cocomooner
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）。 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。1. 人山人海：有人直译为：People mountain people sea.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.」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：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。） 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。） 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.」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)这样说法，老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是：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)或者说： Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)说白些，就是： Every family has its own problem. 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.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：All good things come to an end. (意思是：所有好的事情，总有结束的一天。) 假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天，那么可以说：Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友) 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.这种说法，老外也会「一知半解」。美语里一般说法是：Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神，不是只在困难时。)对学生也可以说： 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。) 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.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。)(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号) This store uses bait and switch policy.或者简单的说： Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或 Say one thing and do another. 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.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：A word once let go cannot be recalled.或者说： You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话，就不能再收回来。) 7. 祸从口出，言多必失：有人译为：The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil. 老外听了，恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成：Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话，会带来麻烦); 或 The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)甚至也可以说： Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说，张眼多看。)
人到中年156
从英语课本中，我们学习到的谚语，足以让我们应对考试。下面是我给大家整理的英语谚语及翻译，供大家参阅!
1. 以人为本people oriented; people foremost
2. 因材施教teach students according to their aptitude
3. 欲穷千里目，更上一层楼'to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther; Would eye embrace a thousand miles? Go up, one flight.' a land of milk and honey
4. 欲速则不达Haste does not bring success.
5. 优胜劣汰survival of the fittest
6. 英雄所见略同Great minds think alike.
7. 冤家宜解不宜结Better make friends than make enemies.
8. 冤假错案'cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases'
9. 一言既出，驷马难追A real man never goes back on his words.
10. 招财进宝Money and treasures will be plentiful
1. If you can be well without health you may be happy without virtue. 如果不健康而能强强壮壮，那么无美德也可快快乐乐。
2. If you cannot bite, never show your teeth. 不能打仗，切莫出兵。
3. If you cannot have the best, make the best of what you have. 如果你不能有最好的，你就充分利用你现有的吧。
4. If you command wisely, you''ll be obeyed cheerfully. 倘君指挥有方，人人欣然听命。
5. If you confer a benefit, never remember it; if you receive one, remember it always. 施恩勿记，受恩勿忘。
6. If you dance you must pay the fiddler. 要想寻欢作乐，代价非付不可。
7. If you don''t aim high you will never hit high. 不立大志，难攀高峰。
8. If you have no hand, you cannot make a fist. 巧妇难为无米之炊。
9. If you lie upon roses when young, you''ll lie upon thorns when old. 年青时躺在玫瑰上，老年时就会躺在荆棘上。
10. If you live with a lame person, you will learn to limp. 远朱者赤，近墨者黑。
11. If you remove stone by stone, even a mountain will be levelled. 一块一块把石移，高山也可变平地。
12. If you run after two heares, you will catch neither. 两头落空。
13. If you sell the cow, you sell her milk too. 蚀了本也输了利。
14. If you swear you will catch no fish. 咒骂无益，于事无济。
15. If you trust before you try, you may repent before you die. 不试就相信，死前要悔恨。
16. If you want a pretence to whip a dog, say that he ate the frying-pam. 欲加之罪，何患无辞。
17. If you want a thing (well) done, do it yourself. 要想做好事情，就要自己动手。
18. If you want knwledge, you must toil for it. 若要求知识，必须刻苦学习。
19. If you wish for peace, be prepared for war. 想要和平，必须备战。
20. If you wish good advice, consult an old man. 如要忠告向老人请教。
1. If nobody loves you, be sure it is your own fault. 如果没有人爱你，肯定是你自己有问题。
2. If one desires to succeed in anything, he must pay the price. 如果想做成点事，就得付出代价一干。
3. If the beard were all, the goat might preach. 如果有了?需就什么都行，那么山羊也可以说教了。
4. If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 问道于盲，无益于事。
5. If the counsel be good no matter who gave it. 只要忠告中肯，谁提都行。
6. If the eye do no admire, the heart will not desire. 眼不馋，心不贪。
7. If the old dog barks, he gives counsel. 如果老狗叫，他是给忠告。
8. If the pills were pleasant, they would not be gilded. 丸药不苦不会加糖衣。
9. If there be neither snow nor rain, then will be dear all sorts of grain. 雨雪不调，五谷价高。
10. If there were no clouds, we should not enjoy the sun. 吃得苦中苦，方知甜中甜。
11. If the sky fll (or falls), we shall catch larks. 异想天开
12. If they say you are good, ask yourself if it be ture. 若有人称赞你，要自问对不对。
13. If things were to be done twice all would be wise. 事事倘能做两次，人人都可称明智。
14. If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind. 两人同骑一马，必有一人在后。
15. If we are bound to forgive an enemy we are not bound to trust him. 如果我们决定宽恕一个敌人，但决不能相信他。
16. If we cannot get what we like, we have to like what we can get. 随遇而安。
17. If wise men play the fool, they do it with a vengeance. 智者干傻事，愚蠢到极点。
18. If wishes were horses, beggars might ride. 愿望不等于事实。
19. If you agree to carry the calf, they''ll make you carry the cow. 得寸进尺。
20. If you are too fortunate, you will not know yourself; if you are too unfortunate, nobody will know you. 运气太好，得意忘形;运气太坏，无人理会。
