汉语四字成语的英译

浅析汉语四字成语的英译

[摘要]：在进行新希望大学英语综合教程阅读部分的教学过程中，发现许多句子如果用直译的方法翻译过来，有些生硬，别扭，相反如果翻译成汉语的四字成语，会感觉到恰如其分，想到这样的对应关系，会让人有心头一喜的感觉。下面就将所有总结与大家分享，不足之处，敬请各位同仁批评指正。

[关键词]：四字成语汉译英英译汉

一、概要

汉语中的许多成语，习语，读起来朗朗上口，听起来通俗易懂，用起来随心应手，尤其是四字成语，最为多见，数量也最多，约占汉语的90%以上。而英语是一种非常理性的语言，最看重清晰明确，最忌逻辑混乱与文字堆砌，不像汉语那样过分借重辞藻来加强文义，烘托氛围，所以将汉语中的四字成语翻译成英文会是一个很繁杂的工程。许多学者都是从汉语的构成结构为出发点，来研究其翻译的。但是这会出现许多的问题，这也是傅一勤在从《林语堂当代汉英词典》到《新时代汉英大词典》——以中文四字成语的英译为例这篇文章中提到的问题，因中文的四字成语常具有句子的形态，很容易让人把它当作一个独立的短句或谓语（即无主语的句子）来翻译，因此常造成在表面上看起来似乎没有问题、而在实际应用上却格格不入的翻译，完全不能适用，必须另起炉灶，重新翻译。比如明哲保身 use ones wits to ensure one’s own survival（and shirk moral responsibility）；be worldly wise and play safe：

他一向信奉明哲保身的处世哲学。he has always believed in the philosophy of self-preservation.所以笔者认为从英译汉的角度来研究汉语四字成语的翻译会更恰当，更实用。

二、英汉四字成语对照

喉头哽咽：get a huge lump in one’s throat

迫不及待：could not wait for someone to do something

出乎意料：against all expectation， mike finished high school with top grades.

不出所料：the show lived up to all our expectations--- it was so wonderful.

梦中情人：mrs. green fields had hoped for a similar romance when she met her love on the internet.

衣着得体仪表堂堂：the man was well-dressed， and she was not disappointed in his physical appearance.

和谐相处共度一生：the lonely young woman felt she’d finally found the man with whom she can live with in harmony. 如意郎君：mr. right

失声痛哭：looking at my mom， i almost burst out crying. 经济拮据：i knew money was tight.

钻石戒指：there was a tiny ring with a diamond chip in the center.

言归正传： let’s get down to business.

点头同意：i could only nod my head in agreement.

百分之百同意：i’m 100% in agreement with you.

温柔和睿智：gentle wise spirit

毫无音信：a few weeks went by with no response.

收支平衡：make both ends meet

毫不例外：i was no different.

反过来讲：in return， tugs brought new meaning to the term adoration.

形影不离：wherever i went， he wanted to be there too，. 病入膏肓：two men ，both seriously ill， occupied the same hospital room..

时机成熟：as soon as it seemed appropriate ，the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.

美丽如画：the novelist’s vivid description made us imagine the picturesque and beautiful scenery at the shores.

生机勃勃：i like spring very much because it enlivens all nature.

轻而易举：michael was broke when he started his business，but now he can buy 10 houses for his mother with ease.

又惊又喜：at this news， the look on his face was a mixture of surprise and happiness.

束手无策：as he was digging， other helpless parents

arrived， clutching their hearts， saying：“my son， my daughter！”

三、结语

从上面可以看出，汉语的四字成语有时候相当于英语的一个名词，形容词，动词，或者相当于汉语的形容词短语，介宾短语，或者无主句等等。所以从英译汉的角度来研究会更方便。

参考文献：

[1]、杜瑞清，毕胜利.新希望大学英语综合教程[m]. 西北大学出版社，2011.

[2]傅一勤.从《林语堂当代汉英词典》到《新时代汉英大词典》[j].辞书研究，2006，（06）.