翻译必备：成语、谚语，俗语（精华整理版）

翻译必备：成语、谚语，俗语（精华整理版）

一些“形”同“意”合的谚语口译

Pride goes before a fall骄者必败

All shall be well,Jack shall have Jill有情人终成眷属

Business is business公事公办

Friends must part聚散离合总有时/天下无不散之宴席

Great minds think alike英雄所见略同

More haste,less speed欲速则不达

Misfortunes never come alone祸不单行

Hedges have eyes,walls have ears隔篱有眼，隔墙有耳

Man proposes,God disposes.谋事在人，成事在天

Beauty is in the eye of beholder情人眼里出西施

Time and tide wait for no man时不待我/岁月无情

A young idler,an old beggar少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲

A man should not bite the hand that feeds him不要恩将仇报

Health is better than wealth家有万贯财，不如一身健

Out of office,out of danger无官一身轻

In time of peace prepare for war居安当思危

The tongue cuts the throat祸从口出/言多必失

Out of sight,out of mind /far from eye,far from heart眼不见为净

Fish in troubled waters浑水摸鱼

The style is the man文如其人

The remembrance of the past is the teacher of the future前事不忘，后事之师/前车之覆，后车之鉴

常见中国成语翻译

1.铁石心肠cruel and unrelenting

2.置死地于后生a vigorous and manly exertion

3.千秋功业a great undertaking of lasting importance

4.安居乐业live in peace and work happily

5.骨肉分离family separation

6.各得其所be properly provided for

7.众议纷纭disagree on

8.岁月不居，来日苦短Time does not stay is brief is the day.

9.夜长梦多A long delay may mean trouble.

10.时不我与Time and tide wait for no man.

11.依时顺势keep up with the tide

12.日渐没落being pushed out of business

13.鹬蚌相争play A off against B

14.浩然之气noble spirit

15.凤毛麟角a rarity of the rarities

16.望而生畏stand in awe before

17.敬而远之keep respectfully aloof from

18.众矢之的in the dock

19.毫无瓜葛be divorced from

20.尔虞我诈sheer cunning and falsehood

21.备受推崇be rewarded and respected

22.善有善报，恶有恶报the good inevitably is successful and the bad inevitably punished

23.其乐融融sweetness and light

24.义无反顾feel obliged to

25.物美价廉attractive in price and quality

26.源源不断keep flowing in a steady stream

27.滚滚不息pour into

28.福祉well-being

29.精华quintessence

30.阴霾specter

31.势不两立pit sth against sth

32.打折扣wear thin / water down

33.大展宏图score big points

34.重整旗鼓shock sth back to life

35.不谋而合coincide with

36.染指dip one’s finger in

37.博大精深both extensive and profound

38.源远流长long-standing and well-established

39.诸子百家the masters’ hundred schools

40.天下为公All under heaven are equal.

41.天下兴亡，匹夫有责Everybody is responsible for the fate of his country.

42.吃苦耐劳bear hardships

43.勤俭持家frugality in household management

44.尊师重教respect teachers and value education

45.当务之急highest priority

46.遭受重创take a heavy toll

47.先见之明prescient move

48.奇园古宅exotic gardens and old mansions

49.衣食住行clothing, food, shelter and transportation

50.信誓旦旦be poised to

繁荣昌盛thriving and prosperous

爱不释手fondle admiringly

爱财如命skin a flea for its hide

爱屋及乌love me,love my dog He that loves the tree loves the branch

安居乐业live and work in peace and contentment

白手起家build up from nothing

百里挑一one in hundred

百折不挠be indomitable

半途而废give up halfway leave sth. Unfinished

包罗万象all-embracing all-inclusive

饱经风霜weather-beaten

卑躬屈膝bow and scrape cringe

悲欢离合vicissitudes of life

背道而驰run counter to run in the opposite direction

本末倒置put the cart before the horse

笨鸟先飞the slow need to start early

必由之路the only way

闭关自守close the country to international intercourse

变本加厉be further intensified

变化无常chop and change fantasticality

变化无常chop and change fantasticality

别开生面having sth. New

别有用心have ulterior motives

彬彬有礼refined and courteous urbane

兵不厌诈in war nothing is too deceitful

博古通今erudite and informed

不败之地incincible position

不耻下问feel not ashamed to learn from one's subordinates

不可救药be past praying for beyond redemption

不劳而获reap where one has not sown

不屈不挠fortitude indefatigability perseverance persevere tenacity

不速之客crasher uninvited guest

不同凡响outstanding

不言而喻speak for itself tell its own story tell its own tale went without saying

不遗余力spare no effort spare no pains

不以为然not approve object to

不义之财filthy lucre filthy pelf the mammon of unrighteousness

不亦乐乎extremely

不远千里go to the trouble of travelling a long distance

不约而同happen to coincide

不择手段by any kind of means by hook or crook play hard by fair means or foul

不知所措be at a loss be all adrift lose one's head out of one's wits

才疏学浅have little talent and learning

惨绝人寰extremely cruel

沧海桑田time brings a great change to the worlds

沧海一粟/九牛一毛a drop in the bucket

草木皆兵a state of extreme nervousness

层出不穷emerge in endlessly

层峦迭嶂peaks over peaks

察言观色carefully watch what sb. is doing and saying

姹紫嫣红very beautiful flowers

畅行无阻checkless

车水马龙heavy traffic

沉默寡言taciturnity

称心如意well-content

趁热打铁strike while iron is hot Hold a wolf the iron is hot

成群结队gang horde

诚惶诚恐with reverence and awe

诚心诚意sincere desire

承上启下a connecting link between the preceding and the following

吃苦耐劳tough

吃里扒外live on sb. while helping others secretly

痴心妄想 胡思乱想wishful thinking

持之以恒preserve

叱咤风云ride the whirlwind

愁眉苦脸pull a long face snoot

愁眉苦脸的，愁眉苦脸地woebegone morosely

臭名远扬，臭名昭著flagrancy，notorious

出乎意料unexpected

出口成章have an outstanding eloquence

出类拔萃，鹤立鸡群fill the bill supereminence

出谋划策give counsel suggest

出奇制胜defeat sb. by a surprise action

出生入死go through fire and water

触类旁通comprehend by analogy

垂头丧气，无精打采down in the mouth lose one's spirits with the tail between the legs

垂头丧气的blue about the gills crestfallen downhearted

绰绰有余more than sufficient

此起彼伏as one falls,another rises

从容不迫go easy take one's time

从容不迫的leisured unhurried

从容不迫地by easy stages

粗枝大叶careless slapdash sloppy

粗枝大叶的broad-brush

措手不及unaware unprepared

错综复杂 扑朔迷离anfractuosity

错综复杂的anfractuous daedal reticula sinuous

打草惊蛇act rashly and about: the enemy

大材小用waste one's talent on a petty job

大公无私selfless

大海捞针look for a needle in a bottle of hay

大惑不解be extremely puzzled

大惊小怪a storm in a teacup foofaraw fuss like a hen with one chicken

大惊小怪的spoffish

大快人心affording general satisfaction

大名鼎鼎famous well known

大器晚成great minds mature slowly

大千世界the boundless universe

大失所望greatly disappointed

大同小异largely identical but with minor differences

大显身手 大显神通strut one's stuff

大言不惭 夸夸其谈fanfaronade rodomontade

大义凛然inspiring awe by upholding justice

大义灭亲place righteousness above family loyalty

大智若愚Still waters run deep. An empty vessel makes the most sound Still water runs deep

呆若木鸡dumbstruck transfixed

待人接物the ways one gets along with others

殚思极虑rack one's brains

胆小如鼠cannot say boh to a goose

胆战心惊的funky

淡泊明志not seek fame and wealth

道貌岸然be sanctimonious

得过且过drift along muddle along

得天独厚的advantaged

得心应手handy with facility

得意忘形 得意洋洋bloat get dizzy with success

得意洋洋elated elation exaltation jauntiness

得意扬扬ride high

得意洋洋的cock-a-hoop high-blown perky

得意扬扬的triumphant

德才兼备have both ability and moral integrity

德高望重sainted saintlike

登峰造极reach the limit reach the peak of perfection

地大物博vast territory and abundant resources

颠倒黑白 颠倒是非混淆是非call white black swear black is white

颠三倒四confused disorderly

雕虫小技insignificant skill

调兵遣将move forces

调虎离山lure the enemy away from his base

掉以轻心treat sth. Lightly

喋喋不休blat cackle chackle harp harp on jaw-jaw rattle twitter wag

顶天立地of indomitable spirit

东施效颦blind imitation with ludicrous effection

东山再起bob up like a cork

独具匠心show originality

独树一帜develop a school of one's own

独一无二in a class by oneself

独一无二的unique unmatched unparalleled

度日如年one day seems like a year

断章取义garble quote out of context

对牛弹琴whistle jigs to a milestone Cast pearls before swine

对症下药suit the remedy to the case

多才多艺versatility

多才多艺的accomplished all-round allround miscellaneous versatile

多愁善感sensitivity sentimentality

多愁善感的moonstruck spoony

多此一举bring owls to Athens hold a candle to the sun

多多益善the more the better

咄咄逼人aggressive

脱胎换骨thoroughly remould oneself

阿谀奉承 趋炎附势greasiness

恩将仇报 以怨报德忘恩负义bite the hand that feeds one

尔虞我诈each trying to cheat the other

发人深省的thought-provoking

发人深省set people thinking

发扬光大carry forward

翻山越岭tramp over hill and dale

翻天覆地world-shaking

泛滥成灾overrun

飞黄腾达 青云直上come into one's kingdom rise in the world strike oil

飞黄腾达的successful

飞禽走兽birds and beasts

废寝忘食forget food and sleep

分道扬镳part company,each going his own way

分化瓦解disintegrate divide and demoralize

分门别类classify

纷至沓来come in a continuous stream

纷至沓来的thick as hail

奋不顾身dash ahead regardless of one's safety

愤愤不平be indignant

愤世嫉俗的cynical

丰富多彩rich and colorful

丰功伟绩great achievement

丰衣足食have ample food and clothing

风花雪月sentimental writings of the exploiting classes

风马牛不相及be totally unrelated

风靡一时be the rage

风平浪静calm

风起云涌like a rising wind and scudding clouds

风雨同舟stand together regardless of situation

风雨无阻in all weathers

锋芒毕露make a showy display of one's abilities

蜂涌而来pour

逢场作戏join in the fun on occasion

逢凶化吉trun ill luck into good

奉公守法law-abiding

敷衍了事make short shrift of palter scuffle

釜底抽薪take a drastic measure to deal with a situation

赴汤蹈火 出生入死go through fire and water

富丽堂皇magnificence

覆水难收spilt water cannot be gathered up again It is no use crying over spilt milk

人山人海people mountain people sea

2.百闻不如一见（眼见为实）Seeing is believing.

3.比上不足比下有余worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst.

4.笨鸟先飞A slow sparrow should make an early start.

5.不眠之夜white night

6.不以物喜不以己悲not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses

7.不遗余力spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

8.不打不成交No discord, no concord.

9.拆东墙补西墙rob Peter to pay Paul

10.辞旧迎新bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old year and ring in the new

11.大事化小小事化了try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

12.大开眼界open one's eyes; broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

13.国泰民安The country flourishes and people live in peace?

14.过犹不及going too far is as bad as not going far enough; beyond is as wrong as falling short; too much is as bad as too little

15.功夫不负有心人Everything comes to him who waits.

16.好了伤疤忘了疼once on shore, one prays no more

17.好事不出门恶事传千里Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide.

18.和气生财Harmony brings wealth.

19.活到老学到老One is never too old to learn.

20.既往不咎let bygones be bygones

21.金无足赤人无完人Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect.

22.金玉满堂Treasures fill the home.

23.脚踏实地be down-to-earth

24.脚踩两只船sit on the fence

25.君子之交淡如水the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal; a hedge between keeps friendship green

26.老生常谈陈词滥调cut and dried, cliché

27.礼尚往来Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

28.留得青山在不怕没柴烧Where there is life, there is hope.

29.马到成功achieve immediate victory; win instant success

30.名利双收gain in both fame and wealth

31.茅塞顿开be suddenly enlightened

32.没有规矩不成方圆Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

33.每逢佳节倍思亲On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.It is on the festival occasions when one misses his dear most.

34.谋事在人成事在天The planning lies with man, the outcome with Heaven. Man proposes, God disposes.

35.弄巧成拙be too smart by half; Cunning outwits itself

36.拿手好戏masterpiece

37.赔了夫人又折兵throw good money after bad

38.抛砖引玉a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

39.破釜沉舟cut off all means of retreat；burn one‘s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

40.抢得先机take the preemptive opportunities

41.巧妇难为无米之炊If you have no hand you can't make a fist. One can't make bricks without straw.

42.千里之行始于足下a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

43.前事不忘后事之师Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

44.前人栽树后人乘凉One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.One sows and another reaps.

45.前怕狼后怕虎fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind hesitate in doing something

46.强龙难压地头蛇Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies.

47.强强联手win-win co-operation

48.瑞雪兆丰年A timely snow promises a good harvest.

49.人之初性本善Man's nature at birth is good.

50.人逢喜事精神爽Joy puts heart into a man.

51.人海战术huge-crowd strategy

52.世上无难事只要肯攀登Where there is a will, there is a way.

53.世外桃源a fictitious land of peace away from the turmoil of the world;

54.死而后已until my heart stops beating

55.岁岁平安Peace all year round.

56.上有天堂下有苏杭Just as there is paradise in heaven, ther are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

57.塞翁失马焉知非福Misfortune may be an actual blessing.

58.三十而立A man should be independent at the age of thirty.At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

59.升级换代updating and upgrading (of products)

60.四十不惑Life begins at forty.

61.谁言寸草心报得三春晖Such kindness of warm sun, can't be repaid by grass.

62.水涨船高When the river rises, the boat floats high.

63.时不我待Time and tide wait for no man.

64.杀鸡用牛刀break a butterfly on the wheel

65.实事求是seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

66.说曹操,曹操到Talk of the devil and he comes.

67.实话实说speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

68.实践是检验真理的唯一标准Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.

69.山不在高，有仙则名'No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy; '

70.韬光养晦hide one's capacities and bide one's time

71.糖衣炮弹sugar-coated bullets

72.天有不测风云Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue

73.团结就是力量Unity is strength.

74.“跳进黄河洗不清”'eve if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean--there's nothing one can do to clear one's name '

75.歪风邪气unhealthy practices and evil phenomena

76.物以类聚，人以群分Birds of a feather flock together.

77.往事如风'The past has vanished (from memory) like wind.; What in past, is pas

78.望子成龙hold high hopes for one's child

79.屋漏又逢连阴雨Misfortunes never come singly. When it rains it pours.

80.文韬武略military expertise; military strategy

81.唯利是图draw water to one's mill

82.无源之水,无本之木water without a source, and a tree wiithout roots

83.无中生有make create something out of nothing

84.无风不起浪There are no waves without wind. There's no smoke without fire.

85.徇私枉法bend the law for the benefit of relatives or friends

86.新官上任三把火a new broom sweeps clean

87.虚心使人进步,骄傲使人落后Modesty helps one go forward, whereas conceit makes one lag behind.

88.蓄势而发accumulate strength for a take-off

89.心想事成May all your wish come true

90.心照不宣have a tacit understanding; give tacit consent; tacit understanding

91.先入为主First impressions are firmly entrenched.

92.先下手为强catch the ball before the bound

93.像热锅上的蚂蚁like an ant on a hot pan

94.现身说法warn people by taking oneself as an example

95.息事宁人pour oil on troubled waters

96.喜忧参半mingled hope and fear

97.循序渐进step by step

98.一路平安，一路顺风speed somebody on their way; speed the parting guest

99.严以律己,宽以待人be strict with oneself and lenient towards others

100鱼米之乡land of milk and honey

101.有情人终成眷属Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.

102.有钱能使鬼推磨Money makes the mare go. Money talks.

103.有识之士people of vision

104.有勇无谋use brawn rather than brain

105.有缘千里来相会Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.

106.与时俱进advance with times

107.以人为本people oriented; people foremost

108.因材施教teach students according to their aptitude

109.欲穷千里目，更上一层楼to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther; Would eye embrace a thousand miles? Go up, one flight.' a land of milk and honey

110.欲速则不达Haste does not bring success.

111.优胜劣汰survival of the fittest

112.英雄所见略同Great minds think alike.

113.冤家宜解不宜结Better make friends than make enemies.

114.冤假错案'cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases'

115.一言既出，驷马难追A real man never goes back on his words.

116.招财进宝Money and treasures will be plentiful

117.债台高筑become debt-ridden

118.致命要害Achilles' heel

119.众矢之的target of public criticism

120.知己知彼,百战不殆Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.

121.纸上谈兵be an armchair strategist

122.纸包不住火Truth will come to light sooner or later.

123.左右为难between the devil and the deep blue sea

中高级口笔译必备：汉语四字格翻译

（一）并列关系

名山大川famous mountains and great rivers名胜古迹scenic spots and historical  sites

湖光山色landscape of lakes and hills青山绿水green hills and clear waters

奇松怪石strangely-shaped pines and grotesque rock formations平等互利equality and mutual benefit

扬长避短play up strengths and avoid weaknesses反腐倡廉fight corruption and build a clean government简政放权streamline administration and institute decentralization

集思广益draw on collective wisdon and absorb all useful ideas国泰民安the country flourish and the people live in peace and harmony

政通人和the government functions well and people cooperate well国计民生national welfare and the people’s livelihood辞旧迎新bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new徇私舞弊bend the law for personal gain and engage in fraud流连忘返linger on with no thought of leaving for home国际局势复杂多变the complex and volatile international situation开拓进取blaze new trails and forge ahead求同存异seek common ground while shelving differences

（二）语意重复

广袤无垠的中华大地the boundless expanse of the Chinese territory

高瞻远瞩的决策a visionary/far-sighted decision

贯彻落实重大决策carry out/ implement a series of major policy decisions

层峦叠嶂peaks rising one after another

优胜劣汰survival of the fittest

延年益寿prolong one’s life

灵丹妙药panacea / miraculous cure

长治久安a long period of stability

求真务实pragmatic

审时度势size up the trend of events

招商引资attract investment

誉满全球举世闻名world-renowned

功在当代，利在千秋in the interest of the current and future generations

继往开来，承前启后(continue the past and open up the future ) break new ground for the future

路遥知马力，日久见人心Time will tell.

吃的苦中苦，方知甜中甜no sweet without sweat

车到山前必有路，船到桥头自然直in the end things mend /there’s always a way out

急功近利eager for instant success and quick profits

大黑扫黄crack down on gangland and pornography

德高望重of high ability and integrity

互利互补mutually complementary and beneficial

互谅互让mutual understanding and accommodation

遵纪守法observe the relevant code of conduct and the law

（三）目的关系

减员增效downsize (and cut payroll) to improve efficiency (for efficiency)

退耕还林return cultivated land to forest or pastures

集资办学raise money to set up new schools

结党营私form cliques for private gain

扭亏为盈turn a loss-making enterprise into a profitable one

（四）途径方式

寓教于乐teach through lively activities

因材施教teach students according to their aptitude

按劳分配distribution according to performance

以商养文support /sponsor cultural activities with the profits from doing business

（五）偏正词组

廉洁奉公honestly perform one’s official duties

环境绿化environmental greening

超前消费premature consumption; Over-consume; excessive consumption

以强凌弱the strong domineering over the weak

以人为本people foremost; People-oriented

（六）动宾关系

优势互补complement each other’s advantages

自主经营，自负盈亏make one’s own management decisions, take full responsibility for one’s own profits and losses

（七）条件关系

不进则退no progress simply means regression

（八）省略意象

瞻前顾后overcautions and indecisive

源远流长have a long history

呕心沥血spare no efforts

画龙点睛bring out the crucial point

花天酒地go on the loose

汗马功劳exploits闻名遐迩famous

独具匠心original

中流砥柱mainstay, chief cornerstone

鱼米之乡a land of milk and honey

世外桃源a haven of peace

浩如烟海的文化典籍numerous volumes of literature

中国习惯用语(英文翻译)

1.一桶水摇不响，半桶水响叮当

有人照字面译成：The full pot of water makes no sound; the half-empty pot of water is noisy.

老外听后，也许会感到困惑。他们有自己的说法：

A little knowledge (or learning) can be (or is) dangerous.（一知半解很危险）

或者说：

Still water runs deep.（静水深不可测）

也可以说：

He who knows the most says the least.（懂得越多的人，反而说得越少。）

至于“大智若愚”，通常可以这么说：

A truly wise person does not show off his (her) ability.（真正聪明的人，是不会显要自己的能力）

2.水落石出

有人照字直译为：As the water level sinks,the stones are exposed.

这样说，恐怕老外还是听不懂。他们的说法是：

All secrets may eventually come to light. (所有祕密最后总会曝光。)

也可以说：

Eventually, every secret will be disclosed.

3.这山望到那山高

有人译成：The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.（意思是：墙那边的苹果最甜）

当然，如要译成：

If you stand on a mountain, you feel the distant mountain seems higher than yours.老外也勉强能接受。

而他们的最习惯说法是：

The grass always looks greener on the other side.（另一边的草，看来总是绿些。）

4.烈火炼真金，患难见真情

有人译成：Fire is the test of gold；adversity is the test of friendship.

这句译文，虽然很好，老外也能了解，但是他们还有另外的说法：

Liquor brings out a person's true color.（烈酒能显示一个人真正的特色）

或者说：

Wine reveals a person's true heart.

虽然老外不用“烈火炼真金”的比喻，但有“路遥知马力”的说法：

By a long road, we know a horse's strength；at times of difficulty, we discover a friend's true character.

5.雷声大，雨点小

有人译为：

The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls.或者说：All we hear is thunder, but no rain falls.

虽然这样直译比较容易理解，但是老外的说法是这样的：

Actions speak louder than words. (行动胜于言谈)

或All we hear is words, but there is no action.（只动嘴不动手）

或Actions and words should go hand in hand. (言行必须一致)

另外，还有英语里还有这样的说法：

An empty barrel makes biggest sound.（空洞的话说得太多了。）

6.人不可貌相，海水不可斗量

有人译为：

A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper.

这样的译法只是直译，如果能够稍加修改，老外就能了解：

A man can not be judged by his appearance, nor can the water in the sea be measured by a bucket.

不过，老外通常的说法是这样的：

We can not judge a person by appearance only.或You can not judge a book by its cover.

(意思是：一本书的好坏取决于它的内容，而不是它的封面装帧的漂亮与否。)

7.口蜜腹剑，笑里藏刀

有人译为His mouth is honey; his heart is a sword.

外国人听了会对这样的比喻摸不着头脑，如果要形容某人“口蜜腹剑，笑里藏刀”，我们可以说with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart,或者honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.也可以更直接的译成He is an evil man who has a mouth that praises and a hand that kills.

8.少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲

有人译成If you neglect study when you are young, what may happen to your old age?

这句问句会把老外问得云里雾里，因为他们沒有“学而优则仕”的思想，也不认为功课差，将来就会伤悲。他们劝告子女经常说的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / more promising future. (努力用功会带给你光明的前程。)

当然也可以对年轻人说：

Study hard when you are young. It will pay off when you get older. (年轻时好好努力，到老的时就会觉得学有所值。)

9.学如行舟，不进则退

如果直译成：

Learning is like rowing upstream; not to advance is to drop back.

老外听后，也许会感到一头雾水。这样修改一下，表达可以清晰一些：

Learning seems like rowing upstream(逆流); if one does not advance, one will fall back. Learning is like rowing against the current(激流), if one does not advance, one will retreat.更直接的说法是：

If you don't make progress, you will fall behind.

10.一日为师，终身为父

有这样的译法：

He who teaches me for one day is my father 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 my father-figure for life.

这几种译法意思都是“老师即使对我只有一天的教诲，也会让我一生都受用不尽。”外国人也有他们表达师生关系的谚语，如：

Teach others to fish and they will fish for a lifetime.(授人以鱼，不如授人以渔)

Give a man fish, he will have a meal; teach him to fish, he will have food all his life.

11.忠言逆耳，良药苦口

有人译成

Faithful words are contrary to the ears; good medicine tastes bitter to the mouth.

也有人反译为：

Bitter words are medicine; sweet words bring illness.

Good advice often jars on the ears; bitter pills have good effects.

这些说法，老外也会“一知半解”，不如直接一点说成：

Honest advice may be distasteful to the recipient.

Honest advice is hard to accept.

Truth is a hard pill to swallow.

更简单的说就是：Truth hurts.

12.近墨者黑，近朱者赤

有人直译为：

one who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black.(vermilion是朱砂或鲜红色的意思)

也有人译成：

When you touch black, you become black; when you touch red, you become red.

这种说法，恐怕老外一时无法理解真正含意。不过他们倒有这么说：

One takes the behavior of one's company. (一个人的行为，往往受到朋友的影响。)或

One takes on the attributes of one's associates. (attributes复数時是指品质、特性；associates指朋友、同事)

简单的说，就是：

Watch the company you keep!(小心交朋友！)

或者也可以说成:

As he who lies with dogs will ride with fleas, how could your son learn anything good by mixing with those people? (你儿子跟那些人混在一起,能学出个好来?)

中国谚语翻译总汇

1．见机行事。1．Act according to circumstances.

2．兵不厌诈。2．All is fair in war.

3．留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。3．As long as the green hills last, there'll always be wood to burn.

4．种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。4．As you sow, so shall you reap.

5．不问就听不到假话。5．Ask no questions and be told no lies.

6．情人眼里出西施。6．Beauty lies in lover's eye

7．血浓于水。7．Blood is thicker than water.

8．海内存知己，天涯若比邻。8．A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near

9．简洁是智慧的灵魂。9．Brevity is the soul of wit.

10．公事公办。10．Business is business.

11．车到山前必有路。11．The cart will find its way round the hill，when it gets there.

12．巧妇难为无米之炊。12．he cleverest housewife cannot cook a meal without rice.

13．笨鸟先飞。13．Clumsy birds have to start flying early.

14．精诚所至，金石为开。14．Complete sincerity can affect even metal and stone.

15．置之死地而后生。15．Confront a person with the danger of death and he will fight to live.

16．滴水穿石。16．Constant dripping wears away the stone.

17．习惯成自然。17．Custom is a second nature.

18．以其人之道，还治其人之身。18．Deal with a man as he deals with you.

19．血债要用血来还。19．Debts of blood must be paid in blood.

20．隔行如隔山。20．Different trades are separated as by mountains.

21．一回生，二回熟。21．Different the first time, easy the second.

22．早动手，早收获。22．Early sow, early mow.

23．者千虑，必有一失。23．Even the wise are not free from error.

24．吃一堑，长一智。24．Every failure one meets with adds to one's experience.

25．国家兴亡，匹夫有责。26．每一个人都有美中不足的地方。27．人各有所好。28．行行出状元。29．仁者见仁，智者见智。25．Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country.

26．Every man has the defects of his own virtues.

27．Every man to his taste.

28．Every profession produces its own leading authority.

29．Everyone thinks in his way.

30．切莫错过良机。31．凡事总有一个开头。32．身教胜于言教。30．Everything has its time and that time must be watched.

31．Everything must have a beginning.

32．Example is better than precept.

33．经验是智慧之母。34．经验是愚者之师。35．乐极生悲。36．以眼还眼，以牙还牙。37．心有余而力不足（贪多嚼不烂）。33．Experience is the mother of wisdom.

34．Experience is the teacher of fools.

35．Extreme joy begets sorrow.

36．An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

37．The eye is bigger than the belly.

38．吃一堑，长一智。39．人怕出名猪怕壮。40．少说为佳。41．寡不敌众。42．水火无情。38．A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.

39．Fame portends trouble for men just as fattening does for pigs.

40．Few words are best.

41．A few are no match for the many.

42．Fire and water have no mercy.

43．看菜吃饭，量体裁衣。44．患难之交才是真正的朋友。45．君子之交淡如水。46．天才出自勤奋。47．礼轻情意重。43．Fit the appetite to the dishes and the dress to the figure.

44．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

45．The friendship of a gentleman is insipid as water.

46．Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

47．The gift is trifling but the feeling is profound.

48．好故事百听不厌。49．有报，恶有恶报。50．名师出高徒。51．习惯成自然。52．欲速则不达（忙中有错）。48．A good tale is not the worse for being told twice.

49．Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil.

50．A great teacher produces a brilliant student.

51．Habit is second nature.

52．Haste makes waste.

53．满招损，谦受益。54．时来运转百事顺。55．人人都有缺点。56．近墨者黑。

53．Haughtiness invites disaster, humility receives benefit.

54．He dances well to whom fortune pipes.

55．He is lifeless that is faultless.

56．He that touchs pitch shall be defiled.

57．人无远虑，必有近忧。58．来者不，者不来。59．与人方便，自己方便。60．谁笑在最后，谁笑得最财富。57．He who gives no thought to difficulties in the future is sure to be beset by worries much closer at hand. 5

58．He who has come is surely strong or he'd never have come along.

59．He who helps others helps himself.

60．He who laughs last laughs longest.