1、习语的翻译策略四字格的翻译策略,三、习语汉译英,习语的范围,成语: “人们长期以来习用的、形式简洁而意思精辟的、定性的词组或短句。汉语成语大多由四个字组成。” （陈文伯）set phrases; idioms 2. 惯用语：idioms 3. 俗语: “通俗流行之语”或“约定俗成广泛通行之语” sayings 4. 谚语: “在群众中间流传的固定语句,用简单通俗的话反映出深刻的道理。” proverbs 歇后语：由前后两部分构成，前一部分多为比喻，后一部分说明喻义。two-part allegorical sayings 格言警句: maxim,习语的特点,习语集中反映一个民族或文化的特色 习
2、语是各种修辞手段的集中表现 习语是语言中独立的、不规则的、固定的成分。第一、二两点对译者的要求是什么？第三点对译者的要求是什么？,第一、二两点要求译者尽量保持原文的民族形式和风格，因此直译（不是死译和硬译）往往是必要的。 第三点要求译者不要把习语当作普通语句来处理，须避免字字对译。,习语翻译的指导思想,“直译基础上的意译” 陆殿扬：“Translate literally, if possible, or, appeal to free translation.” (如果可能，就直译；否则就意译） 奈达：功能对等（Functional Equivalence: not only the equ
3、ivalent content of message, but, in so far as possible, an equivalence of the form);,改变形式的五个条件,直译会导致意义上的错误时； 引入外来语形成语义空白（Semantic Zero），读者有可能自己填入错误的意义时； 形式对等引起严重的意义晦涩时； 形式对等引起作者原意所没有的歧义时； 形式对等违反译入语的语法或文体规范时。,习语汉译英的原则,形象性原则 简练性原则 不可滥用字面意义直译法 尽量少用意译法和直译加注法,习语翻译的基本方法,1. 直译法：在不违背译文语言规范以及不 引起译文读者错误理解的情况下
4、，在译文中保留原文成语的形象、修辞手段和民族特色 2. 同义习语借用法: 有些习语在内容形式和色彩上都符合, 可借用 3. 意译法: 无法直译, 也无法借用时, 则意译 4. 直译兼意译:部分直译,部分意译,直意参半法,5. 省略法: 四字重叠词组因追求音韵美,前后两部分意义相同或相近时, 只需译出一部分或只译其意义, 可以不考虑重叠的部分。 6. 增添法：为了更清楚地表达原意，有时要结合上下文，在译文中增添一些说明。 7. 还原法：有些习语源于外语，翻译时可使之还原。 8. 直译加注法：有些习语包含历史典故，含有中国文化色彩，如果不作一番解释，英语读者将很难理解其确切含义。 9. 粗俗语回避
5、法：对于粗俗语，通常采用回避的方法，即借用英语同义习语或意译等方法来处理。,直译法: 保留原习语形象(异化) 纸老虎 paper tiger 走狗 running dog 丢脸 lose face 和风细雨 as mild as a drizzle and as gentle as a breeze 槁木死灰 withered wood or cold ashes 跑了和尚跑不了庙 The monk may run away, but the temple cant run away. 竹篮打水一场空 drawing water in a bamboo basket,剖腹藏珠 cut open
6、 your stomach to hide a pearl 外强中干 Outwardly strong but inwardly weak 礼尚往来 Courtesy requires reciprocity (互惠） 前怕老虎后怕狼 Fear of the wolf in front and the tiger behind 刻骨铭心 To be engraved on ones heart and bones 引狼入室 To lead a wolf into the house,重见天日 To see the daylight again 百川归海 All rivers flow to t
7、he sea. 画饼充饥 To draw cakes to allay 减轻 hunger 口蜜腹剑 To be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted 声东击西 To shout in the east and strike in the west,城门失火,殃及池鱼 A fire on the city wall brings disaster to the fish in the moat壕沟, 护城河. 路遥知马力,日久见人心 As a long road tests a horses strength, so a long task proves a per
8、sons heart. 初生牛犊不怕虎 New-born calves make little of tigers. 明枪易躲,暗箭难防 It is easy to dodge dd 躲避a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from behind.,不能直译的习语,眉飞色舞 死译：His eyebrows are flying and his countenance is dancing 改译：To beam with joy 粗枝大叶 With big branches and broad leaves T
9、o be crude （rough，coarse） and careless 无孔不入 To get into every hole To take advantage of every weakness 扬眉吐气 To raise the eyebrow and let out a breath To feel proud and elated兴高采烈的,灯红酒绿 With red lights and green wine Dissipated沉迷于酒色的and luxurious奢侈的 纸醉金迷 With drunken paper and bewitched 蛊惑, 使着迷 gold
10、(a life of )luxury and dissipation 开门见山 To open the door and see the mountain To come straight to the point 单枪匹马 With a solitary spear and a single horse To be single-handed in doing sth.,大张旗鼓 To make a great array of flags and drums On a large and spectacular 壮观的scale 海阔天空 With a vast sea and a bou
11、ndless sky (To talk) at random 风雨飘摇 The wind and rain are rocking (of a situation)being unstable,2. 同义习语借用法:归化 1)含义相同,所用比喻和形象基本一致, “心有灵犀一点通”的习语, 可“自然归化” 混水摸鱼 to fish in troubled water 火上浇油 to add fuel to oil 空中楼阁 castles in the air 趁热打铁 Strike while the iron is hot. 沧海一粟 a drop in the ocean 覆水难收 no
12、use crying over spilt milk 狐假虎威 ass in the lions skin 养虎为患 to warm a snake in ones bosom buzm 本末倒置 to put the cart before the horse 眼中钉,肉中刺 a thorn in the flesh 隔墙有耳 Walls have ears.,赴汤蹈火 go through fire and water 过河拆桥 kick down the ladder 格格不入 be like square pegs支柱in round holes 乳臭未干 be wet behind
13、the ears 魂不附体 jump out of ones skin2)形象不同,寓意相同的,亦可借用，但是文化发生冲突时，要谨慎处理，不能随意借用。 小题大做 make a mountain out of a molehill鼹鼠丘（可借用） 班门弄斧：to teach a fish to swim（可借用） 谋事在人，成事在天 Man proposes, God disposes.清除（不可借用）,3)不借用形象或比喻的, 可放心借用迂回曲折 twists and turns 断断续续 off and on 乱七八糟 at sixes and sevens 挖空心思 to rack on
14、es brains 针锋相对 to give tit for tat,归化？异化？你来选择,竭泽而渔 To drain a pond to catch all the fish Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 打草惊蛇 To stir up the grass and alert the snake Wake a sleeping dog 易如反掌 As easy as turning over ones hand As easy as falling off a log,掌上明珠 A pearl in the palm The apple o
15、f ones eye 守口如瓶 To keep ones mouth closed like a bottle To keep a still tongue in ones head 雪中送炭 To send charcoal in snowy weather To help a lame dog over stile横路栅栏 画蛇添足 To draw a snake and add feet to it To paint the lily,3. 意译法: 牺牲形象, 割舍文化因子 胸有成竹 To have a well-thought-out经过周详之考虑的 plan before doin
16、g sth 桃李满天下 To have students all over the world 叶公好龙 Professed love of what one really fears 东施效颦 Crude imitation with ludicrous荒谬的effect 南柯一梦 A fond dream or illusory joy 四面楚歌 To be besieged on all sides,悬梁刺股 To be extremely hard-working in ones studies 初出茅庐 At the beginning of ones career 罄竹难书 (of
17、 crimes) too numerous to mention 倾城倾国 To be extremely beautiful 辎珠必较 To haggle over every penny 毛遂自荐 To volunteer ones service,4. 直译兼意译,无亲无故 without a single relative or friend to help her out 斩草除根 pluck up the evil by the roots 风餐露宿 braving the wind and dew 贼眉鼠眼 to behave stealthily悄悄地like a thief
18、辗转反侧 to toss and turn restlessly 跃跃欲试 eager to have a try 狼吞虎咽 to wolf sth. Down,5. 省略法,能工巧匠 skilled craftsman 称兄道弟 to call each other brothers 赤手空拳 to be bare-handed 自吹自擂 to blow ones own trumpets 心慈手软 soft-hearted 安家落户 to make ones home 抛头露面 to make ones own appearance 愁眉苦脸 to pull on a long face,
19、长吁短叹 Sighing deeply 千真万确 Quite true 油嘴滑舌 Glib能说善道的, 圆滑的tongue 断子绝孙 may you die sonless. may you be the last of your line 沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。 Her beauty would put the flowers to shame.,6. 增添法,树倒猢狲散Once the tree falls, the monkeys on it will flee helter-shelter. (慌慌张张） 借香敬佛borrowing joss-sticks线香from a nei
20、ghbor and burning them before Buddha for your own sake. 惊弓之鸟A bird starteld by the mere twang 弦声of a bow-string 螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole lurking behind itself. 风声鹤唳，草木皆兵be scared by the sigh of the wind or the cry of the cranes, fearing ambush at every tree and tu
21、ft一绺of grass,个人自扫门前雪， 不管他人瓦上霜。Sweep the snow from your own front door; leave the frost on the other mans roof to thaw融雪. Mind your own business; poke not your nose into other peoples business. 木已成舟The wood is already made into a boat - whats done is done. 井水不犯河水Well water and river water leave each
22、other alone - stay out of things that dont concern you.,7. 还原法,牵着鼻子走 lead/be led by the nose 火中取栗 cats paw/to pull the chestnut out of the fire 武装到了牙齿 be armed to the teeth 象沙丁鱼罐头一样packed like sardines/jammed together like sardines 夹着尾巴跑了run away with their tails between their legs 战争贩子war monger 死硬
23、派 die-hards 强权政治 power politics,8. 直译加注法,司马昭之心，路人皆知。 毛遂自荐 世外桃源 画龙点睛 画蛇添足 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮。 班门弄斧,9. 粗俗语回避法,我要去就是王八蛋。 Ill be damned if Ill go. 他妈的，雨真大。 Blast it! What a heavy rain! 真该死，我没赶上末班车。 Oh, hell. Ive missed the last train. 你可以滚蛋了。 You can go to the devil!,四、翻译常用的八种技巧,1. 重译法 (repetition) 2. 增译法 (amp
24、lification) 3. 减译法 (omission) 4. 词类转移法 (conversion) 5. 词序调整法 (inversion) 6. 分译法 (division) 7. 正说反译, 反说正译法 (negation) 8. 语态 变换法 (the change of the voices),习语的翻译策略,一.直译 直译能够比较完整地保留原习语的比喻形象、民族色彩和语言风格，但必须以不引起读者误解和不违背译文表达习惯为前提。例如： （1）处理人民内部的矛盾，必须坚持和风细雨的方法，坚持“团结-批评-团结”的方法。It is essential to persist in usi
25、ng methods as mild as a drizzle and as gentle as a breeze, and to adhere to the formula of “unity-criticism-unity”, in dealing with contradictions among the people. （2）所以这李纨虽青春丧偶，且处于膏粱锦绣之中，竟如“槁木死灰”一般，一概不问So this young widow living in the lap of luxury was no better off than withered wood or cold ash
26、es, taking no interest in theoutside world （3）他一家子在这儿，他的房子、地在这儿，他跑？ 跑了和尚跑不了庙。Escape? But his home and property cant escape. The monk may runaway, but the temple cant run with him.（4）咳！这一来，竹篮子打水一场空了！Ah! We are drawing water in a bamboo basket.,二.意译 当直译有困难或勉强译出而英语读者无法理解式，一般应采用意译法。这主要是翻译时抓住内容和喻义，牺牲形象、结
27、合上下文比较灵活地转达原意。 （5）她怕碰一鼻子灰，话到了嘴边，她又把它吞了下去。She was afraid of being snubbed, so she swallowed the words that came to her lips. （6）她好久不来信了，一家子盼了星星盼月亮。For many months no letter came from her. Till her whole family worried over her day and night. （7）我要是有个三长两短，你给玉山捎个话！If anything should happen to me, let Y
28、ushan know! （8）你不能戴着木头眼镜，只看一寸远。The trouble with you is you cannot see an inch beyond your nose.,三.节译 在汉语习语中，常有并列的对偶结构，用两个不同的喻体表达相同的喻意。对此类汉语习语通常可采用节译法，即省去并列重复的部分，保留它的基本喻意。 （9）冷淡的阳光照着他们的愁眉苦脸和长发白眼。The cold, pale sunlight fell on their gloomy faces, long hair and lustreless eyes. （10）最可恶的是行里的同仁背后骂我是个老糊涂
29、，瞎了眼，叫一个不学无术的三等货来做我的襄理。What is most detestable is that all my colleagues in the bank call me a blind old fool behind my back because I have engaged an uneducated thirdrater as my assistant. （11）忽闻有人在牡丹亭畔，长吁短叹。Suddenly he heared a rustle in the peony pavilion and someone sighing deeply. （12）“这断子绝孙的阿Q
30、！” 远远地听得小尼姑的带哭的声音。“AH Q, may you die sonless!” sounded the little nuns voice tearfully in the distance.,四.直译和意译兼用 在采用直译以保留原文比喻形象的同时，又兼用意译，又是略作适当补充，使译文能更加清晰地传达原文含义。 （13）我说二三百两银子，你就说二三十两！戴着斗笠亲嘴，差着一帽子！When I say two or three hundred taels, you say twenty or thirty! Its like kissing in straw helmets - t
31、he lips are far apart! （14）她一个单身人，无亲无故But this girl was all by herself and far from home, without a single relative or friend to help her. （15）王冕一路风餐露宿，九十里大站，七十里小站，一径来到山东济南府地方。Braving the wind and dew, Wang Mian travelled day after day past large posting stations and small, till he came to the city
32、of Jinan.,五.借用英语中的同义习语 英语里有一些习语和汉语的一些习语采用相同或相似的形象或比喻，表达相同或相似的喻意，可以借用英语同义习语来翻译。 （16）如今便赶着躲了，料也躲不及，少不得要使各“金蝉脱壳”的法子Well, its too late to hide now. I must try to avoid suspicion by throwing them off the scent （17）只有大胆地破釜沉舟地跟他们拼，也许还有翻身的那一天！All you can do is to burn your boats and fight them in the hope t
33、hat one day youll come out on top. （18）我没想到他对同志们的批评竟充耳不闻。I didnt expect him to turn a deaf ear to the comrades criticism.,天长地久as old as the hills 胆小如鼠as timid as a hare 泰然自若as cool as a cucumber 水中捞月to fish in the air 苦如黄连as bitter as wormwood 鸡皮疙瘩goose-flesh 轻如鸿毛as light as a feather 旁观者清The onlook
34、er sees most of the game. 艳如桃李as red as rose,狐假虎威ass in the lions skin 物以类聚Birds of a feather flock together. 非驴非马Neither fish, nor flesh, nor fowl. 如释重负to take a load off ones mind 挥金如土to spend money like water 弱不禁风as weak as water 瞬息之间in the twinkle of an eye 泪如泉涌a stream of tears 瓮中之鳖a rat in a h
35、ole,扬眉吐气to hold ones head high 一针见血to touch one on the raw 不翼而飞to take wings to itself 小题大做to make mountains out of molehills 格格不入a square peg in a round hole 山穷水尽at the end of ones rope 冷若冰霜as cold as marble 半斤八两six of one and half a dozen of the other 胸有成竹to have a card up ones sleeve,孤注一掷to put a
36、ll ones eggs in one basket 纸上谈兵armchair strategy 白费唇舌to speak to the wind 同行相嫉Two of a trade can never agree. 一文不名without a penny to ones name,质地优良to be exvellent in quality 品种齐全in complete range of articles 款式繁多with various patterns 选料考究choice material 做工精细fine wormanship 色泽鲜明bright-coloured 零售价格retail price 批发价格wholesale price 货到付款payment against arrival,质地优良to be exvellent in quality 品种齐全in complete range of articles 款式繁多with various patterns 选料考究choice material 做工精细fine wormanship 色泽鲜明bright-coloured 零售价格retail price 批发价格wholesale price 货到付款payment against arrival,
