中文成语

篇一：中文成语

论文关键词:成语独特性 教学方法 语义融合力

论文摘要:成语是汉语中一种特有的短语形式。成语语义形象感鲜明,将“象、言、意”完美融合,将其用于创作,更能起到画龙点睛的作用,提高作品的层次和人们的审美情趣。成语教学是语文教学中不可或缺的重要部分,因此,就目前语文教学中成语教学部分的教学方式,本文提出了一些新的见解。

1 汉语成语的确定及其范围
成语是汉语中特有的短语,是具有特定内涵的约定俗成的语言。对于它的界定,至今学术界仍众说纷纭,尚无明确定论。主要分歧在于成语和惯用语之间的划定。刘叔新先生认为凭借“表意的双层性”可以区分成语和惯用语,并认为 “穿小鞋”、 “碰一鼻子灰”和“三长两短” 、“七上八下”、“甚嚣尘上”等都具有成语的资格。而目前国内有学者则认为它们属于惯用语范畴,周荐认为,“穿小鞋”等之类常被人们视为惯用语的单位实际上应属于词,而“三长两短”、“七上八下”、“碰一鼻子灰”等俗语单位为惯用语。

2 成语是汉语的独特的组成部分
成语是汉语的一大特色,是汉语独有的语言,其他民族的语言中是没有成语的。汉语是世界上独有的表意性语言,而成语又是汉语中最璀璨的明珠。它浓缩了历史,融进了文化,经过了千百年的演变而形成丰富。可以说,中华民族五千年文明历史都包涵在浩瀚的成语之中,是中华民族传统文化的结晶。它的独特性在于:
第一,成语展现了汉语表达巨大而丰富内涵的能力和语义融合能力。短短几个汉字,往往包涵了一段历史、一个故事、一个典故、一个道理、一个哲理,它在历史的演变中自然形成。每一个成语几乎都有它的来历。各朝各代的文化和历史保存在成语之中,这使成语具有各朝各代鲜明的文化特点和时代特色。熟知成语典故之人,一读到成语,那些历史事件、历史人物就鲜活生动的再现眼前;对历史不太熟悉之人,也会明白成语中引申的内涵。中华民族的文明历史,给人的教育启迪,通过成语这种方式,就把它的精神实质流传了下来。
第二,成语用它强烈的情感、价值观和鲜明的形象感向人们传递细腻而准确的信息。成语中有褒有贬,扬善抑恶的价值取向十分明显。有些抽象的感情、概念,用语言很难描绘,但一个普普通通的成语,就可以把人的感受完整而准确的表达出来,这是成语特有的魅力。比如“哀声叹气、哀哀欲绝、哀思如潮”就把人悲痛的感觉栩栩如生的描绘出来; “目中无人、昂首向天、昂首阔步”就把一个人的骄傲自大活灵活现的刻画了出来;“三顾茅庐”表达了刘备的求贤若渴;“鞠躬尽瘁”表达了诸葛亮为国操劳的精神。仁、义、礼、智、信等这些具有重要内涵的概念,在成语中都有形象和生动的表述。成语是包罗万象的,任何事物都有相应的成语准确的表达出来。

3 汉语成语产生的原因
语言是思想和文化的载体,没有语言就没有文明、就没有智慧和创造,就没有一切。成语的产生形成,和汉语的特点有直接关系。古汉语文字洗炼、惜墨如金、高度提炼,这是成语产生的原因之一。古代的文人墨客喜欢作诗,习惯用诗歌这种艺术形式言志抒情,而诗歌创作有着很严格的韵律要求,要求文字非常精炼,在严格的韵律下,用最少的文字表达最丰富的情感和最大的内涵,因此古人在诗歌的创作中,产生了大量的成语。如“煮豆燃箕”、“老骥伏志”、“烈士暮年,壮心不已”等成语,都来源于诗歌。
中华民族传统文化源远流长,是神传文化。释、道、儒三教交相辉映,奠定了中华文化的基石。所以,三教思想在成语中都有大量的反映,是成语的主要来源。中华文化中,儒教是主流,读书人也称儒生。所以,反映儒家思想的成语是最多的,体现仁、义、礼、智、信等儒家思想的成语俯拾皆是,数不胜数。反映佛家思想的成语也很多,如“大彻大悟”、“三生有幸”、“顽石点头”、“天女散花”、“回头是岸”、“明心见性”、“慈悲为怀”、“指点迷津”等成语,都是反映的佛家思想。反映道家思想的成语也不少,如“水滴石穿”、“清静无为”、“鲲鹏展翅”、“道法自然”、“弄玉吹萧”、“上善若水”等等。三教思想的文化内涵和历史沉淀,大大丰富了成语宝库。

4 对汉语成语教学方法的一点新建议
可以说,成语是汉语的灵魂,是成语赋予了汉语的生命。如果没有那么多丰富多彩的成语,汉语又是多么的苍白贫乏。学习汉语必须了解成语。教师在成语教学中,除了让学生读准成语的字音、不写错别字等基础常规教学外,在教学方法上还应注意把握以下几点:
首先,让学生了解成语的来源、典故等背景知识。这不仅能使学生更深刻地理解成语的含义,更能提升学生学习成语的兴趣。汉语成语家族中不少是来源于古代神话、寓言、历史故事和古代诗文,要理解成语的意思,就必须知道成语的来源或典故。尤其是针对单看字义难以理解其含义的成语,背景知识的介绍对学生学习、记忆起到了很大的作用。如“朝三暮四”,现在大家都认为这个成语是比喻反复无常,其意义与“朝秦暮楚”一样。实际上,“朝三暮四”出自《庄子·齐物论》,里面记载说有个养猴子的人拿橡子喂猴子,他对猴子说,早上给每只猴子三个橡子,晚上给四个。猴子听了都生气了。他又说,早上给四个,晚上给三个。猴子就高兴了。这个成语原来是比喻用诈术欺骗人。如果不了解此成语的出处,就不能理解它的原来的意义。
其次,使成语教学与写作教学相互配合。教师可以利用写作教学中教恰当的引用成语,让学生感受成语所起到的画龙点睛的作用,使两者教学完美结合,相得益彰,从而达到一举两事半功倍的教学效果。中国古代著名词人辛弃疾是用典大师,他的词作几乎句句用典,既然古代先贤们可以引用典籍创作出脍炙人口的绝世华章,为什么我们不能在写作教学中教学生使用成语来使学生文章添辉加彩呢?
再次,提倡学生大声朗读,增强学生语感,把握词性,强化学生记忆的同时,教师要在平时学习生活中及时纠正学生误用的成语,培养学生养成自觉留心使用成语、不滥用成语的好的言语交际习惯。

参考文献:
[1]刘叔新.汉语描写词汇学.北京:商务印书馆,1990年版.
[2]刘叔新.词汇学和词典学问题研究.天津:天津人民出版社,1984年版.
[3]凌火元.把握成语规律,提高成语教学.厦门教育学院学报.
[4]黄伯荣,廖序东.现代汉语.北京:高等教育出版社.2000年版.
[5]王力主编.吉常宏等编.古代汉语.北京:中华书局,2005年.
[6]中国成语大辞典.王涛等编著.上海:上海辞书出版社,2006年3月.
[7]周荐,杨世铁.汉语词汇研究百年史.北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2006.

篇二：中文成语

【摘 要】 汉语成语承载着中华五千年的文化特色和文化信息.而翻译并非只是两种语言之间的一种简单的对应转换过程,而是一种文化的交流和传递。
因此,在汉语成语英译的具体操作过程中,首先要充分理解汉语成语的内在含义,灵活运用不同的翻译方法,对比英汉语言中习语(成语)的异同,进行适当的结构调整,将汉语成语所承载的文化特色和文化信息最大限度地传译给外国读者。帮助外国读者消除或减少语言及文化障碍就要求译者尽最大努力把汉语成语翻译成外国读者乐于接受的形式。与此同时要在英语中再现汉语文化,这是一个很大的挑战。
把汉语成语翻译成英语,译者们掌握和熟悉两种语言以及其文化是非常重要的。他们必须从风俗和文化背景的角度,通过对汉语和英语语言学和文化差异的理解,尽量去把握成语的内在含义,从而使其观点与原文的精神相一致。本文简单介绍了汉语成语英译的几种方法。
【关键词】 汉语成语,英语习语,翻译,文化内涵,源语,目标语
[Abstract] Chinese idioms bear five thousand years of Chinese cultural characteristic and the cultural messages. Translation is not only one kind of simple correspondence switching process between two languages, but is one kind of cultural exchange and transmission.
Therefore, translating Chinese idioms into English is a concrete operating process. First, the translators must fully understand the intrinsic meaning of the Chinese idioms; second, they should utilize several different translation methods nimbly and contrasts the similarities and differences between the English idioms and Chinese idioms; third, they should carry on the suitable structure adjustment and translate Chinese idioms which bear cultural characteristic and cultural information in maximum limit for the foreign readers. Helping the foreign readers eliminate and reduce language and cultural barrier requests the translator to work diligently to translate the form of Chinese idiom in the way that the foreign readers are glad to accept. At the same time, this is a very big challenge to reappear Chinese culture in English.
To understand and translate Chinese idioms into English,it is very important for the translators to master and well acquaint themselves with the original language and the target language and their cultures. They should set out from the aspects of customs and cultural backgrounds and try to grasp the connotation of the original idiom by understanding linguistic and cultural differences between English and Chinese so as to make his version alike the original text in spirit. This article introduced several methods on translation of Chinese idioms concisely.
[Key Words] Chinese idioms;English idioms;translation;culture connotation;original language;target language
1. Introduction
About translation, the translation theoreticians have proposed many different viewpoints. In China, the most popular theory is Mr.Yanfu’s “faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance(信,达,雅)”while in the western countries, the most popular one is “equivalent value, equivalent effect and function equivalence(等值,等效,功能对等) ”.These viewpoints are mutually influenced and supplemented. Although the translators have different emphasis points, they all advocate that the translation must express the connotation of the original text faithfully and the style of the original work should reappear in translation. “所谓忠实表达原文的意义,应指忠实表达原文的字面意义,形象意义,隐含意义三个方面。”[1] p65(So-called “expressing the indication of the original text faithfully”, is to express the wording meaning, the image meaning and the implied meaning of the original text faithfully.) But not all expressions, words, even characters in the original text simultaneously have these three kinds of meanings. Maybe some of them only have the wording meaning, but without the image meaning; some may have the wording meaning and the image meaning, but lack of the implied meaning. Any two languages are impossible to be all coordinated completely. Therefore, it is impossible to completely reproduce the three kinds of meanings of the original text. First, because the cultural differences produce the contradiction in the translation process, the wording meaning or the image meaning must obey the implied meaning. Second, the image meaning of the original text cannot be found in the target language. Sometimes the images are the same but the implied meanings are actually different. In this situation, what the translators need to consider first is the accurate expression of the implied meaning. The images of the original text should be changed into other images that the foreign readers are familiar with.
2. Several methods of Chinese idiom translation
The existence of cultural differences brings certain difficulties to the cultural exchange. It is also the biggest barrier in the translation. When the transla 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法tors translate one language to another, besides understanding the writing of these two languages thoroughly, the translators also have to understand the cultural differences between these two languages profoundly.
In Chinese “Idioms” means that “成语:人们长期以来习用的,简洁精辟的定型词组或短句。汉语的成语大多由四个字组成,一般都有出处。有些成语从字面上不难理解,如‘小题大做’,‘后来居上’等。有些成语必须知道来源或典故才能懂得意思,如‘朝三暮四’,‘杯弓蛇影’等。”[2] P 130(Since long ago the people have used habitually, concise and succinct words or short phrases. Most Chinese idioms are composed by four characters, generally all of which have the source. The meanings of Some idioms are available from the word writing, such as: ‘小题大做’and ‘后来居上’; The meaning of some idioms should be got from its source or allusion. Such as ‘朝三暮四’ and ‘杯弓蛇影’.) On Chinese idiom translation, culture has a great influence on the translators" logical thinking and the glossary choice of the language.
The semantics of idiom has the integrity. Usually we cannot get its significance from a single character. If many Chinese idioms were translated into(转 载 于:wWW.zw2.Cn 爱作文网:中文成语) English directly according to the wording meaning, although the foreign readers can understand the meaning of each character, they still have difficulties in understanding the overall significance of this idiom.
2.1 Metaphrase
Metaphrase is a method that the image and the forms of the original text are preserved, which can be translated literally. The readers also can catch the implied meaning by the wording translation. Some Chinese idioms have similar images, which the foreign readers can associate to the equivalent English idioms.
2.1.1 Literal Translation
In idiom translation, there is a tendency to find English equivalent idioms, equivalent in referential meaning rather than in the images. The reason is that the target text must be idiomatically English. Therefore, literal translation of Chinese idioms is often considered non-idiomatic. As long as the translation conveys a vivid image and the referential meaning is not distorted, literal translation can introduce Chinese culture to the world. Literal translation is a way by which the rhetoric, national and regional characteristics are kept in the target language. In this way the meaning and the form of the source language are unchanged.
Some Chinese idioms can be translated literally with the same vivid figurative result of the original ones, which can make the foreign readers associate to the equivalent English idioms.
For example:
⑴对牛弹琴 —— To play the lute to a cow. The readers can associate it to the equivalent English idiom “to cast pearls before swine”.
⑵竭泽而渔 —— To drain a pond to catch all the fish (the equivalent idiom: To kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.)
⑶易如反掌 —— To be as easy as turning over one’s hand (the equivalent one: As easy as falling off a log.)
⑷口蜜腹剑 —— To be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted(the equivalent one: A Judas kiss)
Though there are not equivalent English idioms, some Chinese idioms with the literal meanings can also be translated literally with the accurate images. Such as:
⑸井底之蛙 —— To be like a frog at the bottom of a well
⑹史无前例 —— To be without precedent in history
⑺七嘴八舌 —— With seven mouths and eight tongues Regarding Chinese idioms translation, what many translation books discussed mainly was the replacement technique. Sometimes, equivalent translations can be found, but mostly only similar ones. Usually the replacement technique is necessary in the following situations.
(ⅰ) Chinese idioms have same meanings and culture messages as those in the target language.
There are many Chinese and English idioms, which have the same images as well as the expression forms.
⑴In Chinese, “浑水摸鱼” means “[释义]浑水:浑浊的水。指在浑浊的水中摸鱼。[用法]比喻趁混乱的时机捞取不正当的利益,也作‘混水摸鱼’。”[3]P259 But the English idiom “to fish in troubled water” means “take advantage of troubled or uncertain condition for personal profit”. These two idioms are similar in both expression form and intrinsic meaning.
The similar idioms are as follows:
⑵赴汤蹈火 —— Go through fire and water
⑶随波逐流 —— To go with the tide
⑷知识就是力量 —— Knowledge is power.
⑸眼不见,心不烦 —— Out of sight, out of mind.
⑹谋事在人,成事在天 —— Man proposes, god disposes
⑺空中楼阁 —— Castles in the air
⑻充耳不闻 —— Turn a deaf ear to
(ⅱ) Chinese idioms share similar meanings but different culture messages and images with the target language.
&nb 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法sp; The Chinese idioms, which have same or similar vivid analogy with the English idioms, should be exchanged into the same or corresponding English idioms directly. Different languages have different images.
⑴For example: if translators translate the Chinese idiom “胸有成竹” directly into “have a bamboo in one’ s stomach” according to the wording meaning. The foreign readers not only have difficulties in getting the meaning that this idiom contained, but also have the wrong association easily. Therefore, the translators must discard the images in this idiom and change them into the images that the foreign readers are familiar with. So it may be translated as “have a card in one’s sleeve”
⑵The Chinese say “噤若寒蝉”(as mute as a winter cicada)”, yet the native English say , “as mute as a fish”. Fish and cicada have similar function in the above examples though they are not similar at all. As far as “silence” is concerned, fish is a familiar image to English speakers, yet the Chinese tend to associate the sense with winter cicada.
⑶The Chinese idiom “瓮中之鳖(the turtle in the jar)”means “[释义]瓮:大坛子;鳖:甲鱼。大坛子中的甲鱼。[用法]形容已在掌握之中,逃脱不了。”[4]P651 .But the English idiom “likes a rat in a hole”, whose image is a mouse, which is stranded in a hole. It is in an extremely difficult situation. These two scenes agree without prior consultation but happen to hold the same view. Though the translators replaced the image, the foreign readers have no difficulty to understand its meaning.
The similar Chinese idioms included:
⑷胆小如鼠 —— As timid as a rabbit
⑸挥金如土 —— Spend money like water
⑹东张西望 —— Look right and left
⑺缘木求鱼 —— Seek a hare in hen’s nest
⑻抛砖引玉 —— To throw a sprat to catch a herring
So, familiar images of the target language are often used to replace those of the source language. It is very regret that the foreign readers cannot understand the exotic atmosphere of Chinese culture.
(ⅲ) Chinese idioms share similar images but different culture messages and connotation with the target language.
Some Chinese idioms and English idioms are almost the same in the expression form, but the commendatory or derogatory meaning, which the idioms contained, is different. So they cannot be mutually translated.
“习俗文化指的是贯穿于日常社会生活和交际活动中由民族的风俗习惯形成的文化。.[5]P64”( The custom culture refers to the activities, which formed by nationality"s manners and customs in the social daily life)As a result of the custom culture differences, the translators must pay attention to the animal words in the idioms whose meanings are different. For example, in China, the people often think the dog is loathing. Therefore, most dog-related idioms include the derogatory meaning.
⑴For example, “狐朋狗友(Pack of scoundrels)”, “狼心狗肺(heartless and cruel)”and so on. But in the western nation, the dog was considered as human"s good friends. For example: “help a lame dog over a stile (雪中送炭)”, “love me, love my dog. (爱屋及乌)”and so on.
⑵For example: the Chinese idiom “笑掉大牙” includes the meaning “ridicules”. The English idiom “to laugh off one’s head” is only the expression of “laugh” or “laugh loudly”. It is a neutral word. These two idioms look very similar literally. But the commendatory and derogatory terms of two words are dissimilar. So they cannot be mutually translated.
⑶The Chinese idiom “说曹操,曹操到(when you mention CaoCao ,he soon arrives)” means “I was just talking about you!” it did not bring the derogatory meaning, but English idiom “talk of the devil and he will appear” has the derogatory meaning。
⑷If you translate “亡羊补牢” to English proverb “lock /close the stable door after /when the horse has been stolen”. The direct translation mistakes the meaning of “亡羊补牢" which means “still has not been late “! But this English proverb expressed the meaning “has already been late , beyond any help”。Therefore, 亡羊补牢can correspond to the English proverb “a stitch in time save nine” or “better late than never”
⑸In the Chinese idiom“令人发指” and the English idiom “to make one’s hair stand on end”,[6]P164 the former one means “to make the person extremely angry “,the latter one refers that “ frighten or horrify someone”. So ‘令人发指’ can be translated into “make the blood boil”.
2.2 Paraphrase
Paraphrase is a method that the original contents are preserved, but the forms are changed in the target language.
When Chinese idioms are metaphrased into the target language, readers still cannot grasp the meanings due to cultural difference. “有些习惯用语带有很浓的中国文化色彩…对于这部分成语,字面翻译是无法为外国读者所接受的。如加上许多解释性的文字,就失去了成语精粹的特点。最好的办法就是绕开其文化背景,译出其 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法真正的内涵意义。”[7]P139 (Some idioms have the Chinese culture characteristic.. Regarding this kind of idioms, the wording translation is unable for the foreign reader’s acceptance. If we add many explanations, the idiom characteristic will lose. The best method is to discard its cultural context and translate its connotation.)
Thus, paraphrase is needed to keep meanings to point and keep connotation in line with the culture in the target language, though it may fail to show the style of the original language. It is a good way to convey the connotation of Chinese idioms.
2.2.1 Negation
Mr.Ye Zinan mentions negation in 《高级汉英翻译理论与实践》. He gives the definition like this: “反面着笔法(negation)有时也称正说反译或反说正译。其基本概念是原文从一个角度下笔,译文恰恰从相反的角度下笔。” [8]P80(Sometimes negation also was called that to express positively but be translated negatively or to express positively but be translated negatively. Although the basic concept of the original text starts writing from an angle, the translation exactly starts writing from the opposite angle.).
Sometimes the translators utilize the negation technique just to form an exquisite article.
For example:
⑴“塞翁失马,焉知非福?” is a rhetorical question, but the translation is “ Danger is next neighbor to security.” which is an affirmation declarative sentence.
⑵我很高兴看见你安然无恙。——I am glad to see you safe and sound.
In Chinese, “无恙” means “haven’t got illness”, which is expressed negatively. But its translation —— “sound”, whose meaning is “健康”, is expressed positively.
“英语中有许多含有否定或半否定语气的词语,在翻译中可充分利用,以便使译文符合英语习惯,并使句子结构多样化。”[9]P60 ( There are many denial or half denial expression words and expressions in English. If they are fully used in translation, the translation will conform to the English custom and the sentence structures are more varied.)
⑶For example: “木已成舟” in Chinese is firmly a declarative sentence. But its English translation is “things done cannot be undone” which expresses the identical meaning from the denial declarative sentence angle.
⑷“不入虎穴,焉得虎子?” is a rhetorical question, whose translation is “nothing venture, nothing have”. It is an affirmation sentence.
⑸他开车的时候心不在焉,几乎闯祸。——His absence of mind during the driving nearly caused an accident.
The noun “absence” conceals the meaning of negation. It agreed with the logics of the native English readers.
Mr.Ye Zinan had added “有时采用这种方法却是译者为了行文优美的目的,不用这个反面着笔的方法译文并非不通。反面着笔的方法在实际翻译中如果用的恰到好处,常常会使译者绝处缝生,是英汉翻译中非常有用的一个技巧。”[10]P81(Sometimes the translator uses this method in order to reach a goal of forming an exquisite article. So even if they don’t use the method of negation, other translation methods still work. If the translator uses Negation properly, he will find his way out from an impasse. It is a useful skill in Chinese and English translation.)
2.2.2 Substitution
“Substitution” refers to “some Chinese idioms are abstract while the equivalent English idioms have concrete images; some Chinese idioms have concrete images but the equivalent English ones are always abstract.”
2.2.2.1 Substitute abstract concept for concrete images
The Chinese idiom is quite abstract, while the English idiom is concrete. Because its vivid image may enable the reader to realize flavor.
⑴For example: “做贼心虚” may be translated that “a bad conscience is just like a snake in one " s heart”. We use “a snake in the heart” to transmit “心虚”—the afraid and guilty conscience of the thief.
⑵The correspond English idiom of “事与愿违”is “all your swans are geese”. When someone fined out all swans are ordinary geese and the disappointed facial expression is contrary to what he expects.
⑶“不知所措” corresponds the English idiom “all at sea”. Shall we try to imagine the situation that a person in the boundless sea. It is helpless.
⑷The idiom “入乡随俗” may be translated into “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Why in Rome but not other places? But the foreign readers are very familiar with this idiom. We change “乡(village)”to “Rome” which the foreign readers are so familiar with. Certainly they can accurately understand intrinsic meaning of the Chinese idiom “入乡随俗”.
The similar idioms are as follows:
⑸青出于蓝胜于蓝 —— The pupil outdoes the master.
⑹不择手段 —— By hook and by crook
⑺不辞而别 —— To take French leave.
2.2.2.2 Substitute concrete images for abstract concept
“中国人特别喜欢用具体形象词语比喻抽象的事物,以物表感,状物言志。”[11]P30(The Chinese lik 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法e using the vivid concrete words and expressions to substitute abstract things, expressing their feelings and wills by things)Some Chinese idioms use the concrete images or things to describe the abstract concepts. Therefore, in translation process, the translators should boldly discard these images and translate the connotation of them appropriately.
⑴For instance: if the translators translate “顺手牵羊” directly into “walk off with a sheep” according to the wording meaning. The foreign readers may misunderstand that the thieves in China only steal the sheep but not other things. But Chinese readers haven’t got such misunderstanding. In this idiom, “the sheep(羊)” is a concrete thing actually which refers to “others" thing perhaps the property”. It expresses an abstract concept with the concrete thing.
⑵When we translate the idiom “狗急跳墙”, we do not need to describe specifically that “how anxious the dog is (狗急)”, and “how it to jump the wall(跳墙)”. As long as we express the intrinsic meaning, the foreign readers may be clear at a glance when we translate it as “do something desperate”.
⑶Perhaps we have to have a lengthy speech when translate “明火执仗”. But the direct translation is “do evil things openly”. The foreign readers can understand its intrinsic meaning concisely.
⑷If translate “守株待兔” in a detailed way, do we have the necessity to tell the fable story which conceals this idiom in details? Even we told this story; the foreign readers also cannot realize the implication, which this idiom contains. If we translate it directly likes this: “trust to the chance and stroke of luck”. The foreign readers may understand the implication easily. The only regret thing is that it lacks the Chinese characteristic.
Because the native English readers can’t accept the figurative images of some Chinese idioms, we should translate these idioms flexibly according to their actual meanings.
⑸For example, if we translate the idiom“眉飞色舞”into “his eyebrows are flying and his countenance is dancing”, the native readers will not only feel confused and puzzled, they will also think it funny and ridiculous.
More similar idioms are:
⑹粗枝大叶 —— To be crude and careless. (Dead translation: with big branches and large leaves)
⑺灯红酒绿 —— Dissipated and luxurious. (Dead translation: with red lights and green wine)
⑻开门见山 —— To come straight to the point. (Dead translation: to open the door and see the mountain)
⑼大张旗鼓 —— On a large and spectacular scale. (Dead translation: to make a great array of flags and drums)
⑽风雨飘摇 —— Being unstable. (Dead translation: The wind and rain are rocking)
2.2.3 Additional remarks & Note
The readers need additional remarks and note if the meaning of the idiom is not completely understood.
2.2.3.1 Additional remarks
“Additional remarks” refers to “to increase the related information, which may help understand the intrinsic meaning of the idiom in the translation process.” It is usually concise.
For example:
⑴The translation of “事后诸葛亮” is “to be a wise man like Zhuge Liang after the event.” As we know, Zhuge Liang is a renowned character in the Chinese history. He is the symbol of wisdom. But the foreign friends may not necessarily know who he is. Therefore, the translator has to explain who Zhuge Liang is. The foreign readers are easier to understand the connotation of the idiom.
⑵你这是班门弄斧。——“You are showing off your proficiency with an axe before Luban the master carpenter.”
In order to help foreign readers understand the meaning of the idiom, translators add “showing off your proficiency “ to indicate the connotation of “班门弄斧” and also add some background knowledge of this idiom, that is to say, Lu Ban is a master carpenter. The method of translation not only makes the translation precise but also takes the meaning expression and the cultural exchange into account.
⑶Like “东施效颦” may be translated as “ Tung shih imitates Hsi shih” (Hsi shih was a famous beauty in the ancient kingdom of Yueh. Tung shih was an ugly girl who tried to imitate her way). Its concealed meaning is “imitates others to make a fool of oneself”.
⑷If we translate “八仙过海” to “ the eight fairies crossed the sea” without introducing “八仙(the eight fairies)”are characters in the Chinese myth story, the readers should be puzzled. Therefore we must add the annotation behind the translation: the eight fairies of Taoism in Chinese folklore.
2.2.3.2 Note
“Note” refers to “to add the related information and bac 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法kgrounds of the idioms in details.” It is usually the footnotes.
Although the structure is simple ,the implied meaning is profound. Therefore,they cannot be solely come up the understanding and translation from a single word. Some Chinese idioms are rich in Chinese cultural backgrounds, among which contain the ancient Chinese names from mythology and history. If we translate this kind of idioms literally, the native English readers will not understand them. If we translate the idioms with more explanation, the translations will loss the idiom characteristic of being concise. In this case, we’d better translate the idiom freely with the actual meaning rather than focus on its cultural background. If we use the method of direct translation to translate this kind of idioms, it will bring difficulties to the native English reader"s reading and understanding. Moreover, even if we use the method of significance translation, we still can’t vividly reappear the literary reference and the cultural connotation of the Chinese idioms.
Some foreign readers don"t know the meaning of the Chinese idioms from the paraphrase. But they may be wondering the stories related to them. In this case, concise note is necessary to compensate the cultural differences and decrease cultural loss. These methods should be cautiously used in the avoidance of tediousness and the explanatory notes are usually footnotes.
Such as:
⑴“画饼充饥” —— Allaying hunger with pictures of cakes
In the three kingdoms period (220-280), the kind of the Wei, Cao Rui, wanted to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: “when choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation. A false reputation is just like a picture of a cake, it can’t reliever hunger.” later, this idiom came to be used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts, without solving practical problems.
⑵“叶公好龙” —— Lord Sheh’s love of dragons
Sheh was so fond of dragons that he adorned his whole palace with drawings and carvings of them, but when a real dragon heard of his infatuation and paid him a visit, he was frightened out of his wits.
The translators have to add a footnote to this idiom, and the foreign readers can get the connotation from it.
More similar idioms are as follows:
⑶毛遂自荐 —— Mao Sui recommending himself
In the warring states period, the state of Qin besieged the capital of the state of Zhao. Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the state of Chu personally for assistance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. A man called Mao Sui volunteered. When the negotiations between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitates to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. In that situation, the ruler of Chu agrees to help Zhao, against Qin.
So the Chinese use “毛遂自荐” to mean that “to volunteer one’s service”
⑷“一鼓作气” —— Rousing the spirits with the first drum roll
During the spring and autumn period, an army from the state of Qi confronted one from the state of Lu. After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle, the Lu ruler wanted to attack. But his counselor Cao Gui said “we should wait until the third drum roll, sire.” after the Qi side had beaten the drums three times, the Lu army attacked and defeated the Qi army. After the battle, the king asked Cao Gui the reasons for his odd advice. Cao Gui answered, “fighting needs spirit. Their spirit was aroused by the first roll or the drums, but was depleted by the second. And it was completely exhausted by the third. We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted. That’s why we won.”
So, later, this idiom means, “to get something done with one sustained effort.”
2.2.4 Omission
Ms Hu Aiping has mentioned that “汉语成语有些是对偶词组,前后两对含义相同,修辞上优美匀称,尤其是在四字结构的成语中,多呈现‘同义反复’的现象。这种现象在崇尚简洁的英语中是最忌讳的。”[12]P69 (Some Chinese idioms are the matched phrases. The meanings of the two pairs of words are same. They are exquisite and symmetrical in rhetoric. Particularly the four characters structure idioms present the phenomenon of ‘tautology’. This kind of phenomenon is a taboo in English, which advocate succinctness.)
The images in Chinese idioms are vivid. Many idioms have the compound antithesis structure. Though their explanations are different, the concealed meanings are same. Regarding this kind of idiom translation, In order to avoid “tautology “, translating the meaning of image is ok.
For example:
⑴ 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法近朱者赤,近墨者黑 —— One who stays near vermilion gets stained red./When you touch red,you become red. There are some similar expressions in the English speaking countries: “one takes the behavior of one’s company.” or “one takes on the attributes of one’s associates.” or “watch the company you keep.”
⑵“无影无踪”,whose meaning is “to vanish without a trace”, the meaning of “无影”is “without an image”, “无踪”means “without a trace”. Hence, “without a trace” is enough to express the whole meaning of this idiom.
⑶忽闻有人在牡丹亭畔,长吁短叹。(罗贯中《三国演义》)—— suddenly he heard a rustle in the peony pavilion and someone sighing deeply.
Here, “长吁” and “短叹” have the same meaning of “sighing deeply”.
⑷“这断子绝孙的阿Q!”远远地听得小尼姑的带哭的声音。(鲁迅《阿Q正传》)——“ Ah Q, may you die sonless! ” Sounded the little nun’s voice tearfully in the distance.
In the translation, “die sonless” can express the meanings of both “断子” and “绝孙”.
⑸她只觉得头晕眼花,辨不出路径 —— She felt too dizzy to remember the way she had come. In Chinese, “头晕” and “眼花” have the same meaning of “dizzy”.
The similar idioms are:
⑹愁眉苦脸 —— Gloomy faces
⑺天长地久 —— Eternal like skies
⑻五光十色 —— Multicolored
⑼生龙活虎 —— Bursting with energy
⑽字斟句酌 —— Weigh every word
3.Conclusion:
Nevertheless, translation methods are not fixed. One Chinese idiom may be translated in several different ways. Proper translations are to be chosen by consideration of various contexts and readers’ acceptability. Eugene. Nida thought that, “对于真正成功的翻译来说,双文化能力甚至要比双语能力更为重要。”[14]P70(Regarding the success translation that, the double cultural ability even must be more important than the bilingual ability)Therefore, translating Chinese idioms into English is a concrete operating process. First, the translators must fully understand the intrinsic meaning of the Chinese idiom; second, they should use several translation methods flexibly, contrast the similarities and differences between English and Chinese, adjust the structure suitably; last, try their best to translate Chinese idioms which bear the cultural characteristic and information to the foreign readers. Helping the foreign readers eliminate and reduce language and cultural barrier requests the translator to translate the form of Chinese idioms diligently that the foreign readers are glad to accept. At the same time it is a big challenge to reappear Chinese culture in English.
Translation is not only two languages exchanges, but also one kind of cross-cultural exchange. Its goal is to break the barrier between the two different languages.
Bibliography (Reference):
⑴裘乐英 英汉文化差异和习语翻译 [J] 四川师范学院学报2002 P65
⑵现代汉语词典2002年增补本 [C] 商务印书馆 2002 P130 ⑷同⑶ P651
⑸同⑴ P64
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⑺冯庆华 实用翻译教程 [M] 上海外语教育出版社 2000 P139
⑻叶子南 高级英汉翻译理论与实践 [M] 清华大学出版社2001 P80
⑼吕瑞昌,喻云根等 汉英翻译教程 [M] 陕西人民出版社 1983 P60
⑽同⑻ P81
⑾陈宏薇,李亚丹 新编汉英翻译教程 [M] 上海外语教育出版社 2004 P30
⑿胡爱萍 试 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法 汉语成语翻译的方法论汉语成语英译中的归化和异化 [J] 阜阳师范学院学报 2004 P69
⒀王武兴 汉译英中不同社会文化信息的转换 [J]中国翻译 2004 P20
⒁曾奇 从文化翻译观来看汉语习语的英译 [J] 湖北民族学院学报 2001 P70

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