四字结构

四字结构

在汉语中有很多类似成语的四字结构，它们没有成语那么深的寓意，但表达形式很像成语，令很多翻译初学者头疼，其实很多时候我们遇到这种结构是不要想太多，准确理解其真正含义，用相应的英语单词或者表达翻译就是了。一般四字格中总会有两个词语组成一个汉语词语，看前后两个字组成的词语的逻辑关系来采用不同的方法来翻译即可，但切记先得判断清楚四节结构的词类以及前后两个词组的关系。

(一)并列关系，这一类四字结构的特点是前后两个词组是并列关系，

且词类相同，只须用语义合词类对应的英语表达即可。

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

(二)语意重叠，对于此类结构，只需翻译其中一项语义就行。

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

(三)目的关系，对于目的关系的可以采用动词不定式或者介词短语来表达目的状语。

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，可以采用介词through, according to, with等介词短语表达相应的方式状语。

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，对于偏正关系的四字格必有一主一次，将其中一个词语处理为修饰性成分，而将另外一个处理为中心词。

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