英語諺語歸類和使用

諺語是人們在長期使用語言的實踐中提煉出來的語言精華，往往簡單通俗，但反映出深刻的道理。學習英語諺語不僅可以學到真實地道的英語表現形式，提高言語技能，更能夠學到其中豐富的文化內涵，增強使用英語的實際能力。

許多英語諺語的表達方式不只一種，可以把意思相同而說法不同的諺語進行歸類，以便舉一反三。諺語參考書或工具書大多按字母排列，一般不做歸類。因而在學習中，應做有心人。

一、常見英語諺語歸類舉例

1.怎么謹慎都不過分。如：

One cannot be too careful./Caution is the parent of safety./Look before you leap./Discretion is the better part of valor.

2.金窩銀窩，不如自家的草窩。如：

East or west， home is best./There is no place like home./Home is home though it never be so homely./Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.

3.易得易失。如：

Easy come， easy go./Ill gotten， ill spent./What is got over the devils back is spent under his belly.

4.人孰無過。如：

To err is human./He is lifeless who is faultless./Every man has a fool in his sleeve./No one is wise at all times.

5.行動比語言更響亮。如：

Actions speak louder than words./Doing is better than saying./Easier said than done./Saying and doing are two things./Its better to do well than to say well.

6.外表是靠不住的。如：

Appearances are often deceptive./Judge not of men and things at first sight./A fair face may hide a foul heart.

7.廚師太多燒壞湯（助手太多幫倒忙）。如：

Too many cooks spoil the broth./Many physicians have killed the king./Many commanders sink the ship./Everybodys business is nobodys business.

8.患難見真情。如：

A friend in need is a friend indeed./Prosperity makes friend， and adversity tries them./Calamity is mans true touchstone.

9.天助自助者;皇天不負苦心人。如：

God helps those who help themselves./Every man is the architect of his own fortune./If you want a thing well done， do it yourself.

10.陳酒味醇，老友情深。如：

Old friends and old wine are best./The heart that once truly loves never forgets./Old love does not rust.

11.耳聞為虛，眼見為實。如：

Seeing is believing./What you see is real， what you hear is empty words./The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

12.木已成舟；覆水難收。如：

What is done cannot be undone./Things past cannot be recalled./Its no use crying over spilt milk.

13.有志者事竟成。如：

Where there is a will， there is a way./Nothing is impossible to a willing heart./With time and patience the leaf of the mulberry becomes stain.

14.誠實為上策。如：

Honesty is the best policy./Cheats never prosper./A clean hand wants no washing./A good name is better than riches.

15.不嘗試就不知道你能做什么；實踐出真知。如：

You never know what you can do till you try./Experience is the mother of wisdom./Practice is the best master.

16.兩人智慧勝一人，人多智廣。如：

Two heads are better than one. /Four eyes see more than two./The council of many is better.

17.趁熱打鐵。如：

Strike while the iron is hot./Make hay while the sun shines./Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. /Time and tide wait for no man.

二、諺語的使用

在使用諺語時必須結合上下文來考慮，即使同一諺語在不同的語境中意義也有區別，得細心體會。如：

1.Accidents will happen in the best regulated families. 家規再嚴，丑事難免。

(1)Accidents will happen in the best regulated families， and…if you find youve got anything the matter with you，…go and see a doctor right away.(W.S. Maugham)

照顧得再周到也會出事……要是你有什么不舒服……馬上去看醫生。

(2)In short， the banquet was such a failure that I should have been quite unhappy—about the failure. I mean， for I was always unhappy about Dora—if I had not been relieved by the great goodhumour of my company， and a bright suggestion from Mr. Micawber， “Accidents will happen in the best regulated families.”(Dickens)

總之，這次宴會失敗了。要不是米考伯先生用幽默的話語寬慰我并使我意識到“再有秩序的家庭也會有不順心的時候”，我本來會對這次失敗很惱火，我是說，我會對朵拉很生氣的。

2.As you make your bed， you must lie on it. 自己鋪的床自己躺；自食其果。如：

(1) My selfpity was at that time valuable， for it kept hope alive. Had I sturdily said to myself， “You have made your bed and you must lie on it， serve you right!” I should have accepted this and the last word on the subject and have sunk into despair.(Johnson)

我的自我憐憫在當時是很有作用的，因為它使我保持希望。如果我固執地對自己說：“這是咎由自取，活該！”那么我就會把這看成是結局而陷入失望之中。

(2) Ive nothing more to advise on the matter. You have made your bed and must lie on it.(B.L.K. Henderson: A Dictionary of English Idioms)

這件事我再也沒什么可奉勸你了。你既然做了就應負責。

(3) Billy smoked one of his fathers cigars and now he is sick. He made his bed， now let him lie on it. (M.T. Boatner J.E. Gates: A Dictionary of American Idioms)

比利抽了父親的一根雪茄，感到很不舒服。他是自作自受。

以上就若干英語諺語歸類及使用作了粗淺的探討，目的是使學生對英語諺語有進一步的理解，并在語言實踐中加以使用。如果使用得當，就能加強語言效果，提高語言水平，積極性也會隨之提高。因而在教學中，應引導鼓勵學生多使用諺語，讓這朵文學百花園中的奇葩綻放得更加絢麗多彩。