本文来自雅思作文网liuxue86.com《常见中文俗语》。 许多中国人爱用俗语、成语、俚语。由于中美两国文化、风俗、思想、习惯的差异,如果照字直译,或把单字「堆在一起」,老外听了,也许就会「满头雾水」、「迷迷糊糊」,成了他们所说的「只有你们中国人听得懂」的「中国英文」(Chinese English)。
在此,把一些常见的中文俗语与一般老外的说法相对比较,或许可供有兴趣的读者参考。
1. 人山人海:有人直译为:People mountain people sea.
这就是「中国英文」,老外很难理解。他们指「人多」时,通常只说:「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:「There is (was) a long movie line.」
不过在诗词用语 (poetic expression) 里,老外也有使用:「a (the) sea of faces」,颇有咱们「人山人海」的味道。例如:
Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片人山人海的听众, A先生发表一篇动人的演说。)
Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。)
可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有「人海」的感觉。因此,可以说:I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不说:「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说:「There is a sea of faces.」只说:「I saw a large crowd of people.」
2. 家家有本难念的经:有人译成:Every family cooking - pot has a black spot. (意思是:每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)
这样说法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是:
Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)
或者说:
Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)
说白些,就是:
Every family has its own problem.
3. 天下无不散的宴席:有人直译为:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
老外听后,也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法,也许更易理解:
All good things come to an end. (意思是:所有好的事情,总有结束的一天。)
假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:
Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)
4. 平时不烧...