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!
6 [9 |! X. |3 A( n3 q
4 r  s$ a' l6 H, Q" V　　01
; h/ \/ c% @7 \- _
2 K; {' S! x2 c4 L3 |　　爱屋及乌
9 g) R6 T( e: Q0 _6 O+ ]3 f. q
　　Love me, love my dog.
- o. P+ p/ z$ s5 p% w
　　02
% r5 }( N8 d$ ?8 O, F1 i, K
　　百闻不如一见

　　One look is worth a thousand words.
# o4 \6 s1 A# t% y! z* q
　　Seeing is believing.

1 U) r( x9 U8 K% m8 R0 p　　03
3 O8 h8 N2 a# F+ f: Y+ F
$ g* U  b1 [# r$ q' ^　　比上不足，比下有余
+ J! [1 W5 L* Y) N! U+ z/ a  Q
　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
" ~8 @9 @; t- S) M/ ?
. \: K3 {- s# h) i! E6 u. w　　04
. Y/ y2 H0 f5 I2 [& [: E
　　笨鸟先飞
, m6 F4 l' A1 Z" p( O
　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
+ K( `5 b$ O  h- |! K) _1 C
　　05

　　不遗余力
0 e$ o* o. `1 Z5 Q- G
1 m0 u: R0 |" g8 J2 M　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
3 s5 J3 W3 b& p% o& B2 B, `
5 Y; S/ }: h7 a/ y+ b: X　　06

　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.
' Q) C- E, k# X$ g5 _
　　07
) T( c! {& _  L: P7 ^& P# b+ Y
　　拆东墙补西墙

" a/ X' g( n# t; w　　rob Peter to pay Paul
, j4 f4 J8 D3 b6 Z! z3 E! t$ W
, \. O' [& U1 e9 ?　　08
& M* `5 ]" A4 N3 P
　　辞旧迎新
- n0 o3 L1 E- U; I! s
$ j6 ]+ ], `8 X% J  n　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
% \( _* \% ^% L- Y* v6 l3 J$ c
　　09

: L  c, y9 o) {$ l1 t( B% O/ y　　大事化小，小事化了
) n7 p% }3 H1 x% X# W
　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
- ]3 [+ s( j# B. \" O
　　10
+ ~6 ~4 x8 {8 T3 k' G' X9 g
　　大开眼界
4 ^8 T4 f( g+ b* N
　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11
, X9 v  u7 N) l* c; E
　　国泰民安

" T: F4 p9 J& p) M7 x. ]6 e　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
/ D9 g2 n/ \& @9 e8 s5 h6 L3 [
) l, o& x' m2 m1 `  R　　12
, o% Q+ T9 n8 x2 v, o( P6 Q
　　过犹不及

　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

; b) ]2 K1 }6 E0 ^& T7 W: T　　too much is as bad as too little
3 v/ l# K. _' L4 m  H
! _  `4 i4 ^% X　　13

1 B* `( d7 s1 B. E% x6 Q　　好了伤疤忘了疼

' P+ b) g4 t/ i: g; A9 e" q. |( N　　once on shore, one prays no more

　　14

2 K% B) E5 K5 H( W　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

　　Bad news travels fast.
5 b  M% J9 x) ]/ X8 B
　　15

　　和气生财
2 Z. ]5 g: V3 @: N: o
2 S1 g  X) b9 `5 b: L6 C7 ?# u5 D; H. |　　harmony brings wealth;
/ e+ a4 o6 a+ y$ ~- p5 `9 s) t
* d& e7 \; i- S- M　　friendliness is conducive to business success
7 f/ d" o8 n) F3 ?
　　16
/ s7 B8 ^* Q( U+ t3 ^
　　活到老学到老
- f8 F  Q, ~& ~3 S' p9 p: o
0 P5 A! L) U# Y% m& |6 H' |　　never too old to learn
) m) G; l) Y7 ~3 x
　　17

　　既往不咎
% V* o5 `3 f2 ~' z( i
. a& L9 l  w6 y( h/ u. @3 N　　let bygones be bygones

　　18

5 D+ F- Y; v, p' l5 d# p　　金无足赤，人无完人
0 c+ \1 s: N# v: f* C
　　There are spots even on the sun.
; k( b* F9 c- H) ]$ ~
　　19
% B0 E. V4 }3 N9 J) n
2 L9 ^- G# a4 L, O0 S* O9 H/ C& Y　　金玉满堂
, v) ^$ ~7 E& \9 m7 b: M
2 `6 y! C1 d  z3 {( M　　Treasures fill the home.
( ?! ?9 e3 m2 V5 b) ?
. L3 P) K7 |9 \, k' Z3 l& O　　20

　　脚踏实地

　　be down-to-earth
" N$ E, v% g! Z! m9 |4 w( P6 H
　　21
" y. }# v" L! R. g: A3 I: C/ ~
9 Z: m  X- X" W/ `0 Q　　脚踩两只船
! ]+ q+ y* o6 F$ |
& m7 l* |+ J2 A5 i$ c　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

　　22
3 v5 a/ s% X* }2 r: F
　　君子之交淡如水

　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
5 W4 u0 ~# _4 Q, W& X6 @: o; y
　　23
- u+ Y' X4 D; [0 l
% s; h4 A6 B& o/ U7 k8 x6 F% K　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

　　cut and dried; cliché
/ f' `8 q9 |7 C; S" ^
, c3 ?6 M: z+ k( f　　24
; n8 [6 h' L+ h. C; Y
　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25

　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
" }4 B$ L- Z# R5 o; o
1 v  z# `1 W6 |- e( v0 m+ p2 F　　Where there is life, there is hope.
/ X6 n( a% b% x- `
8 [. X$ a2 U5 i  U　　26

% }. ?2 @; h% c+ \9 r! Z5 Q　　马到成功
9 f0 w: ^% m, c  X
% M' C* [/ A5 X/ {$ ~: [　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
* t, H  b  J) E1 A. a  k8 {
　　27

' A9 _: j, |0 p, {7 ]/ b8 D　　名利双收
* I7 |% g4 W; `% i3 B  L4 q
. o$ z! C0 ^/ \, U3 v　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28

　　茅塞顿开
# W7 C. f4 y% B7 H3 a9 h& r
　　be suddenly enlightened
6 h$ ~. _/ {) A: d
# C2 H! O& z5 w% `　　29

" ]* U% ~) s8 j　　没有规矩，不成方圆
8 _$ u' j8 M7 Y) b; D: ]
　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

　　30

　　每逢佳节倍思亲
0 U' K' J2 u; X7 D* t, b
　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
. f+ _0 [" }4 ^; t
2 G& e; X% M( \: Y& w　　31
' P- b/ x; f! x! t
　　谋事在人，成事在天

　　Man proposes; God disposes.
1 x! h. {6 X3 N: K
, V3 `6 }' U3 m6 n  h0 S　　32

# s) n" Z' [; i6 r2 o' `  o　　弄巧成拙
% f8 k0 k3 S, C  d6 h  x
. \1 B& k4 _' u- [" q$ J6 }　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
( q* w: _' W# A7 c. B/ D0 _9 X
; j3 i7 K9 M' s: j; \　　33

　　赔了夫人又折兵

　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
$ U* s) R% a8 A/ A, ]$ N1 m, t
5 ~7 @  ]% }4 y　　34
  r9 D3 ]. ^$ d
: s7 \. U9 j. {. A. a　　抛砖引玉

　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

8 g/ J$ N- p  h  K/ C+ t' K　　35
1 E: @% {% E# C) E' E5 j. E
) U) }) Q, Q0 p* r1 }　　破釜沉舟
: i' ^6 u' u+ r! S0 n* [$ H
" `: X+ t9 U( G3 y7 x  i　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36

　　抢得先机
6 L2 Y; U, \6 L- o/ P( ?) S1 }
6 j: d. n5 Y9 @8 C9 X; j　　take the preemptive opportunities

2 [! }: w. Y( N: A5 i% o. U  Y4 }　　37
: q/ Z7 V' q6 T1 J0 |" _( W
8 _, u3 n  x5 ~( _4 X　　巧妇难为无米之炊

) b! Q7 ^& F" ~( p+ _  D# j3 u/ Y) \# L　　One can't make bricks without straw.
/ Z/ C& G* o! @6 B8 Z
( Z+ p! J; \; x+ u9 k$ U; V　　38

　　千里之行始于足下
  a, r$ K) I4 A. v, n) t7 k1 t
　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

( M0 _! {2 ]: H# U" T6 q+ B4 I/ t5 h* z　　39
8 b( Y1 E' ~0 V6 g
　　前事不忘，后事之师

% m9 E6 E" Z3 o& a- A1 `　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
. h. c5 m) X+ H! W& f9 P8 @& U
　　40
) X! u0 t% L4 `& _% q5 y1 S; v
　　前怕狼，后怕虎
- M2 P$ H1 A" ~
　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

$ ?; h% H5 q6 j: H* v　　41
. S. L: m- ~2 d6 J
　　强龙难压地头蛇

% ]6 |) k9 L) d. i　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
! o2 L1 t7 d" b
4 v& X* @3 r8 Z2 ~　　42

: s$ V" A3 |1 i& ~% d: j0 W　　瑞雪兆丰年

9 A  X/ F7 R; c( d　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
! [3 q0 \7 w; I" P" A  V! l9 _0 y
　　43
! y: G$ f% d* T0 z# R
3 A8 Q5 p7 |4 ]- A, A- Q4 L, Y! P2 h9 o　　人逢喜事精神爽
+ {* Q6 M6 b( F; n
　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
. D* {9 T0 q+ s7 Y8 f9 C! U" ^
　　44
, g( ~4 C5 r+ f: D/ U
　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
, N3 l; J  ^9 V! ?) R
　　45

　　世外桃源
) _; Q: v( ~: Q( L/ z4 s4 z% N
; g# b; d7 k' L) J3 f　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

. u" r2 g- `) V* O6 z; m　　46
4 |. P) Q& @  {* f* B% n0 ?. }$ X
　　人之初，性本善

& ~4 `2 C5 d6 p( W( Z　　Humans are born good.
0 H1 B2 B5 Y8 w* p  _) I4 g
) O6 j; i- D( ~) {' b% q% k( {4 c8 m　　47

$ e* H, A0 V1 g6 G: C- n* \" Q6 Z　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
. o6 J" M7 N0 P
　　48

, h% v* X% |# Q1 J+ M% T9 R　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
/ _/ C' B& Z5 d' }/ b6 J
# x# i  I! V) X$ c3 S) g5 }4 Y# B　　a blessing in disguise;

　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

9 @2 e% l) U6 x/ b0 F, V　　49

% N, c3 u( j( o, ]5 a& u　　三十而立
* ~+ m( G6 k4 i5 X9 W7 E
　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

' z3 Q' H- C. N) W+ }　　50

　　水涨船高
& [  Z8 R& w, x
, O5 O  A, J& b' |% z　　A ship rises with the tide

　　51

9 V* S1 z5 K; q/ M　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

: O) y$ ~# K9 t9 N9 d　　52
0 q: r5 {. m- ?0 W& a" d
　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

　　53

6 E' R/ x/ i8 i: q. T9 D5 p1 w　　实事求是

　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
$ H3 V- A) x# X) Y- L6 k" x4 w
　　54

　　说曹操，曹操到
' g4 z( q' V  R- e& o
　　speak of the devil

# {; N$ D6 F& a* F* o6 S: n$ t　　55
1 c  X5 z- ^8 b' k8 L  a" k
　　实话实说

　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
  [# E% }1 e& d
' b! H5 K* K5 Z　　56

　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
4 l/ f7 |4 s8 |( u0 d
0 ^6 K; ]) I' {; i7 ^/ J/ k9 ^4 {　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57

　　韬光养晦

7 L9 S; C5 X2 ^7 o　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
# |5 }' V( h3 ]
　　糖衣炮弹
6 z9 R( M8 j# Y0 F9 w
: e( {' ?  A4 @6 K4 l, u# J1 v/ Y　　sugar-coated bullets59
- w! f" t2 H/ V: S. j
　　天有不测风云

$ [& F  R9 b9 p2 j2 T- y　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
+ o4 @1 B. i* H$ ?0 r0 v) a( f
  e" \9 j- W" [# h" {# a  q7 @　　团结就是力量

3 i; @4 }* K, @1 j# l1 l　　Unity is strength.

　　61
3 B) o9 V& l, O% M9 P  X
6 B* n( q5 R. l) h　　跳进黄河洗不清

1 Y; D2 C6 w; Q7 _' `　　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
& Y0 z! @6 }& }/ T; x0 u2 i
) P1 t9 l* ]  d6 S; l8 m0 n7 n　　62

7 }3 ]* a, ^5 n' K& _( u5 G$ S/ `　　歪风邪气

) H1 i: z7 D! v3 u& ]) F9 g  O　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

& N% \# f% q! j$ C　　63
9 E4 M6 o/ H4 @6 Y! d! c
　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.
/ _& r% P; d( b) D
2 G0 ]. v2 ~& y4 d* w　　64

　　望子成龙

　　hold high hopes for one's child
  ^$ E% \; g: F% o! S. ?. L
　　65
  B' `; K4 t! s( t' m; U3 {
, }& Y! ^  C1 s7 F　　唯利是图

　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
, s' A* a* Q$ |) g
　　66

7 g) f' K7 Z7 h1 ]% W; h5 G- Z　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
1 Z' F8 C% u9 M6 Q! H9 @
　　67
  t6 Q3 H5 k. A" G$ h' T
　　无风不起浪

$ `4 k! W$ P2 u8 L. Q/ G　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.

　　68

　　徇私枉法

7 P& ^2 T$ \5 ]5 }- s4 x1 G# h- v, {　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
& ]" f) U2 m1 z5 Z+ [# W
1 \. B- H& d' U: R　　69

5 Z, V; z5 q4 Q. l　　新官上任三把火

1 I/ T" b- n4 ~& Y& @. ~　　a new broom sweeps clean
. O0 Y1 w  L7 C( L
6 A3 N/ T" a: y* w　　70
) H: W! m3 ]- O, d
　　蓄势待发

+ _/ C. D" `4 h9 C/ _　　accumulate strength for a take-off
4 n  ^5 L9 C7 V; v
　　71
' g; L: x/ u5 o) C( O2 n' O/ I
; w. A  ]+ m' j' H6 o+ A! @/ V6 K　　心想事成
; ]" N, ^# q0 N2 o. x# c
8 _8 E5 Z: v' e) ^# M0 R　　May all your wish come true

　　72
' s* h/ n* ~$ r6 Z' M$ L( ?
) z6 z3 V5 ^: |　　心照不宣

　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
3 x+ z. x: w, ?& Z6 E
　　73
8 \+ }% N1 \" S  X" T8 c; s
6 B" V, l# r, t3 s1 y1 `' G6 t　　先入为主
6 P" s* Y  h6 Q" l' n" c/ v6 P
7 n; Y; }& ?) k/ v　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
! L5 s* E+ S9 y$ O. Z9 |
7 I2 q# e, s1 I1 Z　　74
. D$ K* F" i3 P8 }: B% P
　　先下手为强

　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
2 o8 F/ O/ M! K+ d
　　The best defense is offense.
2 |2 }  o2 x% n5 e! {& q2 T3 ~. _* B
　　75

2 b+ c) u4 [* |' d3 z　　热锅上的蚂蚁

" e# G0 y% w; }0 D( Q　　ants on a hot pan
4 i1 W: B6 v( v/ |& v4 U
　　76
" F$ G% G+ |& p# b, A9 q* F
$ Q" n+ k! O' k5 X　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

: L5 f( r0 ]+ I3 J+ y　　77
  y6 V! K0 s5 r5 W' G. ?
7 g, }2 o4 j+ X+ K, e; f　　息事宁人
/ K+ V% q! ^" I0 N
　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
% o8 T8 L* W( D! x4 f; k' }% _
　　78

　　循序渐进
+ b/ W( j$ b* x$ X' ]
( D: I: @# e0 s: o& Q" H# z　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order

. X3 h4 @4 g" G0 C" [- v+ d　　79
! w5 K9 x2 D+ W3 Q* `' R9 U) u; x4 J8 R! C
1 T& T5 l7 h0 ?9 c' ?　　严以律己，宽以待人
- B8 k! ]% K0 j$ P8 s- Z+ C
　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

　　80
% B9 _( C/ J2 z( Q' r7 F8 h
　　有情人终成眷属

: p0 Y% r- C: q/ i9 G- D0 D7 W2 e　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

8 f/ j9 ^! o* o+ _/ j　　有钱能使鬼推磨

/ W' F* G; K2 |: R, a7 n3 N3 W　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
) V- E- I+ z9 j9 V! J
　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83

　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会

　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
" u7 s2 G, }$ k' Z* M
　　与时俱进

　　keep pace with the times86

! a/ J5 |( ]( v9 I  h! p! X% _　　以人为本

　　people-oriented
& F9 L( T) C0 z
　　87

　　因材施教

: ?- C$ Z0 s  T) A　　teach students according to their aptitude
; w- N% h2 [0 z6 l0 J8 v
　　88

5 f" [% B% k% ]0 E5 B5 T　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

6 L1 v4 G: S  g( [' N　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

: w$ S3 ^0 N- m　　89

　　欲速则不达

" g, I6 Z. f7 R' a( {" h　　Haste makes waste.

5 }$ k: O- L& N) h1 _/ |　　More haste, less speed.
/ H! H! z9 K/ ^3 w
　　90
4 |* ~2 z8 H- s" d
. h1 K1 d) E$ C8 s& v$ r　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest

1 U8 `1 P: t' I8 `2 q* ~( X# l1 H* X　　91

　　英雄所见略同

4 M) S; \/ I/ l  D4 J/ s7 E　　Great minds think alike.

0 F! n0 H8 H$ q; i　　92
; S1 Y2 f  L, |( _
　　冤家宜解不宜结
' q! i# _1 d+ t" A% v; G
　　Better make friends than make enemies.

1 `! @5 V' A! D7 `　　93
' }* p& t  d. N. s, b% i
　　冤假错案

% e: K4 R- p# F　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
7 T6 B' C, ~: v' a! @
: \- r+ R- s' ^$ {' h9 H$ }　　94

. c  g1 d9 E2 W9 f: q　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.

　　A real man never goes back on his words.
' n- F3 I/ c" m
* x! o: \) I4 U& N　　95

$ t! B: u) i2 R3 ?: p% h9 B& x　　招财进宝

+ Y5 Q3 R! I  X) Y8 I7 {　　bring in wealth and treasure
% {1 X9 }" Y: ^2 w. U! X7 ?" Q
3 ~4 v' w2 }! R! e7 h8 q9 m　　96

/ r7 `- i* |3 L　　债台高筑

0 |; L5 Y) n+ B　　become debt-ridden
! t, r; q( b' D% P# U
　　97
0 j6 [9 D7 T8 v& r8 K5 U1 f
1 j! d; \% R) m　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism

5 G8 l/ N. e+ ?* u( f9 o" G4 `　　98
" l4 h9 s$ O2 o0 _* [
. \6 X  z" M+ Y" o　　纸上谈兵
' H% i* T  |3 b" f
　　be an armchair strategist
" ~% C! _; f/ z& Q! a
/ N4 e  [4 _( k6 V1 a, C, e　　99
2 H( U' j- P! B) r4 @
" h$ I2 K8 p# x4 i$ q　　纸包不住火

　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

. {# ~7 V8 E+ i7 l9 {0 p( k　　What's done by night appears by day.
; b& i4 p4 [2 O1 ]/ }$ Q2 W
7 V' S8 ]7 T1 v' X/ o+ m' D. [　　100
! b  N# ~0 E& ]8 I
　　左右为难
2 S5 c& Z! S6 m  j
　　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。