English translation of Chinese four-character idioms and its translation strategies
Strategies for English Translation of Idioms
Literal translation, free translation and annotation ① Literal translation: On the premise of not violating the target language norms and causing false associations, translators can adopt literal translation when translating Chinese idioms into English.
1) The same idiom:
Easy come, easy go.
Strike while the iron is hot.
2) Similar idioms:
be lavish with one's money
Burn one's bridges (all from the strategist's strategy)
3) Idioms with obvious meanings:
Provide fuel on snowy days.
One person gets the word, and the chicken and dog ascend to heaven. When the owner is in favor, the dog will be cocky.
② Free translation: In many cases, it is difficult to reproduce the national cultural characteristics of Italian-Chinese idioms through literal translation. In order to ensure that the target readers can accurately understand the meaning of idioms, we often adopt free translation.
Unexpected things may happen at any time.
come straight to the point
(3) Zephyr: the method of translating idioms similar to Chinese idioms in the target language.
The literal meaning and implied meaning of 1) are basically the same.
fish in troubled 【muddied】waters
2) The figurative images of the two idioms are different, but the free translation of metaphors is basically the same.
Laugh my head off
4. Annotation method (cultural information and background knowledge needed by readers to understand idioms are added to the translation, which is characterized by retaining the figurative image and cultural implication of idioms and ensuring that the translation is easy to be understood and accepted by the target readers).
Imitation of Dong Shi (Xi Shi is a famous beauty in Yue State)
Four. conclusion
Through the study of the above four-character idioms, we can draw a conclusion: four-character idioms cannot be simply translated literally, but should be translated in more diversified ways, which is more in line with English habits and closer to the content of four-character idioms in Chinese.
example
1. Love me, love my dog
I'll believe that when I see it. I'll believe that when I see it.
3. Worse than some people, better than many people; Not the best, but better than the worst.
4. Stupid birds fly first. Sparrows that are slow to move should start early.
5. Sleepless nights and white nights
6. Don't take pleasure in external gains, and don't take personal losses as sorrow.
7. spare no effort; Go all out; try one's best
8. No struggle, no deal, no harmony.
9. rob Peter to pay Paul
10. Say goodbye to the old and welcome the new; ring out the Old Year and ring in the New Year
1 1. Roll with the punches, roll with the punches, try to make their mistakes less serious first, and then reduce them to zero.
12. Open your eyes; Broaden one's horizons; broaden one's horizon
13. Guotai Min An Guo Hua Min lives in peace.
14. Going too far is as bad as not going far enough; Transcendence is as wrong as failure; Too little Otawa is just as bad.
Many things happen.
16. Forget the pain on the shore and stop praying.
17. Good things don't go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles.
18. Harmony brings wealth.
19. Never too old to learn.
20. Let bygones be bygones
2 1. No one is perfect without gold. Gold is not enough, and no one is perfect.
22. Since then, treasure has filled a happy home.
23. Keep your feet on the ground.
24. Stand on the fence with your feet.
25. The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal; The friendship between gentlemen appears indifferent but is pure like water.
26. platitudes, platitudes, stereotypes
Courtesy is reciprocated.
28. Stay in the green hills, not afraid of no firewood. Where there is life, there is hope.
29. Success leads to immediate victory; Get immediate success.
30. fame and fortune