英語(yǔ)翻譯公司告訴你如何翻譯中國(guó)俗語(yǔ)
水落石出
有人照字直譯為：As thewater level sinks, the stones are exposed。
這樣說(shuō)，恐怕老外還是聽(tīng)不懂。他們的說(shuō)法是：
All secrets may eventually come tolight. (所有祕(mì)密后總會(huì)曝光。)
也可以說(shuō)：
Eventually, every secret will bedisclosed。
烈火煉真金，患難見(jiàn)真情
有人譯成：Fire is the test of gold；adversity is the test of friendship。
這句譯文，雖然很好，老外也能了解，但是他們還有另外的說(shuō)法：
Liquor brings out a person's truecolor。(烈酒能顯示一個(gè)人真正的特色)
或者說(shuō)：
Wine reveals a person's true heart。
雖然老外不用“烈火煉真金”的比喻，但有“路遙知馬力”的說(shuō)法：
By a long road, we know a horse'sstrength；at times of difficulty, we discover a friend's true character。
雷聲大，雨點(diǎn)小
有人譯為：
The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls. 或者說(shuō)：All we hear isthunder, but no rain falls。
雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解，但是老外的說(shuō)法是這樣的：
Actions speak louder than words. (行動(dòng)勝于言談)
或Allwe hear is words, but there is no action. (只動(dòng)嘴不動(dòng)手)
或Actionsand words should go hand in hand. (言行必須一致)
另外，還有英語(yǔ)里還有這樣的說(shuō)法：
An empty barrel makes biggest sound。(空洞的話說(shuō)得太多了。)
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
有人譯為：
A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper。
這樣的譯法只是直譯，如果能夠稍加修改，老外就能了解：
A man can not be judged by his appearance, nor can the water in the sea bemeasured by a bucket。
不過(guò)，老外通常的說(shuō)法是這樣的：
We can not judge a person by appearance only. 或 You can notjudge a book by its cover。
(意思是：一本書的好壞取決于它的內(nèi)容，而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否。)
少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲
有人譯成 If you neglect study when you are young, what may happento your old age?
這句問(wèn)句會(huì)把老外問(wèn)得云里霧里，因?yàn)樗麄儧](méi)有“學(xué)而優(yōu)則仕”的思想，也不認(rèn)為功課差，將來(lái)就會(huì)傷悲。他們勸告子女經(jīng)常說(shuō)的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / morepromising future. (努力用功會(huì)帶給你光明的前程。)
當(dāng)然也可以對(duì)年輕人說(shuō)：
Study hard when you are young. It willpay off when you get older. (年輕時(shí)好好努力，到老的時(shí)就會(huì)覺(jué)得學(xué)有所值。)
·一日為師，終身為父
有這樣的譯法：
He who teaches me for one day is myfather for life。
If you are my teacher for even one day,you will be my teacher (mentor) all my life。
He who teaches me may be considered myfather-figure for life。
這幾種譯法意思都是“老師即使對(duì)我只有一天的教誨，也會(huì)讓我一生都受用不盡?！蓖鈬?guó)人也有他們表達(dá)師生關(guān)系的諺語(yǔ)，如：
Teach others to fish and they will fishfor a lifetime. (授人以魚(yú)，不如授人以漁)
Give a man fish, he will have a meal;teach him to fish, he will have food all his life。
·近墨者黑，近朱者赤
有人直譯為：
One who stays near vermilion getsstained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black. (vermilion 是朱砂或鮮紅色的意思)
也有人譯成：
When you touch black, you become black;when you touch red, you become red。
這種說(shuō)法，恐怕老外一時(shí)無(wú)法理解真正含意。不過(guò)他們倒有這么說(shuō)：
One takes the behavior of one'scompany. (一個(gè)人的行為，往往受到朋友的影響。) 或
One takes on the attributes of one'sassociates. (attributes 復(fù)數(shù)時(shí)是指品質(zhì)、特性；associates 指朋友、同事)
簡(jiǎn)單的說(shuō)，就是：
Watch the company you keep! (小心交朋友！)
或者也可以說(shuō)成：
As he who lies with dogs will ride withfleas, how could your son learn anything good by mixing with those people? (你兒子跟那些人混在一起，能學(xué)出個(gè)好來(lái)？)
