成語與四字格的翻譯（3）

　　漢語成語具有的民族文化特色在很多情況下在譯語中難以用直譯法再現(xiàn)。為了確保譯文讀者準(zhǔn)確理解成語的意義，我們常常采用意譯手段。它雖然難以保全成語的文化特色和具體形象，卻能簡潔明快第反映出成語的喻義。例如：“手忙腳亂”in a frantic rush、“立竿見影”get instant results、“噤若寒蟬”keep quiet、“明火執(zhí)仗”do evil things openly、“牽腸掛肚”be full of anxiety and worry、“快馬加鞭”speed up、“藕斷絲連”have not cut off relations completely、“五光十色”multicolored、“歸心似箭”be very anxious to return home、“雞毛蒜皮”trifling、“開門見山”come straight to the point、“狗急跳墻”do something desperate、“黔驢技窮”at one's wits' end、“單槍匹馬”all by oneself、“生龍活虎”bursting with energy、“順手牽羊”walk off with something、“守株待兔”trust to chance and stroke of luck。

　　套譯法是指套用譯語中某個(gè)與漢語成語喻義相近的成語來進(jìn)行翻譯的方法。套譯法可用于下列幾種情況：(1)兩個(gè) 成語的字面意義和蘊(yùn)涵意義基本一致。例如“肉中刺”a thorn in the flesh、“混水摸魚”fish in troubled waters、“趁熱打鐵”strike while the iron is hot、“眼見為實(shí)”seeing is believing、“隔墻有耳”walls have ears、“自投羅網(wǎng)”throw oneself into the trap、“嗤之以鼻”turn up one's nose at、“一觸即發(fā)”touch and go、“空中樓閣”castles in the air、“充耳不聞”turn a deaf ear to、“熟能生巧”practice makes perfect、“事實(shí)勝于雄辯”facts speak louder than words;(2)兩個(gè)成語的比喻形象有所差異，但比喻意義基本一致。例如：“笑掉大牙”laugh off one's head、“亂七八糟”at sixes and sevens、“東張西望”look right and left、“拋磚引玉”to throw a sprat to catch a herring、“緣木求魚”seek a hare in hen's nest、“揮金如土”to spend money like water、“膽小如鼠”as timid as a hare、“甕中之鱉”like a rat in a hole、“無風(fēng)不起浪”there is no smoke without fire、“掛羊頭賣狗肉”cry up wine and sell vinegar、“有志者事竟成”where there is a will there is a way、“新官上任三把火”new brooms sweep clean、“偷雞不成蝕把米”go for wool and come back shorn、“己所不欲勿施于人”do as you would be done by;(3)漢語成語原本是翻譯的產(chǎn)物，因此可直接以英語成語回譯之，例如：“以眼還眼”an eye for an eye、“君子協(xié)定”a gentleman's agreement、“武裝到牙齒”armed to the teeth。