phrase translation

1、Translation of Idiom1What is an idiom?An idiom is a fixed group of words or a single word, with brief form (succinct in form) and incisive meaning (profound in meaning) which is used widely in a certain cultural background by a nation.It is an expression, a word or phrase which carries a ficed meani

2、ng different from its literal meaning.2Idioms include:ProverbsSayingsSlangsColloquialismsQuotations (引語)Allusions （典故）Set phrases（固定搭配）Epigrams (警句)two-part allegorical sayings (歇后語)3Features of idioms:Vivid and metaphorical in languageConcise in form and rich in meaningCulture-bound: idiom translat

3、ion is actually cultural transfer Distinctly reflect the features of each language 4Principles and Techniques:Trying to retain the image（形象）, meaning （喻義）and the figure of speech（修辭特色）Conforming to the idiomatic expression and reflect the features of national culture and peoples way of thinking. 5St

4、rategies:A. Literal translation 直譯法Retaining the original images and metaphorical languageThe meaning as well as the style of the source language can be reproduced. Remaining the taste of the exotic atmosphere foreignization 6Golden age 黃金時(shí)代Hot dog 熱狗Honeymoon 蜜月Forbidden fruit 禁果Kill two birds with

5、 one stone 一石二鳥He laughs best who laughs last. 誰笑到最后，誰笑得最好。A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 一鳥在手勝過雙鳥在林。 紙老虎 paper tiger求同存異 seek common grounds while reserving differences7Adam Lambert finally came out of the closet and admitted he was gay.亞當(dāng)蘭伯特終于出柜，承認(rèn)自己的同性戀身份。His plan was to wash his ha

6、nds of the affairs in his company when he reached 50. 他的計(jì)劃書，50歲以后就洗手不干，從此不管公司事務(wù)。8B. Literal translation with paraphrase or annotation 直譯加注釋It is better to render the literal meaning and bring out the explanation when the literal translation may result in pragmatic error and make it misunderstood by

7、the readers.9Every dog has its day. 狗有得意日，人有得意時(shí)People considered that what he had played on that occasion was no more than a Judas kiss. 人們認(rèn)為他在那種場合所表演的不過是猶大之吻，居心險(xiǎn)惡。若真也葬花，可謂東施效顰了。If so, shes Dongshi imitating Xishi.(Xishi was a famous beauty in the ancient kingdom of Yue. Dongshi was an ugly girl who

8、 tried to imitate her way.)揠苗助長 try to help the shoots grow by pulling them upward spoil things by excessive enthusiasm. worth ones salt 稱職， 有能力 Annotation: It was said that long time ago workers were paid salt instead of money. 10C. Free/ Meaning translation 意譯法Using plain language to replace the o

9、riginal metaphorical language to achieve the functional equivalence.Suitable for translating idioms whose stories are too old to be attractive or a proper replaced phrase which can not be found in the target language. 11Have other fish to dry 有別的事要干 Hit the nail on the head 一語道破 a bed of roses 安樂窩as

10、 fair as Helen 絕代佳人 Helen of Troy 紅顏禍水All shall be well, Jack shall have Jill. 有情人終成眷屬。毛遂自薦 to volunteer ones service山盟海誓 to make a solemn pledge of love不管三七二十一 regardless of the consequences慶父不死，魯難未已。There will always be trouble until the trouble-maker is removed.12今年高考他又名落孫山了。 This year he failed

11、again in the entrance examinations for college students. 這兩個(gè)隊(duì)旗鼓相當(dāng)，比賽中比分交替上升。 The two teams are well-matched, and the score seesawed all the time.而且這些規(guī)則是不象現(xiàn)在那樣朝三暮四的。 And these rules, unlike those we have today, do not change all the time. 方案一公布，大家就七嘴八舌地議論開了。 Publication of the draft plan touched off

12、a lively discussion, with everybody eager to put in a word.13D. Borrowing/replacement 借用法/套用法Using an existent idiom in the target language to replace the original one.Suitable for translating idioms whose metaphorical meaning can be conveyed in the target culture by other expressions.141) Similar i

13、n meaning and form as well as in image （完全對(duì)應(yīng)） to fish in troubled waters 渾水摸魚 to be on thin ice 如履薄冰 Walls have ears 隔墻有耳Strike while the iron is hot.趁熱打鐵 Facts speak louder than words 事實(shí)勝于雄辯Haste makes waste/More haste, less speed 欲速則不達(dá)。Like father, like son. 有其父，必有其子。Great minds thinks alike. 英雄所見

14、略同。Misfortunes never come alone. 禍不單行。15I gave Billy a bite of candy and he wanted more and more, just like if you give him an inch, hell take a yard. 我給比利咬一口糖，他要了又要，真是得寸進(jìn)尺。He drew a long face all day yesterday, and I have no idea what had happened to him.昨天他一整天都拉長了臉，我不知道他怎么了。162) Slightly different

15、 in form or in image, but similar in meaning 部分對(duì)應(yīng)/間接對(duì)應(yīng)A wolf in sheeps clothing 笑面虎as dumb as an oyster/as silent as the grave/as close as wax 守口如瓶like a peacock in the barnyard 鶴立雞群， at the end of ones rope 山窮水盡to burn the midnight oil 開夜車Let the cat out of the bag 露出馬腳17Let sleeping dogs lie.切莫打草驚

16、蛇。Better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. 寧為雞頭不為鳳尾。He is beating the dog before the lion.他這是在殺雞儆猴?！癢ell,” the old man remarked consolingly, “every bullet has its billet.” 老人安慰道：“得了，生死有命呀?！?8E. Flexibility /Adaptation變通翻譯 or Abridgement 截譯，縮略譯法For phenomenon “tautology”（同義反復(fù)）in Chinese idioms-a rhetorical device which expresses the beauty of Chinese language19相輔相成 sup