阳光创译 吕国博士 | 中西文化对比与英汉习语谚语翻译探讨

1.叶公好龙   Lord Ye professed to love dragons.

Lord Ye professed to love dragons. (A Lord Ye of ancient times who was very fond of dragons adorned his whole palace -- beams, pillars, doors, windows and walls -- with drawings and carvings of them. When a real dragon in heaven heard of this it was deeply moved by his infatuation and paid him a visit. When Lord Ye saw the real dragon thrusting in its head through the window of his study and its tail moving in his palace, he was frightened out of the house for his life. Clearly, what Lord Ye loved was not the real dragons.); Lord Ye who claimed to be fond of dragons was scared out of his wits when a real one appeared.; Lord Ye's love of dragons; professed love of what one really fears

叶公喜欢龙，衣带钩、酒器上都刻着龙，居室里雕镂装饰的也是龙。他这样爱龙，被天上的真龙知道后，便从天上下降到叶公家里，龙头搭在窗台上探望，龙尾伸到了厅堂里。叶公一看是真龙，转身就跑，吓得他像失了魂似的，惊恐万状，不能控制自己。由此看来，叶公并不是真的喜欢龙，他喜欢的只不过是那些像龙的东西而不是龙。

【辨析】这个故事，用很生动的比喻，辛辣地讽刺了叶公式的人物，深刻地揭露了他们只唱高调、不务实际的坏思想、坏作风。通过这个故事，我们要丢弃"理论脱离实际"的坏思想、坏作风，树立实事求是的好思想、好作风。同时也讽刺了名不副实、表里不一的人。

2.刻舟求剑Carve on gunwale of a moving boat

Carve on gunwale of a moving boat; marking where a sword was dropped -- foolish undertaking; carve a mark on gunwale in moving boat where a sword was lost -- ridiculous stupidity; cut a mark on the side of one's boat to indicate the place where one's sword has dropped into the river

战国时，楚国有个人坐船渡江。船到江心，楚人一不小心，随身携带的一把宝剑滑落江中，他赶紧伸手去抓，可惜为时已晚，宝剑已经落入江中。船上的人对此感到非常惋惜。

但那楚人似乎胸有成竹，马上掏出一把小刀，在船舷上刻上个记号，并且对大家说：“这是宝剑落水的地方，所以我要刻上一个记号。”

大家都不理解他为何要这样做，也不再去问他。

船靠岸后，那楚人立即在船上刻有记号的地方下水，去捞取掉落的宝剑。楚人捞了半天，始终不见宝剑的影子。他觉得很奇怪，自言自语地说“我的宝剑不就是从这里掉下去的吗？我还在这里刻上了记号，现在怎么会找不到呢？”

听他这么一说，那些人纷纷大笑起来，说道：“船一直在行进，而你的宝剑却沉入了水底，不会随船移动，你又怎能找得到你的剑呢？

【辨析】这则成语包含着两层道理。一层是，人的思想认识如果不符合客观实际，就不会把事情做成功。另一层是，客观实际是不断发展变化的，如果把陈规旧章当成解决新问题的法宝，也要闹笑话。作者这种思想是朴素的唯物思想，辩证思想。

3.守株待兔Stand by a tree stump waiting for a hare

Wait every day under the tree, in the hope that a hare would kill itself by crashing into a tree trunk; stand by a tree stump waiting for a hare -- one who sticks to his folly and does nothing; stand by a tree stump waiting for a hare to dash itself against it; wait for gains without pains

相传在战国时代宋国，有一个农民，日出而作，日落而息。遇到好年景，也不过刚刚吃饱穿暖；一遇灾荒，可就要忍饥挨饿了。他想改善生活，但他太懒，胆子又特小，干什么都是又懒又怕，总想碰到送上门来的意外之财。奇迹终于发生了。深秋的一天，他正在田里耕地，周围有人在打猎。吆喝之声四处起伏，受惊的小野兽没命的奔跑。突然， 有一只兔子，不偏不倚，一头撞死在他旁边的树根上。

当天，他美美地饱餐了一顿。从此，他便不再种地。一天到晚，守着那神奇的树根，等着奇迹的出现。

此故事用于批判那些不知变通，死守教条的思想方法。

【辨析】“守株待兔”和“刻舟求剑”，都含有“不知变通”之意。但“守株待兔”重在“守”和“待”，形容人不作主观努力，只是存在侥幸心理，想获得意外成功；而“刻舟求剑”偏重于“刻”和“求”，强调虽然主观上努力，但不了解情况变化，不知变通而采取错误方法。

4.掩耳盗铃Plug one's ears while stealing a bell

plug one's ears while stealing a bell; bury one's head in the sand; deceive oneself; play the ostrich

春秋时候，晋国世家赵氏灭掉了范氏。有人趁机跑到范氏家里想偷点东西，看见院子里吊着一口大钟。钟是用上等青铜铸成的，造型和图案都很精美。小偷心里高兴极了，想把这口精美的大钟背回自己家去。可是钟又大又重，怎么也挪不动。他想来想去，只有一个办法，那就是把钟敲碎，然后再分别搬回家。

小偷找来一把大锤子，拼命朝钟砸去，咣的一声巨响，把他吓了一大跳。小偷着慌，心想这下糟了，这钟声不就等于是告诉人们我正在这里偷钟吗？他心里一急，身子一下子扑到了钟上，张开双臂想捂住钟声，可钟声又怎么捂得住呢！钟声依然悠悠地传向远方。

他越听越害怕，不由自主地抽回双手，使劲捂住自已的耳朵。“咦，钟声变小了，听不见了！”小偷高兴起来，“妙极了！把耳朵捂住不就听不进钟声了吗！”他立刻找来两个布团，把耳朵塞住，心想，这下谁也听不见钟声了。于是就放手砸起钟来，一下一下，钟声响亮地传到很远的地方。人们听到钟声蜂拥而至把小偷捉住了。

【辨析】此钟的响声是客观存在的，不管你是否捂住耳朵，它都是要响的。凡是要客观存在的东西，它不会依人的主观意志而改变。有的人对自己不利，或不喜欢的客观存在，采取不承认的态度，以为如此，它就不存在了，这和“掩耳盗钟”一样，都是极端的主观唯心主义——唯我论的表现。如果对客观存在的现实不正视、不研究，采取闭目塞听的态度的话，最终便会自食苦果。

5.坐井观天See the sky from the bottom of a well

Sit a well and look at the heaven--limited outlook; look at the sky from the bottom of a well; look at the world through the window (all one's life); narrow-mindedness

【辨析】意思指坐在井里看天。用来比喻和讽刺眼界狭窄或学识肤浅之人。出自《原道》。

同义词：孤陋寡闻；鼠目寸光；管中窥豹；一孔之见；以蠡测海；井蛙之见；瓮天之见；目光如豆；一知半解；眼光浅短；

反义词：高瞻远瞩；凭高望远；见多识广；纵览全局；

6.千里之行，始于足下A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

it a well and look at the heaven--limited outlook; look at the sky from the bottom of a well; look at the world through the window (all one's life); narrow-mindedness

【辨析】走一千里路，是从迈第一步开始的。比喻事情是从头做起，从点滴的小事做起，逐步进行的。再艰难的事情，只要坚持不懈的行动必有所成。

近义词：跬步千里;   冰冻三尺非一日之寒。有志者事竟成。一屋不扫何以扫天下。

反义词:好高骛远、囫囵吞枣

7.厚德载物Hou Tak Carrier Great virtue can carry all things(Have Ample Virtue and Carry All Things)

The Chinese word, it is "德", it is composed of people and heart, it means that we should be careful to do every things. and I want to teach you a very famous phrase 厚德载物。It tells us to use honest and love to face everyone around us and every thing. It also tells us what is a good person and how to be a good person. How can we be a good man? I think we must be honest and loving. Make friends with sincerity and friendly。I think we should also be careful to help the poor people around us, our lives will become more and more happiness. Would you like to be an honest and caring person? Please remember: 厚德载物.

1. Tsinghua University: Self - discipline and Social Commitment.  

清华大学: 自强不息,厚德载物.

2. Confucius say: terrain kun, the gentleman should tenet.  

儒家讲: 地势坤, 君子以厚德载物.

3. Wuhan University ( date back to 1893 ): Improve Yourself , Carry Forward Stamina , Seek Truth and Develop Innovations.  

清华大学 ( 始建于1911年 ): 自强不息厚德载物.

4. Man of honor seeks improvement with honest and virtues when the situation is serious.  

地势坤,君子以厚德载物.上善若水The highest good is like water.

8.韬光养晦Hide one's capacities and bide one's time;

Sit a well and look at the heaven--limited outlook; look at the sky from the bottom of a well; look at the world through the window (all one's life); narrow-mindedness

【辨析】意思是指隐藏才能，不使外露。出自《旧唐书·宣宗记》。

同义词：闭门不出；杜门不出；韬匮藏珠；韫匵藏珠；

今天我给大家讲的这节课程，《Learn Idioms & Sayings in English & Chinese中英文成语和谚语系列之一》希望能对你们有所帮助，每天上午都会直播分享有关：经管类，翻译培训，矿业资讯，欢迎大家都来扫码加入直播间互相交流学习。

欢迎大家添加公众号在线观看、转发文章、可以留言、评论，您们每一次观看、转发留言都是对我最大的鼓励（大家可以在评论区留言点喜欢看的类型如：经管类，翻译培训类，矿业资讯类，哪类呼吁高我会为大家讲演）最新动态请大家关注微信公众号：gh_05f5835efc36