. ^! C8 Z, [- ^1 b
: z' n2 l0 r  |4 S2 _- l) G　　实话实说

7 k( n- C5 C( y0 f0 r　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

　　56

" }' `. u" b1 [8 b) x3 c; m; x　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
. ^0 s! }: u3 \7 j
　　韬光养晦
( S2 v2 T& m9 @; \
　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
: k! v/ S/ y3 D" h: W6 q
　　糖衣炮弹
$ ?2 o0 j  V! m
# ]4 y" O! Q1 P' m　　sugar-coated bullets59

. n& r3 t0 a) n& ~* \3 H　　天有不测风云
. M5 z* ]- k. O9 e$ X! k, {
: D2 t4 ^' w1 s' m% T/ b: |　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
+ r$ k9 x& [- |
　　团结就是力量

! i& i. K  l4 p7 v' M2 N　　Unity is strength.
! w2 h# S& @- n' b
2 L8 r; J& \, `: M　　61
/ [& y0 r  m" p$ s* Y& [- J0 V& e
　　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

3 j3 a" Y; M3 p　　62

5 b/ @4 S: L. a1 l8 B* }! `　　歪风邪气

  M" u8 i/ N: H4 u0 `% V, C3 B　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

+ p/ w  ^* I- h$ Y8 @% A5 x　　63

　　物以类聚，人以群分
5 M. f! R% [2 m% [2 p# |
　　Birds of a feather flock together.

4 n( ^2 ^+ X* U& s　　64

2 ]; v3 T* R0 D) N( Q9 Y　　望子成龙

- v3 {2 k% u# a4 A) q) u) y　　hold high hopes for one's child

　　65
+ k- C3 M8 |3 v  P
　　唯利是图

3 h# ?- J. F& Z. A- H5 J　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
! N, f1 \' f  k, I/ m
　　66
+ p) o" u- F$ Y
( X7 t* D# u9 q6 B$ M; d& M2 l　　无中生有
9 {! k4 j, M  ]% D) L& n. a7 P: @
　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
& K- m  _' Z  \$ R0 O: r
　　67

& _/ E( n) R# [: h0 ~, M5 s4 K4 Q' ?  D　　无风不起浪

　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
9 U/ h+ Y! v& }8 v! g9 g
　　68
+ f0 T% j+ S, ~$ ^, k5 g, K
0 ?, C- Z- C# O3 Q　　徇私枉法

1 ^# A5 u5 ~7 G. x6 d  M8 `　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

3 ^- Z# R, ^  e; J/ ~7 n5 X' R　　69

% l) r0 ^- n$ G5 c( \6 x# [　　新官上任三把火
! m$ D6 F* G. L% V2 i3 {1 n
　　a new broom sweeps clean
; Z! g+ d0 Z5 V, D
$ @& p0 L, I% V# K" e" H& z　　70

　　蓄势待发

　　accumulate strength for a take-off
9 @! X1 E3 e# {  h6 G
　　71

　　心想事成

9 j% U9 `) p( E　　May all your wish come true

3 Y( ?0 u. y. n3 m　　72

; C8 q' V+ e+ F5 O% I# H4 \　　心照不宣
% n% W& z3 t$ B, k
7 T* U6 L- n* G4 R+ T6 \　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
5 s* v5 L1 Y$ C9 j: }, m4 V. e
0 [: a3 s: k2 U) V0 }+ k5 M" q　　73
. R2 C, u9 y1 r" S3 x! R) P9 ?
　　先入为主

$ n+ v  v' J- O* u2 {　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
3 J# J& R2 n1 ^" d2 W
　　74
! i8 v) S/ \0 E" |
7 l' W# F& |. \7 |" f. _6 y　　先下手为强
% \4 h  d: C5 V  X9 g. P
% i/ j9 @7 R! J7 K　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

　　The best defense is offense.
2 e% t5 P  @# {) o
9 ^$ u$ h7 a( `# ]4 q) ^; K" v9 [8 s　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁

　　ants on a hot pan
- X: r0 Q: ?5 b- R# Q! X" i( p% _4 a9 P- Q
4 Y& U3 @; H& w6 ]" E% ^+ Z- q　　76

  z6 E/ r: I$ q/ L1 s2 r' N1 d　　现身说法

+ u7 k" M) s! ?0 w1 ^　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

7 x) H# y- m. ]3 x& [　　77
& i% D2 W- w2 e8 S3 o& |; Z- f2 g
* ?9 i% @- F# \0 c1 p　　息事宁人

　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
/ ^% u; I. o/ N8 `
　　78
, R9 o" g5 e1 @* ~8 z
$ i3 i; z: X3 ~1 E6 s　　循序渐进

7 _, W4 J- s* z' S$ [  U　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
9 t2 ?, x* q: r+ T7 q
　　79

) p2 I, s7 _8 X1 @& I; O　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

8 d) o- t* h. V" H/ m8 H, [　　80
& l& F# I4 k  z, x
　　有情人终成眷属

! A, e  d7 G) _3 O, Z　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
+ M! ]5 B$ _  N2 k) n
7 o+ {$ o6 Q% p8 N% R　　有钱能使鬼推磨

　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士
/ p' s' }$ v9 H8 F
　　a man of insight83

　　有勇无谋
. Q: V& C4 V! r( `" Z
, E: ~8 {$ U+ ^$ K" [- g& g　　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
1 {5 _3 c# @& E# ^4 V3 h4 d8 i2 r
　　与时俱进
4 f# \# A. W) R8 {0 y
　　keep pace with the times86

　　以人为本

7 {5 u7 U2 U7 b) Y' b$ I$ K6 t4 H　　people-oriented

4 {; n0 Q& h5 o+ P3 H　　87
* V" J3 |/ L; \0 S) _1 ]$ [
, J4 X7 i: [8 R% l; N: u　　因材施教

9 M* O& \. w1 G- @* N& Z# O' L　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88

8 {# j+ |% a% i1 S3 y/ z　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
" O3 C! s' f' N$ t  G% n
　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
  T/ a; L) A) Z8 ^$ i, F) u1 c6 |
　　89
1 y, Q% R9 k& T) D$ _$ R0 p& E; u
　　欲速则不达

　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
+ l+ G6 x0 |3 i* A# [7 p- q( g! a
' i0 M8 z3 q0 ]　　90

( Y2 {" m2 B1 e& q& G8 t& R+ Q: h　　优胜劣汰

5 x6 M' U) J5 X" }8 {8 {　　survival of the fittest
. g& p+ m' {2 I
. _, S) h! A# _6 U/ r　　91
' W" {4 P: {7 {% _) D5 a1 Y, F
　　英雄所见略同
; _8 H! V  U5 |% ], d; b
　　Great minds think alike.

1 ]$ s2 n& K! `$ `5 t　　92
0 x% ^4 H5 q4 L1 k5 D! z5 H
1 [) X% L4 P/ x0 J9 ]1 I　　冤家宜解不宜结

% D5 Q0 V) Y" x/ u5 l　　Better make friends than make enemies.

* e* Q7 s8 F, n1 _　　93

  m! {9 D5 n, G% h5 u& I( e　　冤假错案

" R) ]: J& X2 O4 o5 M  e2 u　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
6 J9 e1 v4 E* g# p5 z
& n1 U+ Y9 }# @  T- z　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.
: R% W$ U' a- K( s2 y
　　A real man never goes back on his words.

　　95

- W& |+ V" D; V  n& t& b　　招财进宝
* f; l0 x1 l8 w, j0 k2 [3 G, d7 s7 _; `$ a
　　bring in wealth and treasure
( d' V' o; i6 k" d# h$ k3 ~6 O
　　96
+ h( o+ x) Y5 h2 R, K
　　债台高筑
& i  T7 \8 ~2 ^: O
　　become debt-ridden
8 K, z# ^6 ~. y& _' g! A& p- x
　　97
2 u  |6 i- g" S% m# k0 G
" A- K2 Z. t5 I* J! _& D) w7 I) D　　众矢之的
% l% s* K: d3 U( C
　　target of public criticism
3 p; Q+ Q0 f1 @2 q# n
　　98
0 _" n+ r) H* P: h
　　纸上谈兵

; U1 B' o" g# I8 W3 \, w6 d　　be an armchair strategist

! t8 q  B' z8 v) M& i1 A　　99
0 B: \! R3 Y4 z# V( e1 B' ^8 x
　　纸包不住火
& u. S$ c6 U. Y+ v) a
　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
6 n' |: X7 w8 `( E) f& m8 L
　　What's done by night appears by day.

3 q- L- q) A- W7 x4 D% @9 V) U　　100

  f3 e4 \% W+ S9 v* ^% L　　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。