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!
) H2 r, z; k. r. X! w) I: L( c6 ?
　　01
' @3 a0 u( p8 _0 b) s
8 |: N5 o- j4 X+ u$ B  ?, e& g　　爱屋及乌

% x& V3 \9 A- K7 B9 d　　Love me, love my dog.
( X" z% w. X' x& w& N2 G& j6 i
　　02

　　百闻不如一见
. Y( v1 t) x6 g) W
" T$ \% b4 Y9 G* c5 B9 |- ~- x　　One look is worth a thousand words.
1 D8 n5 A% d) w6 x# q2 d
8 s+ a/ [& K! |  l$ |　　Seeing is believing.

  e/ K0 v) a( W　　03
3 ]4 n4 h9 M+ |; a3 [0 X2 {6 @' o
　　比上不足，比下有余

6 G, Q+ Z. c- c　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

　　04

' X2 p7 @; C, u% h# ^　　笨鸟先飞

　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.

　　05
" f6 g$ I# C4 }: E- ]- u( K
+ Y% @& a- _" J+ h# G2 d7 B/ q　　不遗余力

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

　　06

4 q* U; H8 N/ q+ p2 @- d4 x- k5 [　　不打不成交
  K1 l) `" G- ]% f# ~$ B+ q9 K
　　No discord, no concord.
" }$ w) d1 K# b
1 ?' i! j( {* K9 ~" K　　07
$ N  u2 w! W5 |) c' v. `9 a
　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul

, |. v, p+ P3 E6 G- I' ?( V　　08
8 W$ ^: Y6 d4 _7 h3 ^7 i7 y' [
　　辞旧迎新
+ h4 z# q$ t/ o( i5 G" r) @7 T
　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

. B' U; m7 S0 r, [$ }　　09
* P* s/ N' [, _% B
! g& w3 g( K0 L; Y$ I. W- f　　大事化小，小事化了
2 y2 Z7 ]$ V. K  }2 q  M" W
　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
! k/ N/ q" V6 D8 l! G3 x
　　10

9 j" R' I; S* J# r* i& N. Y　　大开眼界
/ a& b, H% ^, t# b& X; A) T/ e
/ Y% G1 K1 s) F/ G% q  ^2 c9 C. U. a　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11
8 }) [7 n% A; z" E+ W
: C! Y' ?+ ~8 X% i; D  u* D, Z3 x　　国泰民安
) @  a0 t, s9 u, q: f
　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

　　12

  }' ]6 ^  l) y5 T　　过犹不及

7 L1 s0 Y8 b3 ?4 I　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

　　too much is as bad as too little
9 m; Y0 g; X% R7 r  h8 _
　　13
% |% g6 y+ c: |4 b1 \, {6 m
  x2 v9 ]& z: ]# _$ {" D8 F　　好了伤疤忘了疼

　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14
, a4 j$ B8 G6 c( j
　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

* i8 n+ t. F4 s3 g$ q　　Bad news travels fast.
6 t6 W: \% B. v9 s: t4 \$ O9 Z
, k1 \) E8 |# S, f4 j" [3 m. P; x　　15
8 y/ A2 @3 T  V, W6 N
5 e" `& t: P& x7 I) y% n　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;
- o- t' e! L, S2 X5 p" \
3 n. C+ \5 {: Z  [9 L; X　　friendliness is conducive to business success
$ r% `" l' F( M% ?  N+ b
/ i( S2 V9 X# W4 `# J" c　　16

　　活到老学到老
( x- u  E3 s6 S/ ?- l
7 o: q9 h" n0 s  {( O　　never too old to learn

5 {4 r! M# K+ s8 j5 R7 H- W) D　　17

　　既往不咎
' W; e2 G# p- V6 t. P* c- I
　　let bygones be bygones
: g. I7 v- v$ u1 A9 i
* ~1 j  {. E3 i- D1 Q9 I9 r- |　　18
, T2 Y4 H/ X5 g( `6 A" ?
　　金无足赤，人无完人

9 Y2 f) C7 H/ ?4 M4 k　　There are spots even on the sun.

　　19
, V8 N! K+ u& Z5 v& c. {
　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.

6 H% n7 l; n' F! u" k3 C　　20
$ d7 p# S/ ^8 R' W8 F+ b3 |& o* M
  ?0 T9 |- l. L+ T  `3 @　　脚踏实地
4 W2 {. [, O& E, s
7 Z; H8 n- ~* G, k: u　　be down-to-earth
( S# G# J  g3 ^' i  G" q
　　21
3 ?) K# O& M0 X
　　脚踩两只船

　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

　　22
0 {" h. ?* d/ o6 ?4 V3 W4 i8 H$ Z
; F: K6 p' ?6 {: J　　君子之交淡如水

" U0 E; o8 ^# g+ y　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
6 m0 p- l3 }$ q  l
　　23
% T7 M5 b" c& I. k  m
　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché

* y8 _; Z: C, @; O. I" }$ }" o; k4 `　　24
. t- L" i, Q8 Q6 O" r7 Q3 @# A6 I
+ B9 P7 {" w( O$ @6 o" s# h& }" \　　礼尚往来

4 I6 k% `: G. M# D! {　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

* E+ O; Z& ~8 E* m) U* `8 u# w) I　　25
. B) \5 y7 k; P& Y
& V4 j6 r5 a+ P& Y% G" B% A% L　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
3 W1 n% l' J8 Q
, r1 P7 A! V1 i: B7 a2 \　　Where there is life, there is hope.

( T' `( ]1 d; K. H) i　　26

　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
+ N8 I0 m5 t% q: E* T  I
) Q0 @9 P5 ~0 T! a9 t　　27
: a) h* B! _& c
# B9 z7 ^2 z8 w: W" v0 j' C# l$ R　　名利双收

　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28

% {* v4 f1 I$ {0 i, z2 G　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened
$ ?1 Y- q: D- j9 B$ U0 @$ ^
1 y1 h- K# H" l9 {' r　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆
0 y, ]. t% A: d0 d6 r
" Z& ~% O6 [, i: ?' Z2 _+ d0 z　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.
( F# a2 z% [' K; S* M( k9 L
　　30

　　每逢佳节倍思亲

7 A, E) O1 a6 x1 a* n　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
/ Y; }5 N: B) X8 q6 x
- m9 T/ J6 l. f+ j　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天

　　Man proposes; God disposes.
( J, N6 |0 b: H, A. R
　　32

- i3 z8 J) _. c　　弄巧成拙
" B8 g' ^& V% ~
　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
/ ?' ~: p+ F4 c4 W% B
$ a: W) r, f' q8 K' Z5 y　　33
6 v7 z; f0 v3 f0 d0 g" n- l9 H. n+ p
　　赔了夫人又折兵

2 ^: Y& {  v6 Q4 i  y" ^3 Q8 w　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

8 i/ [9 J0 N0 S3 N. ~　　34

　　抛砖引玉
" p3 {- M. ~7 ^& H
　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

5 x0 u6 T% H; F$ @　　35

　　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
; ~- v/ h& y1 A8 d2 n$ r7 p" C
, _% {, \; {* i5 Y# Q　　36

0 L9 Y4 W; V/ }% B# |; O- V7 p# \　　抢得先机
+ B1 ~4 s  c! N
' u) X2 @" ]% `6 j- y8 Y' D  R: V  _0 R6 w% }　　take the preemptive opportunities

$ T: V" `, W3 C& D, W　　37

$ A2 V/ J$ F) w　　巧妇难为无米之炊
0 }* P9 H& r9 V$ {; T& s0 t
1 j/ O$ {/ P7 f# I6 j; x　　One can't make bricks without straw.

. J; s: D" h* V; q$ p" z　　38

　　千里之行始于足下
8 Z0 o4 {1 _  F* S
4 R5 i8 ^' }8 R0 I5 ~. z& t　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

8 `$ l$ x- z5 s4 e5 w' g  }　　39

, A* T" `% t4 K+ ~  L  H　　前事不忘，后事之师
* T$ w, K5 U3 h: o" g
　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
, J1 i' y" j2 K1 k
　　40
" @# Q, s4 ^/ @2 z9 O3 z$ R
( h: a( ~4 z* v) a- o　　前怕狼，后怕虎
3 |& N1 ?# I% W$ O
　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
/ o! d! M( f. r. G) Q: l& `
7 z9 |$ h) o; m; @# Z　　41

! O% B" V$ r, G5 e3 |: t) ^　　强龙难压地头蛇
* P* t4 W1 ^% W# I3 c0 \& K; Q
# K. y* T1 q# v+ R- ?0 [　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

0 l; ^6 A% ]2 g4 d% }% O" n　　42
6 s) H- e. D: Z$ o
　　瑞雪兆丰年

. e' W9 J5 b/ g" V7 l4 l" V　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
' h  {7 z! ^+ M" w4 G
; A5 S5 s: {2 g6 {" V* T- @　　43

; L- Q2 s) _1 c! v/ E7 C% L% {　　人逢喜事精神爽

( c- X& L( ?& i( m4 I; q4 D. a　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.

7 V" u- Y0 ]3 E　　44

2 R+ _: v) `+ D/ y5 u2 j2 [1 g　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45

　　世外桃源

　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

3 l- y& @( j. C3 S　　46
! T0 v: ^7 T. [: U
　　人之初，性本善

　　Humans are born good.
+ W9 h/ O# V: f4 Q" H9 [8 K
　　47
7 S' |4 g; ^  W! }" [
　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
+ x) n0 a( ~$ d, f& D, O! b
　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
7 d9 Q1 P5 {) E* N! d% E  L
　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;
3 V( H! Q6 y1 a
　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
; x$ ^6 }7 L# T5 h
9 X; o. d6 g5 c& _　　49

　　三十而立
+ r. d( R2 ]; x6 W* H
. \2 w4 p2 l5 a9 k0 a! C' A　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

　　50

　　水涨船高
  S1 c6 G7 P1 i' J# J) \5 [8 l
　　A ship rises with the tide
2 N& j+ z' x% H' A
6 E9 X, S4 x2 l  Q7 Z1 a+ n3 Z　　51

　　时不我待
! ?$ o5 A) o0 O( l
　　Time and tide wait for no man.
$ f- W9 i- a8 H# G2 D) H$ k6 j' [
! y5 F4 L( V) G　　52

7 @0 G; g. a3 l  [0 h% B% @5 Z8 W3 J& M　　杀鸡用牛刀
) v, G3 o. l' V: F
　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
  i! ]- |: t# H: W1 s
) E  z2 i9 b; k1 g) z4 l  N　　53

4 S( e% A; B; l) a　　实事求是

" h6 J! `& u* }/ P  q' y% P+ R3 ]　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
6 M! o" ~$ H% w7 x
& G8 |$ M7 \( A3 r6 j　　54

  L) J: y, |$ k4 N6 O( j8 v　　说曹操，曹操到

8 X, E+ @  B3 G5 R1 G　　speak of the devil

: \/ c/ T) S$ A$ u& k8 r　　55

1 P; s" H, g+ _8 |　　实话实说
+ q6 s# I9 R3 V# B( A. H
. j8 X+ P8 H6 N3 [1 ]　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
: D+ E. t* f6 b' o
+ Y/ Y0 d3 o" P& W: k3 ~　　56
1 @4 u/ ^  i' H) Q
　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

2 M7 d$ v: Y' E　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
5 c: w9 s9 V0 k: I
　　韬光养晦
8 j9 y! |) ]2 I9 V
　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58

　　糖衣炮弹
: n6 |, }( k" ]4 Q  L8 {
　　sugar-coated bullets59

　　天有不测风云
( O% V' B3 T8 O/ l, O2 S
　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

" Z4 @! l, x- a4 d　　团结就是力量

2 u9 w, o9 V8 Y" k* y& S) _7 s　　Unity is strength.

0 l( s; E' g4 L' O　　61

' A: m: t! W1 Z6 Y! \& c　　跳进黄河洗不清
7 m3 ^# M. @+ d$ P
0 K7 s5 I2 R% g& M# 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
& n, y1 X& K+ w  {5 a, Y
' P! z, c8 F/ u* g　　62
" u! A6 y. I1 v1 m* ]
　　歪风邪气

: ?. T) S' \( }5 v4 j3 u　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
* a, r1 m& R( M1 o: Z2 o+ o
　　63

- J- y: A, t" S1 ~$ h% ?7 k+ U　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.

　　64

　　望子成龙
/ T. ?1 O. j( L2 L( P0 M
+ u. B9 Y6 J0 e* t4 F! }# D- m) f　　hold high hopes for one's child
- \$ R! |* Z& t0 i: ~( i. N5 @1 g
　　65
" O) }% Q7 y$ r
7 L* |' N% R2 E+ k  ?　　唯利是图
; d& R1 {  N3 _7 n+ f9 H6 a2 H
　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

) Z  t4 t/ P- a; B2 d7 g# a( F　　66

　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
) z# o1 h. Z; y" o8 W
　　67

　　无风不起浪
/ t- G( g/ g$ [; a9 h& f2 x
' n- q0 j2 M; X2 t' j! L' N! W　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
& }* q7 R& X% P! y2 |3 E1 j
' A8 E( F0 B" w- J0 M* W7 a+ s　　68

　　徇私枉法

　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

; `8 Y7 S5 w( e) y　　69
3 @& T. N6 H5 R& E- j, [" I
! |: `3 b4 @) A/ F, L　　新官上任三把火
6 i; E3 {# a) Y% C. {$ N, G
( y& F) z* d, r9 H0 V1 g, p! a/ u　　a new broom sweeps clean
' v2 Z9 ]2 N2 u) a
$ w+ N) t% y$ A" z　　70

　　蓄势待发

3 ]& c8 D2 a& n+ d( F, _　　accumulate strength for a take-off
6 H2 x7 J2 o. i
0 t# ]1 E5 Y9 _1 p: u& u# g　　71
% u5 Z. h% C& C" P
5 X5 j9 t* h5 ?( \0 Q% f2 Z/ p　　心想事成
! d, c; K, B7 l# \& ~. C5 ?
　　May all your wish come true

! w: E6 i- d( F' ?# P; _& O2 Z　　72
: _0 P& h' ^: A" v7 H
# a: @* Y' `6 n* t　　心照不宣
( o; o# h! H- @
3 m& k0 t5 b0 ^+ B0 c5 d　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
' o8 u1 m9 @; B% M
　　73

　　先入为主
' c% D' d; \& X" k
　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74
2 k/ r# v$ Z; n& V$ l6 M
8 R3 M3 }/ _  p! R9 O+ C　　先下手为强
2 n: U9 L% y* t7 G$ g4 N) B
　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
) [7 D$ B5 f2 G. @  V' T3 r
　　The best defense is offense.

　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁

5 U* ~" V8 a2 g0 h) O　　ants on a hot pan
! n' z# w2 \7 \) o" P1 z
　　76

  [0 O1 Y+ I" s" U　　现身说法
+ N* l+ @9 T+ w" T) g- t8 l' L
　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

　　77

2 r9 }/ X' w5 h( h# g% ?　　息事宁人
6 Z0 R3 m  `; Z# [% @
; T0 `- m7 }* H" a; m9 {; y- u0 B　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

1 w2 X* ?- R3 s$ v2 _4 ?　　78
* x; z( I! U! W, R  `7 A3 ?; T! s
8 x7 [8 U, \9 l; Z　　循序渐进

, z  N& c2 ~+ n6 U+ Y. L　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
) K3 P6 \* R2 ~6 D- \
　　79

7 R5 |1 V2 _# C4 c/ B　　严以律己，宽以待人

( a4 E7 b5 t0 X% ^　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

. d2 j& y1 c% O) \1 I8 o　　80

　　有情人终成眷属
/ G$ o- Q' n9 s% x4 q& q
　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
% |* {1 `, W# `3 |
　　有钱能使鬼推磨

9 F; w: `3 R8 w3 k+ c* \* I# B　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

6 ~: K) J4 i& J  i　　a man of insight83

# X0 }2 A* h' u- t　　有勇无谋
5 m) ]1 h0 s& l4 G: A# I" D/ ^( H
7 d( A5 O. W1 y, \　　bold but not crafty84
" a* r0 \5 j: W6 p/ \( X
- F2 g% [( R! z' R. j( G　　有缘千里来相会

1 H( ~# L3 F' s9 e! p& i  j! e　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
$ ?5 R& {  W5 z/ }5 N' W
- [- n! a1 ~. Q' Z/ }　　与时俱进

　　keep pace with the times86

　　以人为本
) }4 `) a0 ^4 W6 Q, y
　　people-oriented

; l9 ?; K" e. l6 E; d　　87

# D- O5 F: B/ n3 m) ?　　因材施教

9 y9 m3 h  J, A+ Z3 a! q& [+ _　　teach students according to their aptitude
# P5 Q" S2 w! t, J6 V
* H& F; k' w( U9 k9 {　　88

) y+ n  Y; E2 d7 O2 q　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

+ X- c& M. S/ k  [. G9 C　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
4 s5 v' B4 [9 g. K& x
! e& `3 Y3 ~. m9 c* {　　89

- S2 Z$ S6 [/ T; P. C( U4 B' O, W　　欲速则不达
& W) V/ B% L- V0 q- a) a
# ^& _$ `/ Z2 P3 M, `: L　　Haste makes waste.
; R% G  p# X5 w9 `0 L
! a7 C: x- D7 b) b; S　　More haste, less speed.

6 X- V- ]$ E' r　　90

　　优胜劣汰
+ k  N1 a9 f% P" \1 e' \
- P% s' F4 v' V/ ]2 M" Y　　survival of the fittest

　　91
. E( m- u: V2 Z# d
　　英雄所见略同

　　Great minds think alike.
. k; Z9 Z( C0 m+ B; r: F5 s1 g
　　92
, }9 _! M1 ]6 g; ?- N  B8 Y/ I& W
" a1 z8 M( h7 y' s! F  w) j　　冤家宜解不宜结
4 o! |& I+ n/ T& ^" F4 {
- i% b6 B) W) n5 R3 {　　Better make friends than make enemies.
) W# a* W! ^$ F
　　93

　　冤假错案

+ Y$ C2 J! b! D: d　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

% a+ C/ `. T6 k　　94
2 o* S0 ]2 O9 N8 _
% E6 c3 `- |' k* ^　　一言既出，驷马难追
# x1 t5 k- |3 V, k4 `$ b: Q
1 a0 s7 H9 f  g2 b# u$ j　　A promise is a promise.

) ]- a+ Q) r6 E5 _+ ~　　A real man never goes back on his words.
% {  \  U# z5 P; U* B
　　95
( S0 v6 _% J# d+ P
7 }1 w: V1 M9 z　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure

, t# |8 V. B* t* }　　96
8 ~$ _* |$ ~9 m
6 S( Q( d' X! b/ O2 Y　　债台高筑

! g5 q5 H  v/ |! V% ]　　become debt-ridden
: b0 Y+ D3 ]" P; Z" n
$ ?$ ?5 ?# \% \, r- y- X. I2 c& l4 j% k　　97

　　众矢之的

: l( j+ O( o$ H' }　　target of public criticism

　　98

　　纸上谈兵

　　be an armchair strategist
* t# i) J/ V% G) z
8 R! p* T, t( p: [　　99
0 h* J) ~: [* F& ?
3 R  j9 G+ J5 n9 v& {3 N  Y) e　　纸包不住火
4 ~% J: y2 U/ e# r1 T8 I& O
4 D% ?* F1 `2 W/ J1 y, n　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
9 _/ g& `8 b1 t
　　What's done by night appears by day.

　　100
% _3 w9 A3 l/ ?1 C- j
/ k2 z& H6 @9 i* k- z0 c+ ~: P2 d　　左右为难

　　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。