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!
* c( q2 f9 F$ r( y" K
3 P6 i, ]4 r8 {' c4 T  z　　01

　　爱屋及乌
1 U' d+ U) I' j8 o( T! |
　　Love me, love my dog.
/ k+ c7 L: z) _8 `- L* h& s% H5 k
$ o6 _& f& Y- {  |. \" N. ]; J　　02

　　百闻不如一见
' b5 w6 d+ _5 o
　　One look is worth a thousand words.

! s- E2 j6 l' q1 r2 c! y6 b　　Seeing is believing.

　　03

& N; [- q3 C5 i$ R1 c9 g& I. j　　比上不足，比下有余

　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
- g' w6 L. G3 o9 E
( p6 t8 M& X' o0 o　　04

　　笨鸟先飞

　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

　　05

7 N6 t' [$ Z2 B　　不遗余力
+ M; f9 L2 {: X: P6 j3 E
! n6 K  D) Q  }1 U3 @* e　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

　　06

　　不打不成交

" \$ ?* P) ^" e- s! P$ \1 ?' ?　　No discord, no concord.
' S5 m. [( G/ ^$ {4 i% }2 F
1 B4 T' Z4 U5 @　　07

. B. [0 ]7 ~6 I　　拆东墙补西墙
1 _, m: y/ k% Q3 b
　　rob Peter to pay Paul
( U6 j5 ^: K1 q' q! k# H
+ Q+ F0 T6 _/ {　　08
. Y- R. G3 ^( m9 i4 j, s* C
8 L  l( d/ P3 j9 u8 d) s7 D. j　　辞旧迎新
0 e. o7 n3 h- d" p# R0 V
$ y1 W7 R- i( h7 L8 |　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

  ]5 i# e3 F/ y3 R5 o9 M% F* o7 S* F/ s　　09
- e+ s5 I% n6 f/ f2 N/ R
　　大事化小，小事化了
+ C9 }% l9 i. S7 M3 \
5 X  j7 L0 {' Z  A　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

' L' G: z0 t% o; h　　10

5 f7 `7 x/ l. @0 W  n　　大开眼界

: W6 n4 l" s0 B; P3 G8 B3 }- ^# R2 e　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
2 S0 l- P3 w, s
　　11

$ N2 O/ B9 u5 |/ ]! R! o　　国泰民安
; B6 \' j& M2 E# U% V" M! k  e
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

　　12
4 l/ o2 }% ^  z* s9 g+ R# a$ {* h
　　过犹不及

. s  ~( z5 o4 v6 ~. w- l0 V/ T" u" Y　　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

$ P  X/ @% O, _2 K4 c　　13
+ h  {0 z/ b7 G+ }; z5 g
4 u2 }5 ]; N: i7 n( D- d　　好了伤疤忘了疼
0 y4 m8 d, _, U6 x; B/ N, d: O
$ R  H$ E8 t! r* Q1 m3 a* K) j　　once on shore, one prays no more

, j. ]1 O" t) u3 G- k* D　　14

　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
. [4 s+ u/ F* W" \
　　Bad news travels fast.

+ E# J0 }$ Y" D　　15
* M  h' |" m5 X6 ?
& Z8 c7 v9 J% [- G: o) q7 ]7 c5 c　　和气生财

; O3 T; `( w) u! C1 s1 }　　harmony brings wealth;

　　friendliness is conducive to business success
2 `$ \9 f" c' H( ?3 l- U' a$ q9 c9 S& ?
' F1 b* c! ~- }3 n6 y$ A4 R9 K; l　　16
, Z- G0 v* y/ _; k
1 z$ p. g; }+ k* m( [7 X　　活到老学到老
! s, r2 g$ {) y, G: q$ H' ?4 ~
( T2 X4 H/ x3 R- J* E: D" ?. ~　　never too old to learn

　　17

7 [$ ~1 d8 {) l　　既往不咎

# M" b- y+ e7 K8 t3 G　　let bygones be bygones

　　18

) P( X5 Q- Q, B3 \) J　　金无足赤，人无完人

　　There are spots even on the sun.
& v* d' f" s$ Z  i! C% c
　　19

5 z) J- i' Z8 P# b  w* G　　金玉满堂
! i0 N, O7 Y; S$ }# E' \' C2 E
$ W1 A% O: J6 K! |# K: y　　Treasures fill the home.
! g8 E2 C% Y9 G  f# g. z, [
' M  l# o+ d4 J　　20
! V6 M5 N  W. \7 e3 ^% T
　　脚踏实地

* H2 f: w( K8 h　　be down-to-earth
& c0 {( V/ N/ W: w
　　21
3 W3 t6 ]4 }) n5 k: [& ~1 i+ f( @! ?
) G8 K0 i  p% M; ^) z. Y* j　　脚踩两只船
$ [/ S: L% I. r& P9 [  {
　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
7 V7 s0 ~& b. d% ?; A- u* {- T
　　22
& y: h& t' I2 H# \" m+ a; e/ i
　　君子之交淡如水
  F6 q$ E- C0 ^2 y) B3 f
/ w: ^% q9 E$ M* Z　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
9 X* J9 n7 z" j, A- f8 Q) R
7 d* w8 G2 S7 v　　23
5 q9 g+ S1 y4 c, P$ ^0 Z
! o3 j4 I9 f# u　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
) |5 o9 q7 l& h; ?( I
4 @6 n; A4 h* ^; O0 B6 |　　cut and dried; cliché
0 V: j& c( K+ Z6 `( u
　　24

　　礼尚往来

* J; G4 D! \3 U. g( ]! M) ^　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
, S; c( R5 q+ g; w4 X1 u4 O# N1 m8 }
　　25
4 \: U) B7 W5 f; r  @: f
. D, G7 q: B0 `* N  h# g3 V- _　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.
7 v" U% |# s2 `
8 h6 S& @, }  U+ g　　26

　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
& i; Y- M9 V0 ?7 R3 s, m4 a2 V$ a
　　27
( h; f, I& S+ G+ R- N+ N  q2 p
　　名利双收
1 r9 p4 t9 w& q8 }4 ?
! i) u- A0 `, p# s& T' p　　gain both fame and wealth

1 t  q# j+ Y) K: p: {　　28
# a, v1 Q+ L& v' G
　　茅塞顿开
. D4 M- `) O2 ?) }' ~9 B
$ ?+ c+ f4 E, l# z1 c3 D6 y0 V　　be suddenly enlightened

　　29
# E  k% l3 p1 V+ @1 Z* t( f
　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
. D: w, u9 t8 v
　　30
. J& P) s, a" L3 N4 {& W: J6 k( u
- |* Y) U' r: h8 F4 \! W　　每逢佳节倍思亲

　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
% G% N" g2 z9 I$ n: I. m
5 e. B# w- N4 s0 L　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天
( v2 G  w& P0 i8 |
　　Man proposes; God disposes.

　　32

　　弄巧成拙
8 r" d) Y. ?% Q
　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

　　33
$ q: v  t5 I! n' P; f
% n1 n& Y) o5 v0 n' P/ `6 _　　赔了夫人又折兵
+ N( G) H& e  ]9 d& d5 p
. i* ^* M$ _5 c9 m; v. X0 _8 ]　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

　　34
8 Y6 W( ~1 e9 U: h$ H$ G& A
$ e" e' l1 b8 k$ f, e! T6 }　　抛砖引玉
4 u, y' F* [' k' B7 ?0 ?
　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
4 d. S8 k( q0 y, K" x/ Q. r
　　35
1 t3 i3 f4 ?- z/ F
　　破釜沉舟

　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
' R8 q0 Y( P/ A2 g. M2 O
& v4 u- Z& A+ W& x4 \　　36

　　抢得先机
! h) g4 ?- x% {. c1 x# `5 j8 A9 {1 [" q
　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37
8 G) D  }3 _' L  I/ j
5 d+ X# [( p% H8 a7 C; }, e　　巧妇难为无米之炊
* q$ U5 i/ V8 ?8 H6 J4 \
　　One can't make bricks without straw.

　　38
. c& G$ m6 S4 y7 l" E3 x
　　千里之行始于足下
5 B5 I9 P, i1 A* n* a% H7 K
　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
. y2 R1 p: E9 O
* j2 V( v* c. |2 l9 R; [　　39
1 |; _& i1 o9 [; B$ P3 k( T0 b
　　前事不忘，后事之师
# m2 y" w. A8 w  [
7 ^  I* W4 R; q7 g- b) u　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

. M. N) A, n+ [* z! m) Z　　40
1 Z; o+ m! U. @2 @% a! Z$ w# m
　　前怕狼，后怕虎

　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

  u4 ]' }) h5 q　　41

5 P" X7 B% _9 m4 r3 {2 d　　强龙难压地头蛇
" n( V+ H3 m0 t$ K# \5 u4 X
　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42
" g# c& j4 J& M: Y* g
( n" A+ H' Y4 X0 M3 h+ g5 T　　瑞雪兆丰年
2 E% f, t  Y! U( f- c& a' N$ C
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
8 f+ w; V, P3 O8 x
* J3 n: r% i- z6 ?$ m　　43
4 b; p& |" ~3 H% {+ w& X7 h  j
　　人逢喜事精神爽

6 @: T7 Z, C4 u　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

　　44
; Z# w" k0 R% a0 M/ @
　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
4 J6 J: i" B( ?" x) o1 D
$ q2 A2 A& {& z! }& }　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

- C" g2 W2 y) N  Y　　45

　　世外桃源

2 K5 `4 N% o4 Z4 p9 L# H　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
" A$ X  \1 a. l8 Z0 I/ D  R
　　46

　　人之初，性本善
2 r  D) I- B* j9 n% F+ i
! s5 B7 z* s. g& O. H- Z　　Humans are born good.
0 Y* Y6 {9 b7 A4 z) r8 ^
! k% x0 h) v: f# V　　47
, C+ a4 q5 H' m7 n
& P) ?& R. O/ I" V　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
- E  I& P% |8 ?* }
　　48
6 W& h$ P/ P9 x' Y, U
　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

4 B) I0 u" \  f- B) r" w& c* W　　a blessing in disguise;

　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
. Q9 p- v, l# C
  W" u; i8 {7 w/ S1 o　　49

5 ^, B2 r, P- \$ y5 o! a, j　　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.

　　50
- F8 W3 [3 j: ?, T/ I
8 |( y' Q; U* Q  [' O! E. R　　水涨船高

　　A ship rises with the tide

- ^) e) J0 p/ L) f/ r+ O  X　　51

+ _- \4 t6 @* o1 p3 r. p  W  H7 A1 r9 `　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

　　52

　　杀鸡用牛刀
( ~" I. l% p: ?0 o
　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

, |1 [# o, s! k- o9 D3 `, g5 l# z　　53

　　实事求是

4 [5 @& Q. V* y$ J* c" o　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
; Y8 m' M/ a* A2 |) n. w! d
　　54

  L1 @2 x7 C8 G6 W　　说曹操，曹操到

　　speak of the devil
+ ]6 M4 t; B9 b6 C% C+ g1 c
6 P& S$ J/ p, C' I) `　　55
! G, a" H& v6 m# x, J1 m
　　实话实说

8 ]/ m. e8 |( @  z% e　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
! B# j% N; g9 a9 H7 o
　　56
% l- o& k& B, x4 w
- x6 ]" y+ [; F+ G& I  b; u) [$ n　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
4 i% I8 F' E; m8 O
5 G$ O( v! z. G  i# s: H+ o　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
1 L- g, u+ w; Q6 @" k8 r
2 a/ |+ i1 b3 N: z7 W/ O0 Z　　糖衣炮弹
& f: _2 R* n! N
& x, O7 L" I0 T　　sugar-coated bullets59

7 L, ]1 Z  k, I1 V- F　　天有不测风云

　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
5 @! Q3 K) q5 T' s. ]+ l
- s" s4 L1 P3 z4 C0 B8 E1 ^　　团结就是力量

6 T! i2 \0 [1 ]! `8 \7 N- ~8 k5 [　　Unity is strength.
' A4 |, q; v% w8 g2 I
) s$ d! j" Y; S& K4 w: D8 P　　61

　　跳进黄河洗不清

/ G5 J& J, j2 X8 _& u& r% w0 L" U+ ^, 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

! W& R8 v! n* V* n- q　　62

2 P4 r8 O( }7 p! X1 S　　歪风邪气

　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

　　63

　　物以类聚，人以群分

* r! h1 g! Y( i) h( C: I　　Birds of a feather flock together.
( u+ g! ?4 m2 Y/ G, O8 J
& k% Z, c4 j* \: t/ G0 y6 E　　64
4 e6 y8 R% w7 Q! a2 O# P
　　望子成龙

' Y% c& \, U" {7 N% @$ \　　hold high hopes for one's child
5 B2 ^- P* V5 V' P9 ~% \  g( K7 m
5 i3 M/ R0 b0 U4 p! n/ k0 z　　65
. Z: r' [, v' c9 [3 ~1 v
4 E. b/ m+ B) w  F% Z　　唯利是图
3 i8 ?; A, d' M( R. L, ~
　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
& x0 ?4 q- T8 V5 s2 s3 p
　　66
$ H$ F$ N9 `1 z& `+ E) ]- d
　　无中生有
& I7 v1 _) J0 S9 V  V
, C) r8 e; f- C+ A/ s　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
1 }" }  O. a9 _2 g* x( r( Y
3 w  M- n7 M; t+ c5 e( {　　67

　　无风不起浪
7 u* ~" Z+ L5 g6 {8 d
　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
! D1 h$ S. \, Q0 N8 q
　　68

　　徇私枉法
$ ^) D! h2 H) c# X# n
5 w' y; n2 ?9 b/ g. M　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
: f, d$ X  P2 `
* }. `* P0 h0 N( c$ Q　　69

　　新官上任三把火

4 ~9 W4 H! d6 g4 Z; X4 w9 o2 ?　　a new broom sweeps clean
, E: D* }* X/ q( |4 \8 E
% o2 t2 @- [3 ?% E3 K　　70

; W  \4 F5 ?5 D5 J- t: I7 q　　蓄势待发

- x2 T! A9 q0 |: Q4 X+ w) o5 D) }　　accumulate strength for a take-off

# Z; m; P2 @$ N* n# {　　71
& Q, h/ J6 w7 O2 o: s
　　心想事成
: A0 m3 d0 S( e, H
8 L; `/ x7 O9 R+ l　　May all your wish come true

　　72

. y3 ^9 q  S& |　　心照不宣
: u! u& `5 B/ y) I. \
$ o2 ]# J: E6 ?& ~3 J" X　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

　　73
7 s+ C) }" @' g) t/ t5 p8 p+ L
9 P! w2 C) {5 [- X　　先入为主

# {+ H$ j( z( N5 f+ R　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

6 L! @! b, F- [; ?+ c　　74
4 k6 L9 o* K( W* j
　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

　　The best defense is offense.
- N; Q+ s: {; n6 X# Q( j7 @
0 Q4 ]) O: W, |, r3 \0 V　　75
( n6 M& G9 U6 Y. j& S6 X
' r+ M; w8 d8 D2 d# S; G　　热锅上的蚂蚁

1 K7 e- c# ~% {+ y+ f1 H5 c# A; o( n　　ants on a hot pan
3 }& _8 o6 P: q7 H
- F% _! R0 q$ W, u　　76

. W, }! O/ p" B: B$ q　　现身说法

9 |+ \0 w: j, q- \" j　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

4 u' D4 M6 u* V　　77

0 |" [1 l4 W/ C* j- ?　　息事宁人

　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

/ H2 N( T/ ^9 Z: h  x. K5 w- F" h　　78
8 ]1 _. c2 K* f+ n0 x7 y
2 }$ r# R3 c/ t　　循序渐进

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

% f, x5 D' Y8 }# C+ D0 d. V　　79
, Z6 T$ d: R1 X' J5 n
　　严以律己，宽以待人
9 J! |' s; s# w& d5 P9 M3 L
" @& e5 v5 Q) y5 U$ ]　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
: I; y' ^$ m6 C$ S; R
　　80
: }$ X/ m! I. B) G
4 A/ h$ l4 Z6 w0 @　　有情人终成眷属

　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
$ C' ?/ o+ w, _2 Q$ V+ j0 z
　　有钱能使鬼推磨

　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83

4 {0 ?4 Z& ?3 f, }# X% N　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84
. v. |: p9 m7 Q% U
　　有缘千里来相会

　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

$ ~! {+ y  S; d3 c' ?　　与时俱进

) b6 p7 t' k- @" k7 \# j　　keep pace with the times86
8 S8 m, \( u5 v" S6 n
　　以人为本

　　people-oriented
4 a, |. _: M* Y6 m, |. o1 ~( h
% O  y3 ?1 _% t: s- l0 w8 x1 u- |7 C　　87

　　因材施教
! V% C, B( m" I& N
　　teach students according to their aptitude
9 K3 x6 ]5 U) u$ _7 L  m, B" v
　　88
4 u! M2 n+ I+ [
, s" l( W, E8 f$ d- {　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

　　89

7 S, [; w3 p! p9 F% r6 P0 m) z　　欲速则不达

9 ?- `; {9 Y( {7 q" A# H) n　　Haste makes waste.
2 n! d9 D0 g6 |4 P" n. `4 J
: S+ {5 g; p. E% W) Z4 g2 H) X　　More haste, less speed.

; ?% i4 T* D  @0 B! U4 q: a　　90
' F5 |+ q( \9 q! Q) Q4 ^  x
　　优胜劣汰
: w  `- r& X3 l2 }; t' |$ S8 y
　　survival of the fittest
/ O  [" F+ s" N1 s8 A7 c
　　91
/ S2 t* F  d. w# t
3 q7 T1 P/ ~' ?9 n　　英雄所见略同

　　Great minds think alike.

0 T. A" A6 Y1 k7 I$ l　　92

* _' g* q/ P1 B9 ?& j9 T　　冤家宜解不宜结
5 y# j0 I2 d/ B& I( l. q( g4 A1 x
　　Better make friends than make enemies.
& o: D) j. T( f" ?  S. S% z, @
- b5 M) O6 b) V: i3 x　　93
! D) s: \9 d# B& ?- I  @+ l
　　冤假错案
9 M4 s9 d/ i$ Y3 \- v# ~9 {
　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
3 k% Z/ |5 l2 ]# |7 }
　　94
0 [  s, p$ R7 t4 r9 c
　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.

　　A real man never goes back on his words.
0 ^- q- m2 q1 k" k& @! |
2 _1 y. }" I/ W6 I/ E% h% R　　95
# h& K; E2 g; |
　　招财进宝
  C! A' }6 H5 a7 W, F  f
% x1 U/ w% I# W2 V" K! ]　　bring in wealth and treasure
5 v3 l: P3 A, O3 F- k$ `
6 o" b5 I  S, O8 @! {% U　　96

　　债台高筑
8 l/ V9 i' g3 q$ e
3 u3 G( h1 v5 W　　become debt-ridden

6 a" W, M- A, \0 Y/ O! c3 L2 t; k　　97
* `' q& k# X0 W7 O
　　众矢之的
, O7 Z# l  A% O/ w  c1 C
0 |, _  }2 x! d6 B$ n! u( U$ c　　target of public criticism
3 B* X9 p% \$ F9 Z8 V
　　98

: x: I! [3 f: i% Z" X6 V/ i) ~& F　　纸上谈兵

, n( J3 l! |; S0 h8 n  i2 v8 x) B　　be an armchair strategist

1 ?, q* O% h; U4 ]: X　　99
% B6 O( n* x0 x
. j' o: m9 e% K　　纸包不住火
" Y$ X4 a1 J) o5 ]7 ]
2 X2 p% g( l; M0 A　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

! W& N: w9 H' J* A% ~4 X　　What's done by night appears by day.

6 Q; g+ H& d( x. `; `4 C: M, P1 N7 m　　100
5 D9 `: T5 p( V/ W3 U2 c
9 Y% d9 |. s; ]- h6 J0 w2 s, C　　左右为难

. q; X7 S4 M% N+ \: `　　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。