一、习语、谚语、俗语、诗句的翻译
每种语言的背后都有深厚的文化积淀,各国各族人们在长期实践和使用过程中不断提炼出一些习语,反映本国、本民族的社会历史、文化、风土人情,用简练、优美的语言体现出深厚的文化底蕴和丰富的意义。这些习语是语言的精华,是人类智慧的结晶。汉语和英语均是使用广泛的语言,都有十分丰富的习语,人们在交往过程中往往使用习语来表达深刻的道理,增加语言美以达到更好的交际效果.在国际交往中也是如此。另外,人们也常引用一些经典诗句来表情达意。因此,在进行口译时经常会遇到需要快速传译习语、诗句的情况。例如总理在纽约演讲时就引用了一句古诗“会当凌绝顶,一览众山小”(I will ascend 1the mountain's dominant peak—to
have a commanding view all in a sweep;在哈佛大学的演讲中引用了“天下兴亡,匹夫有责”(Everybody is responsible for the rise or fall of the country、“衙斋卧听萧萧竹,疑是人间疾苦声”(The rustling of bamboo outside my door sounds like the moaning of the
needy poor;迎接外宾时人们常会说“有朋自远方来,不亦乐乎”(It is such a delight to
have friends coming from afar。在这些情况下,若口译员平常没有训练过习语、诗句的口译,没有熟记一些常用的习语、经典诗句,而是临场翻译,势必难译其妙,甚至会语塞卡壳。习语、诗句的转译对口译人员来说是艰难而又必须跨越的障碍,因此,了解和掌握一些耳熟能详的习语和经典诗句对提高口译质量将大有益处。
1.百花齐放,百家争鸣。
Let a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend.
2.搬石头砸自己的脚。
Lifting a rock only to have his own toes squashed.
3.宾至如归。
When the visitor arrives,it is as if returning home.
不到黄河心不死。4.
Until all is over ambition never dies.
5.不管三七二十一。
No matter what you may say.
6.不入虎穴近朱者赤近墨者黑,焉得虎子。
How can one get tiger cubs even without entering the tiger's lair?
7.趁热打铁。
Strike while the iron is hot.
8.没有不带刺的玫瑰。
There's no rose without a thorn.
9.成则公侯败则寇。
People may become princes or thieves,depending on whether they're successful or
not.
10.大智若愚。
He knows most who speaks least.
11.但愿人长久,千里共婵娟。
We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight,
even though miles apart.
12.独立自主,自力更生。
To maintain independence and keep the initiative in our hands and rely on our own
efforts.
13.独木不成林。
One person cannot accomplish much.
14.二人同心,其力断金。
If two people ale of the same mind,their sharpness can cut through metal.
15.各人自扫门前雪,哪管他家瓦上霜。
Sweep the snow from your own front door,leave the frost on the other man's roof to
thaw.
16.水能载舟,亦能覆舟。
The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up..
17.狗咬吕洞宾,不识好人心。
Like the dog that bit Lu Tungbin--you bit the hand that feeds you.
18.海内存知己,天涯若比邻。
A bosom friend afar brings distance near.
19.葫芦里卖的什么药?
What's at the back of it?
20.既来之,则安之。
Take things as they come.
21.己所不欲,勿施于人。
Do not do to others what you would not have others do to you.
22.捡了芝麻,丢了西瓜。
To concentrate on minor matters to the neglect of maior ones.
23.见贤思齐。
When you see men of worth,you should think of equaling them.
24.酒香不怕巷子深。
Good wine needs no bush.
25.居安思危。
In time of peace prepare for war.
26.君子之交淡如水。
A hedge between keeps friendship green.
27.路遥知马力,日久见人心。
A long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a man's heart.
28.人言可畏。
The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts.
29.民为贵,社稷次之,君为轻。
The people are the most important element in a state;next al'e the gods of land and
grain;least is the ruler himself.
30.谋事在人,成事在天。
Man proposes,God disposes.
31.木已成舟。
The wood is already made into a boat--what's done is done.
32.能者多劳。
All lay loads on a willing horse.
33.宁为玉碎,不为瓦全。
Better die with honor than live with shame.
34.否极泰来。
The extreme of adversity is the beginning of prosperity.
35.拼着一身剐,敢把皇帝拉下马。
One who will risk being sliced to pieces dare unsaddle the Emperor.
36.青出于蓝而胜于蓝。
The pupil outdoes the master.
37.清官难断家务事。
Not even good officials can settle family troubles.
38.人怕出名猪怕壮。
Great honors are great burdens.
39.塞翁失马,焉知非福。
Nothing so bad,as not to be good for anything.
三个和尚没水喝。40.
Everybody's business is nobody's business·
41.少数服从多数。
The minority is subordinate to the majority.
42.少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲。
A young idler, an old beggar.
43.身正不怕影子斜。
A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.
44.盛名之下,其实难副。
Common fame is a liar.
45.盛筵必散。
Even the grandest feast must have an end.
46.生于忧患,死于安乐。
Life springs from sorrow and calamity,and death from ease and pleasure.
47.失之东隅,收之桑蚕。
What we lose in hake we shall have in herring.
48.十年树木,百年树人。
It takes ten years to grow trees but a hundred years to rear people·
49.识时务者为俊杰。
Whosoever understands the times is a great man.
50.逝者如斯乎!不舍昼夜。
The passage of time is just like the flow of water,which goes on day night.
51.顺其自然。
Let the nature take care of it.
52.天生万物,唯人为贵。
Man is the most valuable among all the things that heaven fosters.