Comparison and Translation of English and Chinese Idioms

馬俊寧 劉晴

【Abstract】The so called idiom refers to a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words， but must be learnt as a whole. Because of their rich associations and strong nationality， idioms are usually hard for learners to understand and master. But as you know， language is the carrier of culture， and idioms are the cream of a language. Since both English and Chinese idioms have their unique characteristics， the comparison of the two may help us understand the similarities and differences between western and Chinese cultures， bridge the cultural gaps and enhance the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication. Besides that， the comparison can also be instructional in translation theory and translation practice.

【Key words】English idioms； Chinese idioms； comparison； translation approaches

Chapter One Comparison and Translation of Chinese and English Figurative Idioms.

Many idioms are generally used figuratively， and have implied meanings. They are figurative idioms，and usually carry a vivid image. The idioms convey their ideas by means of images and figures of speech.

1.1 Vehicle Contrast

Comparing the English and Chinese figurative idioms， well find therere many idioms that are similar in meaning but using quite different vehicles. For instance， “大海撈針”（look for a needle in a haystack）. Both idioms express the meaning of “difficult to find”， but in the Chinese idiom， the vehicle is “sea”， but in the English idiom， the vehicle becomes “haystack”. Another example is that in Chinese we call a thief “三只手”， but in English， he is called jokingly as “a light-fingered gentleman”.

1.2 Opposite Figuration

In many situations， the two idioms lack the corresponding idioms that are similar in meaning. On the contrary， therere many opposite figuration. Such as “如魚得水” vs. “like fish out of water”， “一葉知秋”vs.“one swallow does not make a summer”.

1.3 Similar Figuration

Although not so many， therere some Chinese and English idioms that are similar both in vehicles and meanings. For example： fish in troubled water（渾水摸魚）， and “an eye for an eye， a tooth for a tooth”（以眼還眼，以牙還牙）.

1.4 Two Approaches in Processing English and Chinese Figurative Idioms

Therere usually two ways in translating the two idioms， i.e. from the point of image and from the point of meaning. In the figurative idioms， there are many that use the same image and express similar meanings. Such as“ 了如指掌 ”（know something like the back of ones hand），“滴水石穿” （Constant dropping wears the stone）. But therere not so many idioms that can fall into this group and this simple image-correspondence is sometimes misleading. So the second approach is quite necessary， i.e. correspond from the point of meaning. E.g. “throw a wet blanket on （殺風景）” and “lie in the bed one has made” （自作自受）.

Chapter 2 Comparison and Translation of Chinese and English literary-quotation Idioms.

Both in Chinese and English languages， therere a lot of idioms deriving from historical events， stories， allegory or literary works. This kind of idioms can be called “literary-quotation idioms.”

2.1 Two Kinds of Literary-Quotation Idioms： Tangible and Intangible

The literary-quotation idioms can be categorized into two kinds： tangible and intangible. The tangible kind refers to the idioms that are obviously related with some historical events， stories， allegory or literary works， etc. Such as the Chinese idioms “守株待兔”，and the English idiom “ skeleton in the cupboard”. However， if the mark of the literary-quotation is not very obvious， then it can be regarded as intangible kind of literary-quotation idioms. For instance， “ 朝三暮四”and “blow hot and cold”， etc.

2.2 Translation approaches and Examples

In translating the intangible idioms， we can only simply express its allegoric meanings， but the tangible one should be explained with vivid images. For example， “自相矛盾”（be self-contradictory）“以子之矛，攻子之盾”（set your own spear against your own shield—refute somebody with his own argument.）

However， the boundary between the tangible and intangible idioms is not so absolute， and under some circumstances， the two can transform into each other. Such as the Chinese idiom“錦囊妙計”. Although it is related to a historical story， most of the time we only use its allegoric meanings without explaining the story behind. So we can simply translate it into “instructions for dealing with an emergency”.

Conclusion

This paper revolves around the comparison and translation of English and Chinese Idioms. I hope the readers may get some ideas about the basic features， the similarities and differences of the two idioms， and acquaint themselves with the reflected exceptional cultural features， thus help bridge the cultural gaps and enhance the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication.

References：

[1]陳文伯.英漢成語對比與翻譯[M].世界知識出版社，2005.1.

[2]陳文伯.English and Chinese Idioms[M].外語教學與研究出版社，1982.1.