习语的译法--英汉习语比较

 从形和义的角度来看，英汉习语的异同大体表现在以下四个方面：

　　A.英汉习语形义全同, 这类习语为数少，例如：

　　Barking dogs do not bite.吠犬不咬人。

　　Who is contented¹, enjoys.知足者常乐。

　　Misfortunes never come singly.祸不单行。

　　It is harder to change human nature than to change rivers and mountains.江山难改，本性难移。

　　Like father, like son. 有其父必有其子。

　　B. 习语形义基本相同, 这类习语比上面一类在数量上要多些，例如：

　　as light as a feather（or as thistle-down）轻如鸿毛

　　to take a load off one's mind如释重负

　　to run in the same groove²; to cut from the same cloth.如出一辙

　　to make a beast of oneself形同禽兽

　　He that hath been bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope.一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草绳。

　　Shallow streams make most din³.水深不响， 水响不深。

　　Money makes the mare⁴ go.有钱能使鬼推磨。

　　Reckless youth makes rueful age.少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。

　　C.英汉习语形似义异,这类习语相当多，例如：

　　When a dog is drowning every one offers him drink. （狗若落水人人救，强调人人伸出援之手。）

　　救了落水狗，反咬你一口（强调好心得不到好报）

　　Ignorance of the law is no excuse of breaking it. （法盲犯法不可恕，强调严格执行法律。）不知者无罪（强调网开一面）

　　Strike while the iron is hot （强调"抓住时机"）趁热打铁（着重"抓紧行动"）

　　Lock the stable-door after the horse is stolen.（强调为时已晚。）

　　亡羊补牢（强调受到损失后想法弥补，以免再受损失。）

　　D.英汉习语形异义似, 例如：

　　A word spoken is past recalling. 一言既出，驷马难追。

　　Great boast, small roast.干打雷， 不下雨。

　　Take not a musket⁵ to kill a butterfly. 杀鸡焉用宰牛刀。

　　as dumb as an oyster⁶ 守口如瓶

　　to hit someone below the belt/to stab someone in the back 暗箭伤人

　　as weak as water 弱不禁风

　　E.英汉习语形义完全不同，例如：

　　cast one's bread upon the waters不期望报答所作之事

　　keep the wolf from the door免于饥饿，勉强度日

　　make one's blood freeze令人恐惧

　　have bats in the belfry头脑有点古怪

　　see the sun活着

1 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

2 groove   

n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯

参考例句：

• They're happy to stay in the same old groove.他们乐于墨守成规。
• The cupboard door slides open along the groove.食橱门沿槽移开。

3 din   

n.喧闹声，嘈杂声

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• They tried to make themselves heard over the din of the crowd.他们力图让自己的声音盖过人群的喧闹声。

4 mare   

n.母马，母驴

参考例句：

• The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
• The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。

5 musket   

n.滑膛枪

参考例句：

• I hunted with a musket two years ago.两年前我用滑膛枪打猎。
• So some seconds passed,till suddenly Joyce whipped up his musket and fired.又过了几秒钟，突然，乔伊斯端起枪来开了火。

6 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。