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

# F3 l5 C1 {; m; ~　　爱屋及乌
# G) Y9 z9 l! Y
　　Love me, love my dog.
) f8 n& I$ y. n- \/ T
6 }, ^4 d9 [& c7 K　　02
1 J4 D; e9 ~3 i7 ]4 y* P; h) ~
/ u6 ?3 g6 O' m/ Q: p  y　　百闻不如一见
- A) J) P  u  t$ ~! _
* K* _' V# p* ~2 ^( I2 C　　One look is worth a thousand words.

　　Seeing is believing.
) H/ o8 d- r& I
$ _4 Z( Q6 m4 ]8 Z9 F: g7 h　　03
% n, P4 s7 \8 k$ C
) t0 Q# Q- g, ?' o) Q- h　　比上不足，比下有余

- G; z0 R" c# W　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
% _9 T6 {1 F. o1 I# `
　　04
+ `& [: z: ~+ Y+ O( G, m' U
1 P% t' I+ }1 W( J　　笨鸟先飞
( H7 a1 f  p* t. E6 |) o) Y% x
　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
+ c1 G2 Y. G7 H( Y/ H& N! L- _/ l
! w; A  c7 k: b3 ?/ R　　05

/ h3 D1 b9 z, \+ D　　不遗余力

& z" V3 v/ F5 o- \1 N. v8 J$ @, F　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

　　06

! Y3 L5 Y& n, |8 n) l0 X　　不打不成交
  Z/ d; U7 o' U1 w& ~4 C! z
/ a" W7 g! I  o( ?8 o　　No discord, no concord.
0 b" v$ B* I2 e. l* }- Q
　　07

　　拆东墙补西墙

1 @! K- t6 P2 q  U& V  {　　rob Peter to pay Paul

　　08

4 x. u, o0 _/ h* |& x　　辞旧迎新
6 t  _% c* G( v0 _5 u8 I
+ Y; F$ x% j# n( R4 O+ g　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

　　09

　　大事化小，小事化了

# j1 ]& ^1 P4 j, U　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
5 H4 e5 A% e2 a' W# Z
5 Q! e2 T0 o- w! H8 R　　10

4 S  m- Z3 _6 H　　大开眼界

　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11
* P) r6 u# w8 R  D) K& b
　　国泰民安

! _7 j3 d* r6 G) H: n) u　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
6 w1 x( P, z! m% k7 ^
　　12
! Z2 f& p2 H4 h0 m
　　过犹不及
' W. u& o! Y/ `
$ f9 S+ I3 B4 `5 d6 q) M% Q　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
" x# j6 b# c, Z
8 u! f6 L- ]" n9 q0 ^2 X+ g　　too much is as bad as too little
0 g6 F' b" K) c3 S( m  W3 F
6 o7 b( l9 G. m0 e+ \0 `8 ^4 a　　13
4 Y6 q% a$ ^: f
　　好了伤疤忘了疼
$ u5 {. o, t8 b( L' W7 u5 U  `
　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14
8 `1 M/ c* b% x  v$ b( O( g
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
2 ?  ]) K, ~4 ^5 S# f
- p) m3 v- ]7 M# [* o! M　　Bad news travels fast.

6 b$ ^6 X9 v% B) l2 ?5 Y* L1 H/ @　　15
! r  R( R# W  J& ?/ t0 E2 p
3 D& |5 C& k( v/ u. P" @& a　　和气生财
/ T* N& z- Z% V* r  u& ^7 m# o" P
　　harmony brings wealth;

+ o, I- _( Y/ C; j1 M# ?　　friendliness is conducive to business success
$ v2 Y0 r, |8 U1 j- ~& S% e( B
7 G! e) z# ?2 s　　16
$ F. D6 g& B' A1 J! R! H
　　活到老学到老
7 m) s* o- F: y4 v( i$ t
9 O1 ^; {* K. }% q　　never too old to learn

% A3 f- R- ?# S7 C# n　　17

) U/ ?) G& @. e* k2 n/ }　　既往不咎
7 L5 ^9 ]$ N* W  ^/ l3 i
9 T& I1 U/ z" Y1 h　　let bygones be bygones

! r1 P3 t5 x2 [# N; C' h　　18

% a* F1 q( K6 r( E2 ?: L　　金无足赤，人无完人
. I2 m. P, s$ T& R
　　There are spots even on the sun.
& Z0 p7 t# K& \9 x/ @
　　19
& Y; e* s9 W1 v! q! f' I
, P0 U+ I4 A1 Q9 f8 L　　金玉满堂
5 f8 ?- l4 g: A
　　Treasures fill the home.
9 o& \$ n* p+ ]* |! G1 @" Y+ v
　　20

　　脚踏实地

* ]; P; K+ x' _1 {+ A. |　　be down-to-earth
3 I# N" L/ ]* b  h) r) l# `" J
　　21

　　脚踩两只船

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

8 Q. B# c7 C2 V6 P　　22

, x( S; w& V: Z$ S! m( A1 c　　君子之交淡如水
: t) S% W7 ~( `' d* n
　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

! E  O, R( h( W! M' J　　23

+ n5 h; }3 i; _( x& ^! s9 P  K- |　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
+ p8 e9 W) z, z
　　cut and dried; cliché
7 B) `" o' B7 v" x( n, i  n6 M; x
+ [5 ^) y- v8 B0 B9 f/ ?" p　　24
/ z. ~+ Z' g" S: i* Z  t/ U8 A  X0 h% N
　　礼尚往来
# S( Y4 n, Z' v1 Z( ?8 B6 p
0 x, [* ?' W5 n- }0 U0 O　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25

　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
4 V; m9 z" z3 C. M' e0 ~8 _+ e; R
8 c& F, t7 n! g$ \1 ~" u6 g! P5 ]　　Where there is life, there is hope.
- w" |6 h& Q: Y  E5 G
　　26

　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

4 ~+ w, G( s$ ^8 i, k8 ~8 N# Z+ e7 i　　27
) W) E9 W2 ~; K  n! C6 K
　　名利双收
7 g/ Q$ v5 y: O4 v9 S
8 U* I; E5 c+ C+ H　　gain both fame and wealth

1 p7 A: b) \% m( g　　28
) I- z* F/ P6 i! r+ {
　　茅塞顿开
( G; ^0 z7 |. N1 J' k( W* @
　　be suddenly enlightened
: n# ~% t( r& Y- x5 [" r! o
8 X( o/ _1 j3 w0 Z3 b6 R7 s, P　　29

, z0 u, y) l) p' {( T. N; H　　没有规矩，不成方圆

: {6 i/ {1 ^& [6 F　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
' z7 S5 O) e- W5 r- B6 [
　　30

. Q9 T, h$ o* t- \　　每逢佳节倍思亲
' Z2 [3 e* }( |0 _5 `
; y6 P& o: B% i/ K5 j* T　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

, |8 D( @) Y) v, P0 J( I; s　　31
' S$ z1 C, B  ?* S2 }7 c
　　谋事在人，成事在天

　　Man proposes; God disposes.

0 N/ t+ R1 p  z" Q; d  e6 }9 j　　32

　　弄巧成拙

6 N5 \* V2 G3 `* H7 E9 r' O　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
9 _( \4 r9 x, R; \% e0 A
# y) v4 g0 x& g6 _; R1 ^8 T  @　　33

0 U$ _) F/ s' Z, h　　赔了夫人又折兵

. Q/ ?& k5 b: g2 ]8 b( m　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
: v$ Q2 d$ m; c4 ~' q# ^/ `, E
　　34

　　抛砖引玉

& x' m# D- l  y; b0 g+ O# Y7 ?　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
+ B4 X# @7 ~" A0 [
& b; H" G" a. z9 `% f, H　　35
* A, K" T( u8 V2 @9 u
　　破釜沉舟
$ x& K* n1 D# {2 N5 z
; @: }. c+ P7 L* ~$ D　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36
% k7 ]& _: r5 i  ]  Y
　　抢得先机

; U  d' \7 p3 V　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊

　　One can't make bricks without straw.

　　38
4 v" S. T# m! \" {3 y1 z, t
　　千里之行始于足下
/ O0 K7 J* K% l2 e8 `
' R( Z/ d5 H: Z3 [7 w# N! J　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
1 A6 }; N0 v1 H  L
7 R% Z' v* p8 F8 }5 c6 ^　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师

　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40
  o$ u7 i) ]: A, B( J, N
　　前怕狼，后怕虎
9 a" @# f" A" e) T7 @$ Z# b
　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
6 Q% D* X4 W# }+ t" v/ V* P
　　41

5 w9 c. P: d& E. U. y　　强龙难压地头蛇

, j: x9 S0 R9 p　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
/ v& {2 Q( j; J+ m  ]- [
　　42
5 w) O8 C" x0 l1 W
　　瑞雪兆丰年
, Z  |% p$ l  o4 q, K# R: f
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
# Z: Y6 R: f4 [1 d+ R4 c* {! s* g4 b
' F7 b1 V' a, R1 t( X2 ~( `　　43
  n* c. _8 R; l* ^4 |1 D/ |
　　人逢喜事精神爽

　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

7 J! _' Q. \: C3 J, I" l& J9 G8 f　　44

  d' D1 e* @( S# U　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
% g* |$ }8 x* S% X' p
　　45
! n0 s" x6 `) Y* w, e
' k  g% t; P7 P) a' p. F( t　　世外桃源
0 t. O" @7 B- `& V, i( |
　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

2 x2 f& ~- g, j6 A. ]% C- K  F　　46

　　人之初，性本善
2 a) D* Z7 b2 p6 r4 D  \
　　Humans are born good.
7 D* u: |  x2 h" V7 Y5 k
　　47

& {* f- d* J1 `* z& t0 p" J- G( _　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

& ?2 l7 I) z3 x3 S8 q. y8 u　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

3 O: H  s# J, Z3 l; o7 v1 _　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;
) {4 X8 G% s+ E6 v$ L; P
1 @+ ~8 A2 V4 v　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
: T" f# f  t) [
- N4 u$ V3 A6 w" {- K% [% G　　49
5 Y1 [2 u; A' x8 V
　　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.

5 x6 D. [! z5 p* I0 h　　50

　　水涨船高
) V/ G) X5 e" K& ^; R1 W. R
　　A ship rises with the tide
$ c4 @/ T& n! N3 P
　　51
' c1 ^2 C) L, q% r. v
　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.
1 e: Y* u' y$ s/ w% e, n
　　52
/ N) q5 O' m* W! \
　　杀鸡用牛刀
! h) j+ e- X: _# k! y
　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
6 Q) N% c  W3 }+ t$ Q( y
  l' m9 \# V2 l& p  n" Q' z2 s　　53
% |% h/ z3 X- _% p1 S  @
　　实事求是
, `9 Y- O1 _1 W6 l+ w" \* F4 \
　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

　　54

　　说曹操，曹操到
) Q1 [1 m3 C, t
: u( }; v% i- k6 s2 }　　speak of the devil

% z/ _8 j% w$ \$ S% q# e* U/ T　　55

　　实话实说
: A/ f% o7 a% K! q  @3 |. c
　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
* W: c$ G9 H0 C) ]9 P
6 D6 G) g3 ], y: }　　56
' `8 \, w4 t- \) o
4 ~: d, G" C6 W8 k% `　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
0 J* J- }) T( @
  u$ B. `! D1 `0 v; m) v  x( r　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
5 a& D5 T9 z8 x! w# |
　　韬光养晦

: r7 I+ O8 U" i! S　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
% J; J8 f, M/ p# @8 J
4 B* w8 g" N$ ~% z　　糖衣炮弹
$ q! y" H3 d6 ^1 u4 b6 q0 E
　　sugar-coated bullets59
& `% |' ?% t: Q9 C* K2 c. t5 B, n8 p% T- D
　　天有不测风云
0 ^6 b3 g, U8 W: v7 A
& s# R; o- a) T2 e　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

6 ~1 C) u/ D! S: p+ l　　团结就是力量
3 p7 H* E: I1 S$ b& j
3 [1 `; |3 U! ]　　Unity is strength.
" K/ Y( o* I6 q* h
  Y7 Q$ e, v6 ?. x9 e1 D　　61
: S0 u- Q- M% b1 q6 T
　　跳进黄河洗不清

, R) u0 M- N2 m1 u& ?( c7 p0 [　　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
8 ]: m. E- w$ N/ J1 r
　　歪风邪气
' |( L* O, ~' _9 r2 _. k) P
/ N" H* F$ i' g8 W( V! O　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
3 D  u+ [. ^9 \5 }' |. P- \
# [  m. D  r" T5 G1 S2 H　　63
: u+ c0 C7 g! e/ Y
; I% I% B: B' F- a! L　　物以类聚，人以群分
7 @/ y: |  p" [. n$ B
% E5 ^0 M3 z, a& B( ?　　Birds of a feather flock together.
/ V+ a& a, d! [7 w* t% F- i
* k8 d/ c9 c* G8 [& z8 ?　　64

　　望子成龙

　　hold high hopes for one's child

, o5 n6 Z- e1 l& x+ a9 q: K3 t  t　　65

: n2 }' N2 g0 a/ o" x4 h　　唯利是图
6 r3 @+ L# q' `1 {0 a
$ \- @; c9 S) _) x/ s, l  h0 M　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

　　66
& @8 E; k- q% {) }
　　无中生有
. p; z  y( r& e) X" e3 k% L0 ~
9 w, @, G4 X" w+ U　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
& r/ W$ ~/ q( O2 ~# i) {- j5 `
( O4 L$ n* f6 P7 N5 G1 h　　67

　　无风不起浪

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

( z. ^0 N! U3 o　　68
+ A% e; B3 J  @! v- S4 V8 {" O
# k4 V  |$ g9 T5 x7 h* x! l　　徇私枉法
% `- ~% G1 X) |
% a7 @. |7 o: Z! K8 W4 ?1 i　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

　　69
2 G! P0 ~- ]8 i0 ?
! Y, T  O+ k2 }2 J　　新官上任三把火

　　a new broom sweeps clean

9 w% t- E- {' Q　　70

% a9 o) a. @1 X* D$ H. h$ O0 P　　蓄势待发

% J2 B7 L' n5 {: Z　　accumulate strength for a take-off

　　71

　　心想事成
. A% c% ]7 {% Z) t: a! c* }
* k0 D' {( i$ Y- n' E1 ^; @' ]　　May all your wish come true
+ X# w1 D: W7 u( R% p
& l/ Z3 P2 G5 ~& I1 R3 J# H# W  D　　72

　　心照不宣

　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
  B. e0 b. L: ?5 ^: S5 R& S
8 F3 P) e7 R9 u　　73

　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74

　　先下手为强
% \1 b+ B4 I' A  n- y( s% v2 m
2 [: z- t. z  z% T　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

5 T0 W) x* U# K. w　　The best defense is offense.

( q) ~( n  l8 g9 Z& E　　75
. E2 a" m7 H  U" P% l
　　热锅上的蚂蚁
4 j3 j, |6 p2 [3 E
　　ants on a hot pan

　　76
3 O7 }7 D* Q: W  l6 K
　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
; f* F% |& V- ~/ c
2 R0 [3 Q5 A+ _2 }0 M/ I2 e; t, n) c) p　　77
8 i7 O' D' U$ T$ }) R
: u' w; O- n+ S' X& `3 M　　息事宁人
4 G- d& ]: R. W7 F% |) F& M/ t
　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
, m% ]# q8 I2 h$ e
　　78

　　循序渐进

　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
% i  G* Y6 B& }4 G: S3 ~- ?
+ s- ^" V. n: Q+ u0 X5 h6 J; k" d　　79

　　严以律己，宽以待人

. O4 P. `4 I$ |9 @/ L　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
) m! O9 W  e. R* w- Z3 J; U1 E* S
　　80

　　有情人终成眷属

3 a3 g# m* V( g: U2 q& j8 V　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
3 I" i+ `3 a6 J: T% `2 Q
  j+ y9 k( y& O- H2 P2 Y/ }% V! ^8 x　　有钱能使鬼推磨
( N9 W2 z  Q" c7 @) ^
　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
& Y" j9 U7 ]5 |% ^
* @. E7 |" X+ K( w　　有勇无谋

' l0 a( \8 z% A' Q6 r! s　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会
  ?( q! J1 V: N* C; d% N
　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
4 i- U. y; W9 f6 Q
　　与时俱进
3 n# Z" b0 c1 q$ T" a  B
　　keep pace with the times86

5 C; M/ P: S' e! J! P　　以人为本
+ B) p$ q% \  H) C
  ?7 u1 N) h6 ~) j　　people-oriented

$ ~- H' b: {9 U　　87
% t1 s8 p0 I( \
　　因材施教
# J' V9 ]" t, ]0 q' Z) h& ^
/ t8 p; y0 x" ~% z　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88

# m$ b# m& s9 c( v# a5 D0 y　　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.
: e1 G& U8 s$ V! T/ U' Y6 j
　　89

　　欲速则不达
" h( I! h2 Y, E7 v% U/ u" A
　　Haste makes waste.
; \5 o  M: K4 Q2 o' L
2 N* x4 I' N3 n/ @$ A& A　　More haste, less speed.
: s3 u9 o) w- l0 S
　　90

7 B" a  U+ m" S　　优胜劣汰

# E, R- k$ D- d" p" {. B; W　　survival of the fittest

　　91
: g3 I' c- P7 M% z: r( }1 ]  K+ o
. s; E$ S! u" ]* f7 S+ \　　英雄所见略同
. ?  Y7 R4 _/ O, T* \/ I
　　Great minds think alike.

4 H' ]& D  l0 ], ]' D6 m" i% M　　92
: F' T- I2 e# c0 p
　　冤家宜解不宜结

　　Better make friends than make enemies.

  ], r) N9 M" E5 A5 E$ t$ r/ W　　93

　　冤假错案
; S/ e6 z9 f' w0 A- @1 P
　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

0 X6 K" Y# h- R7 P" w# J+ f' C　　94
: _9 n1 ^6 y8 r" ?9 q
　　一言既出，驷马难追
  N2 g$ O) y5 O% i# i' S+ t! ~; x4 k
! y3 p8 S6 j2 w( B7 T3 W9 r2 N　　A promise is a promise.
4 p7 [; U& f5 X/ J1 x0 l6 j  D
8 @- W( l6 _3 V, k: k- Y4 v　　A real man never goes back on his words.
, B5 @. b3 w2 x* E8 Z- }% `
　　95

7 Z% ?- {4 ]  b6 K- J8 h5 E- P　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure
8 O7 `% p& m! b; m- Y" E  [) D, ?
/ H0 V; S- E5 z  A$ b6 l( V/ i0 d　　96
; a. _/ J' Z2 G$ h; M4 [
# {' M0 z: K% Q& [　　债台高筑
5 U2 N3 z; p4 A
0 f7 ?" K% m( d# n$ w8 J7 Y& k　　become debt-ridden

　　97
" f; n* u2 }+ \" g8 h3 P- f
" }- }5 f; t8 t3 M) c2 a　　众矢之的
7 B+ D) ?( ^; p& Y% {4 y
* \2 H! n% M( l8 d/ ^; ]3 B, O2 L　　target of public criticism
, r6 _4 F/ V/ \! C
- I4 q  w6 M3 n$ M' x9 K4 e　　98

　　纸上谈兵
' C/ m5 \/ K7 b* I. F5 f
, x" ^# X, z6 d0 o　　be an armchair strategist

　　99

　　纸包不住火

# [; A" P' y& l- J# b0 h　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

4 A" Q( j* D* ~0 R; S* x　　What's done by night appears by day.

　　100

* l) F2 T9 L( n/ a: W5 r　　左右为难
& w9 o  A& w5 r( n6 H5 D  P
　　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。