文档介绍：Translation
汉语成语与四字短语的英译
Idioms
words collocated into a fossilized term
结构固定
an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning 蕴含比喻意义;
Idioms usually do not translate well; in some cases, when translated into another language, either its meaning is changed or it is meaningless 翻译操作难度大
Idioms
literally “set phrases”;often referred to as Chinese idioms or four-character idioms (> 95% of all);
2. mostly derived from ancient literature;
often intimately linked with the myth, story or historical fact from which they were derived.
常有历史渊源
3. pact and synthetic, not following the usual grammatical structure and syntax of the modern Chinese spoken language
结构精炼
Contrastive Analysis
Chengyu Vs English idioms
对等:喻体、喻义相似
2. 部分对等:
喻义相似、喻体不同
喻体相似,喻义不同
喻体多种,喻义相似
3. 无对等:喻体带有独特文化背景
Contrastive Analysis
Chengyu Vs English idioms
对等:喻体、喻义相似
趁热打铁
空中楼阁
浑水摸鱼
晴天霹雳
隔墙有耳
strike while the iron is hot
castle in the air
fish in the troubled water
a bolt from the blue
Walls have ears
Contrastive Analysis
Chengyu Vs English idioms
2. 部分对等:
喻义相似、喻体不同
血流如注
一贫如洗
健壮如牛
美中不足
瓮中之鳖
To bleed like a pig
As poor as a church mouse
As strong as a horse
A fly in the ointment
A rat in a hole
Contrastive Analysis
Chengyu Vs English idioms
3. 无对等:喻体带有独特文化背景
东施效颦
叶公好龙
四面楚歌
南柯一梦
A Judas kiss
Catch-22 situation
Translating Chengyu
1. 代换(replacement):用对等或相似的英文表达来代换汉语中的形象。
Some Chinese idioms can be translated with equivalence or the closest equivalence in English idioms.
眼不见,心不烦
赴汤蹈火
洗心革面
Out of sight, out of mind
Go through fire and water
Turn over a new leaf