Tips for Translating Chinese Idioms

swf82

许多中国人爱用俗语、成语、俚语。由于中美两国文化、风俗、思想、习惯的差异，如果照字直译，或把单字"堆在一起"，老外听了，也许就会"满头雾水"、"迷迷糊糊"，成了他们所说的"只有你们中国人听得懂"的"中国英文"（Chinese English）。\r<br>
<br>在此，把一些常见的中文俗语与一般老外的说法相对比较，或许可供有兴趣的读者参考。\r<br>
<br>1. 人山人海：有人直译为：People mountain people sea.
<br>这就是"中国英文"，老外很难理解。他们指"人多"时，通常只说："There is a large crowd of people."如果看到电影院门前大排长龙，也只说："There is (was) a long movie line."
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<br>不过在诗词用语 (poetic expression) 里，老外也有使用："a (the) sea of faces"，颇有咱们"人山人海"的味道。例如：
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<br>Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.（望着一片人山人海的听众， A先生发表一篇动人的演说。）
<br>Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.（柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。）
<br>可见，说话者通常要在台上或高处，才有"人海"的感觉。因此，可以说：I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中，就不说："I saw the sea of faces."也不说："There is a sea of faces."只说："I saw a large crowd of people."
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<br>2. 家家有本难念的经：有人译成：Every family cooking － pot has a black spot. (意思是：每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)
<br>这样说法，老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是：
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<br>Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)
<br>或者说：\r<br>Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)
<br>说白些，就是：\r<br>Every family has its own problem.
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<br>3. 天下无不散的宴席：有人直译为：There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
<br>老外听后，也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法，也许更易理解：\r<br>
<br>All good things come to an end. (意思是：所有好的事情，总有结束的一天。)
<br>假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天，那么可以说：
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<br>Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)
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<br>4. 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚：有人照字直译为：When times are easy, we do not burn the incense, but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.
<br>这种说法，老外也会"一知半解"。美语里一般说法是：\r<br>
<br>Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神，不是只在困难时。)
<br>对学生也可以说：
<br>If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功，考试就不会形成压力。)
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<br>5. 挂羊头，卖狗肉：有人照字直译为：He advertises mutton, but sells dog's flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheep's head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.
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<br>这两种译法，恐怕老外都难理解，尤其谈到"狗肉"，他们更会"反感"，因为狗是他们最爱的宠物，不过老外倒有相近的说法： He applied bait-and-switch factics in business. (他经商的策略是先引诱顾客来，再改变货物的品质。)
<br>(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)
<br>This store uses bait and switch policy.
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<br>或者简单的说：
<br>Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或\r<br>Say one thing and do another.
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<br>6. 一言既出，驷马难追：有人译成：One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.
<br>这两种说法，中文味道嫌重，老外未必理解。不过他们倒有类似的说法：
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<br>A word once let go cannot be recalled.
<br>或者说：\r<br>You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话，就不能再收回来。)
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<br>7. 祸从口出，言多必失：有人译为：The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.
<br>老外听了，恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成：
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<br>Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话，会带来麻烦); 或\r<br>The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)
<br>甚至也可以说：\r<br>Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说，张眼多看。)