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漢語成語翻譯的方法
漢語成語翻譯的方法 【摘 要】 漢語成語承載著中華五千年的文化特色和文化信息.而翻譯并非只是兩種語言之間的一種簡單的對應(yīng)轉(zhuǎn)換過程,而是一種文化的交流和傳遞。
因此,在漢語成語英譯的具體操作過程中,首先要充分理解漢語成語的內(nèi)在含義,靈活運(yùn)用不同的翻譯方法,對比英漢語言中習(xí)語(成語)的異同,進(jìn)行適當(dāng)?shù)慕Y(jié)構(gòu)調(diào)整,將漢語成語所承載的文化特色和文化信息最大限度地傳譯給外國讀者。幫助外國讀者消除或減少語言及文化障礙就要求譯者盡最大努力把漢語成語翻譯成外國讀者樂于接受的形式。與此同時要在英語中再現(xiàn)漢語文化,這是一個很大的挑戰(zhàn)。
把漢語成語翻譯成英語,譯者們掌握和熟悉兩種語言以及其文化是非常重要的。他們必須從風(fēng)俗和文化背景的角度,通過對漢語和英語語言學(xué)和文化差異的理解,盡量去把握成語的內(nèi)在含義,從而使其觀點(diǎn)與原文的精神相一致。本文簡單介紹了漢語成語英譯的幾種方法。
【關(guān)鍵詞】 漢語成語,英語習(xí)語,翻譯,文化內(nèi)涵,源語,目標(biāo)語
[Abstract] Chinese idioms bear five thousand years of Chinese cultural characteristic and the cultural messages. Translation is not only one kind of simple correspondence switching process between two languages, but is one kind of cultural exchange and transmission.
Therefore, translating Chinese idioms into English is a concrete operating process. First, the translators must fully understand the intrinsic meaning of the Chinese idioms; second, they should utilize several different translation methods nimbly and contrasts the similarities and differences between the English idioms and Chinese idioms; third, they should carry on the suitable structure adjustment and translate Chinese idioms which bear cultural characteristic and cultural information in maximum limit for the foreign readers. Helping the foreign readers eliminate and reduce language and cultural barrier requests the translator to work diligently to translate the form of Chinese idiom in the way that the foreign readers are glad to accept. At the same time, this is a very big challenge to reappear Chinese culture in English.
To understand and translate Chinese idioms into English,it is very important for the translators to master and well acquaint themselves with the original language and the target language and their cultures. They should set out from the aspects of customs and cultural backgrounds and try to grasp the connotation of the original idiom by understanding linguistic and cultural differences between English and Chinese so as to make his version alike the original text in spirit. This article introduced several methods on translation of Chinese idioms concisely.
[Key Words] Chinese idioms;English idioms;translation;culture connotation;original language;target language
1. Introduction
About translation, the translation theoreticians have proposed many different viewpoints. In China, the most popular theory is Mr.Yanfu’s “faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance(信,達(dá),雅)”while in the western countries, the most popular one is “equivalent value, equivalent effect and function equivalence(等值,等效,功能對等) ”.These viewpoints are mutually influenced and supplemented. Although the translators have different emphasis points, they all advocate that the translation must express the connotation of the original text faithfully and the style of the original work should reappear in translation. “所謂忠實(shí)表達(dá)原文的意義,應(yīng)指忠實(shí)表達(dá)原文的字面意義,形象意義,隱含意義三個方面�！盵1] p65(So-called “expressing the indication of the original text faithfully”, is to express the wording meaning, the image meaning and the implied meaning of the original text faithfully.) But not all expressions, words, even characters in the original text simultaneously have these three kinds of meanings. Maybe some of them only have the wording meaning, but without the image meaning; some may have the wording meaning and the image meaning, but lack of the implied meaning. Any two languages are impossible to be all coordinated completely. Therefore, it is impossible to completely reproduce the three kinds of meanings of the original text. First, because the cultural differences produce the contradiction in the translation process, the wording meaning or the image meaning must obey the implied meaning. Second, the image meaning of the original text cannot be found in the target language. Sometimes the images are the same but the implied meanings are actually different. In this situation, what the translators need to consider first is the accurate expression of the implied meaning. The images of the original text should be changed into other images that the foreign readers are familiar with.
2. Several methods of Chinese idiom translation
The existence of cultural differences brings certain difficulties to the cultural exchange. It is also the biggest barrier in the translation. When the transla 漢語成語翻譯的方法tors translate one language to another, besides understanding the writing of these two languages thoroughly, the translators also have to understand the cultural differences between these two languages profoundly.
In Chinese “Idioms” means that “成語:人們長期以來習(xí)用的,簡潔精辟的定型詞組或短句。漢語的成語大多由四個字組成,一般都有出處。有些成語從字面上不難理解,如‘小題大做’,‘后來居上’等。有些成語必須知道來源或典故才能懂得意思,如‘朝三暮四’,‘杯弓蛇影’等�！盵2] P 130(Since long ago the people have used habitually, concise and succinct words or short phrases. Most Chinese idioms are composed by four characters, generally all of which have the source. The meanings of Some idioms are available from the word writing, such as: ‘小題大做’and ‘后來居上’; The meaning of some idioms should be got from its source or allusion. Such as ‘朝三暮四’ and ‘杯弓蛇影’.) On Chinese idiom translation, culture has a great influence on the translators' logical thinking and the glossary choice of the language.
The semantics of idiom has the integrity. Usually we cannot get its significance from a single character. If many Chinese idioms were translated into English directly according to the wording meaning, although the foreign readers can understand the meaning of each character, they still have difficulties in understanding the overall significance of this idiom.
2.1 Metaphrase
Metaphrase is a method that the image and the forms of the original text are preserved, which can be translated literally. The readers also can catch the implied meaning by the wording translation. Some Chinese idioms have similar images, which the foreign readers can associate to the equivalent English idioms.
2.1.1 Literal Translation
In idiom translation, there is a tendency to find English equivalent idioms, equivalent in referential meaning rather than in the images. The reason is that the target text must be idiomatically English. Therefore, literal translation of Chinese idioms is often considered non-idiomatic. As long as the translation conveys a vivid image and the referential meaning is not distorted, literal translation can introduce Chinese culture to the world. Literal translation is a way by which the rhetoric, national and regional characteristics are kept in the target language. In this way the meaning and the form of the source language are unchanged.
Some Chinese idioms can be translated literally with the same vivid figurative result of the original ones, which can make the foreign readers associate to the equivalent English idioms.
For example:
⑴對牛彈琴 —— To play the lute to a cow. The readers can associate it to the equivalent English idiom “to cast pearls before swine”.
⑵竭澤而漁 —— To drain a pond to catch all the fish (the equivalent idiom: To kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.)
⑶易如反掌 —— To be as easy as turning over one’s hand (the equivalent one: As easy as falling off a log.)
⑷口蜜腹劍 —— To be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted(the equivalent one: A Judas kiss)
Though there are not equivalent English idioms, some Chinese idioms with the literal meanings can also be translated literally with the accurate images. Such as:
⑸井底之蛙 —— To be like a frog at the bottom of a well
⑹史無前例 —— To be without precedent in history
⑺七嘴八舌 —— With seven mouths and eight tongues
2.1.2 Replacement
Regarding Chinese idioms translation, what many translation books discussed mainly was the replacement technique. Sometimes, equivalent translations can be found, but mostly only similar ones. Usually the replacement technique is necessary in the following situations.
(ⅰ) Chinese idioms have same meanings and culture messages as those in the target language.
There are many Chinese and English idioms, which have the same images as well as the expression forms.
⑴In Chinese, “渾水摸魚” means “[釋義]渾水:渾濁的水。指在渾濁的水中摸魚。[用法]比喻趁混亂的時機(jī)撈取不正當(dāng)?shù)睦?也作‘混水摸魚’�！盵3]P259 But the English idiom “to fish in troubled water” means “take advantage of troubled or uncertain condition for personal profit”. These two idioms are similar in both expression form and intrinsic meaning.
The similar idioms are as follows:
⑵赴湯蹈火 —— Go through fire and water
⑶隨波逐流 —— To go with the tide
⑷知識就是力量 —— Knowledge is power.
⑸眼不見,心不煩 —— Out of sight, out of mind.
⑹謀事在人,成事在天 —— Man proposes, god disposes
⑺空中樓閣 —— Castles in the air
⑻充耳不聞 —— Turn a deaf ear to
(ⅱ) Chinese idioms share similar meanings but different culture messages and images with the target language.
&nb 漢語成語翻譯的方法sp; The Chinese idioms, which have same or similar vivid analogy with the English idioms, should be exchanged into the same or corresponding English idioms directly. Different languages have different images.
⑴For example: if translators translate the Chinese idiom “胸有成竹” directly into “have a bamboo in one’ s stomach” according to the wording meaning. The foreign readers not only have difficulties in getting the meaning that this idiom contained, but also have the wrong association easily. Therefore, the translators must discard the images in this idiom and change them into the images that the foreign readers are familiar with. So it may be translated as “have a card in one’s sleeve”
⑵The Chinese say “噤若寒蟬”(as mute as a winter cicada)”, yet the native English say , “as mute as a fish”. Fish and cicada have similar function in the above examples though they are not similar at all. As far as “silence” is concerned, fish is a familiar image to English speakers, yet the Chinese tend to associate the sense with winter cicada.
⑶The Chinese idiom “甕中之鱉(the turtle in the jar)”means “[釋義]甕:大壇子;鱉:甲魚。大壇子中的甲魚。[用法]形容已在掌握之中,逃脫不了�！盵4]P651 .But the English idiom “l(fā)ikes a rat in a hole”, whose image is a mouse, which is stranded in a hole. It is in an extremely difficult situation. These two scenes agree without prior consultation but happen to hold the same view. Though the translators replaced the image, the foreign readers have no difficulty to understand its meaning.
The similar Chinese idioms included:
⑷膽小如鼠 —— As timid as a rabbit
⑸揮金如土 —— Spend money like water
⑹東張西望 —— Look right and left
⑺緣木求魚 —— Seek a hare in hen’s nest
⑻拋磚引玉 —— To throw a sprat to catch a herring
So, familiar images of the target language are often used to replace those of the source language. It is very regret that the foreign readers cannot understand the exotic atmosphere of Chinese culture.
(ⅲ) Chinese idioms share similar images but different culture messages and connotation with the target language.
Some Chinese idioms and English idioms are almost the same in the expression form, but the commendatory or derogatory meaning, which the idioms contained, is different. So they cannot be mutually translated.
“習(xí)俗文化指的是貫穿于日常社會生活和交際活動中由民族的風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣形成的文化。.[5]P64”( The custom culture refers to the activities, which formed by nationality's manners and customs in the social daily life)As a result of the custom culture differences, the translators must pay attention to the animal words in the idioms whose meanings are different. For example, in China, the people often think the dog is loathing. Therefore, most dog-related idioms include the derogatory meaning.
⑴For example, “狐朋狗友(Pack of scoundrels)”, “狼心狗肺(heartless and cruel)”and so on. But in the western nation, the dog was considered as human's good friends. For example: “help a lame dog over a stile (雪中送炭)”, “l(fā)ove me, love my dog. (愛屋及烏)”and so on.
⑵For example: the Chinese idiom “笑掉大牙” includes the meaning “ridicules”. The English idiom “to laugh off one’s head” is only the expression of “l(fā)augh” or “l(fā)augh loudly”. It is a neutral word. These two idioms look very similar literally. But the commendatory and derogatory terms of two words are dissimilar. So they cannot be mutually translated.
⑶The Chinese idiom “說曹操,曹操到(when you mention CaoCao ,he soon arrives)” means “I was just talking about you!” it did not bring the derogatory meaning, but English idiom “talk of the devil and he will appear” has the derogatory meaning。
⑷If you translate “亡羊補(bǔ)牢” to English proverb “l(fā)ock /close the stable door after /when the horse has been stolen”. The direct translation mistakes the meaning of “亡羊補(bǔ)牢" which means “still has not been late “! But this English proverb expressed the meaning “has already been late , beyond any help”。Therefore, 亡羊補(bǔ)牢can correspond to the English proverb “a stitch in time save nine” or “better late than never”
⑸In the Chinese idiom“令人發(fā)指” and the English idiom “to make one’s hair stand on end”,[6]P164 the former one means “to make the person extremely angry “,the latter one refers that “ frighten or horrify someone”. So ‘令人發(fā)指’ can be translated into “make the blood boil”.
2.2 Paraphrase
Paraphrase is a method that the original contents are preserved, but the forms are changed in the target language.
When Chinese idioms are metaphrased into the target language, readers still cannot grasp the meanings due to cultural difference. “有些習(xí)慣用語帶有很濃的中國文化色彩…對于這部分成語,字面翻譯是無法為外國讀者所接受的。如加上許多解釋性的文字,就失去了成語精粹的特點(diǎn)。最好的辦法就是繞開其文化背景,譯出其 漢語成語翻譯的方法真正的內(nèi)涵意義。”[7]P139 (Some idioms have the Chinese culture characteristic.. Regarding this kind of idioms, the wording translation is unable for the foreign reader’s acceptance. If we add many explanations, the idiom characteristic will lose. The best method is to discard its cultural context and translate its connotation.)
Thus, paraphrase is needed to keep meanings to point and keep connotation in line with the culture in the target language, though it may fail to show the style of the original language. It is a good way to convey the connotation of Chinese idioms.
2.2.1 Negation
Mr.Ye Zinan mentions negation in 《高級漢英翻譯理論與實(shí)踐》. He gives the definition like this: “反面著筆法(negation)有時也稱正說反譯或反說正譯。其基本概念是原文從一個角度下筆,譯文恰恰從相反的角度下筆。” [8]P80(Sometimes negation also was called that to express positively but be translated negatively or to express positively but be translated negatively. Although the basic concept of the original text starts writing from an angle, the translation exactly starts writing from the opposite angle.).
Sometimes the translators utilize the negation technique just to form an exquisite article.
For example:
⑴“塞翁失馬,焉知非福?” is a rhetorical question, but the translation is “ Danger is next neighbor to security.” which is an affirmation declarative sentence.
⑵我很高興看見你安然無恙。——I am glad to see you safe and sound.
In Chinese, “無恙” means “haven’t got illness”, which is expressed negatively. But its translation —— “sound”, whose meaning is “健康”, is expressed positively.
“英語中有許多含有否定或半否定語氣的詞語,在翻譯中可充分利用,以便使譯文符合英語習(xí)慣,并使句子結(jié)構(gòu)多樣化�！盵9]P60 ( There are many denial or half denial expression words and expressions in English. If they are fully used in translation, the translation will conform to the English custom and the sentence structures are more varied.)
⑶For example: “木已成舟” in Chinese is firmly a declarative sentence. But its English translation is “things done cannot be undone” which expresses the identical meaning from the denial declarative sentence angle.
⑷“不入虎穴,焉得虎子?” is a rhetorical question, whose translation is “nothing venture, nothing have”. It is an affirmation sentence.
⑸他開車的時候心不在焉,幾乎闖禍�！狧is absence of mind during the driving nearly caused an accident.
The noun “absence” conceals the meaning of negation. It agreed with the logics of the native English readers.
Mr.Ye Zinan had added “有時采用這種方法卻是譯者為了行文優(yōu)美的目的,不用這個反面著筆的方法譯文并非不通。反面著筆的方法在實(shí)際翻譯中如果用的恰到好處,常常會使譯者絕處縫生,是英漢翻譯中非常有用的一個技巧�！盵10]P81(Sometimes the translator uses this method in order to reach a goal of forming an exquisite article. So even if they don’t use the method of negation, other translation methods still work. If the translator uses Negation properly, he will find his way out from an impasse. It is a useful skill in Chinese and English translation.)
2.2.2 Substitution
“Substitution” refers to “some Chinese idioms are abstract while the equivalent English idioms have concrete images; some Chinese idioms have concrete images but the equivalent English ones are always abstract.”
2.2.2.1 Substitute abstract concept for concrete images
The Chinese idiom is quite abstract, while the English idiom is concrete. Because its vivid image may enable the reader to realize flavor.
⑴For example: “做賊心虛” may be translated that “a bad conscience is just like a snake in one ' s heart”. We use “a snake in the heart” to transmit “心虛”—the afraid and guilty conscience of the thief.
⑵The correspond English idiom of “事與愿違”is “all your swans are geese”. When someone fined out all swans are ordinary geese and the disappointed facial expression is contrary to what he expects.
⑶“不知所措” corresponds the English idiom “all at sea”. Shall we try to imagine the situation that a person in the boundless sea. It is helpless.
⑷The idiom “入鄉(xiāng)隨俗” may be translated into “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Why in Rome but not other places? But the foreign readers are very familiar with this idiom. We change “鄉(xiāng)(village)”to “Rome” which the foreign readers are so familiar with. Certainly they can accurately understand intrinsic meaning of the Chinese idiom “入鄉(xiāng)隨俗”.
The similar idioms are as follows:
⑸青出于藍(lán)勝于藍(lán) —— The pupil outdoes the master.
⑹不擇手段 —— By hook and by crook
⑺不辭而別 —— To take French leave.
2.2.2.2 Substitute concrete images for abstract concept
“中國人特別喜歡用具體形象詞語比喻抽象的事物,以物表感,狀物言志�！盵11]P30(The Chinese lik 漢語成語翻譯的方法e using the vivid concrete words and expressions to substitute abstract things, expressing their feelings and wills by things)Some Chinese idioms use the concrete images or things to describe the abstract concepts. Therefore, in translation process, the translators should boldly discard these images and translate the connotation of them appropriately.
⑴For instance: if the translators translate “順手牽羊” directly into “walk off with a sheep” according to the wording meaning. The foreign readers may misunderstand that the thieves in China only steal the sheep but not other things. But Chinese readers haven’t got such misunderstanding. In this idiom, “the sheep(羊)” is a concrete thing actually which refers to “others' thing perhaps the property”. It expresses an abstract concept with the concrete thing.
⑵When we translate the idiom “狗急跳墻”, we do not need to describe specifically that “how anxious the dog is (狗急)”, and “how it to jump the wall(跳墻)”. As long as we express the intrinsic meaning, the foreign readers may be clear at a glance when we translate it as “do something desperate”.
⑶Perhaps we have to have a lengthy speech when translate “明火執(zhí)仗”. But the direct translation is “do evil things openly”. The foreign readers can understand its intrinsic meaning concisely.
⑷If translate “守株待兔” in a detailed way, do we have the necessity to tell the fable story which conceals this idiom in details? Even we told this story; the foreign readers also cannot realize the implication, which this idiom contains. If we translate it directly likes this: “trust to the chance and stroke of luck”. The foreign readers may understand the implication easily. The only regret thing is that it lacks the Chinese characteristic.
Because the native English readers can’t accept the figurative images of some Chinese idioms, we should translate these idioms flexibly according to their actual meanings.
⑸For example, if we translate the idiom“眉飛色舞”into “his eyebrows are flying and his countenance is dancing”, the native readers will not only feel confused and puzzled, they will also think it funny and ridiculous.
More similar idioms are:
⑹粗枝大葉 —— To be crude and careless. (Dead translation: with big branches and large leaves)
⑺燈紅酒綠 —— Dissipated and luxurious. (Dead translation: with red lights and green wine)
⑻開門見山 —— To come straight to the point. (Dead translation: to open the door and see the mountain)
⑼大張旗鼓 —— On a large and spectacular scale. (Dead translation: to make a great array of flags and drums)
⑽風(fēng)雨飄搖 —— Being unstable. (Dead translation: The wind and rain are rocking)
2.2.3 Additional remarks & Note
The readers need additional remarks and note if the meaning of the idiom is not completely understood.
2.2.3.1 Additional remarks
“Additional remarks” refers to “to increase the related information, which may help understand the intrinsic meaning of the idiom in the translation process.” It is usually concise.
For example:
⑴The translation of “事后諸葛亮” is “to be a wise man like Zhuge Liang after the event.” As we know, Zhuge Liang is a renowned character in the Chinese history. He is the symbol of wisdom. But the foreign friends may not necessarily know who he is. Therefore, the translator has to explain who Zhuge Liang is. The foreign readers are easier to understand the connotation of the idiom.
⑵你這是班門弄斧。——“You are showing off your proficiency with an axe before Luban the master carpenter.”
In order to help foreign readers understand the meaning of the idiom, translators add “showing off your proficiency “ to indicate the connotation of “班門弄斧” and also add some background knowledge of this idiom, that is to say, Lu Ban is a master carpenter. The method of translation not only makes the translation precise but also takes the meaning expression and the cultural exchange into account.
⑶Like “東施效顰” may be translated as “ Tung shih imitates Hsi shih” (Hsi shih was a famous beauty in the ancient kingdom of Yueh. Tung shih was an ugly girl who tried to imitate her way). Its concealed meaning is “imitates others to make a fool of oneself”.
⑷If we translate “八仙過�！� to “ the eight fairies crossed the sea” without introducing “八仙(the eight fairies)”are characters in the Chinese myth story, the readers should be puzzled. Therefore we must add the annotation behind the translation: the eight fairies of Taoism in Chinese folklore.
2.2.3.2 Note
“Note” refers to “to add the related information and bac 漢語成語翻譯的方法kgrounds of the idioms in details.” It is usually the footnotes.
Although the structure is simple ,the implied meaning is profound. Therefore,they cannot be solely come up the understanding and translation from a single word. Some Chinese idioms are rich in Chinese cultural backgrounds, among which contain the ancient Chinese names from mythology and history. If we translate this kind of idioms literally, the native English readers will not understand them. If we translate the idioms with more explanation, the translations will loss the idiom characteristic of being concise. In this case, we’d better translate the idiom freely with the actual meaning rather than focus on its cultural background. If we use the method of direct translation to translate this kind of idioms, it will bring difficulties to the native English reader's reading and understanding. Moreover, even if we use the method of significance translation, we still can’t vividly reappear the literary reference and the cultural connotation of the Chinese idioms.
Some foreign readers don't know the meaning of the Chinese idioms from the paraphrase. But they may be wondering the stories related to them. In this case, concise note is necessary to compensate the cultural differences and decrease cultural loss. These methods should be cautiously used in the avoidance of tediousness and the explanatory notes are usually footnotes.
Such as:
⑴“畫餅充饑” —— Allaying hunger with pictures of cakes
In the three kingdoms period (220-280), the kind of the Wei, Cao Rui, wanted to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: “when choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation. A false reputation is just like a picture of a cake, it can’t reliever hunger.” later, this idiom came to be used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts, without solving practical problems.
⑵“葉公好龍” —— Lord Sheh’s love of dragons
Sheh was so fond of dragons that he adorned his whole palace with drawings and carvings of them, but when a real dragon heard of his infatuation and paid him a visit, he was frightened out of his wits.
The translators have to add a footnote to this idiom, and the foreign readers can get the connotation from it.
More similar idioms are as follows:
⑶毛遂自薦 —— Mao Sui recommending himself
In the warring states period, the state of Qin besieged the capital of the state of Zhao. Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the state of Chu personally for assistance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. A man called Mao Sui volunteered. When the negotiations between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitates to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. In that situation, the ruler of Chu agrees to help Zhao, against Qin.
So the Chinese use “毛遂自薦” to mean that “to volunteer one’s service”
⑷“一鼓作氣” —— Rousing the spirits with the first drum roll
During the spring and autumn period, an army from the state of Qi confronted one from the state of Lu. After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle, the Lu ruler wanted to attack. But his counselor Cao Gui said “we should wait until the third drum roll, sire.” after the Qi side had beaten the drums three times, the Lu army attacked and defeated the Qi army. After the battle, the king asked Cao Gui the reasons for his odd advice. Cao Gui answered, “fighting needs spirit. Their spirit was aroused by the first roll or the drums, but was depleted by the second. And it was completely exhausted by the third. We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted. That’s why we won.”
So, later, this idiom means, “to get something done with one sustained effort.”
2.2.4 Omission
Ms Hu Aiping has mentioned that “漢語成語有些是對偶詞組,前后兩對含義相同,修辭上優(yōu)美勻稱,尤其是在四字結(jié)構(gòu)的成語中,多呈現(xiàn)‘同義反復(fù)’的現(xiàn)象。這種現(xiàn)象在崇尚簡潔的英語中是最忌諱的。”[12]P69 (Some Chinese idioms are the matched phrases. The meanings of the two pairs of words are same. They are exquisite and symmetrical in rhetoric. Particularly the four characters structure idioms present the phenomenon of ‘tautology’. This kind of phenomenon is a taboo in English, which advocate succinctness.)
The images in Chinese idioms are vivid. Many idioms have the compound antithesis structure. Though their explanations are different, the concealed meanings are same. Regarding this kind of idiom translation, In order to avoid “tautology “, translating the meaning of image is ok.
For example:
⑴ 漢語成語翻譯的方法近朱者赤,近墨者黑 —— One who stays near vermilion gets stained red./When you touch red,you become red. There are some similar expressions in the English speaking countries: “one takes the behavior of one’s company.” or “one takes on the attributes of one’s associates.” or “watch the company you keep.”
⑵“無影無蹤”,whose meaning is “to vanish without a trace”, the meaning of “無影”is “without an image”, “無蹤”means “without a trace”. Hence, “without a trace” is enough to express the whole meaning of this idiom.
⑶忽聞有人在牡丹亭畔,長吁短嘆。(羅貫中《三國演義》)—— suddenly he heard a rustle in the peony pavilion and someone sighing deeply.
Here, “長吁” and “短嘆” have the same meaning of “sighing deeply”.
⑷“這斷子絕孫的阿Q!”遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地聽得小尼姑的帶哭的聲音。(魯迅《阿Q正傳》)——“ Ah Q, may you die sonless! ” Sounded the little nun’s voice tearfully in the distance.
In the translation, “die sonless” can express the meanings of both “斷子” and “絕孫”.
⑸她只覺得頭暈眼花,辨不出路徑 —— She felt too dizzy to remember the way she had come. In Chinese, “頭暈” and “眼花” have the same meaning of “dizzy”.
The similar idioms are:
⑹愁眉苦臉 —— Gloomy faces
⑺天長地久 —— Eternal like skies
⑻五光十色 —— Multicolored
⑼生龍活虎 —— Bursting with energy
⑽字斟句酌 —— Weigh every word
3.Conclusion:
Nevertheless, translation methods are not fixed. One Chinese idiom may be translated in several different ways. Proper translations are to be chosen by consideration of various contexts and readers’ acceptability.
Mr.Tan Zaixi has expressed Eugene A. Nida’s view as follows: “任何能用一種語言表達(dá)的東西都能夠用另一種語言來表達(dá);在語言之間,文化之間能通過尋找翻譯對等語,以適當(dāng)方式重組原文形式和寓意結(jié)構(gòu)來進(jìn)行交際�！盵13]P20(Everything that can be expressed in one language also can be translated into another language. We can find out the equivalent one between two languages and between two cultures, and then do the communications by the way which adjust the structures in a proper way. ) The Chinese idioms are the cream of our national culture. In translating them into English, we should translate not only the denotations, but also the cultural connotations. If necessary, we should adjust the semantic structures so that we can decrease the culture loss as little as possible. In this way, we can promote and expand the exchange abroad of the Chinese culture.
Eugene. Nida thought that, “對于真正成功的翻譯來說,雙文化能力甚至要比雙語能力更為重要�！盵14]P70(Regarding the success translation that, the double cultural ability even must be more important than the bilingual ability)Therefore, translating Chinese idioms into English is a concrete operating process. First, the translators must fully understand the intrinsic meaning of the Chinese idiom; second, they should use several translation methods flexibly, contrast the similarities and differences between English and Chinese, adjust the structure suitably; last, try their best to translate Chinese idioms which bear the cultural characteristic and information to the foreign readers. Helping the foreign readers eliminate and reduce language and cultural barrier requests the translator to translate the form of Chinese idioms diligently that the foreign readers are glad to accept. At the same time it is a big challenge to reappear Chinese culture in English.
Translation is not only two languages exchanges, but also one kind of cross-cultural exchange. Its goal is to break the barrier between the two different languages.
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