汉语俗语英译20句

汉语俗语英译20句1. 她动不动就骂她的孩子们，但孩子们都知道她是刀子嘴豆腐心。

She always scolded her children, but they knew that she had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.She always scolded her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite.动不动: easily; frequently; at every turn动不动就感冒：catch a cold easily动不动就发脾气：be apt to lose one’s temper; often get into a temper他动不动就训人：He is always lecturing people.刀子嘴豆腐心：have a sharp tongue but a soft heart2. 他是不到黄河不死心。

He wouldn‟t stop until he reached the Yellow River—to give up until his hope has gone.不到黄河不死心: not stop until one reaches the Huanghe River—not stop until one reaches one’s goal;refuse to give up until all hope is gone3. 十年树木，百年树人。

It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred to rear/cultivate people.4. 他这一去如石沉大海，再无消息。

He left like a stone dropped into the sea and has never been heard of.石沉大海: like a stone dropped into the sea---disappear for ever; never to be seen or heard of again.5. 若要人不知，除非己莫为。

The only way to stop people from knowing it is not to do it.The only way to stop people from knowing it is to restrain from doing it.If you haven‟t done it, other people wouldn‟t know it.若要人不知，除非己莫为: If you don’t wish anyone to know what you’ve done, it is better not to have done it in the first place.6. 他搜肠刮肚，也找不出合适的字眼表达这个意思。

He racked his brains but couldn‟t find words suitable for the idea.7. 这完全是张冠李戴。

This is putting Mr. Zhang‟s hat on Mr. Li‟s head.张冠李戴: Put Zhang’s hat on Li’s head--- attribute sth. to the wrong person or confuse one thing with another.8. 味道真不错，果然是名不虚传。

It‟d delicious, really lives up to its reputation.名不虚传: have a well-deserved reputation;deserve the reputation one enjoys;live up to one‟s reputation9. 父亲说，“事已至此，不必难过，好在天无绝人之路。

”My father said, “Now that things have come to such a pass. It‟s no use crying. Heaven always leaves one way out / Every cloud has a silver line.”天无绝人之路: Heaven never seals off all the exits—there is always a way out.10. 他咯咯的笑着说，“这叫做画饼充饥”。

He giggle d/chuckled and said, “This is called … drawing a cake to satisfy one‟s hunger‟.”画饼充饥: draw cakes to allay hunger--- feed on illusions.11. 汤姆也来上学，不过是三天打鱼，两天晒网。

Tom was enrolled as a student, but he was like the fisherman who fishes for three days and suns his net for two.三天打鱼，两天晒网: go fishing for three days and dry the nets for two--- work by fits and starts; lack perseverance.12. 天下没有不散的宴席。

All good things must come to end.All feasts must come to an end.天下没有不散的宴席: There never was a feast but the guests have to depart--- all good things must come to an end.13. 有理走遍天下，无理寸步难行。

With justice on your side, you can go anywhere; without it, you can‟t take a step / move an inch. An empty sack cannot stand upright扩展：天网恢恢，疏而不漏：Justice has long arms.14. 江山易改，本性难移。

A leopard can‟t change its spots.江山易改，本性难移: It’s easy to change rivers and mountains but hard to change a person’s nature.15. 吃一堑，长一智。

A fall in/into the pit; a gain in your wit.16. “坐山观虎斗”，“借刀杀人”，“煽风点火”，“推倒油瓶儿不扶”，都是他们的本事。

Talk about “sitting on a hill to watch tigers fight”, “murdering with a borrowed sword”, “stirring up trouble”, and “not troubling to right the oil bottle that has been knocked over”---- they are all good hands at such tricks.坐山观虎斗:Sit on top of the mountain to watch the tigers fight—watch in safety while others fight, then reap the spoils when both sides are exhausted.借刀杀人: kill somebody by another’s hand; make use of one person to get rid of another.煽风点火:fan the flames; inflame and agitate people; stir up trouble17. 我在当时真的是哭笑不得。

I felt at a loss to know that to do at that moment/time.哭笑不得: not know whether to laugh or to cry; find sth both funny and annoying18. 对于此事他胸有成竹。

He has had a well-thought-out plan before doing it.胸有成竹: have a well-thought-out plan, stratagem, etc19. 中国经济取得巨大发展，中国人民终于扬眉吐气了。

The Chinese people feel proud and elated for the great economic development/growth in China. The Chinese people feel proud and elated for China‟s great economic developmen t/growth.扬眉吐气: feel proud and elated20. 他利用那些有权有势的朋友帮助他走后门，到政府行政部门任职。

He used his influential friends to help him to get into the civil service by/through the back door.开卷有益reading enriches the mind不进则退not to advance is to go back世上无难事只怕有心人nothing is difficult for one who sets his mind to勇者无惧no way Is imposiible to courage熟能生巧pratice makes perfect一诺千金promise is debt骄傲使人落后pride goes before ,and shame goes behind实事求是seek truth from facts金钱不是万能money isn’t everything三个臭皮匠赛过诸葛亮three heads are better than one众人拾柴火焰高many hands make light works不经历风雨怎么见彩虹no cross , no crown亡羊补牢为时未晚never too old to learn , never too late to turn没有苦就没有快乐no pleasure without pains没有追求就没有收获nothing seek , nothing find活到老学到老it’s never too old to l earn今日事今日毕don’t put off till tomorrow what should be done today有个好习惯事事皆不难custom makes everything easy小人无大志little things amuse little minds胜者王败者寇losers are always in the wrong爱屋及乌love me , love my dog良机勿失make hay while the sun shines一言既出驷马难追 a word spoken is past recaling少壮不努力老大徒伤悲 a young idler , an old beggar读书如交友应求少而精books and friends should be few but good自信是走向成功的第一步confidence in mind is the first step on the road to success 水滴石穿constant dripping wears away a stone知足常乐content is better than riches要想求知就得吃苦if you want knowledge , you must toil for it静以修身 a light lives long条条大路通罗马all road leads to Rome凡事总是由难而易all things are difficult before they are easy闪光的不一定是金子all that glitters is not goal身正不怕影子斜 a stright foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe一日之计在于晨an hour in the morning is better than two in the evening一年之计在于春 a year’s plan starts with spring逆境出人才adversity makes a man wise,not rich得朋友难失朋友易 a friend is easier lost than found没有朋友虽生犹死life without a friend is death良好的开端是成功的一半 a good beginning is half done好书如挚友 a good book is a friend一本好书相伴一生 a good book is best of friends , the same today and forever快乐不觉时光逝happiness takes no account of time健康就是幸福health is happiness健康是最大的财富 a good health is over wealth聪明不是挂在嘴上he is a wise man who speaks litter谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好he laughs best who laughs last爬得越高摔得越重he that climbs high fall heavily收获与风险并存he who risks nothing gains nothing集思广益four eyes see more than two吃一堑长一智experience must be bought愚者不学无术智者不耻下问fools learn nothing from wise men , bur wise men learn much fromfools天才不过是勤奋而已genius is nothing but labor and diligence自助者天助god help those who help themselves伟大的抱负造就伟大的人物great hopes make great men英雄所见略同great minds thing alike。