Literal Translation and Free Translation of Modern Chinese Idioms

1、Literal Translation and Free Translation of Modern Chinese Idioms I. Introduction:Language translation is conducive not only to mutual cultural exchanges between the countries but also more conducive to language development. In translation work, idiom translation, especially the modern Chinese idiom

2、 translation, is so common but so complex. In order to string along with the original, the target translation must be have what the holders of its foreign flavor, but also meet the requirements of their own text, however, it is difficult to join these two aspects together to achieve the standards wh

3、en translating modern Chinese idioms. Modern Chinese idiom is an unique and fixed way of expression formed in the development of some languages; and it has a strong cultural characteristic and it is the core and essence of languages. Modern Chinese idiom has a very wide meaning which includes the ph

4、rase, xiehouyu, proverbs, literary quotation and other allusions. Besides, the modern Chinese idiom is also the load of the national culture of information, and it reflects the unique way of nationality's life style and the custom .In the following, this paper mainly talks about modern Chinese i

5、dioms from literal translation and free translation. II the Literal Translation and Free Translation of Modern Chinese Idiom1 the definition of literal translationLiteral translation refers to translate a sentence originally, keeping the original forms, including construction of sentences, meaning o

6、f the original words, and metaphor of the original and so on. It can not only reproduce the meaning and frame of language, but also keep its vivid image figure of speech and novel and unique expressive ways so that readers can comprehend the origins literal grace.2. The definition of free translatio

7、nFree translation means a method of making the target text smooth and perfect .On the basis of them, places of word and constructions of sentence have to be almost changed to suit real meanings of original text.III the source and feature of modern Chinese idioms1. The source of modern Chinese idioms

8、 Most of modern Chinese idioms come from general public. It is true of word manufacturing, idioms mainly rely on non-class intellectuals, we have the best idioms and the best words, which are not produced in the library, reception room or theater, but from factories, farms and kitchens. So most of t

9、hem are from civil, and they are summarizing of working people's life experience and wisdom of public. It closely related with a nation's historical background and economic life, geography, customs, social psychology and so on, Working people arrange some vivid combination of words and phras

10、es from familiar things, and create some lively and thought-provoking metaphor to express their thoughts. These lively words and phrases and metaphors are liked by everyone, gradually, it becomes engaged in an activity or occupation of the terminology. Later it was discovered that many of these expr

11、essions can be applied to a broader sense, then they are used in all kinds of similar situations, as time gone, it has become an important part of custom languages which enjoys great popularity in the modern Chinese idioms. This is the source of modern Chinese idioms.2. The features of modern Chines

12、e idiomsChina is a multi-ethnic country and it has more than 50 minorities. Idioms can reflect the feature of a nation or a place and modern Chinese idioms usually have suitable trope with the language to arouse people's association, and this trop and association are decided by the real life and

13、 social environment of the nation. Different ethnic groups have different experiences of life, and maybe some are also the same. Therefore, some idioms are synonymous or nearly have the same meaning, while others obviously present distinct national features. For instance, with the increase in practi

14、cal activities and the accumulation of life experience, more and more people are aware of the objective contradictions and antagonistic things that exist in the world, such as high and low, beautiful and ugly, true and false, good and evil, and so on.IV literal translation and free translation on mo

15、dern Chinese idiomFor the features of modern Chinese idioms mentioned above, when translating those idioms which have unique features in one language and not available in different language, people always cant find a proper way. In fact, the idiom is also a special material in language, and it is al

16、so part of the universal language. For the features of modern Chinese idioms discussed above, literal translation and free translation are widely used in idiom translating. This paper divides modern Chinese idioms into 4 different parts to research this translation form.1. The four words phrasesThe

17、four words phrases usually have four elements, and usually are divided into two parts: before and after. The grammar between the two parts can be the subject and predicate, verb and object, and paratactic words and so on. Therefore, the four words phrases can be divided into subject and predicate ph

18、rase, verb and object phrase, and paratactic phrase and so on. The advantages of literal translation are compared to keep metaphor meaning, national colors and language styles in four words phrase. But literal translation must not cause misunderstanding and not contrary to customary expressions.For

19、instance:（1）處理人民內部的矛盾，必須堅持和風細雨的方法，堅持“團結批評團結”的方法。It is essential to persist in using methods as mild as a drizzle and as gentle as a breeze, and to adhere to the formula of “unitycriticismunity”, in dealing with contradictions among the people.（2）所以這李執(zhí)雖然青春喪偶，且處于高粱錦繡之中，竟如“槁木死灰”一般，一概不問。So this young wi

20、dow living in the lap of luxury was no better off than withered wood or cold ashes, taking no interest in the outside world. From the examples above, 和風細雨translate into as mild as a drizzle and as gentle as a breeze can show that when solve the problem, people should gentle, it can give the original

21、 meaning of the context, and it can show the feature of four words phrase. And 槁木死灰 translate into withered wood or cold ashes, because in English, people could not find a right word to express the original meaning ,people can say 槁木 dead woods, but they can not say 死灰 dead ashes, ashes could not di

22、e. Therefore, literal translation is used to give people the artistic conception.On contrary, free translation mainly pay attention to the original content and implied meaning to seize the important aspect, join the above and the following to convey the original meaning. For instance:（1）劉雨生回到鄉(xiāng)政府，把老謝

23、的話，一五一十，告訴了鄧秀枚和李月琴。  When Liu Yusheng got back the township government, he recounted everything Lao Xie said in detail to Deng Xiumei and Li Yuhui.（2）他講起話來總是眉飛色舞。  He always beams with joy when speaking.The example translate 一五一十 into recounted everything in detail, it can accord

24、 with the context, but if translate into one five one ten, readers especially the non-speak Chinese people can not understand what did the speaker say and it is wrong in grammar. Also, the second example if translate 眉飛色舞 into eyebrow flying and expression dancing, reader may consider it is a wrong

25、sentence, so free translation is used here.2 .Modern Chinese proverbsProverb is a kind of expressions which is a comprehensive summery of the variety of life and widespread use in popularity. In China, most of these proverbs are the scientific summary of the long-term life experience of working peop

26、le. These proverbs have such characteristics: vivid metaphor, pregnant meanings, concise language, not a single superfluous word, single-sentence emphasizes rhythm, two-sentence stress parallelism, very colloquial style and so on. Then how can people translate proverbs? Is literal translation better

27、? Or paraphrase better? It depends on the characteristics of the language and cultural backgrounds of the proverbs.The following example can give some elicitation. （1） 明槍易躲，暗箭難防。It is easy to dodge a pear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from hiding.（2） 城門失火，殃及池魚。A fire on city w

28、all brings disaster to the fish in the moat.（3）路遙知馬力，日久見人心。As a long road tests a horses strength, so a long task proves a persons heart.（4） 初生牛犢不怕虎。New-born calves make little of tigers. (Young people are fearless)（5）失之東隅，收之桑榆。What one loses on the swings one gets back on the roundabouts.（6） 塞翁失馬，安

29、知非福？A loss may turn out to be a gain.（7） 此地無銀三百兩。A guilty person gives himself away by conspicuously protesting his innocence.The 14 are literal translations. From the example above, we can learn that literal translation is not word-for-word translation. It remains the content and the form of the or

30、iginal language in accordance with the cultural tradition. 明槍易躲，暗箭難防translate into it is easy to dodge a pear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from hiding, it is not only necessary to retain the original meaning of original, but also translate lively and be consistent with gramma

31、r, so literal translation is used here. The rests are free translation, and free translation remains the meaning of its source language. Free translation is a translation skill which is active but can not add personal emotion to the original meaning. If塞翁失馬，安知非福 translate into a man lost his horse,

32、but he didnt know it was a lucky thing, the grammar is OK, but the meaning is not the original meaning, it has changed a little. The original sentence is a rhetorical question, literal translation is not proper, so free translation is used.3. xiehou yuXiehou Yu is a special form of language which is

33、 widely circulated among the masses, and the language feature is vivid and witty humor. It generally has two components, the former is vivid metaphor, and the after is the explanations of the former. In Chinese, we often have to deal with Xiehou Yu whatever literary or oral languages. And in idioms

34、translation, Xiehou Yu is also a very important part. For example:白骨精騙唐僧一計不成又生一計 the White Bone Demon deceiving Monk Tangwhen one scheme failed, she turned to another (程永生，2005，29)On his way to the west to obtain Buddhist scriptures, Xuanzhuang, a famous monk of Tang Dynasty, met the White Bone Demo

35、n, who thought out one scheme after another to deceiving the monk so that she could eat the monk and then would prolong her life forever. However, this is the story contained in the fiction entitled Journey to the West。If the reader doesnt know the story, he will not understand the meaning, so liter

36、al translation is used here to gain more information about the text. Here is another example: 像熱鍋上的螞蟻走投無路 like ants in a hot pot, they find nowhere to escape. Here literal translation is used to describe the plight of ants.4. PhrasesThe phrase is a language which is commonly used succinct and implic

37、it in oral language, the phrase is more stably than common words and more flexible than four words phrases. What is more, it is more subtle and active than the written language. Phrases are more often used in people's daily oral language, it appears in novels, movies, television programs and the

38、 dialogue of drama. It also appears in other places such as prose and the discussion in the text. Thus, both the interpreters and written translations will encounter phrase translation.For example:九牛二虎之力the strength of nine bulls and two tigers The literal translation show the real lives of the mass

39、es. If translate the above 九牛二虎之力 into tremendous effort, the meaning is not wrong, but it is not give a intuitionist impression to readers. On the contrary, look at the free translation:咬耳朵whisper in ones ear if translate 咬耳朵 into bite ears, reader may think that some one bite another ones ears, it

40、 is an action, however, the original meaning is to show some said to another in a low voice, it is completely another meaning between literal translation and free translation. Here are some more example about this: 門外漢the uninitiated or a layman (a man outside the gate) 小廣播spreading of hearsay

41、information or bush telegraph (a small broadcast station)All the examples above are used free translation to express the real meaning of the text, the brackets are translated literally, they are wrong meaning of the sentence.V how can people use literal translation and free translation in modern Chi

42、nese idiomsThe issue of whether to translate literally or freely has existed at the very beginning of translation but they are still controversial today. Usually, literal translation and free translation take word-keeping and motion-expressing as their priorities respectively. And, either of them ha

43、s defects. Literal translation wants to keep every previous word. It seems formal and always with accuracy, and it never minds whether it is affected by the customary Chinese culture of loyalty. In comparison, free translation is not as that languid, it is more like a native saying for the being-tra

44、nslated and it is easier-caught, but also grotesque-prone since language is so magic to express the same idea in numerous ways. So, basically, literal translation is more mutually linguistic-affective when the other seems more efficient. How to use the two ways in modern Chinese idiom translation ha

45、s become a question, and the following will prove those.1. When and where should literal translation be used?There are many words in Chinese that have the same meaning with that in English. We need only literal translation to translate them very well. That is to say, when the meaning of a Chinese wo

46、rd equals to its English meaning fully, we need only literal translation. Such as: 眼不見，心不煩.（out of mind，out of sight），雪中送炭（to offer fuel in snowy weather），揮金如土（spend money like water）, 來得容易，去得快 (easy come, easy go), 趁熱打鐵(strike while the iron is hot), 熟能生巧 (practice makes perfect) , 身教勝于言傳(example i

47、s better than precept), 揮金如土(spend money like water), 破釜沉舟 (burn one's boats), 條條大道通羅馬 (all roads lead to Rome) In the process of translating, if the translation could remain the original content and form, especially the metaphor, idioms, language style, individual style, national feature, local

48、 color and so on in original, wed better use literal translation. For example: 1. 病榻a bed of sickness 2. 說話算數的人a man of ones word 3. 日本侵略者在第二次世界大戰(zhàn)時是武裝到牙齒的,可是幾年之后,就被中國人民徹底擊敗了Japanese invaders were armed to teeth during the Second World War, but in a few years, they were completely defeated by the Chi

49、nese people. The examples above tell that if literal translation can be used successfully, the original meaning would reappear completely and lively at the moment, which is able to meet the readers requirements with faithful and vivid words. Moreover, that can enrich the words system of our nation.S

50、o, if it wants to remain the style of the original idiom, literal translation is a better choice. 2. Translate literally, if possible.Since the literal translation can maintain the original form, then translate literally, if possible. (曾道明，陶友蘭，2006，34). According to the passage which is being transl

51、ating, use literal translation frequently and use free translation when necessary. But what kind of translation is literal translation? And what kind of translation is free translation? For example: 紙老虎 (paper tiger)，丟臉（lose face），百聞不如一見（seeing is believing）. From the example can know literal transl

52、ation is better than free translation for this literally translated sentence is more visualized. The following two example are free translation.進退兩難(between the devil and the deep sea), 將相本無種，男兒當自強(Every human life is insignificant unless you make it great)From the example can get that the free tran

53、slation is better than literal translation here. Because they can make us understand clearly. But how can people use literal translation and free translation? There is a sentence: “Translate literally, if possible, or appeal to free translation. (曾道明，陶友蘭，2006，34)3. Some situations cannot use literal

54、 translation. An American theorist Nida gives some situations that cannot use literal translation on his theory.(A)If a sentence pattern has some rhetoric involvements, translating literally is not suitable. In Chinese indication, there are massive rhetoric techniques that people use frequently; inc

55、luding many figures of speech so that it is difficult for people to use them to express ourselves clearly by literal translation way. Even if the identical figures of speech, because of the different situations, making them literally translated is also not suitable. For example： 一貧如洗as poor as a chu

56、rch mouse. we use Simile here, but if we translate very poor or quite poor, the sentence would be ridiculous and it is not the original meaning we transmit. So we can use free translation：as poor as a church mouse 2). Johnson was a dark horse. we use metaphor here if we translate “Johnson是一匹黑色的馬”the

57、n the words fail to express the original meaning .Now had to use the free translation：Johnson是個不鳴則已，一鳴驚人的人。 (B) Metonymy can not be translated literally. For example：從童年時起，他就開始學習英語 we can translate toIn his cradle, he started to learn English.in this translation, “cradle” is metonymy, it is not a re

58、al cradle. (C)Allusion cannot be translated literally. If it is the common knowledge people can translate it literally without any explanation. But if most of the people dont know this allusion, it should be translated freely or added some notation to its literal translation meaning. For example：“在進

59、攻太原時，他吃了大敗仗” When invading Taiyuan, he met his Waterloo.in this sentence meet one's Waterloo is the European literary quotation from Napoleon s fiasco in Waterloo, so it must free translated ,. (D). Idiomatic usage can not be translated literally. Modern Chinese expression contains rich customary idiom