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!
' }0 m) B1 c4 s3 e; s, g
: T/ g; w4 u" F6 k/ K+ k, W8 o　　01
2 @3 A4 T* t! \: O3 O  }$ W* i# I
2 W' Y$ r$ B" P3 W7 }　　爱屋及乌

　　Love me, love my dog.

　　02

  u4 o/ B0 h: G$ V) z　　百闻不如一见

　　One look is worth a thousand words.
6 L& t" ~& C/ J' x  X! C
　　Seeing is believing.
. H" N" }; n" J( u9 y8 n5 m
, D& q. j1 b; D& u% V; {　　03

　　比上不足，比下有余

* O7 y- g0 \& ^( r* A　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

4 `/ Y! a, J& A' j' K, ^8 j　　04

　　笨鸟先飞
+ ?9 j- V( u* U6 g3 w- @' N. h
" i# A& H: p9 [) L9 K5 a　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
' u" p4 D7 r/ W9 B" S7 U$ a
" M1 ]$ y. I% [, E' P+ v　　05
. z7 S. T5 _4 l, U3 P; v; k- t" g( w
　　不遗余力

　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

3 c$ ]& p9 \1 G! w; T/ |$ e　　06
" j' w" y$ K: o% m
　　不打不成交

3 I7 B$ c! m* Z- a9 i1 o6 ^) `! @　　No discord, no concord.
8 i: u$ o7 E! O) G$ M
　　07
0 U/ t$ _# k/ j& l, ?+ X
　　拆东墙补西墙
: y; {1 l! A& U; R
: H5 G3 [! x1 i0 X　　rob Peter to pay Paul
+ H+ z8 `8 F7 J2 S
1 z3 q) K* V, z' L0 Y　　08
* z0 n! S( T) a4 a
　　辞旧迎新
. ~2 y4 i1 ]: X% l" D; L2 m
0 z9 T8 B# J& G4 U  e　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
5 w/ `! f) S0 z+ i* l4 B& t, ?  v
5 b0 J" }7 L; z* O. z4 I) D　　09
" q* |9 U0 d, z2 d# S
　　大事化小，小事化了

' u) V" h2 Z- B0 X: M　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

　　10

　　大开眼界

& }  |$ V$ f# R9 a) S% z　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
& j& D  @: i6 C, {; |. ?
9 j0 {8 o" G! H6 j# X　　11

8 e/ }0 q2 _  S  i) E　　国泰民安
1 G. f1 t. ^8 s3 r8 o5 ?
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
/ R) l! @$ X) m5 r
　　12

　　过犹不及
: W7 m2 ~0 U$ g
: n2 g- [6 y# u/ s; t3 p- s& T3 A　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
" D3 @8 P- U$ ^7 I
　　too much is as bad as too little

　　13

7 e; \9 {+ u9 _; e$ m) L+ S( w　　好了伤疤忘了疼
) k! v! I" `5 R# F. Z# _5 o
　　once on shore, one prays no more
  u9 y9 s& ?& p. H
, ^3 v2 Y- c  P) u. x　　14
7 N% u3 P% t! m7 ?# Z6 }5 D1 P/ }
8 j& m% B% k* l; l4 R　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
+ l9 c2 d' @% t( d0 n7 S
/ D$ ]( O  f8 y- o7 Z# W. p　　Bad news travels fast.
: a3 l8 z( s3 X& s
) w; B" m" \0 Z" r5 c　　15
; p9 X0 X% i8 ]
　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;

- D/ t6 G+ Q: T1 n, u. Y# e( Y　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16
6 s5 y& Y0 a0 g* n2 o& G6 O
) T# W/ B% F: P( ?) ]  g　　活到老学到老
! i* F) ]/ M! I. O! |2 u3 s
　　never too old to learn

　　17

　　既往不咎
$ w( h" {) l  a0 p& l+ m+ @. S
) y, p3 p+ _6 F9 P) a0 K, a　　let bygones be bygones

　　18
( f. K8 ~2 d; k" U( q7 E: \
　　金无足赤，人无完人
( ?# a, w( ^  }* t( Y  {* J- |+ l
　　There are spots even on the sun.
+ X6 ]3 @# E6 U5 K) n% @
; N3 e* ?$ X' j! ?% i4 O　　19
) S  w* i) |; @$ R3 z9 V
　　金玉满堂
9 F6 W4 y) K7 B4 _5 v; ~
　　Treasures fill the home.

　　20
4 j" Y) a' p: k  l& Q. D! t
  G5 H  F) P7 H- |. g! \9 {9 s　　脚踏实地
  K, |5 L. s* ~  Y$ J0 t% d
! v5 X9 U3 Z: B: j: T, j( n　　be down-to-earth
+ M, s' z: ]  |# n) k, Z1 b: L: L( S, b
- d8 I* `9 c, K% W0 i　　21
+ w% H- E& Z* X* x
　　脚踩两只船
- A( B; o# F+ x; n1 ^1 i  G
" ?" q" H; q$ s　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
/ E( M+ s! b  [- q
: u& T' v* F3 k$ B5 H! D  s# C　　22

　　君子之交淡如水
8 b& J5 H' M; S7 w$ l
2 o% Z0 P! o& Y# e　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

　　23
" T  j7 V3 [% O, E$ l, |
3 X1 ~$ o0 }" N　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché
( }$ g# k+ ]4 C7 [3 \0 w0 n8 a
& `3 v4 Z- H. {* ~　　24
1 G' _, a0 Q# A
/ e4 {+ ^6 @' l- g# `: \　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
' W- k5 b8 Z6 h% j( u% `
　　25
9 [9 d% T5 O* p0 D
　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

4 o  d' L0 W' Y& Z, S) X　　Where there is life, there is hope.
  Y9 w' u) j& _" j" a( ?
: C( e" z" b* }# \$ M( N8 B　　26

3 B  F; F! H8 s% w* g' }　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
: V6 ~4 G. f1 n" {
6 _6 T9 x1 a, o, [　　27

　　名利双收

　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28

! n( x& Z/ q* [. A" I# _　　茅塞顿开
! `4 \# I" _; g
- P* L; v0 k- U, S　　be suddenly enlightened
1 ~$ \. E" X! c4 e7 ~; R6 [( m
/ K) n5 D) H% Q　　29

: \4 W: `% Q- _- M" V" }8 a/ \6 t　　没有规矩，不成方圆
, }/ y6 a* X* l
7 r# N  Y# u, g　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
& [* e& Y- O: A& L+ n0 A
. o7 _, E, s* a　　30

% ~) \" r$ \, E% |$ @　　每逢佳节倍思亲
# k( s( n( l4 n2 Z8 H& F( I
+ m6 k7 Q: C! B7 B" b　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

8 @' N7 L: ^0 `) A) f: L2 k　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天
4 i* Y" ?7 z) F' J
　　Man proposes; God disposes.
  ^  o; @! A+ q2 n! P
　　32
& U, Q* a; N; A% _
' y1 _0 T8 R" M% l　　弄巧成拙
5 v/ z/ i1 I8 v& n1 ~8 u$ j! o( F
" S8 @" g9 \2 t' b5 G9 O+ T　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

　　33
# [- v' R/ Z. @2 |
　　赔了夫人又折兵

( V8 [) |& O9 ]# Z0 q　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

! A5 c9 @+ }: j; h5 Z5 [! [- W+ y　　34
: G/ N6 D# t% a* a4 [" n9 B
% g& I6 e1 c0 I% Z) v9 Z　　抛砖引玉

1 h( n+ E5 k4 U& U- e　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

, U6 {" n7 ]. }. U( p* {! a　　35
$ S8 `( ?) \- f2 D
( H; K8 S5 `; g% b- A( Y　　破釜沉舟
  V( _4 [- B0 V5 Q$ {9 r2 f
" x9 a8 O0 x7 J/ F1 E+ }, f　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36
, S3 K$ s$ b; l0 a1 p
　　抢得先机
6 o) k. \9 U0 j6 x8 T
5 B- B' q& h( b; m; ]　　take the preemptive opportunities
. s& ]2 z6 V9 ^: v) f
　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊

3 X& v6 D2 k+ }- A　　One can't make bricks without straw.
& p! G; d/ W: d8 W
　　38

　　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
+ b9 L4 x2 @" n  P/ j3 ?
& {2 `5 \0 D( ?6 U　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师
: R$ h- E% }( M; g# a+ B
; f; m& |* D1 _' d  \" G7 ?　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40

　　前怕狼，后怕虎

　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
7 f: \9 K+ \1 s! j( h
9 x5 X& @# d( K　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

3 c  \- T8 B; D　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42
$ F& \. g& p  t  K6 |
　　瑞雪兆丰年
3 W# `6 b$ a0 M8 a3 i. n
9 c( N# W# U, d" h0 d% S　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43
( p* z4 m3 ]5 Z, A; K
+ o) ?/ a  k" P4 K! }! C9 x　　人逢喜事精神爽

& S2 q7 S% m: E# H　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

! C+ K) v7 @/ Q. u　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
8 s" j1 u$ {3 A# {- }# p2 K; V
　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
8 {/ U3 a1 q$ l3 E/ J' x1 }
5 N' ^% o9 x, z$ \3 G) ]7 Y! E# F" T　　45
# Z/ f* ?. Z. _( L
　　世外桃源
" @! o6 D: z: h! w% O8 s9 _% V: F
　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
$ n8 F$ X) F, h( H+ s8 J
　　46

　　人之初，性本善

! U/ g/ Y# h2 }- I8 X　　Humans are born good.
8 e+ O' h8 O1 b9 _
　　47
7 U8 }1 C6 i: y' q( W
& r1 S' p: H; Q2 v' r　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

　　48
0 b3 A9 x  E. s3 w
/ w+ p+ h6 b' {1 s3 G4 z　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;
7 K6 O% O; D& V" D9 S
　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

　　49

5 o2 c- `. g5 E- S　　三十而立
2 S( c5 a& f5 P' U
　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
: k3 L$ R. K+ E
　　50

# p! m5 ~) k! Y# K' r　　水涨船高
2 a9 i# W) \8 d& [3 ~
　　A ship rises with the tide

. f. X. W, w+ m" e　　51
' @' h- ?  x0 e/ h4 {1 `
9 o3 v' Y5 Q# _, ?$ F  ?　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

　　52

& M& I% f! D* P, ~. }) J$ q　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

, z: v( t8 D' ^& E　　53

　　实事求是
9 i% Q9 e5 [* ]2 u) K* J1 ~
　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
2 z& P9 b9 }( Z
/ Y; W: O$ h1 t4 b　　54

3 d: U9 O3 N: B/ [! ~8 v9 i# e　　说曹操，曹操到

, d- |$ a* N0 `6 A% U) i　　speak of the devil

# S8 c  Z4 R# `+ ^　　55

8 s+ D' w) `) x  ^% m( n; w* n　　实话实说

" a" X% E0 V6 B8 u5 |  P　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
! @/ Y$ \6 g$ a2 |8 ]8 g) I6 |; a/ q! e3 T
　　56
! |9 G# |8 q2 W6 l# R
　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

  r# |$ q/ z$ s& b　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
" u' W- P; b$ r" d0 f2 f8 ~7 U4 W# _) o
　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

　　糖衣炮弹
$ `3 x3 }  L1 Z2 z& I& N3 u/ X
! Z- _3 T/ A- g! ?  J$ I, v　　sugar-coated bullets59

　　天有不测风云

　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
. l7 W7 q4 p' _  `
$ ]% m, [. _, G　　团结就是力量
! I- d, U) x5 C8 f  _3 w
　　Unity is strength.

# `0 w. Q; V9 h　　61
* e7 P# d, J- I
　　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
" \" C$ Z" M! @4 y: ]2 @" i
　　62

& V+ a( @/ ?4 [3 q& T+ o　　歪风邪气
. ]  C" C" f; w
　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

　　63
: Q" _9 y8 r: M6 x; ~
　　物以类聚，人以群分
+ e! E: d) W) b- S0 X  ]$ j
　　Birds of a feather flock together.
# T$ f7 r/ @/ c3 y6 M$ k/ q- [
0 E. A/ z3 K3 [# P3 x3 q' ~　　64

6 D& j* G" B2 \  a3 T1 G　　望子成龙
$ @( o+ [7 {3 H0 g4 ~2 ?- ]- D
( q3 s& ~/ l  e+ N) R3 d* Q' J　　hold high hopes for one's child

) S, `/ h' q! H) P　　65

　　唯利是图
6 i( X- W# V/ ^+ J6 ^* I
　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

. i+ v8 X. K( r　　66
9 A( |) S& b4 d2 V3 B; j
　　无中生有
8 R9 T! b2 W, N/ D9 c/ U, u
　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

, U& i/ h& o2 d; p! N　　67

　　无风不起浪
+ B2 y8 X# D: i8 }. R! y9 C
　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

　　68

9 T; G$ Z; [3 I/ _0 q! F( v2 I　　徇私枉法
9 Y  K) g( Q9 k* [( n; B
& L# v% V. j) |0 L$ [5 K) |　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
: ]/ }3 ~* Z. ]2 G
　　69

3 g4 J- H, P+ c' O  Y　　新官上任三把火
0 N+ W6 U1 g. c3 r3 g9 e* @7 h6 B
5 J. o# u$ q: v4 a) G& I　　a new broom sweeps clean

' L* d8 {1 y( |" g  @8 H* c9 @2 N/ w　　70
3 ?' j. @& F7 h6 }; _
　　蓄势待发
5 q- x+ c) g5 a" B# y
. Y- Z7 d: I4 F% ]7 [　　accumulate strength for a take-off

3 a1 d/ F8 R; d, r, k　　71

" }9 k& E, J5 g- |/ K1 S9 _3 {/ a　　心想事成

　　May all your wish come true
" k  v7 m6 w& c6 x: s6 H, T
　　72

3 [% M# Q* s& `' E3 _　　心照不宣

1 D; z3 t' G0 A* O! f* S　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

　　73

9 P$ S; d$ K1 o6 c　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

6 n. X/ d( T% a1 p; h( c　　74
5 q* X+ t, s2 ]+ L; _& `
8 Y! I! ]/ x* M, x' |　　先下手为强
5 P: Q3 j$ z5 e' Q
# A. [, Q( S# P7 d; ~　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
1 x- \* T" j' z! d$ w4 L0 _
　　The best defense is offense.
  K  ]; Y9 j9 P
  o. J* y: V0 s/ Y　　75
! n, m' }8 r: r
　　热锅上的蚂蚁
! H% i' w2 I9 D" ^
　　ants on a hot pan
3 w# K% p; G7 I% K' j5 r, K& Q& E/ n
　　76

9 |) U# R4 X# P! D! u. d. O　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
/ ?4 p( O' z: y% q6 P1 D# _. }1 }
　　77

( m0 |9 P# U2 \- I8 ~　　息事宁人
: S8 ~2 g' G, Q7 B) Y. W5 f
　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
6 |! O) s+ Y# z; t) X
　　78

. ^6 r: B' U( \. F0 @5 E　　循序渐进
6 q+ f2 ]0 E- g* _
2 F" v5 s1 r$ q; O- F& N4 c- c　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
& L1 n3 i, Z, c+ m; T. B! |+ o; Y0 P
0 n" F/ ?* W7 q. x2 N　　79

　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
! B! _2 M9 D4 x6 B5 f
　　80
( L% d# R9 @9 \9 F
　　有情人终成眷属
" X/ v+ b5 X& u' o/ d6 e4 s: t
3 h2 M$ F9 E5 {　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
2 F7 g# i/ y; s: @/ i" Z
　　有钱能使鬼推磨
1 a! A/ G6 p5 l8 x+ H; D
4 G7 v7 n( z2 d) R/ @. {　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
: k8 b9 T3 [  Y/ v( x# Y1 s
* `; o) Y6 D- E& s6 R; r　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
3 j% T3 j  S2 @$ t, [
　　有勇无谋
  R6 T$ g( ^8 G5 q: n
( f2 C% J. V2 W　　bold but not crafty84
5 I7 [! A( t6 a+ K: G, Y+ X
　　有缘千里来相会

　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
. P1 x8 k  N; R0 `  C; \' a
　　与时俱进
6 a4 I0 h! g( V* j* d$ P
; N! n* s: G, F. z+ d　　keep pace with the times86

% m" _+ F8 Q* [　　以人为本

, D, i( R3 Z% C8 `9 D. d) b! N　　people-oriented

　　87
9 k' ?# S! g9 f, {9 U8 l! _; G
+ s( I2 D  r; h5 _% |7 e7 `6 \　　因材施教
/ o, V# ^9 l/ H+ |
　　teach students according to their aptitude
; h7 L" \9 h1 ?
, s  J- j) ^* j' v　　88

　　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.
9 Z5 n/ J& d% F4 c# I' l5 N
  w" u- W1 z' T) i7 |8 N, P4 ^　　89
" O! u2 `# T+ h6 C/ I% w9 @
2 b5 [' A3 z/ h　　欲速则不达

　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
' O, o7 I* E/ S9 N4 b
　　90
" }0 s# ?7 v8 E# |- U' ?. [* s
- N8 m" ~1 Z7 r1 r' Z　　优胜劣汰

- @. `* }7 a0 s& V# C* m% G　　survival of the fittest

　　91
3 B, Y" B4 e) R' N6 p! @$ |1 x/ G3 B
" x& n7 j6 A) u5 }9 E/ N　　英雄所见略同
6 {; r$ F5 x5 r& r4 _' z$ u' R
　　Great minds think alike.

1 H* r3 r; R/ ^" R　　92
: H% d! t0 B. ^, K% z' |% d
- O- w; J+ }6 Z; x& G4 w+ y　　冤家宜解不宜结

$ O9 s. |: s) K& L  D　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93
  Y# q' p; A% _. m; Y
+ o' U# x" h2 G. X6 b　　冤假错案

　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94

　　一言既出，驷马难追

1 I% L$ @, {" k% f! A" X+ V　　A promise is a promise.

$ ~0 S( ]" q; e) H$ O　　A real man never goes back on his words.

　　95
$ x2 ~$ v6 G- p+ h. i. ^1 s) W; c5 o6 y
　　招财进宝
; v5 Q6 O! G( h! T" e2 D
　　bring in wealth and treasure
9 W  \* C" d; q8 y
　　96

0 G' i3 F  y7 s5 s. s- M　　债台高筑
+ Y$ ^/ `( {' Z' T' g
: l# f7 q3 A. E( h　　become debt-ridden
2 T$ d6 L, S/ o, n9 ?3 H
　　97
. V$ s' _8 v5 L6 m" F% M; U
1 E5 z/ g4 R4 J9 c  H/ O$ \3 L　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism
( w! Z1 ?8 R6 W+ o: m* ?, q3 J8 \- i
　　98

; v- ~) n& F. \0 k3 u6 |1 `* l　　纸上谈兵
. O5 P( B% H! R
! H+ V  A, C  b: u+ d+ C5 L; y1 u" |　　be an armchair strategist
9 ~6 {) q# s5 }2 p% A& L1 \
8 d# F9 n* \2 \% d0 g( O　　99

　　纸包不住火
  {+ o7 [: W8 d9 @$ G( P- G& O
; U. d% y& C+ F: M( m　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
5 F* R4 O/ ^; B, V( C9 q7 ]
# J3 p/ r' M* }& W　　100
1 A0 O* P) K9 }, g& f- _$ h
" p4 ]( P. V. o7 b3 l. V　　左右为难
; ~4 I: E4 t0 l' m% q+ a( `( B+ k
　　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。