Translation(14)Translation of Chinese Idioms汉语成语英译例析o1. Literal Translationo1) “对牛弹琴”这句话，含有讥笑对象的意思。o The saying “to play the harp to a cow” implies a gibe at the audience.o2）叫一声“请!” 一齐举箸，却如风卷残云一般，早去 了一半。（吴敬梓，儒林外史）o At the signal to begin, they fell to with their chopsticks, like a whirlwind scattering wisps of clouds. (Wu Jingzi, Unofficial History of the Literati)o3）旁边一人鼓掌大笑曰：“此事易如反掌，何必多议！ ”（罗贯中，三国演义）o Then one of those about him suddenly clapped his hands, crying, “It is as easy as turning over ones hand! Why so much talk!” (Luo Guanzhong, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms)o4）“四海之内，皆兄弟也”，相烦借一条路。o Within the four seas all are brothers, so let us use your road. o5）“宝姐姐，你还不拧她的嘴？你问问她编派你的话 ！”宝扠笑道：“不用问，狗嘴里还有象牙不成！”o“Pinch her lips, Chai!” she said, “You should hear what she has been saying about you.” “I dont need to,” said Baochai. “One doesnt expect ivory from a dogs mouth!” oMore examples of Chinese idioms that can be literally translated into English:owatch the fire across the riverdragonfly skim the water surfaceomake a feint in the east but attack in the westoas sure as Mt. Taioa grain in the oceanoas easy as blow away the dustowithout lips, the teeth will feel coldoto leave not even an inch of grassolure the tiger away from the mountainoThe thought of going home flies like an arrowoto fish up a needle from the seaoa stork among chickenoeven the fowls and dogs are not spared from killingogentleman of the beamsolike a fish getting back into waterokill the hen to get the eggoenjoy longevity like Mt. Nanshanoto scoop up the moon from the wateroWhen rabbits are exterminated, the dogs will be slaughtered.oask the way from the blindodressed-up beastogrow like bamboo shots after spring rainoclimb a tree to acquire fishoquench ones thirst by gazing at plumsoto satisfy ones hunger by drawing a picture of cakeso2. Free Translationo1）范进被胡屠户一口啐在脸上，骂了个狗血喷头o Butcher Hu spat in his face, and poured out a torrent of abuseso2）宝玉听了这话，不觉轰了魂魄，目瞪口呆o Pao-yu was thunderstruck and stood aghast.o3. Using Two or More Methodo1）张飞大叫：“此必董卓！追吕布有甚强处，不如先拿 董贼，便是斩草除根！”o“Certainly there is Dong Zhuo,” cried Zhang Fei. “What is the use of pursuing Lu Bu? Better far seize the chief rebel and so pluck up the evil by roots.”o2）都像你这样一毛不拔，我们喝西北风！oIf everyone was like you and wouldnt give us a cent, wed have to live on air.o4.Omissiono1）忽闻有人在牡丹亭畔，长吁短叹。（罗贯中，三 国演义oSuddenly he heard a rustle in the peony pavilion and someone signing deeply.o2）天有不测风云，人有霎时祸福。oMans fate is uncertain as the weather.o3）此时鲁小姐卸了浓妆，换几件雅淡衣服，遽公孙举 眼细看，真有沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。（吴敬梓 ，儒林外史）oBy this time Miss Lu had changed out of her ceremonial dress into an ordinary gown, and when Ju looked at her he saw that her beauty would put the flowers to shame.o回忆词类翻译法 重复法为了生动的目的 第三条AABB结构！omore examples of similar Chinese idioms:o人山人海 a sea of faceso出类拔萃 stand out among others/rise above the herdso捕风捉影 catch the shadowo烟消云散 vanish into the airo自暴自弃 abandon oneself to despairo四通八达 stretch in all directiono家喻户晓 be a household wordo四平八稳 steady and secureo胡思乱想 daydreamo无影无踪 without a traceo油嘴滑舌 glib-tonguedo四面八方 far and near/in all directionso5.AdditionoIn order to express the original meaning more closely, sometimes we have to add some words according to the context when we translate Chinese idioms into English.o1）今得见肖先生，如鱼得水了！oNow that I have met Mr. Xiao, I feel like a stranded fish put back into water!o2）若非此人来报，都打在网里。oHad he not told us, we would have been caught like fish in a net.o6. Restoration恢复原状oSome idioms in Chinese are translated from English or some other languages, so when we come across such expressions in our translation, we may restore them to the original.o1）敌人急急忙忙夹着尾巴走了。oThe enemy scurried away, with the tail between their legs.o2）有的人只对鼻子底下的事情发生兴趣。oSome are interested in only what is under their nose.