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!

　　01

1 n: t, Z1 R1 {. R! _5 }　　爱屋及乌

　　Love me, love my dog.
! h7 x. o% \1 L! T9 h
　　02

　　百闻不如一见
( t( ~4 Z/ q2 S
　　One look is worth a thousand words.
6 o9 v) T: \' R  I
　　Seeing is believing.
9 H4 W, _/ C9 }) P7 f2 E
　　03
- ^; R1 P6 a8 J" R0 X2 p
　　比上不足，比下有余

7 H! R' V! c$ S' Y$ H4 a5 K/ n　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
. p" k" d8 B3 s; C2 A* z
　　04

　　笨鸟先飞

+ U+ c: F9 I5 L8 J% y/ i　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

　　05

0 m: [9 R1 `5 P) _9 b　　不遗余力
! q. Y& y. R' L
　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

　　06
' C7 I; v8 e8 T+ A6 d/ n/ G
: e9 A) m% c5 z! j, N" X1 }　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.
/ g( Q% m- H. l
9 Z6 s8 c4 Y4 S) H: B# J　　07

　　拆东墙补西墙

6 j' j, Z0 R) ]' D# Z) o" L9 i8 f0 i" K　　rob Peter to pay Paul
3 e2 `: n2 A; e9 h! S
　　08
, v* Y& C$ @' ]( I9 o
　　辞旧迎新
$ b* _. C2 I7 p1 I; }
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
3 E6 w% q/ u' ~  ~4 W
　　09

$ Y" a8 [3 g) g4 t0 Q　　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% L: X  t! v, D: G3 C0 V　　大开眼界

1 }7 n. y+ J' W8 E7 s+ D　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11

　　国泰民安
7 [3 Y* u% M  |& c9 p% y  [
# b7 g- m1 W* m1 K+ R* i/ U　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
1 w8 p7 E+ b7 E- Z; Q
　　12
/ d# s6 u, b) L( Q6 h8 g# x! ^
6 ^3 v7 D+ g( f* s/ p, Y. G6 A6 y; v, I　　过犹不及
& b& T- a5 p3 I) _
7 P) `$ A; e1 F2 W　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

7 S/ f1 @6 P0 o　　too much is as bad as too little

　　13

" l# _4 C6 L: s1 s6 n5 j　　好了伤疤忘了疼

　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14

3 a1 @( X; t0 C6 x' m4 C+ Z, r7 x8 e( _　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

' D) A% J2 y! ?　　Bad news travels fast.

　　15

3 V9 C8 a8 l3 |' Y+ Z　　和气生财

: W2 @% Z0 ?2 ]+ C7 e　　harmony brings wealth;

) J# e4 q6 `2 I$ ^! X, _　　friendliness is conducive to business success
- R% r3 U- m( `8 E* v. S
　　16
. I1 V; u" [; s- E, ~1 n$ L- P! e* ]
# c' b$ q8 ~1 Y" W8 F- u; J　　活到老学到老
3 y$ G" }# t$ }3 M8 D
　　never too old to learn

　　17
) A6 B" @2 u' n; j1 D7 M- T
, Z0 U* W: r/ d4 s! d# `+ Z3 p4 c　　既往不咎
; }  Z$ `% c+ A& ]+ b# b9 `! j) i
　　let bygones be bygones

% `- k/ A! u: L0 F0 {　　18

　　金无足赤，人无完人
) P8 f9 d$ ?2 n+ |3 q7 N2 i) p9 y/ G
7 e/ ?" J7 f5 w1 Z) L　　There are spots even on the sun.
: K* c  ?& F4 Q( `. c
　　19
/ M" A# S  h1 g* }' F6 ?% U
　　金玉满堂
; a2 w8 }; P6 c
. b9 M& ?6 N) |, \, l4 t% d# e　　Treasures fill the home.
- s9 P2 o% o& F0 l% |$ y% R# n# ~( b* Y
　　20

　　脚踏实地
' ]! r# Z! V7 n$ W6 y3 @& Y
　　be down-to-earth
4 _$ y' J- x! @4 v
　　21
9 E# Y* W9 C2 P# f* G
) o8 X3 O% C* ~7 y* h) o　　脚踩两只船
$ [7 a0 k: V; t& x6 d. r  v
　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
1 G% w- {8 V. Y- \4 `& \
　　22
, N. m  q% E4 j; O) O; P
　　君子之交淡如水
( E0 S/ f: C* R
/ L2 U  g/ b2 U* y3 c' b　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
, z# R$ B; k6 c7 @( c
　　23
( f7 r( s( F" Y  H% W( v
　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

8 g) C+ ~* z) A1 v& y　　cut and dried; cliché

- C$ {. N3 ?- s' t　　24
. l+ i! [; y5 s7 h1 |
+ \* P/ }) T3 L2 X! J　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
* n! C+ N# w3 R
4 _8 |0 k" w* z# s" Q% t　　25
) m/ i2 \& G0 p) ~* N9 F/ {
: p, q& J8 S0 H2 y/ {3 y　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
, H$ v/ o6 d! J* H0 |: ?
　　Where there is life, there is hope.

　　26

　　马到成功
% O3 p' b* j0 ^$ t4 A+ R& Y3 a! v
! h  G, I' K* H  ]　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
% w5 h. [+ p$ _4 O' u7 k% P- R
　　27

　　名利双收

7 l% |6 k$ U2 e3 L　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28

* h5 C! c3 q6 E, C　　茅塞顿开
  Z. c8 z* A, Q$ `: [
　　be suddenly enlightened
6 Z8 u. v  c- w8 f
3 F; I" @3 N1 e7 c& K: {0 L& p　　29
$ N. F) Y8 B8 ]! ]; Y7 n7 T$ v
　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
! j$ r1 M3 ~4 F9 n
　　30

　　每逢佳节倍思亲

　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

, W$ o" X1 s& v4 r8 q7 |　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天

　　Man proposes; God disposes.
6 y' G/ l: c5 m: C+ c5 K
　　32

　　弄巧成拙
8 k: i0 G; G2 S4 ^1 H, e
5 X& b, Y( w& ~- ]6 E　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
# n, _0 j  x+ y" W  n0 s6 Z
　　33
8 k) l! Z: u; @# v; f% ^7 T4 a  ]
+ l& R2 h& M! z% w5 J0 ?　　赔了夫人又折兵

, O* a/ ~' Y/ H. f　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
5 p0 Z) k2 v0 s4 d7 o- B) Y3 v7 T
5 t, T( @$ U: G　　34

　　抛砖引玉
) X7 j8 l. y5 C. n6 f0 d% I
　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
! u; A$ l+ q+ X+ F' ?
　　35

　　破釜沉舟
) I6 ]9 ~, p+ S# Q5 _7 z* p: ~
9 s7 X- v9 p! M% F　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

6 f" X$ z; X7 e7 L( J$ R/ s　　36
6 ~0 X' R/ M9 f# W6 X* f& Y
　　抢得先机

* g! h% p, s/ I3 \　　take the preemptive opportunities

1 ], ?7 z$ ^# @9 A& l' L　　37
: a% b" K" u4 w0 a; e
　　巧妇难为无米之炊

　　One can't make bricks without straw.

, `1 |7 n) B, r8 h  k　　38
: \& z3 B6 r- P  \) J
1 b, W8 d) b( F' U2 w, {8 ~6 u! c/ S　　千里之行始于足下

8 _7 h0 J" X( c1 R　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
5 n; v1 r! A* W4 _& h6 e/ e7 @
/ ]! o+ {' G  y2 i4 c( u8 I　　39
" `9 G" X! B/ p7 x6 y3 N0 g% `
　　前事不忘，后事之师
" |  q& N7 n7 N9 b0 v! w4 x
  m6 S" a) x2 N" }3 B- ^　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
2 |! _) n# B/ ~$ k8 j4 d* }+ m
, P0 I7 ?1 d# \6 L　　40
& c# l+ R( `1 o. D+ q3 _
　　前怕狼，后怕虎
. i0 h- R0 o+ g  P( P8 l3 \2 B
% F/ S& B2 W" `  b/ g4 i　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
6 _  [- ]) p2 J) e# Q/ t# W- S! E
( U3 Z7 U5 W" |　　41
) c7 v3 X( P9 r8 x* v
　　强龙难压地头蛇

" O% ]7 {% A+ R) z: U　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42

　　瑞雪兆丰年
  w7 B7 y- l6 B/ K- [" X
# P9 v+ U7 O4 c+ e2 h　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

+ T) C1 l6 p$ [7 T0 E/ A0 c* h1 ]. D　　43
" H( l$ V% [# n4 v2 N, ^
　　人逢喜事精神爽
( r1 o2 U, k6 W2 p" c
　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

! R4 W, M8 N3 L" t　　44
$ @* H& h  z9 {: r0 B% }! h! ]
　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

4 T6 y# f1 S  D; o4 M　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
! c# ^2 G4 w: F. L/ O  o
' X* N: @: I+ W  b# W! X& a　　45
8 x6 O1 s  o) D) H
/ ~- Z% A0 {3 U9 H　　世外桃源
& T* g% W  a# f( _( @) ^' u
　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

; \$ F* o) ]3 P- s. m( p　　46
3 x" k7 N3 [0 o% C
　　人之初，性本善
5 m  s4 _/ M- k8 g. @" N
　　Humans are born good.
6 z+ i  \, Z; v& M) Z, ]& \
　　47

" n+ }$ i$ I  A2 @" M　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
) \  L& k4 p3 }. ?* S3 q4 m
& m9 g9 i9 }# B/ F  M# A$ j5 V　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
( w. T7 x- q4 V. Y, u! n
　　48

5 W# i- |0 j, c: ^& o3 B" I　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
& L' @! N% f3 v4 n& H6 J$ J
/ @8 r1 t, Y* J3 g( r- u　　a blessing in disguise;

4 m! C9 y. a( g! {+ P# v8 H3 z　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
* _9 Z: v6 C; y( e1 S2 D
( y* g* U# ?, h( f1 s　　49

　　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

　　水涨船高

& F, o' ^, L* n% C2 T, \% A　　A ship rises with the tide

　　51

: g9 S6 R* }3 K- @* K! v6 a　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.
/ B3 Y8 C3 l. L/ \5 G
　　52
' C# g  K* p- u
　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

　　53

　　实事求是

　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
) i4 c5 d* m+ L7 h; d8 ?
　　54
: T. x4 n( \0 z0 I
4 w) x: H5 t" w8 s  a- ?& x) L　　说曹操，曹操到
  R) i) b1 S$ p6 \' w7 R
  \0 X7 A4 Y. ~　　speak of the devil

　　55
9 V$ L# I! Q; {
　　实话实说
5 O! \! @# u& i& ^$ C
　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

* J: [2 x: t2 m( P& {/ G/ D! J4 }6 W　　56
& T: O/ p3 T% C$ T2 x# h
　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
: p" G0 N& Q3 _/ k+ ^, @
　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
3 I* |3 l9 B. O0 `  p; n$ p  [) b% R
3 P' z7 P  P+ _+ W" z　　韬光养晦
9 B: f* f! a/ z' p. @! m! u* r
6 N- ^- b3 G: R) m  p9 B2 }; l7 `# _　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

　　糖衣炮弹
+ B4 |" ^" ~+ t4 q0 ^
7 Z' d/ |% n% b　　sugar-coated bullets59
% ^$ J9 m4 g( U0 S' W
　　天有不测风云

　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

. A8 [1 B3 [9 M" ]9 u　　团结就是力量
7 z; w& o( G- X
　　Unity is strength.
4 [/ D: M2 l+ R/ @6 c% E; [
0 I4 m- h: }4 |; |% w% _　　61
; U8 w( p+ }4 w  G" D9 E
- }: |0 K- p8 E  u$ N　　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
- w. D! p& a; M+ b0 T# ?: T; E4 r
( ~* d4 V2 M. e4 ~, [5 B8 c2 A1 N+ c　　62

　　歪风邪气

# |/ C0 q4 e& f7 u0 }' a. h　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

　　63
- p! r: M6 Q% j: z* g! ^5 s+ C; `0 Y
　　物以类聚，人以群分
( U7 n% ^- h& e5 P& M3 b
; d' H; [: N8 O0 d4 P- s　　Birds of a feather flock together.
/ }. F0 t! t! H4 A& a7 j8 x
　　64

! O. ?3 M4 p, r* ?) }　　望子成龙

! s' V+ p3 T: J7 o2 ?) c: t　　hold high hopes for one's child
/ q% l. P# \1 q0 l$ ~+ o8 d2 a
　　65

　　唯利是图

) k3 R- Q, ]  A. E- m　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
1 j9 @% ]; f: E0 k6 e9 H
　　66

　　无中生有
  @9 O/ g. O9 X# w" P1 A7 q/ s: E
　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

　　67

　　无风不起浪

　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

) L6 g3 j4 p4 i1 w　　68

　　徇私枉法
4 K% T; x+ h) B0 h( D; S; j. j
　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
+ {; Q$ W) O4 y6 `6 T
　　69
. Q+ B0 {# c6 [/ y3 A
: q9 j) d/ K6 F, F0 B4 b/ y. q　　新官上任三把火
) ~5 f, {6 A4 h+ B1 I
+ B2 A. m( E3 K" G, B　　a new broom sweeps clean

　　70
' S+ x. Q) _+ \- _% A! o/ H6 w
' K0 V. z+ g0 `　　蓄势待发

# [- c" l+ f: U4 K4 u1 q" |  |2 g+ O　　accumulate strength for a take-off
% T+ s& z" U- z
　　71
: L  h9 u- ]% p1 s6 A8 W
9 g& B* J, F9 ~& v9 t　　心想事成
' H- G3 N+ n; o$ c/ l- c5 @
　　May all your wish come true

　　72

8 F3 N' z, J/ k) R# i8 {/ f' N! H　　心照不宣

4 l- F& }# I: b! S　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

　　73

& {. ~7 t1 W5 z; _　　先入为主
0 v  w/ o5 [/ u0 ]  @
3 L4 z8 P5 i5 g1 C" a　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74
3 G+ _0 W3 C* l! t/ g; V$ N# I* a; y
　　先下手为强
6 {0 ~/ Q, D8 b
2 p7 Y% ^5 d4 e# q　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
3 p1 B% T( M6 `
& s& L4 p$ j# y　　The best defense is offense.

　　75
( q* w, P. b2 @- D
　　热锅上的蚂蚁

" X, J. K3 \9 k' _, [　　ants on a hot pan
. @! P9 b2 j7 W
　　76
# N6 K" o: t. z; h8 E8 h3 v7 R' y1 h
6 x- ^% a" t8 n8 H7 y　　现身说法

5 d, v, ]( H3 ]& q, L　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

　　77

　　息事宁人

　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
1 a( R: N2 n# w5 C
- P6 o; [4 T# ^2 n( J　　78
1 I$ o* L$ d4 r' d( P' R: X, [3 Z
$ A& q2 V$ V1 T! I1 C1 t　　循序渐进

- \1 L+ n% p: d4 ^2 C0 p　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
+ E1 [7 B( ~1 C2 v; [* T5 M
! r1 z/ A1 k( l" D# w' n　　79
1 Q7 P0 }% `1 h# G
　　严以律己，宽以待人

0 Q5 d+ W2 d& f1 w& _- b+ y% @　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
  z- c; |9 H& I+ Q4 |
; f7 m; q1 }: q. ~& s: @8 _: [　　80

" p. q) j8 X6 k　　有情人终成眷属

7 X+ \" j2 A( L$ \* P. _　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

) C8 r2 v) W' `6 T8 u　　有钱能使鬼推磨

　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
4 q' ?6 W: r; _1 Z, z
　　有识之士

3 r7 B8 l* X$ a, M! M　　a man of insight83
$ }3 W5 R# o0 T$ e6 k
. Y* Q2 ~, g& [6 ?  ~6 \　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84
! K5 ?: J8 U; X" |1 t6 C" F9 Y' N
　　有缘千里来相会

! P3 T3 F7 w8 V) Y. Q8 B; ^　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进

! Y6 I/ n3 y: C6 N. x1 e9 M5 W　　keep pace with the times86
% Q& n6 @' Q# q* q$ W
　　以人为本

5 T8 @% x" i4 c7 V　　people-oriented
) E. @- I% k7 k: ^# P
　　87
# b2 {0 s' u+ S5 h. j3 T
( q% d# r; C$ e9 l0 N　　因材施教

& i2 j( z. o4 D# r" ]+ u　　teach students according to their aptitude
% B0 S2 d' T( ]4 k! \, H6 N# n
　　88

# t" d* `3 p& j. a　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
7 V& v# |' C' E
　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
3 e' |( p; \6 K( s9 C4 l
　　89
9 ?$ f/ m6 ]5 J6 g9 v
　　欲速则不达
/ l* o* Z8 u5 x3 J1 D* M
　　Haste makes waste.
( _  Q" c2 M1 Q" B! I5 f
+ @- ~) W: X0 p- Y3 T　　More haste, less speed.

' u* [2 c" m9 V# v( p8 U* @- d　　90
* `% k+ m; `. I/ N: T' u
　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest
6 f) x/ E4 j! K, w4 Z
　　91
  B$ D0 e- d2 M9 T0 X
2 ~" l6 I, i' E7 P) l4 _　　英雄所见略同
8 ^& |- k: {1 Y& y* m6 F
4 G) P8 v$ d7 M$ d9 D　　Great minds think alike.

　　92
" ^3 o, E# b- m1 D8 M9 D% O
- C- x! ], q+ L7 y　　冤家宜解不宜结

- [) W3 S1 m7 D' W* D　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93

　　冤假错案

& O& {2 n, v+ p0 ~( q/ {- r　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
! ]# L$ b# v: _% R
　　94
( q" `/ d2 i; q) ]
% M9 J/ p. ~% I! X2 ~  r! d　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.
' x. H' b1 R/ B' l( d0 c' F7 U
　　A real man never goes back on his words.

; K/ H0 @. x+ R* T8 b　　95

　　招财进宝
6 t7 k$ N: ~# T. P- o
/ b( [* g) g' i4 @6 O  k' E7 b　　bring in wealth and treasure

　　96
( W( z( K2 N* Y8 W
　　债台高筑
! X. A0 ^$ D1 v7 c/ O7 m
  e9 k* W: `- m　　become debt-ridden
" ~" J9 {3 e) k1 X% E
6 K# t$ u$ y/ W! Q　　97

　　众矢之的
! K$ L% }5 H& ^) I# [
. ^. p/ G" ~8 }1 n) g+ f* N. U4 B3 b) J　　target of public criticism

4 d' h$ a* K- N& o8 u) P　　98

0 W) x# p  B2 o* s/ w* t9 v; x　　纸上谈兵
$ B! a' [1 ]+ N/ e7 r
; v  {2 ^$ p: p( N  B' ?' A　　be an armchair strategist
7 b+ }5 n( {1 ?$ v9 s! N- M
1 X, G- ^7 N9 Q( W$ i1 S, Z　　99

7 A2 b+ Q# R/ _' G( i% J　　纸包不住火

. X( B1 [! B1 Z* A1 w8 h　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
) ]5 V% U" `+ W8 E" x- j7 [
　　100
1 D# e# X: {7 a$ \% r
$ \- C0 x9 |/ w. \　　左右为难
" K9 r, K* C' @8 d: r7 u# i
　　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。