中国俗语 英语有说法

家家有本难念的经

有中国人译成:Every family cooking-pot has a black spot.(每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)

而美国人一般这么说: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 .熋扛黾彝ザ加凶约旱某笫)

说白些,就是:Every family has its own problem.G

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.

英语说法则是:

All good things come to an end.

(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(知心的好朋友) will drift apart.G

祸从口出,言多必失

有人译为:The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.老美听了,恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成:

Careless talk leads to trouble.煵恍⌒乃祷,会带来麻烦)或The less said the better.(说得愈少愈好)

甚至也可以说:Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说,张眼多看。)G

口蜜腹剑,笑里藏刀

有中国人译为:His mouth is honey his heart is a sword.

这种说法,老美会觉得“怪怪的”,如果改成:

He has honey in his mouth but murder in his heart.尚可。

不过,美国人通常只说:

He talks very warmly but his heart is very cold.

(他嘴巴很亲切,但内心很冷淡。)G

不入虎穴,焉得虎子

有人照字译成:

If you do not enter the tiger＇s den how can you get his cub

或是:Unless you enter the tiger＇s den you can not get the cubs.

美国人有简单的说法:

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

(不冒险,就没有收获。)

或者说:No pain no gain.G

《海外星云》(2000年33期)