English Idioms VS Chinese Idioms.ppt

English Idioms VS Chinese Idioms He was in the seventh heaven last night. Longman Dictionary of English Idioms: (not formal) in a state of great happiness or contentment 在宗教中，七重天是指上帝和天使居住的天国最高层。人能身居天国最高层，与上帝同在，自然是非常愉快的。 The children are in the seventh heaven with their new toys. English Idioms EC Translation Six of one and half a dozen of the other Literal Translation (Free Translation) Wrong Understanding Pull one’s leg Move heaven an earth Eat one’s word Dog-eat-dog Chinese Idioms CE Translation Both literal translation and free translation can help readers to understand the original meaning easily. 竭泽而渔 to drain a pond to catch all the fish =kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 打草惊蛇 To stir up the grass and alert the snake =wake up a sleep dog 玩火自焚 To get burnt by the fire kindled by oneself =fry in one’s own grease 挥土如金 to spend money like dirt =spend money like water 守口如瓶 to keep one’s mouth closed like a bottle =keep a still tongue in one’s head 画蛇添足 to draw a snake and add feet to it =paint the lily Mechanical Translation 无孔不入 to take advantage of every weakness to get into every hole 扬眉吐气 to feel proud and elated to raise the eyebrows and let out a breath 灯红酒绿 dissipated and luxurious with red lights and green wine 开门见山 to come straight to the point to open the door and see the mountain 单枪匹马 to be single-handed in doing sth with a solitary spear and a single horse 海阔天空 to talk at random with a vast sea and a boundless sky Culture Background 毛遂自荐 to volunteer one’s service 东施效颦 crude imitation with ludicrous effect 南柯一梦 a fond dream or illusory joy 初出茅庐 at the beginning of one’s career 倾国倾城 to be exceedingly beautiful 悬梁刺股 to be extremely hard-working in one’s study Conclusion Literal Translation By adopting this approach, we can preserve in the version not only the original meaning and form, especially the original figure(s)of speech and figurative meaning, but also the national and local colors and features in the original. It will