中国俗语 英语有说法

塞翁失马,焉知非福

有中国人照字直译为:

The old man living at the frontier煴呷)lost his horse燿on＇t pity him焒or this may not be bad fortune.

这种说法,“中国”味道较重,老美很难理解。不过英语里倒流行这样的说法:Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.煵恍乙残硌诓刈乓恢制砀)

说白些,就是:There is something good in every bad situation.(每个不好的情况,都有好的一面。)也就是说:There is nothing bad that good dose not come.(好的不来,未必就是坏的。)G

一言既出,驷马难追

有人译成:One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it.

而老美类似的说法是:

A word once let go cannot be recalled.或:You can not take back what you have said.(你说出的话,就不能再收回来。)G

一粒鼠屎坏锅粥 有人照字直译成:

One speck of rat＇s dung spoils a whole pot of rice.

一般美国人倒喜欢这么说:

One rotten apple spoils the whole bunch.熞桓隼霉坏整篮)

One rotten egg spoils the whole dish.熞桓龀舻盎盗苏盘菜)

也可以说:One bad thing can mess up the entire plan.(一件坏事,可以影响整个计划)

如果指人,就可以说:

One nasty熁騜ad爌erson can 熁騧ay爎uin the whole team熁騟ntire group.(一个坏家伙,害了整群人。)(即害群之马)。G

平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚 有人照字直译为:

When times are easy焪e do not burn the incense熛),but when the trouble comes焪e embrace the feet of the Buddha.

这种说法,老美也会“一知半解”。但英语里一般的说法是:Worship God every day not just in times of adversity.熞每天敬拜神,不是只在困难时。)

对学生可以说:If you study hard every day焑xams will not seem overwhelming.(如果你每天用功,考试就不会形成压力。)G(摘自美国《世界周刊》)

《海外星云》(2000年34期)