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
! R2 E( N) e5 r1 W6 m. U& a+ l
　　爱屋及乌
) G! _/ W: ?* H6 a' ]0 b9 v
　　Love me, love my dog.
8 m) {* e1 F$ m9 \8 [
! x- ~* r! Y: r8 R9 ~6 v( J* s　　02
. ^5 G' {) d- y# ^
& ~! M6 V6 M" ~9 @* H: n  q2 g4 N( b　　百闻不如一见

: ~8 N( h) z. X) t& S　　One look is worth a thousand words.
* i; M+ h! ~' ^, }; ]3 Q3 m8 U- m
　　Seeing is believing.

　　03
. P* b  |- l1 y/ k0 [/ X" q
0 N2 v$ T- L/ T4 b& {　　比上不足，比下有余
* ?7 l6 x: {3 ~3 }5 p. _" U) |* u4 b
; u/ t# U6 T( S4 N! H$ |+ E8 K1 b　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
! r0 O7 n- U5 s( P$ B1 s9 [$ B
+ \& @: ]; j# I0 L; G　　04

0 E. K* j1 q& n$ G$ S  @6 @# A　　笨鸟先飞
( ~  i& i+ m& o- k+ M0 M6 n
　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
* C7 o" T# e6 v1 P7 D8 z: F8 Q2 E4 m
　　05
  v' [8 W2 _" O0 c
　　不遗余力

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

　　06
6 ]9 w- f8 P, P: {; s+ j# v4 D
9 [8 |" s4 g% E  P7 o　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.

" B9 @- N' z* \　　07
1 v3 k% Q" `  K8 ?! T. T  R
7 N+ Y6 r9 U+ s9 q+ i" g　　拆东墙补西墙

! K5 l( y. I, ?! g　　rob Peter to pay Paul

( X9 \* ?# G/ d8 H　　08

　　辞旧迎新
( ?3 c" Y- h6 N) Y/ I! ?0 L2 c
/ {6 w  C  F" f1 I　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

- D& F. E2 L" S/ l% Z; e　　09

2 A3 y2 |5 j' Q; `3 o( h' s　　大事化小，小事化了

0 @& }3 e( {9 |3 i' M　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

　　10
, r! b% S7 ^- [
2 o0 ^, Y6 S- S; w8 l　　大开眼界
: O9 m+ _  j. [5 L& G* ?. \% [) Q
+ X  X: x! N) u# x! a　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
8 x6 j) o, ]) d1 {4 D& |& Q2 F
　　11

+ g7 `% o. a+ z- \　　国泰民安
' X3 W' h' d; d2 a. H8 M
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

( _4 z* e- L/ O* Y1 o5 Y　　12

0 O( y8 U! m  G$ }" k　　过犹不及
, F) N1 q( f6 M/ g" W
! j/ q0 F7 s  r- I9 a3 [( Z$ K　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
+ D: d: r& y" ?3 o' H
) r! x4 X$ H2 D% D) Q　　too much is as bad as too little
  I+ e, X6 A# p* j
　　13
- T0 ^( A, \3 c* P# p0 N
　　好了伤疤忘了疼
/ `+ b: J/ Q6 R! [' H
　　once on shore, one prays no more
$ Q$ K& K, |9 ?; n, d/ s6 [
　　14
( ]' V. r9 {2 a' b- U
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

6 A  r5 p' f$ n2 N% N2 i　　Bad news travels fast.
3 e' T, U8 r* K* r9 e
　　15
; h/ s  \, \9 |
　　和气生财
3 @8 W/ H2 q  r9 y8 g
　　harmony brings wealth;
: B$ I& W) Q, l7 t0 D- m# D
4 x0 w& L# }) Z% s( }, D2 S$ c' L　　friendliness is conducive to business success
9 G2 Y* v6 S4 X0 E
  m6 x' s5 ~( ~. r8 ~  Z　　16
/ ]$ P! A/ w( X; S! d& k; o
# O. c, c) s+ S& e　　活到老学到老
% _7 S- h3 W8 K& k! M
　　never too old to learn
' v* }# S5 E$ w/ K2 e# D- \
+ }2 E" {( W9 L( J. k　　17
8 z) g1 ^. J# w6 w+ z6 K
: D2 U5 l9 t4 z$ J0 p  F. n　　既往不咎

　　let bygones be bygones

　　18
. R, I0 L& N8 `5 }, |
! e/ @0 o3 r6 x$ p: p+ `1 W　　金无足赤，人无完人

　　There are spots even on the sun.
2 E8 p) V# x3 g' Q( R
2 K. G- x' ?% d' k　　19

　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.

　　20
& w( W% p* ^% y* N' I1 r' W
　　脚踏实地

　　be down-to-earth

　　21
$ ]7 q8 V3 n5 w0 Z8 T
; I  o2 O1 z, `7 Q, ~　　脚踩两只船

3 J3 Y6 l$ i  p2 N2 S　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

　　22

) J5 E; g* C+ r　　君子之交淡如水

　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

: g* `% ?& J' U　　23

  B! W$ y; q, x. ~+ ?　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
) b) V9 v; s0 P8 k
　　cut and dried; cliché

, U+ h7 }, \0 r% _- w5 C! U　　24
# W% P- M" O1 N: R; y
　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
" s- z) W% `9 w
7 C- c! N) Q4 x1 l. k+ c　　25
: X! a' q+ d  `+ k9 i+ e4 l  i; E1 ?
　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
0 S6 i5 q6 `; N/ {9 v
# {" `$ j  @1 p, Z　　Where there is life, there is hope.
/ g1 v) y- v( L% q; u# i+ Q! j1 J
　　26

& @# n) a6 x% ~　　马到成功
& A( t2 t: w$ _! r, {/ X. R/ u. `
/ f( X0 H' T# R) o4 A. P! {$ a6 k% s　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

　　27

　　名利双收
. k6 Y) G% n- c
　　gain both fame and wealth

0 l4 y# @" Z* t, t- G: v　　28

　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened

8 Z/ p+ Q1 D* T　　29
6 Z) m5 n/ O1 H" [
8 V6 f; t8 X6 Q　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

. C9 J, V, ~0 `6 o* D1 J: R　　30
" q, v( _6 T) J
　　每逢佳节倍思亲
" f8 o5 p( M3 b( U+ d7 ]( ^
　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
: V4 S* H% K2 s% |
　　31
$ P2 a0 w. G# O4 ?
' k  i9 R( t8 Q$ D% X3 C　　谋事在人，成事在天

　　Man proposes; God disposes.
0 ~. s3 X: L3 x- B
  F7 C$ h4 s& E2 a5 V% ^2 l$ q! t　　32
8 O9 A  D6 i: n& y" R
　　弄巧成拙
1 C0 g/ C# Z% Q
　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

　　33
# k+ U# X% @0 Q6 \
　　赔了夫人又折兵
4 I0 [1 Y. C' A1 v) _0 F
+ Y5 X0 Z4 W0 e3 d" T　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

) s! R7 X  x2 s$ S& N. {% P+ i　　34
# ]0 d, s) U2 E9 @8 |
　　抛砖引玉
' \. F% [6 r9 L( W' R- D. m) N( N
/ n% Q* F" r: M　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

　　35
  W: m/ l1 u* G6 N: N+ Q3 ^
　　破釜沉舟
  w0 p8 a& D! \6 m) {
% J# r% u5 a/ l4 |$ Q! `　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
# A; f7 p( g# ^5 D
　　36
# _. C& e+ |5 _+ z% \
　　抢得先机

& q3 @$ K0 ^' x  \　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊
) i; B/ r8 X& b) l5 ?
　　One can't make bricks without straw.

　　38

) \( d8 u0 B- ^" @8 n$ L5 i　　千里之行始于足下
% ~  P+ A8 a5 h5 ?+ F) B# w" T
　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
; [1 d. ~( o5 P2 w2 q. z4 Y# d
- P0 C0 q$ h. ]7 Y3 F- ?. a# P7 [　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师
8 H3 V% E" W* T4 u9 h* {
　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

. _9 S% T0 [' B: R# ~! e　　40

　　前怕狼，后怕虎
$ D$ I& Y" J( Q) G- \) E# ^
6 [; [; A" M' k1 w; }　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
( b0 N# {3 U+ m% w# i' T
　　41

. {! L# p* l: m　　强龙难压地头蛇

1 {6 l8 O$ w& E8 f2 |4 I; X6 a　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

. S- X$ k! v/ _. i8 z7 `　　42
+ a* `6 v: Z* V. b% k, }! S& a
　　瑞雪兆丰年
  K8 R' m; `  p; B! a$ h! l3 P
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43

　　人逢喜事精神爽
2 D" }: C3 k1 f6 t
' U' L( T1 _9 f　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

　　44
" |' M/ T. g5 O& V
' S3 n0 A" W9 {. k( l! {　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

/ N6 Q0 Q7 S5 n# F  m7 ]　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45
/ `  _- Q* c2 `# s+ ^
　　世外桃源

' |9 Z6 J' ~9 }# A% S　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

9 `: _9 C0 n2 E3 |, J5 k8 W% L　　46

3 N8 l$ k2 J. f0 B& @　　人之初，性本善
$ |. ]- P! x% B4 u3 H
3 _# e5 t: v' K. g　　Humans are born good.

* M2 ]! @2 m) B　　47
7 D: y( U1 X! w& g% P3 _. \- Q
3 h4 B- v. |( e# r8 }7 I　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
1 _) b$ v( Y$ C/ @4 `$ l% [
. ?( o6 F8 O1 P4 d- e5 V# m　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

! Y# t8 I5 x# |+ U+ g8 `6 Q　　48
( _, E+ a1 m5 j" t* }; r
$ t! a3 Z- S' C  Y/ V　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;

1 Y5 x; }2 \  A  i: `　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
8 J. W/ Y# v* b5 A8 ]$ K! P
　　49

" {% ~; |: k2 N% v6 k. i　　三十而立
1 q9 u0 Y( d: [
　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

+ g2 E& s9 j- f; _8 j  K! W1 _　　50
% B" D: s$ D8 @  P# T+ j
6 p, E! k. I: ?+ K% J' c- p　　水涨船高

6 b' m4 W/ e' U+ _$ Y　　A ship rises with the tide
, H- B& n3 F. s: c
  i' K; }* }( B. i　　51
# o: _4 a% h4 s2 O/ ~8 d8 m
0 ?, [* k( N- i) w! p　　时不我待
! I( m  o) ~: }% c
　　Time and tide wait for no man.

　　52

　　杀鸡用牛刀

6 N  U' _" {; K" v+ T9 T+ F. x3 j" l　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
( v' u- w  D0 M
8 g' T. x3 P. p　　53

　　实事求是

　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

　　54

, Q9 A9 y3 h+ S2 ~* z- o　　说曹操，曹操到

　　speak of the devil

　　55

! m/ V# r/ y6 Y6 A　　实话实说

　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

　　56

　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57

　　韬光养晦

& U; h/ z/ h0 e" A0 B1 [& t* U　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
; {) |  C& y- T8 o- ~0 x+ N
+ I  S  W* x+ p7 V9 L0 u　　糖衣炮弹
7 @4 u9 w8 D  A7 N. K* U* t& w
' O* O, x* o  `; E) b3 p% H4 G: t/ Q　　sugar-coated bullets59
9 X8 m+ R. L2 e5 V; U+ w+ _
( R. S9 f+ Q) j9 |　　天有不测风云

0 a1 z: H0 R6 I8 @6 T　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

6 A$ m) m- O! q2 h　　团结就是力量

; Z# X, v4 C0 V' {9 c　　Unity is strength.
3 x3 `( a9 T0 o  U$ Z& q
　　61
& ^: T6 i! `; ]! I% T
8 ?$ T3 x9 x; F1 C7 w　　跳进黄河洗不清
5 N1 d$ S& S* X- j
0 i& t' ]4 X+ ?* O. n' z0 D　　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
2 p& l) x/ f* I2 d( p" E1 c
　　62

1 v& S; I! E7 [　　歪风邪气
4 b" V& B0 \' k4 t( S- Z7 z  Y
3 _2 [& L/ ?* r) W' @- _, L5 ~　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
% e# J, ]5 k7 I( C  c: b1 a
　　63
# g6 S& N# r3 W) E) d
　　物以类聚，人以群分
$ u7 F; q) f( V9 ?; i3 b
　　Birds of a feather flock together.
- A: Z" }4 o0 ~  B  s
　　64
4 m8 A& L  J$ y6 |' k# T, A7 a; c
, X# o5 i) X9 h6 b, z, z: W　　望子成龙
: b1 Z. d$ q2 ]: k! B* ]& W
　　hold high hopes for one's child

　　65
) y0 ?% y( H3 K5 c0 i" z. d% h
3 x, o) u" C$ m" o3 F　　唯利是图

: z2 n! a2 i: Z1 ?8 r　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

: S5 V' A! @. q  y: ?2 t　　66
( E( B* D7 b* @8 |& W
: S( T" C, a' \* w4 ], ^0 r" P　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

　　67

　　无风不起浪
0 B7 d+ L) }, o( V/ k& I' n
　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
. [! b, J7 u7 U' F+ D. A4 w- m
　　68

　　徇私枉法

: |: q5 z. v- h1 h7 Y　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
7 T+ K2 }" i# o/ [9 D# i0 F
5 @0 E' N* h/ u) q* i　　69
. [0 E* P  b- p* I. |
　　新官上任三把火

! [, ]" O, z& [; r2 _　　a new broom sweeps clean
4 h% Q+ |6 M- p9 Y
2 i' O0 m. u' ^- z7 {7 E  j6 v　　70
0 Z, w1 _$ x+ w* r% N4 s
　　蓄势待发
0 w/ R( C  L- ?) N
　　accumulate strength for a take-off

　　71

. e" u: k% a' ?. w　　心想事成
7 B' _; C/ c  T: u+ P. E4 K
5 x5 g! R) ]' X* h　　May all your wish come true
' S, G1 r0 \! C* b- u, Z! T* C( [
! @; h0 X# T' \8 y8 o3 u. g, E　　72

! `% m6 K% T& H0 ~/ R　　心照不宣
# C8 o. B; E# A/ ?, H" @# N: R
　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

9 G, \% \. N' @' {6 {　　73

　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
; |6 L" h  _. j1 t9 ?
　　74
; w. n6 o3 Q1 ^9 ~$ d* \! `" `9 T
! C- W% r  F9 }7 N$ q5 z6 @# b8 ~　　先下手为强
: V! f' M6 \$ k* A
1 E3 T  N( |% g: q0 ^' G: |+ F  S　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
2 ?& N/ w) z8 i
$ H$ |$ u$ z; G# K7 h　　The best defense is offense.
2 L& z9 z! u5 L* l! O4 E1 S1 k
: F( c; q: a3 K  h# {& O0 A- G8 Z　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁
, L0 W0 C, |0 \* F6 A" k9 U4 _
# d/ X, n0 E8 `( f　　ants on a hot pan
6 r4 |7 F) m+ X+ o- \, R2 `; `: ^
　　76

+ B' t3 E) H) Z) r　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

7 R2 i1 ^6 Q! I( T! ]　　77

9 b/ f1 h8 m2 d7 h- B! K6 J　　息事宁人

　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

　　78
+ I! w% @. w! Q  I' A/ E# T+ W
0 P2 O/ d3 S$ |- F4 b$ g　　循序渐进

4 K, @5 S: d9 E5 Y0 F　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
7 ]- a1 r1 A  T0 Q; B+ A+ `
　　79
% l7 E8 I2 ^2 j" R  W, S: |# n; Z
　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

　　80

: q+ z! s' P, G$ C; h　　有情人终成眷属

/ E) C; ?# h& a* Y; j' t7 Z　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

4 V2 S1 Q! f: \& L, R　　有钱能使鬼推磨

　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
$ ~, @- }2 _: ^' }5 v
　　有识之士
0 z1 y! K' P! [$ e  R% v
$ a" }  `4 n- h2 I　　a man of insight83
; _. ^  U9 ^% E) L' [8 D
　　有勇无谋
# b( Y* c+ B; G  l7 T& S* w0 M
4 e* F; X' r1 T2 e. `1 L# j　　bold but not crafty84

4 ]- c* r2 i, M　　有缘千里来相会

) g: ]; {% r$ p, r8 ?　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
! [# a' f5 c& E$ h, r
2 G+ k3 s- F& W8 V2 n9 H　　与时俱进
/ u( R1 `" A2 E/ C9 Z# B1 V& {
3 c$ w3 D6 \+ h: ~# |' ^　　keep pace with the times86
" e* {: J. `5 ~0 w
　　以人为本
' S7 C' S0 H; _: B( v/ Y
　　people-oriented

　　87
; Y- q5 r( u1 ^6 T8 V
( ]5 p6 W* ?( |8 {/ G' L2 N" _  v8 m　　因材施教
& c! B8 I# u6 g( c7 D" @
; ~9 U2 o: t! B5 C0 P( C1 ?　　teach students according to their aptitude

* g6 a) k" L0 n' i& J1 M　　88
, n' d+ g2 |$ R# C
2 I; }8 a' k$ o# K" r& f　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
; l/ t# k3 v9 Q1 l
　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

　　89

' {" l- D1 r. Y$ n: M4 }" ]　　欲速则不达
; V: j8 w2 O6 ?/ r4 Z9 X: o
, ], i. Q2 b9 e* R; ^8 c' ]　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
/ U7 j7 G! \' D# i7 r
　　90

8 B. a. e( `8 G2 u　　优胜劣汰

. J4 M2 C2 F; K) I+ K/ i　　survival of the fittest
5 i' _7 X* |& m* ?, E& G+ b1 H, c
' ~5 _) H( f% v+ g0 K8 A　　91

" b' ?  j) v5 \+ Y7 P" J　　英雄所见略同

, B9 Y& f: y1 q9 Z) W　　Great minds think alike.

: a1 g% u- v. |3 x% r- H% ~7 Y4 O　　92
5 q9 T( L- v  u* Q% T: r
　　冤家宜解不宜结
  @: M' e& D& r+ E: _/ }
　　Better make friends than make enemies.
: q1 n7 a, R6 Z" |, a3 N
. |( `+ I# l- V7 q/ f　　93

　　冤假错案

! l2 ?. r) I& D1 i, N　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
* d9 I& [9 s3 U5 ~$ a+ o* i
　　一言既出，驷马难追
6 X( M, A! r2 J' I& u9 f$ L& v
8 V: E5 ]  @1 i2 o/ ?9 {. z% W6 u　　A promise is a promise.
$ n) v8 A. `4 Y, G, \5 m/ q  t
0 ?) @5 S5 Z$ a1 E3 G" ~% m1 M) h0 Z　　A real man never goes back on his words.
4 S3 f$ I, i: i2 J
# T0 `9 v: v6 P1 X3 d　　95
! c8 V* @7 w( p* s4 K4 D/ ?
( B3 w, i) y$ Y" x　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure
& c. O. U1 ]# o/ g! g3 [* B
　　96
3 Q9 q( o& ]. s
　　债台高筑

　　become debt-ridden
2 r) \/ F/ n) v$ h5 l& J" d
　　97

$ a" g" S# T; T) \* j　　众矢之的
& A, `6 H4 S/ V* y9 f) j
2 G8 X) w' p3 T" U' O　　target of public criticism
# O' A+ R) ?# `& X1 S
　　98

7 Y- F8 _. ]. d& V0 a/ j8 T# {& s( G　　纸上谈兵
% Y, Q9 X8 o% }9 w
　　be an armchair strategist

　　99

　　纸包不住火
3 D9 e. z- m! B1 r) i+ g. ^
　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
; y$ z2 z3 G' s8 ^1 R' ]7 j
7 q4 H: t5 U2 U3 {　　What's done by night appears by day.

, f7 [, x. X: }2 P7 z　　100
* J! E7 e& J0 k  g
　　左右为难
0 z, ]+ S5 X2 ^1 \( N
　　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。