英汉互译中汉语四字结构的应用

英汉互译中汉语四字结构的应用

受“中庸”哲学思想的影响，中国人的美学观念中特别强调平衡美，除了大量使用对仗，还大量使用前后两部分并列关系的四字词组，这个结构是汉语一个突出的特点，因为四字结构表意精当、读来琅琅上口，也充分体现了汉语讲求平衡的特征。然而，译员在进行汉译时也不能刻意追求四字结构的使用，影响目标语质量。反之，在汉译英中，译员也无须拘泥于来源语，用英文中的形容词、名词或一些特殊结构处理即可。

1大会顺利结束了，但是我们面前的道路是不平坦的，要保持头脑的冷静，形势稍好，尤须兢慎。居安思危，思则有备，有备无患。

2我们这个国家太大，问题太多、太复杂，这就要求我们这个民族不畏艰险、百折不挠、坚定信心、永远奋斗。

3董先生勤勤恳恳、任劳任怨、敢于承担，表现出对国家、对香港高度负责的精神。

4我们应该牢牢把握中美关系的大局，妥善解决分歧，不断朝着增进了解、扩大共识、发展合作、共创未来的目标前进。

备注：汉语并列的成分用顿号或逗号隔开即可，而英语要用and等。

“so as to..”表示目的，意思是使得目标语逻辑清楚，结构简洁，符合英语的表达习惯。

[汉语并列的四字格在翻译中的补译汉语有时使用并列的四字格使得表达更加紧凑、简洁，而在翻译成英语时就需要添加联接词，显现句子关系，即将有内在联系的句子、短语等用连词、从句、不定式、分词、介词等显现内在关系。]

如何处理口译中的四个字：

并列关系，语意重复，目的关系，途径方式，偏正词组，动宾关系，省略意象，条件关系，短语九大类。

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 wisdom 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

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

打黑扫黄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

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

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

廉洁奉公honestly perform one’s officia l 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