2024年5月12日发(作者：宗霞飞)
英语成语的理解与翻译
Preview:
成语三大特征 ：
1)意义上的整体性。 To lay heads together. 大家一起思考，集思广益
2)不符合语法 规律。 Money makes the mare to go. 有钱能使鬼推磨。
3)用词相对固定。 A stitch in time saves nine. 及时的一针省几针
Summary:
A. 成语的来源
1 源自神话传说 英语中的成语主要源自古希腊，古罗马等的传说。
Rain cats and dogs. 倾盆大雨 ---源于北欧神话，据说猫对天气有很大的影响
Swan song绝唱
2 源自文学名著
by the skin of ones teeth “九死一生”，“侥幸逃脱”---出自《圣经》
One pound of flesh割肉还债，残酷榨取---出自莎士比亚的喜剧剧作《威尼斯商人》
3 源自历史事件
Sword of Damocles比喻极端的危险或情况的危急
burn one’s boats破釜沉舟---出自古代希腊的一则历史故事。
4 源自风尚、习俗
a feather in your cap荣耀---源于印第安人的一种风俗，每杀死一个人就在头饰或帽子上加插
一根羽毛，以此来显示战绩与荣誉。
give somebody the boot解雇某人，开除某人 above the Sault尊为贵宾，位于上席
5源自某些动物的特征
a bird of ill omen不祥之兆
---源自古代占卜的风俗。渡鸟嗅觉灵敏，能判定远方腐尸位置。因此渡鸟象征死亡
keep the wolf from the door免于饥饿，勉强度日---譬如狼因饥饿而残忍
To have a wolf in the stomach ---形容一个人极度饥饿
6 源自行业用语
来自农业的成语
as a man sows, so he shall reap种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 As cool as cucumber泰然自若
来自工业的成语
a square peg in a round hole文不对体，不得其所 To hit the right nail on the head击中要害
来自餐饮业的成语
out of the frying-pan into the fire才出狼窝，又入虎口
A little pot is easy hot壶小易热，量小易怒
7 源自生活用语
Every cook praises his own broth.王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸 as poor as the church mouse一贫如洗
B. 成语翻译原则及方法
1直译法
Make hay while the sun shines趁热打铁 Run with the tail between the legs. 夹着尾巴逃跑
2意译法
Do you see any green in my eye? 你以为我是好欺骗的吗？
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. 责人先责已
sour grapes 酸葡萄（效应） the right carpet隆重的接待
1
cry over split milk为不可挽回的损失而悲伤 Go Dutch各自付费
3同义成语借用法
talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear说曹操，曹操到
at sixes and sevens乱七八糟 flash in the pan昙花一现
4释义法
He met his waterloo. 他遇到了他的滑铁卢。
He is the Judas in the group. 他是这一人群中的犹大。
He is Holmes the second. 他是福尔摩斯再世。
5 加字法 to shed crocodile tears鳄鱼流眼泪，假慈悲
C. 成语翻译时应注意的几个问题
1.翻译成语要先有确切的理解，即不能拘泥文字，也不可望文生译。
To pull one’s leg取笑，愚弄某人
2．要注意保持成语的民族和地方特色。 Beauty lies in lover’s eyes. 情人眼里出西施
3．具有褒、贬含义的成语的翻译。
To be hand and glove with看起来并无贬意，但一般只用于消极意义
4. 有特定意义的固定搭配的成语的翻译 There is not smoke without fire. 无风不起浪
Practice:
Translate the following signs into Chinese.
1 kill the goose to get the eggs 2 A wolf in sheep’s clothing. 3 Blood is thicker than water.
常考成语翻译一
1.一臂之力lend sb a helping hand 2.一点一滴every little bit
3.一刻千金every minute is precious 4.一目了然be clear at a glance
5.一视同仁treat sb equally 6.一无所知know nothing about
7.一心一意heart and soul 8.三番五次again and again,repeatedly
9.三三两两in twos and threes 10.三心二意be of two minds
11.四面八方(from)all directions 12.四通八达extend in all directions
13.五颜六色colorful ,of various colours 14.十全十美be perfect in every way
15.不厌其烦take great pains/be patient 16.不分胜负come out even
17.不甘落后be unwilling to lag behind 18.不可思议unimaginable
19.不速之客uninvited(unexpected)guest 20.不言而喻it goes without saying that
21.不由自主can't help 22.不足为奇not at all surprising
23.迫不及待can't help 24.不知不觉unconsciously
25.毫不在意don't/doesn't care at all 26.举世闻名be world-famous
27.举足轻重occupy a decisive position 28.名不符实unworthy of one's name
29.名不虚传deserve the reputation 30.井然有序be in good order
31.井井有条be in good order 32.跃跃欲试bee ager to have a try
33.全面发展develop in an all-around way 34.安然无恙be safe and sound
35.半途而废give up halfway 36.义不容辞one's duty to do sth
37.全力以赴go all out for/spare no efforts 38.千方百计by every possible means
39.持之以恒persevere 40.家喻户晓widely known,known to all
41.默默无闻unknown to the public 42.树立榜样set a good example for
43.理所当然naturally，of course 44.数以万计tens of thousands of
45.世世代代from generation to generation 46.心不在焉absent-minded
2
47.梦想成真come true，become a reality 48.迫在眉睫extremely urgent
49.刻不容缓be of great urgency 50.无时无刻all the time
51.无所事事have nothing to do 52.毫不犹豫without hesitation
常考成语翻译二
1. 机不可失,失不在来 Opportunity knocks once
2. 事实胜于雄辩 Actions speak louder than words
3. 活到老学到老 It is never too old to learn
4. 千里之行始于足下 A thousand –li journey begins /starts with the first step
5. 人不可貌相,海水不可斗量
A man can’t be judged by his appearance, nor can the sea water be measured by bucket.
6. 宾至如归 feel at home/home like
7. 并驾齐驱 keep pace with/keep up with
8. 默默无闻 be unknown to the public/remain unknown/nameless
9. 百读不厌. Be worth reading again and again
10.并非一日之功 sth be not the work of a single day/ sth be not made in a single day
11. 勤能补拙 hard work can make up for intelligence
12. 留恋往返 want to stay longer/not want to leave so soon
13. 获益非浅 benefit a lot from/by sth
14. 理所当然 It’s only right and natural that/It goes with saying that
15. 略胜一筹 slightly superior to/better than
16. 满载而归 back home /return with fruitful results/with load honors
17. 梦寐以求 dream of sth /long for sth day and night
18. 名列前茅 be second to none/come out in front /leave all the others behind
19. 无以伦比 beyond comparison /incomparable/unique
20. 迫不及待 can’t wait to do /too impatient to wait/impatiently
21. 全力以赴 spare no efforts to do/devote oneself to
22. 三心二意 change one’s mind constantly
be of(have) two minds about sth undecided/changeable
23. 光阴似箭Time doesn’t wait for us/How time flies/Time and tide wait for no man
24. 熟能生巧 Practice makes perfect
25. 鼠目寸光 short-sighted/near-sighted
26. 置若罔闻 turn a deaf ear to sth /take no notice of
27. 喜出望外 be wild with joy
28. 爱不释手 can’t bear /stand to put it down (leave it aside)
29. 不厌其烦 be patient in doing sth/do sth with great patience
30. 碍手碍脚 be /get /stand in the way
31. 安然无恙 without accident/safe and sound
32. 昂首阔步 in high spirits march forward
33. 半途而废 drop out/give up halfway
34. 奔走相告 run around/about spreading the news/spread news far and wide
35. 必由之路 the inevitable / the only way to sth
36. 标新立异 seek to be different/strive to be unique
37. 别出心裁 see above
3
38. 别开生面 start sth new
39. 不出所料 just as expected/within expectation
40. 不合适宜 out of date/fashion
41. 不慌不忙 calmly/unhurriedly
42. 不假思索 without hesitation
43. 不可估量 immeasurable /beyond measure
44. 不可思议 unbelievable/unimaginable/beyond belief
45. 不可救药 incurable/beyond cure
46. 不容质疑 there is no doubt that/ It goes without saying that
47. 不失时机 seize every opportunity to do sth/not lose/ miss the chance
48. 环顾四周 look about/around
49. 情不自禁/不由自主can’t help doing/but do
50. 车水马龙 人山人海be crowded with people and vehicles/ heavy traffic/a sea of people
51. 出乎意料 to one’s surprise/out of one’s expectation/unexpectedly
52. 全心全意/诚心诚意 heart and soul/from the bottom of one’s heart
53. 持之以恒 persevere in doing/stick to doing/insist on/persist in doing
54. 55出人头地 .get ahead/make one’s way
55. 驰名中外 be famous at home and abroad
56. 首屈一指/出类拔萃
be second to none/get ahead of all the others/ outstanding/remarkable/stand out
57. 吹毛求疵 find fault with sb
58. 从容不迫do sth with great ease/unhurriedly/ calmly
59. 错综复杂 complicated/complex
60. 引人注目 catch one’s eye/attract one’s attention/noticeable。
61. 依依不舍 be reluctant to part/can’t bear to part / attractive/fascinating /tempting
62. 坐失良机 miss golden chance
63. 有目共睹 It is clear to all that/obviously seen
64. 杂乱无章 in a mess/out of order/in disorder
65. 置之度外 with no thought for/no care about sth
66. 专心致志 be absorbed in/concentrate on/devote to
67. 心不在焉 absent-minded/inattentive
4
2024年5月12日发(作者：宗霞飞)
英语成语的理解与翻译
Preview:
成语三大特征 ：
1)意义上的整体性。 To lay heads together. 大家一起思考，集思广益
2)不符合语法 规律。 Money makes the mare to go. 有钱能使鬼推磨。
3)用词相对固定。 A stitch in time saves nine. 及时的一针省几针
Summary:
A. 成语的来源
1 源自神话传说 英语中的成语主要源自古希腊，古罗马等的传说。
Rain cats and dogs. 倾盆大雨 ---源于北欧神话，据说猫对天气有很大的影响
Swan song绝唱
2 源自文学名著
by the skin of ones teeth “九死一生”，“侥幸逃脱”---出自《圣经》
One pound of flesh割肉还债，残酷榨取---出自莎士比亚的喜剧剧作《威尼斯商人》
3 源自历史事件
Sword of Damocles比喻极端的危险或情况的危急
burn one’s boats破釜沉舟---出自古代希腊的一则历史故事。
4 源自风尚、习俗
a feather in your cap荣耀---源于印第安人的一种风俗，每杀死一个人就在头饰或帽子上加插
一根羽毛，以此来显示战绩与荣誉。
give somebody the boot解雇某人，开除某人 above the Sault尊为贵宾，位于上席
5源自某些动物的特征
a bird of ill omen不祥之兆
---源自古代占卜的风俗。渡鸟嗅觉灵敏，能判定远方腐尸位置。因此渡鸟象征死亡
keep the wolf from the door免于饥饿，勉强度日---譬如狼因饥饿而残忍
To have a wolf in the stomach ---形容一个人极度饥饿
6 源自行业用语
来自农业的成语
as a man sows, so he shall reap种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 As cool as cucumber泰然自若
来自工业的成语
a square peg in a round hole文不对体，不得其所 To hit the right nail on the head击中要害
来自餐饮业的成语
out of the frying-pan into the fire才出狼窝，又入虎口
A little pot is easy hot壶小易热，量小易怒
7 源自生活用语
Every cook praises his own broth.王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸 as poor as the church mouse一贫如洗
B. 成语翻译原则及方法
1直译法
Make hay while the sun shines趁热打铁 Run with the tail between the legs. 夹着尾巴逃跑
2意译法
Do you see any green in my eye? 你以为我是好欺骗的吗？
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. 责人先责已
sour grapes 酸葡萄（效应） the right carpet隆重的接待
1
cry over split milk为不可挽回的损失而悲伤 Go Dutch各自付费
3同义成语借用法
talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear说曹操，曹操到
at sixes and sevens乱七八糟 flash in the pan昙花一现
4释义法
He met his waterloo. 他遇到了他的滑铁卢。
He is the Judas in the group. 他是这一人群中的犹大。
He is Holmes the second. 他是福尔摩斯再世。
5 加字法 to shed crocodile tears鳄鱼流眼泪，假慈悲
C. 成语翻译时应注意的几个问题
1.翻译成语要先有确切的理解，即不能拘泥文字，也不可望文生译。
To pull one’s leg取笑，愚弄某人
2．要注意保持成语的民族和地方特色。 Beauty lies in lover’s eyes. 情人眼里出西施
3．具有褒、贬含义的成语的翻译。
To be hand and glove with看起来并无贬意，但一般只用于消极意义
4. 有特定意义的固定搭配的成语的翻译 There is not smoke without fire. 无风不起浪
Practice:
Translate the following signs into Chinese.
1 kill the goose to get the eggs 2 A wolf in sheep’s clothing. 3 Blood is thicker than water.
常考成语翻译一
1.一臂之力lend sb a helping hand 2.一点一滴every little bit
3.一刻千金every minute is precious 4.一目了然be clear at a glance
5.一视同仁treat sb equally 6.一无所知know nothing about
7.一心一意heart and soul 8.三番五次again and again,repeatedly
9.三三两两in twos and threes 10.三心二意be of two minds
11.四面八方(from)all directions 12.四通八达extend in all directions
13.五颜六色colorful ,of various colours 14.十全十美be perfect in every way
15.不厌其烦take great pains/be patient 16.不分胜负come out even
17.不甘落后be unwilling to lag behind 18.不可思议unimaginable
19.不速之客uninvited(unexpected)guest 20.不言而喻it goes without saying that
21.不由自主can't help 22.不足为奇not at all surprising
23.迫不及待can't help 24.不知不觉unconsciously
25.毫不在意don't/doesn't care at all 26.举世闻名be world-famous
27.举足轻重occupy a decisive position 28.名不符实unworthy of one's name
29.名不虚传deserve the reputation 30.井然有序be in good order
31.井井有条be in good order 32.跃跃欲试bee ager to have a try
33.全面发展develop in an all-around way 34.安然无恙be safe and sound
35.半途而废give up halfway 36.义不容辞one's duty to do sth
37.全力以赴go all out for/spare no efforts 38.千方百计by every possible means
39.持之以恒persevere 40.家喻户晓widely known,known to all
41.默默无闻unknown to the public 42.树立榜样set a good example for
43.理所当然naturally，of course 44.数以万计tens of thousands of
45.世世代代from generation to generation 46.心不在焉absent-minded
2
47.梦想成真come true，become a reality 48.迫在眉睫extremely urgent
49.刻不容缓be of great urgency 50.无时无刻all the time
51.无所事事have nothing to do 52.毫不犹豫without hesitation
常考成语翻译二
1. 机不可失,失不在来 Opportunity knocks once
2. 事实胜于雄辩 Actions speak louder than words
3. 活到老学到老 It is never too old to learn
4. 千里之行始于足下 A thousand –li journey begins /starts with the first step
5. 人不可貌相,海水不可斗量
A man can’t be judged by his appearance, nor can the sea water be measured by bucket.
6. 宾至如归 feel at home/home like
7. 并驾齐驱 keep pace with/keep up with
8. 默默无闻 be unknown to the public/remain unknown/nameless
9. 百读不厌. Be worth reading again and again
10.并非一日之功 sth be not the work of a single day/ sth be not made in a single day
11. 勤能补拙 hard work can make up for intelligence
12. 留恋往返 want to stay longer/not want to leave so soon
13. 获益非浅 benefit a lot from/by sth
14. 理所当然 It’s only right and natural that/It goes with saying that
15. 略胜一筹 slightly superior to/better than
16. 满载而归 back home /return with fruitful results/with load honors
17. 梦寐以求 dream of sth /long for sth day and night
18. 名列前茅 be second to none/come out in front /leave all the others behind
19. 无以伦比 beyond comparison /incomparable/unique
20. 迫不及待 can’t wait to do /too impatient to wait/impatiently
21. 全力以赴 spare no efforts to do/devote oneself to
22. 三心二意 change one’s mind constantly
be of(have) two minds about sth undecided/changeable
23. 光阴似箭Time doesn’t wait for us/How time flies/Time and tide wait for no man
24. 熟能生巧 Practice makes perfect
25. 鼠目寸光 short-sighted/near-sighted
26. 置若罔闻 turn a deaf ear to sth /take no notice of
27. 喜出望外 be wild with joy
28. 爱不释手 can’t bear /stand to put it down (leave it aside)
29. 不厌其烦 be patient in doing sth/do sth with great patience
30. 碍手碍脚 be /get /stand in the way
31. 安然无恙 without accident/safe and sound
32. 昂首阔步 in high spirits march forward
33. 半途而废 drop out/give up halfway
34. 奔走相告 run around/about spreading the news/spread news far and wide
35. 必由之路 the inevitable / the only way to sth
36. 标新立异 seek to be different/strive to be unique
37. 别出心裁 see above
3
38. 别开生面 start sth new
39. 不出所料 just as expected/within expectation
40. 不合适宜 out of date/fashion
41. 不慌不忙 calmly/unhurriedly
42. 不假思索 without hesitation
43. 不可估量 immeasurable /beyond measure
44. 不可思议 unbelievable/unimaginable/beyond belief
45. 不可救药 incurable/beyond cure
46. 不容质疑 there is no doubt that/ It goes without saying that
47. 不失时机 seize every opportunity to do sth/not lose/ miss the chance
48. 环顾四周 look about/around
49. 情不自禁/不由自主can’t help doing/but do
50. 车水马龙 人山人海be crowded with people and vehicles/ heavy traffic/a sea of people
51. 出乎意料 to one’s surprise/out of one’s expectation/unexpectedly
52. 全心全意/诚心诚意 heart and soul/from the bottom of one’s heart
53. 持之以恒 persevere in doing/stick to doing/insist on/persist in doing
54. 55出人头地 .get ahead/make one’s way
55. 驰名中外 be famous at home and abroad
56. 首屈一指/出类拔萃
be second to none/get ahead of all the others/ outstanding/remarkable/stand out
57. 吹毛求疵 find fault with sb
58. 从容不迫do sth with great ease/unhurriedly/ calmly
59. 错综复杂 complicated/complex
60. 引人注目 catch one’s eye/attract one’s attention/noticeable。
61. 依依不舍 be reluctant to part/can’t bear to part / attractive/fascinating /tempting
62. 坐失良机 miss golden chance
63. 有目共睹 It is clear to all that/obviously seen
64. 杂乱无章 in a mess/out of order/in disorder
65. 置之度外 with no thought for/no care about sth
66. 专心致志 be absorbed in/concentrate on/devote to
67. 心不在焉 absent-minded/inattentive
4