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

　　爱屋及乌
# F4 \" X( E) D$ e" A
　　Love me, love my dog.
, |5 t, a* C  v) [! o8 F! B& N% P
　　02
8 F0 Y5 f2 K/ e7 A0 y3 N2 |
　　百闻不如一见
" m8 X" `- X( h
　　One look is worth a thousand words.

& C6 I! R, j+ x9 [# U  E0 [　　Seeing is believing.
" Q9 N- i2 _2 ?$ v& g, a
4 b" p# O" l" v, @" G　　03
" Q) d8 n/ s" w% Q( d
　　比上不足，比下有余
  j) c( n0 a/ ^, T9 C) p. [3 b
0 T' Z- M$ y8 j' _　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
4 R2 W' Z4 b) [. h0 Q
) D* M# H: g" z% K- O" ^( |　　04

( c4 E/ V5 s0 E  }8 M8 O" W　　笨鸟先飞
6 D: p" |* ~9 B- E' D9 |5 b- q8 j8 G
7 h+ V- I! }2 ^$ L1 A2 j　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
; ^  f5 }; [9 \& s2 o7 ]
　　05

　　不遗余力

! V* F1 P0 |# D: d$ G　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
, S! @; t6 ?. h" j+ t* E- F
- V7 ~- t4 z) f　　06

$ F4 V: f8 q" J! s% N9 L. Y　　不打不成交
6 [4 H# i: }# I! j$ J$ ~
　　No discord, no concord.
4 l" r4 c4 U) W5 g2 d
　　07

6 x) n: ^' L  R/ j, V3 g; f% C8 C　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul
- V( ?4 I+ r7 q3 i- L# i5 @" V
8 \# D8 m% s, J; }　　08
% E2 j1 t; O# o4 r4 c, `
/ r+ O& T3 l7 O. K! j1 @　　辞旧迎新
$ \; B3 H) }. ^% U0 ~: \1 e
' r% Q5 n5 |) b7 O) @　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

　　09

7 C4 h7 \9 d4 s4 @　　大事化小，小事化了

5 _7 c6 Q8 L! \+ a3 l# y1 q( K　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

! z! r3 F7 ]0 r! M( N$ h2 z. K! x　　10

　　大开眼界
8 u+ M# `  i) w: t$ e
6 D& a) b: @9 S/ |1 m　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

+ G( k) }% {1 H7 u0 J8 A% w7 s+ m　　11

　　国泰民安

　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

, o2 z4 h: q7 [- @! K0 n, Y. {0 a! X8 g' }　　12
! ~- c5 r* p) e4 y/ a7 r
6 l" D) n9 |- {　　过犹不及
& V6 `* E6 }0 ^4 M8 G6 B
　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
, ^+ K- M+ Z' ]8 M- W. v1 h4 v# r
　　too much is as bad as too little
5 n1 F7 W6 y, i: ]
　　13

: Y0 ]: H) }1 O. H/ m8 l　　好了伤疤忘了疼

$ O5 d9 m7 y3 x1 b+ Q　　once on shore, one prays no more

! g( F1 B* D2 E# B) \5 h) y& V　　14

9 s) o5 Z8 A& R　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
3 {/ U1 P9 A0 R# z+ f: K" D
1 I4 D3 @; a, ^　　Bad news travels fast.
7 L. Z& F( e; e0 W' U- K+ P
　　15
  E; a0 ^7 U; Y1 C6 ~- ~% z, ~6 _
. ?; M8 D6 u* r2 {  `5 R2 o　　和气生财

9 ~  [$ }% M7 ]$ s　　harmony brings wealth;

　　friendliness is conducive to business success
- X  m3 D4 h; A% W! }
　　16

  O8 H4 d) |- x* |, M　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn
: f4 \9 `; X% M; L  ~) _
　　17
9 v& x# a$ }* @. F9 w5 X& u
　　既往不咎

　　let bygones be bygones

0 v( ^. r3 S! A2 u/ w2 @' v( \! w3 u! F' b　　18
" D: i2 P3 j/ b& ~6 E. N! X
　　金无足赤，人无完人
2 n' A$ z0 T: f, v- F4 Z; W
　　There are spots even on the sun.
, j% u2 _1 a" \6 ?- w) r' K: r3 q
6 T" |& d# Q; L' J! U( U& L" l　　19
& \1 n9 c' k- R# B
: L  C1 j( W0 _4 [0 ?, k. [　　金玉满堂
; ~, {) b& E& }$ L( r) K5 L
　　Treasures fill the home.
- A/ v6 E' K" S. L) r
　　20

　　脚踏实地

+ z+ G, @0 T6 h- J　　be down-to-earth
+ e7 T5 f) v# s6 \3 V- N
　　21
  ^. }* s8 K* }" Z
　　脚踩两只船

8 G* Q/ r! R; {, x　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

8 S8 `# m( F9 p9 o3 [* l! f% s　　22

- A3 w2 H, V( g6 \　　君子之交淡如水

& P: C/ X4 l, D4 Q* R, f5 `$ ~　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
8 \1 S3 X- G1 G  G& W/ t- c- f
+ x6 Q0 v5 ^7 B. p　　23

* W+ N% h( \  K　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché

+ T0 _( }: ]1 H' m8 B　　24

　　礼尚往来
+ F: A$ \  R, U! |. r7 h5 f
　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
  n; v* k5 A4 [' p2 `6 T$ ^# b' [6 l
　　25
5 l3 o3 G- Z' v0 h+ u
　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.
/ t5 ]0 B7 ^% f1 D( T' c+ I
5 s# F3 B( S+ t1 r2 s　　26
/ v+ [* B4 X# k1 i& F
　　马到成功

/ C: ~+ x3 z! I$ N8 u$ R- c　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

& E% `8 o5 W( D6 u! w% r　　27
2 A, P( `7 D, S2 g3 T1 \) y" \
& p+ ?2 F) ^: f% ?3 S& C　　名利双收

　　gain both fame and wealth
  G- }) A9 x. N1 X2 A2 X
　　28
- Q' O9 j! }: i7 E' b' e
3 l" |/ e0 m2 B, h/ B4 y" K( [, t　　茅塞顿开
1 l! ?! l- H% G5 l2 }5 b# j6 ]
: C- Y+ Q4 B7 S# Z　　be suddenly enlightened

　　29
2 ^- K7 r4 v, O) f
/ I2 [& m* F- q+ e+ |$ H3 {: p　　没有规矩，不成方圆
" q6 V) {4 |: o3 }% V
/ @* |- l0 j4 y2 v　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
" k0 j& ]) [. b8 ?5 L9 @! h2 y
& H! S. m& g3 r, i　　30
' v5 z/ b4 ]2 ?0 C# r
　　每逢佳节倍思亲
7 v  u$ W4 Q, S' E# R/ g
　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
" h4 r, [& o0 t0 H# @  {. t
　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天

: T6 Z8 [" D/ I0 Y# l, D- y9 D! `9 X　　Man proposes; God disposes.

　　32

$ B" M/ }* K. g/ e. P/ G9 d　　弄巧成拙

　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

8 O* K, M( A+ m0 c* w1 O! s( |: Q　　33

　　赔了夫人又折兵

　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
' |1 y+ z% |! l. [& B
　　34

　　抛砖引玉

　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

　　35

4 ?/ v/ T4 R0 {: C$ I- }/ D　　破釜沉舟
2 ?, o/ F6 B) M$ t: ~8 x
　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

/ i% [% y2 I) d9 k4 d( a　　36
, _! b6 J& g/ \* I3 y
　　抢得先机

2 N0 F5 u, {3 ~* b1 x　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊
3 ^+ b! A6 m8 X6 W% V; G8 \3 }4 v
/ a) q0 k: M- c. O8 x　　One can't make bricks without straw.

! i! X  q- a. P1 i* B( f# i　　38

( o' o5 _  L- g　　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
4 C6 T$ n( d% j7 \8 |  F
0 N9 [/ f3 f  z! ^　　39
# Q3 }, H0 v9 s1 H' N' G
0 `! O* K, ]/ K: {: [4 m　　前事不忘，后事之师
% y+ {1 Z& A& D; v, G7 M
　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40

% t- X& h9 G0 o　　前怕狼，后怕虎
5 J8 A8 q+ ]6 Q/ b5 U- I- @
　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
' }, T1 u$ o' }% O
1 I' F, Z* g- @# \7 e# _2 t　　41
8 ~% O: g2 O& t/ U% J
( ~4 @0 }8 [1 d5 ~　　强龙难压地头蛇
& d* e6 `8 L9 J9 \+ _
9 I  d' `9 k6 Z) d0 c　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
+ @' I9 C1 F+ ^6 H7 q1 c( @3 a
: Y- Q1 \% v- @: ~: X7 P　　42
) l3 d8 J( [; {: U6 e1 k
, v5 g( R6 ]" P- c& q　　瑞雪兆丰年
& m4 j& e4 n& {$ a. ]2 J
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43
2 I0 n. V! d6 P" @0 S
# ?! Q. V' |" K　　人逢喜事精神爽

　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
5 p( t( k* v! \! h! b
- L- C# k8 c4 j% T# `7 l% c　　44
6 C6 k% h6 Q% V9 N3 B
, k% L, t( K5 n　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

# |$ a. |% x5 v: g* X% p$ z  N5 T　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

9 V0 N4 l5 J/ n# U/ D+ E　　45

. \) D" I1 ?# h7 [# _1 [1 i8 r9 K　　世外桃源
2 X/ M. h$ Y3 G9 n) {* x  e
　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

　　46
: u# y+ M$ M+ Y
　　人之初，性本善

　　Humans are born good.

. X6 G* K0 q6 ]  }& U; b　　47

3 Y$ B6 Y- O6 T! ]$ b; N! ^4 j( u　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
" a" D& U: K# _  k4 P  s8 W, p! p
9 {$ V/ U; T0 |2 S% @　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
+ Y# _: i  c( T/ l/ k
* Z$ Z, P( L$ z9 q# s- U! u　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
( f- f8 {" A4 k: @" s" B
0 }$ m" I; l9 @% Q9 G2 C. B, {　　a blessing in disguise;
% g) `; B5 {! M8 n8 O* D9 L( O
　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

. c' T1 X6 k) y4 W" T! |　　49

; l! \6 W* `; ]( ]. d　　三十而立

/ {- @4 k" I* E  h7 j　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
) L* G+ G% }1 U
4 y3 c' e  |( O" T* d8 R　　50
. N. x2 j/ S2 _( W5 \/ |1 z
　　水涨船高

3 n4 ]* f& O5 l% M7 p5 L　　A ship rises with the tide
! I) n$ P# c3 z
　　51
' L9 t9 N" f9 I7 s* X+ e
) o# N( w; G) y5 Q; n% {+ |3 N　　时不我待

: C* Z3 K1 f: o* h2 t7 ?( F( y　　Time and tide wait for no man.
0 U4 g' D6 i% c
　　52
* v2 y* g) n1 D/ F* ~7 E/ Y
　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
' C7 M7 J0 {& L
　　53

+ F' d) D2 `! @4 H( M* j' M# Y　　实事求是
# {/ M$ x3 r! ]
　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
( x/ a- K$ _: ~8 o5 r
　　54
4 ?; Q' f8 f4 _$ h  M& ?
　　说曹操，曹操到
+ x) `8 X0 Q) q2 |) b
4 l0 b& o* m( ~, b5 A　　speak of the devil

5 Z1 A% Q2 S% p! W% {9 p8 N0 L　　55

8 [$ e  `  ]- _% t8 v0 i　　实话实说
& V* m% o1 @6 w1 D
　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

2 Q7 t) e) m2 H$ n( q3 D　　56
: j( C4 P4 Z1 g3 Z; V
　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57

8 K% A( K1 T) l8 s$ L; H- N6 x　　韬光养晦

* b5 F' S# W" M3 h　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

　　糖衣炮弹
+ e" d3 u/ h4 I' K1 n- H
% G/ o& i" \, [* \" L& s- V　　sugar-coated bullets59

5 Z( B6 Z+ U* q　　天有不测风云
/ R. G5 z* U) Q( R
9 N5 t3 O3 g% K8 n' ?# E! U4 _9 @5 ?　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

- f( T; U+ ]9 r5 `8 Y, _7 t　　团结就是力量
+ R# ?% b& T4 a: g6 |( m
; ?. {, o" h/ N4 O　　Unity is strength.
; W# S) [, Q* _+ W
　　61
6 ]6 \+ f5 `% f: w
% {9 g3 Y, j- j5 m) W　　跳进黄河洗不清
$ e" I6 C! Z$ }  e9 p
. |( i" P! w- y. ~, r# F  P/ T　　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
; y8 E+ J7 G. v+ p8 t3 k, ~+ @
　　62
/ |! y# M% X& r0 D* ~7 s- B
4 b/ C- _- J$ o　　歪风邪气
% h5 G' j, }0 ?+ M9 h
' ]9 c0 y* N/ s4 ~% x- w　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

1 X# h4 y$ y% a5 h7 D% f' U& y　　63
, u, W, L3 d: t4 i
　　物以类聚，人以群分
% k& l" d  |# ?& D
. J* `3 K1 R. g1 V　　Birds of a feather flock together.
6 X  X" y$ p8 W  \, ]6 W
; x7 j! M; m3 |3 C( W! t. N　　64
, V1 A, b4 y, I% A; D
　　望子成龙
& N: O: a. |# y
　　hold high hopes for one's child
. @6 o# ~' s+ L
　　65
, V5 a+ e# P' W2 f$ w4 A
+ }# e! A# y% M& A- R8 b) ]0 s7 s　　唯利是图

6 b# @; P5 j" I/ w8 }: g% |　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
& K* M: ?0 B+ f
! k- V" _# ^( K0 c3 t% ?4 @0 F　　66

8 ^9 c8 ^5 z, G7 s# C　　无中生有

8 v6 i$ H) ~7 e1 ?4 x8 g  q! w- U　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
( o8 Y% }9 y4 G* K9 M; g
' C( P+ _+ j/ d6 h/ i　　67

- Y( k# p2 U, V( e" x" G　　无风不起浪

9 ^' @6 p8 J) z5 @1 I+ K  Z, ^　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

! c" b" k, |, x8 |　　68
/ |7 l1 m: |; O5 B6 G  V( Q0 c
　　徇私枉法
0 e0 T& N. P% C& x6 P$ _
0 e, ]: t1 M0 ]4 u! j　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
! e; y7 U! U8 d, z* B6 r. t8 P, {
7 k# ^7 M/ D3 _$ V　　69
* b' |- D8 N% v  |, g
　　新官上任三把火
- X6 W# {; Q( j/ z1 H( A# o
　　a new broom sweeps clean

　　70

　　蓄势待发
' D7 h1 S- {3 }) `4 f0 K, z
　　accumulate strength for a take-off
) U- W0 d( |; X  X
　　71
: o( q3 _9 w4 q+ m& E8 h! T
　　心想事成
. Z  X, k) @( C
: n, t+ J6 o" R7 u7 s" F　　May all your wish come true
9 _' q1 @% N' ]- r, g
1 a% ]7 R+ Z+ c$ h, {" r/ w2 `　　72
& o  T2 d# Q8 `2 t+ x8 a. h# J9 t2 Z
/ v' t# z1 o1 N. s, [' A5 B% O　　心照不宣
+ @3 H  r5 O1 t$ h1 D
" a! Q4 P- c. \( e( z) x; p　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

　　73

5 v  r4 l/ h2 Z2 e1 R8 j' ^　　先入为主

. E' z2 s0 h6 C. o6 Q* P8 M　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
" m: ^5 i+ d- U9 M$ m7 R# n5 u
8 u, o( Q+ Q( q0 w1 y" M4 O0 |　　74
1 F7 L! W+ K* W# d; }
　　先下手为强

! T% d' V- ?# p/ M: Q1 N9 Y0 R　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

+ v4 u6 {( o0 @8 @' @% R　　The best defense is offense.
9 M' ?% T* b3 g  F
　　75
4 _& v. I# G' [+ V5 z
　　热锅上的蚂蚁

0 Q2 E& a& T' Z* z, a" J# S" L　　ants on a hot pan
7 R) w" q. q8 u* W* b
( ^5 L4 h- k+ ~( T　　76

, ]  c* i) A4 F　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
5 @+ ^# i/ }" u4 [8 t* O: i! F
1 X7 @8 _+ n, @( C. w& }5 V( v) E+ v# w　　77
0 v, y1 N+ ^/ G% P* j4 P: p
　　息事宁人

/ [, E/ A3 ~2 k& r' P$ L& N　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
4 b* F" T; X0 C
　　78
! W7 U4 \0 t3 d$ V) Q! _
　　循序渐进
5 U$ x& _2 P( e( k  `
　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order

　　79
& b# ]- h0 Q1 ?, |
　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
( ~! ~1 {/ q5 E. t. K/ O
, z0 N. f2 v: r& B1 {; |- y　　80
3 Y& E% a+ y/ Z; F4 C: K/ K5 L2 k, `+ x. i
8 _7 E% [, W/ J$ \2 s& o　　有情人终成眷属
- p! U0 U) b1 m+ q7 c
　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
; {* Y1 g$ v8 Q, B/ l
　　有钱能使鬼推磨

: a# q, `& Q- ]4 t( P! K" O" ]8 j　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

5 K3 B% _3 ~) u　　有识之士
0 S& W4 H, \- {! M
　　a man of insight83

8 x8 j& i, J* T% I4 R$ h; _$ n　　有勇无谋
1 C8 R8 y" o3 t( X( j2 A/ Y0 c
　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会
3 z1 d$ R6 e! E7 ^
3 u2 t1 j2 L6 Z5 d: M  l4 ]　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

- x- z( x1 U" v; T. t　　与时俱进
: W- ~* H* |; r; Z/ S0 U+ _9 L
- J1 K" R; t8 G( o2 h( ^: X　　keep pace with the times86
/ Z, }/ ~( k; j- z; q1 g
　　以人为本

　　people-oriented

) u1 Q* V( f: ^2 a( X5 r　　87

　　因材施教

　　teach students according to their aptitude
! S- d% C) J) @; @) H
　　88
" A6 c  q5 B; v" g
! X! ~* C5 ?  D4 Y, u# g) B　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

3 r, |4 q2 V! `* h　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

　　89

　　欲速则不达
' w2 I, [+ e1 E9 O- c! ?, N
　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.

　　90
8 ?8 S; q2 `8 e: }, C9 l, q
8 }2 I: P. @, ]1 N) L! E( L: \% l　　优胜劣汰
" a4 S$ @* n2 U8 l
　　survival of the fittest

& s; K; o, H5 @1 z8 D　　91
) L2 r$ m& Y' ~' e& U! Q- \1 p
　　英雄所见略同
" [, U+ x4 u+ s! s4 t6 W# i
! ^7 R: B4 @7 L* ^! v# x' V　　Great minds think alike.

) L* }6 {& ^! g  z$ m5 |　　92
: @( f. k0 ?9 M/ k, B1 a' R
　　冤家宜解不宜结

　　Better make friends than make enemies.

& A3 g% J  H! o　　93

. x! @5 U& g: H4 d, _' A5 J　　冤假错案

8 W1 u7 B  |6 T/ Q" c9 W　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
1 M, O7 @* f2 o( ^, W
, C8 Y5 G4 Q0 Y) w　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.
; d) ?/ M3 U" P$ V, ]4 t$ y& N
1 ]$ d2 c0 Z8 {" d. Q% p　　A real man never goes back on his words.

1 w$ z# E& \3 c$ O* r; J: ]+ T　　95
9 R5 S8 R' z: z( \' @- w- {% @# c
+ J( z5 p9 q9 H6 r7 C* K　　招财进宝
6 k: n8 q. F/ h3 }) g" x
　　bring in wealth and treasure
5 W* L9 Q; C) |6 d& ]7 Z) N
$ F+ h' W: e5 E2 {　　96
4 f$ Q" {0 K5 y6 M* ~) h* E
- G' A& F& E6 T　　债台高筑

6 v4 H* n. _+ X# q" G　　become debt-ridden

) t3 m7 f7 K/ i/ T% m　　97
7 j, X3 P; k; I; Z1 A3 Q9 R' G. I
　　众矢之的
7 d4 `) }  h' |" u3 x. _
% k! b2 G/ a$ O/ n% ~+ x　　target of public criticism

　　98

' p' |3 {! s/ o! P1 G$ H2 O　　纸上谈兵

* ^+ o# U4 P1 ?2 z( q! K8 P　　be an armchair strategist

7 r2 T  K8 M" h0 X. A　　99
6 p- A" G6 l$ i
: c: s% I) T6 A% m% g% G* v# \　　纸包不住火
1 H/ T$ J" R  A: u! G2 M- M
% ^9 k, O# b) D8 ~% y　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
2 X. L7 A0 p# }, B& m0 U
　　What's done by night appears by day.

　　100
6 p- D+ N5 p$ x, p4 q( K
+ C& c  B) L0 l/ Y　　左右为难

% @$ D* X. G$ O  ]- a　　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。