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!

! b+ t% W( z: N! A4 U" a# U$ q　　01

　　爱屋及乌
1 p: A$ ~9 G( s. f2 M
　　Love me, love my dog.
. y/ X# v1 e% {
, A3 t8 f: |# I8 S; t　　02

　　百闻不如一见
6 ~& @- x2 T. @3 Q$ x( X: B: O
3 h8 k0 E1 f. `0 g; Y4 `　　One look is worth a thousand words.

　　Seeing is believing.
* i4 p: P; G- h* M1 ^! a# [, W
  j" n2 m! L. [: ?7 [　　03

　　比上不足，比下有余
% D0 `" l& c1 ?) `4 z8 F
; b# ~( I$ x) `& V4 h& d; R. v- A　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
% M4 [* N1 y0 X+ u9 ~3 L) j
6 O; D* F) q4 ~* j  k　　04

　　笨鸟先飞

, p+ ]5 B* t( u& f  e2 r6 J　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
" o8 d7 Y6 H: C, w  ~7 }* \* r
　　05
# z; \1 ?0 n2 z4 t$ J$ Y: h. P  s" m# X
! b0 r1 Y, R5 c. R; a　　不遗余力

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

　　06
/ t( _0 Y! W) m0 C4 L; z
　　不打不成交
% x9 B$ J: X5 P3 O$ P% ]
　　No discord, no concord.

% c& R9 i  x5 b2 L2 r) g　　07
% z2 L$ Y3 W. i$ i4 K
3 A. S% B; Q2 I& _, x3 o' R　　拆东墙补西墙

  h7 c( j2 J0 F/ L　　rob Peter to pay Paul

　　08

　　辞旧迎新
4 U% @0 m" w% E1 l) p0 k
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

　　09

　　大事化小，小事化了
0 N& X& o/ {" c% ]2 b# `: n
　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

　　10

+ a) X2 ]; T" X: ?5 [0 v$ G: A　　大开眼界
, O- Z9 H+ `! z- g
　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

2 \7 V4 L6 b( n1 c　　11

3 A- C+ Y. g7 K- Z　　国泰民安
2 H* {- G. x2 ], l: q, Y' Y! d
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
# @* F( _. a4 h4 _1 A2 h* m9 M0 }" t
　　12
2 D1 H/ V+ L' @
　　过犹不及
. c. m$ q9 t# _7 s* K0 x4 Z/ z
3 H" V$ u+ R' Y7 i" f2 }$ s　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
- m  v! c2 _" d% Z; Z! N# E& ?
; F! m  T; B" m' j# r; [　　too much is as bad as too little
. h) O! M7 j# L7 J+ o6 F
　　13

　　好了伤疤忘了疼

　　once on shore, one prays no more
! V5 H" Z/ X; |) J4 b. \5 l' g; u
) w: c) n1 J. G3 t　　14
- A2 F/ G8 b6 G) ?
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

　　Bad news travels fast.
7 `7 V3 h6 M$ ^$ q
　　15
- ~( B8 Y. a6 N5 k) H4 Q2 A
　　和气生财

. }" `) m+ E4 {# c% I0 `4 M　　harmony brings wealth;
0 j3 z5 |# V: w" p
　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16

　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn

' m8 I, _/ T- n0 l5 n3 O　　17
1 E: M. x' X' \6 ^
5 `( S  W% ~3 \　　既往不咎

　　let bygones be bygones

# _3 w: w6 z  C4 h　　18
# S* i7 v4 ]7 Y! r, q, Y% Q
　　金无足赤，人无完人
- ?4 w3 V" W# C- I0 H( Q
　　There are spots even on the sun.
5 L- ?1 d! l; Y0 ]( T
　　19

/ F9 y$ F: N: ^" m9 j8 r　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.
' O- p6 f/ g5 W  l- K
　　20
8 N6 E7 f( ]5 n4 N/ k* l
6 {  X0 S: ?( s4 I+ {- u* E& S6 V$ p　　脚踏实地
* `8 e, U  X4 M, E" u
, ^+ M% }4 b' A( Q' Z* s: O: V　　be down-to-earth

7 N9 N1 {1 d: [  v　　21
1 _' U- R; J( _( l# Z* G, N- [
　　脚踩两只船
5 m& W6 _0 A- p! @( C( G6 x) N
1 G- ?" `7 Z1 ]4 J+ g1 x　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
3 v& O+ u: k( ]5 Q* ]/ G4 ^6 K
　　22
/ m4 k6 z! K4 ~2 G1 J
1 p3 t1 Q& e1 |* R0 h　　君子之交淡如水

  _2 J! \/ Z1 @+ R2 o$ @) j　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

　　23

　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
9 C+ H, {* J; B
4 d6 N- W$ F0 j/ W$ q　　cut and dried; cliché
3 G. o6 [: Z  E' w% O! R
　　24

　　礼尚往来

+ B4 O9 o2 m( I- u; z. G　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25

# t8 E" t3 Y8 P! P　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.
5 H* D! `& g+ l+ X  }
3 x9 J9 L+ W6 }6 v+ X1 j　　26

) X9 A6 f  D5 T/ S% ~  Y) d3 K　　马到成功
, j; a) V2 C1 M: `; F1 M
　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

$ _/ y' N' m8 a; h　　27
6 S6 s! @; `! q7 @* T& F1 g
　　名利双收
3 M* A! I5 f) s! [% G
　　gain both fame and wealth
, H, Y9 G$ {' y- N; y8 `0 o. I; l; I
9 Q( H' H" ~- v9 o; `　　28
0 @9 t$ t* A0 [# f3 B
1 _% P" e" l1 S2 I8 P　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened
1 H6 e8 M0 U1 X+ @* o7 @
* E- ?+ _# f8 g　　29
9 p& [( r, r- r' F  r
　　没有规矩，不成方圆
/ ^4 P0 W& d6 y) v" E
6 }; X( A' a+ t, e  C9 d0 G　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

　　30
  V' h! x% L0 W; F* v2 w
　　每逢佳节倍思亲

　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

% U3 M; z9 y  T1 X* w3 v9 N8 @4 Z. G3 g　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天
* k# B+ T, I& {* P4 E* A5 I
　　Man proposes; God disposes.

　　32
1 y( \: p4 E' ?" [0 U( Y
　　弄巧成拙

　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
) M+ P# L& f9 z
# S+ l, ]+ v7 f) d% ]! W: ?　　33
( ~- z, h: z% C; _: q6 C  F
　　赔了夫人又折兵

　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
5 `$ I! l; L8 O  K  ^+ P$ g& ]
　　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
' m: o5 d0 i6 r
, E5 M" m+ j9 O　　破釜沉舟

　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
6 P' \( H% Y1 y: M; D- |8 {- B) A0 T
　　36

) S5 K# O5 E, ?9 F　　抢得先机
8 q$ N3 ^) t) H
　　take the preemptive opportunities

/ J, H' e' s" P8 w( D　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊
8 D+ _6 V, a, u/ r5 O; F; j
* F2 S  U3 O: H) R6 l　　One can't make bricks without straw.

9 j/ A: R0 M! }6 n　　38

6 }4 V- f7 C* w3 R3 ?, M　　千里之行始于足下
9 q  A) K& m6 p' o  d
/ q8 y; D8 u7 b) r　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
5 J* W- J/ A* \4 m
　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师

* _! ]9 J) e$ Z( C: p& y. W4 B　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

3 `$ l1 Z$ @: u, X: h　　40
6 f4 D* Q; _! o' I; y$ L! r2 D% |
　　前怕狼，后怕虎

4 I$ h. `$ ?4 H3 A( j, F　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
3 u0 R5 W/ _; \  }* d
　　41

* r% {' @: E0 M　　强龙难压地头蛇
8 ^5 N5 t; ?% p3 Z- f  y
　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
6 M6 W0 x3 C2 `& F3 @
　　42
. o& a( f( c- E% x
  a$ J) R' [, x! L+ M　　瑞雪兆丰年
: F) o/ F% t/ n8 }
　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
+ H4 t5 u( ^. g) K. u
/ b8 }9 A  ], ~& r# j8 ?( s1 \　　43

　　人逢喜事精神爽

　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

* G" c! ^' s% r　　44
# k4 x# n( o& ?, f
　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
- }; ]2 F6 e$ `* s9 P$ n
　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

4 q' I$ }) w( v) E　　45
0 d5 i0 @/ ~" R4 _$ A. o/ X% H
　　世外桃源

- O6 y* [' x% U5 X　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
% J0 |; [8 q3 N
) |; z3 w* h, _! j8 e　　46

　　人之初，性本善

8 U0 C2 M- J- V, [  Q( X5 H　　Humans are born good.
8 g  s# w/ D1 [; s! b  y1 j/ G
　　47

0 I3 F- t8 \; R8 R　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
9 {  _/ I" `+ ?( ~3 A  u
$ Q- U1 s8 L* V2 U% T" u8 }( P　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

　　48
1 N  |6 O, a! x/ P+ i$ R7 j" D, F
6 i4 g* L; ?+ m0 z- X3 q　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
; ]* w& h2 s% J+ e$ X2 }
0 D9 t3 t2 C& Z- a/ m3 ?　　a blessing in disguise;

　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

　　49
% F$ K3 d" @% _
　　三十而立

3 q( R" o9 Q$ E' Z/ u3 `　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
, C; f+ U2 i* u8 [, E' t
　　50

" d9 v+ z# n) c0 v7 E/ O8 Q& c　　水涨船高
2 `' J% z- s6 p; [1 k# [9 z
' o; R6 N' Q7 M　　A ship rises with the tide
$ C( s% I% {# t' T; t; r7 g
　　51

% l" a  |  @  ^1 I! ]5 D　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

　　52

& f! x. t" a' d# N, `+ T7 |5 G　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
  F3 T- ~( s" U8 `- J0 P+ P) a7 Q5 C7 l
- D5 q  k. O4 j( G4 ?9 _$ l　　53
4 M) {! Y0 b* k, _' O
　　实事求是

$ y! M! x) ^+ s　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
( d8 q; H2 [' p9 \5 m  `/ u0 y
  t% _) G, g  I1 Q* u8 ?1 I　　54

　　说曹操，曹操到
( u! E) g; b7 p2 ?' y: R2 |& \0 t
% \3 U6 T1 Z0 y1 \. v　　speak of the devil
% F" [2 T( U- y8 [5 d8 D9 L, g: |
, w) n2 R+ `+ F0 I% Q　　55

　　实话实说

) ]( l7 H! W! R  s4 S' S$ b0 _　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
- Z/ h& G7 W! S% P
　　56

　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
! j4 {. l6 w/ [8 G
2 w$ Z7 U. v9 t3 y　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
! e7 `" ]7 ?+ X, J' x3 x
　　韬光养晦

! ~% O6 a! L9 l9 Q  |　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
* D- K) d; Q4 s, }( r7 J) Y3 N
　　糖衣炮弹
2 Z1 J+ @* q- K, B/ ?, o9 g
* h& ]: e& ^: n' W4 G　　sugar-coated bullets59
% F& J' [+ \, L
! T( d: L) W2 Z　　天有不测风云
* @' F/ `5 g! q* E+ j
9 ~: m  o; s) E　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

　　团结就是力量
' T4 G# |' O5 M8 b) N. G# [
　　Unity is strength.
7 v# ^# b9 v4 Z! d( }6 A/ b" r$ G
　　61
+ m. z8 _4 n4 e5 V6 {9 w
　　跳进黄河洗不清

+ c' y2 ]7 A6 R& l　　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
* c9 u$ \, n, [3 C; Q5 E  F4 U; G
　　62
6 F7 t; h& ?/ V0 C
　　歪风邪气
  ]( S# V& k4 O  G
　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

　　63
6 e. }& T2 }' W! K  E
- ]; o% H/ i4 Z7 g- r/ T　　物以类聚，人以群分
3 b- F! M( F: e
4 b9 O4 g$ b& t. L  u4 ?" `　　Birds of a feather flock together.

　　64

- q# b9 A+ f$ V" n　　望子成龙
& p- K5 G4 G  c9 J1 L1 i$ P% y
　　hold high hopes for one's child
- A5 R9 q& E5 y* @
: h7 s) b, `2 P2 d; T　　65

2 w% e+ H5 X* Z. W, q5 F　　唯利是图
* M4 K" g, T' o& Q5 j$ B
　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

# ?- E4 W$ |0 {: m- x; |3 g　　66
8 f+ R0 v5 [" g3 _  X6 R
　　无中生有

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

　　67
6 U/ u6 p' q, F4 n' z
$ |5 Y; L( ^0 q% s" l, V7 z; H　　无风不起浪
, |. j- a- M% [' U) h$ A
0 ]8 A- L! {' b$ i, C　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
! a' W9 p* Z: H8 k
, ]" u, _6 _" b* R　　68

　　徇私枉法

* T( E) U2 G7 d  Z　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

　　69
) F: _1 A( L: n, K' r
+ A% d; S5 X2 L　　新官上任三把火
! t8 T# w; o: {' v3 w6 w5 n
　　a new broom sweeps clean

1 M7 I. R* n6 w* e( ?$ h6 c7 y　　70
) U2 `! S; m1 j' w6 _
　　蓄势待发
$ ]3 U1 u  [. ]: e* x% _
　　accumulate strength for a take-off

. M: @4 ?9 O. U　　71

7 V" X1 E6 V1 K; k　　心想事成

. B+ b7 G' t* X& F0 \　　May all your wish come true
. i. `/ ]; \# {  Q7 V- R  F4 i/ E
9 v+ U+ Q# W5 y9 ?　　72
& n1 u% x9 T9 |
　　心照不宣
5 {$ ?! L* j' ]1 R. r
　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

　　73
& T1 Y5 N+ P; P. _: ~
7 v3 e) M- L; l8 {  i1 }6 e　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
5 K) P! p% u, v7 ?5 n% x
8 R7 \4 X* n' C# {/ f0 s　　74
0 \3 `. u0 [- z" a# i; A  J! E
　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

　　The best defense is offense.

! G  u  B; S) T0 u) b　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁
$ ]7 f8 n+ B% d5 e+ d2 H; u! j
　　ants on a hot pan

　　76

& V9 C9 ~' N- K( u　　现身说法
7 X- n# b$ s; S+ G! B( b& q
' ^% V& B/ H* ~- o; i* J% }　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
6 l# _6 \+ }- K
　　77

8 B' @7 g. X4 t1 Q3 [# t' x' f　　息事宁人

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

3 B; ?, e8 @0 Z  V3 G. N! Y　　78
( f; o8 f/ V, L: e/ i5 T
* Y  M: ?9 M9 Y( E- T+ Y4 x　　循序渐进

6 x# v8 v& M: \7 _　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
9 k* i/ v: y! `+ t% ?+ e! h2 o0 c
4 F. L# y  A5 X. ]5 X) X% s　　79
. F' a  e+ W9 [1 R8 q! s
* T8 F* i* q9 f6 S　　严以律己，宽以待人
1 V3 m- }" V& R7 A  d
　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

　　80

　　有情人终成眷属
$ J1 K. X1 h- s3 k' f
　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
, Q$ k3 S% W6 ~
　　有钱能使鬼推磨
  l$ Q; t1 z+ t" H& o
　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
' Q! H& i1 i1 F0 |- q  N
　　有识之士

3 u) }& r# S' E# s+ v" A- \　　a man of insight83

5 |$ l$ O* g+ n' M0 \* z" M  m　　有勇无谋
+ m' f7 J: d: S# }
5 v7 x. [; s, B' t1 ^& F3 q& O5 `　　bold but not crafty84
' c/ |8 r( T. N/ O/ h! K+ }% T
　　有缘千里来相会
7 y2 M5 [" i+ i
% f, p) h8 v7 O; p, {  u　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

0 V5 [" \( r4 x# z! R5 x3 H% R9 @　　与时俱进

　　keep pace with the times86
. q; X7 e4 a. B
　　以人为本

5 S4 ~$ N7 B9 A& _: K　　people-oriented

! }& l9 T( a. r! r4 b3 x　　87

! @2 v' m0 N7 C7 W& R5 e　　因材施教
0 h6 [$ v  K6 N! V
( f# t2 S+ h" R' H5 |　　teach students according to their aptitude

( N: F$ _" P7 X# M　　88
9 O+ |5 B) n/ E9 S& y
　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
, b, u2 D% S, T8 B
　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
2 v6 T5 |7 f7 ]
　　89
$ `2 C7 s! v( N- k
　　欲速则不达

　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
0 S) N' x0 z$ ^& r
　　90
, f3 b0 q8 S6 D: |. A
　　优胜劣汰
3 z* G4 x- A  D# M( S
  z( I! o6 x! A　　survival of the fittest
5 i+ R: D9 W- Z8 T
　　91

　　英雄所见略同
. M/ j$ Z0 A8 `$ k
/ C, C- {7 b* J; Q" R# Y, }  c$ \% x　　Great minds think alike.

3 k- y6 T" I4 |2 o6 q　　92

　　冤家宜解不宜结

　　Better make friends than make enemies.
3 t0 W) [1 z1 s! `" u4 Z
8 Z' w& I6 K' K4 v　　93

　　冤假错案

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

. C' B, ~; N( X3 K- ]! E4 O　　94

* k. N% l/ h- k3 k" I2 O　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.

　　A real man never goes back on his words.
& `% y1 _" D4 A' ~5 m
; M0 Z' W' y3 E* C8 b　　95

　　招财进宝

8 I1 t9 G: z6 @. x# ~3 J9 n1 \) i) ~　　bring in wealth and treasure
3 y3 y. p* v* u: g
　　96

　　债台高筑

$ m( m6 k* O1 u　　become debt-ridden

! K8 a, r" Z9 X6 n- `% P* R% E　　97
  V, y. E1 R# B# i
　　众矢之的
7 T8 ~% Y- R, m( G3 U, }
　　target of public criticism

　　98
, g3 B% K: A9 o. M0 _, M9 @
$ A% `* T3 ]% n6 v$ S  D; s　　纸上谈兵
9 H" q, u6 C2 }% t1 D# J. N
　　be an armchair strategist

　　99

　　纸包不住火
: i. w- V8 s5 j" ?) v: T9 _
5 c! C: |. ~3 ?7 E7 O8 P　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
3 T' M6 P$ k* d! i# _9 B
* M9 ~$ h6 V+ `. T　　100

　　左右为难
7 S+ a, I$ _/ ?1 M
　　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。