经济学 点击: 2014-12-29
西方的谚语文化
man proposes, god disposes.
这个说法最早见于14世纪,起初以 “if man proposes evil, god disposes of it.” 的形式出现, 意思是上帝会阻止想要为恶的人。这里的god, 既可以指上帝, 又可以指天意。 就像我们常说的“尽人事, 听天命”、“谋事在人,成事在天”一样, 尽力而为之后, 还要顺从自然的规律。 毕竟,人类是自然的一部分, 凡事皆不可强求, 与自然的和谐是人类的生存之本。
例如:
a: bob, how about tomorrow’s driving test?sure to pass,huh?
b: i don’t know. i’ve done enough, i’d say. anyway, man proposes, god disposes. i am praying for good luck.
it is a sin to steal a pin.
该句的字面意思是: 即使是偷一根针也是一种罪过。还记得那句古训吗?“勿以恶小而为之, 勿以善小而不为。”冀望之切,溢于言表。不要因为犯的是小错就可以听之任之。 例如:
honesty is the best policy. never covet what is not yours, for it is a sin to steal a pin.
if you play with fire, you get burnt.
正如西方谚语所说:fire is a good servant but a bad master.
火在人们的掌控之下时是人类股掌之上的可爱精灵:篝火给人温暖,烟花处处讨人欢心。可是一旦它的力量过大,就凌驾于人类之上,再不受人的掌握。权力亦是如此,当它逐渐膨胀
不可收拾时,就成为一个暴戾的君王,统治人们的言行。所谓“玩火者必自焚”,铤而走险的盲目举动会招致无穷祸患。
例如:
the abuse of power has sent many people into jail, which shows that playing with fire could get you burnt.
revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
很形象的一句谚语。所有的菜肴都必须趁热吃,唯独revenge是个例外。“君子报仇,十年未晚。”
例如:
he has done serious wrong to his friends. you just wait and see. they will not let him go scot-free. revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
there is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪,有水才行船。
任何事情的发生都是有前兆的,“流言”的兴起有时也不完全是无中生有。虽然说是“坐得船头稳,不怕浪来颠”(相似的西谚是“do right and fear no man。”),但风起于青萍之末,一只蝴蝶扇动翅膀就可能引起大洋彼岸的一场大风暴。做人、谋事,谨慎为佳。 例如:no smoke without fire, said the detective.
smoke signals can be misread, countered sloan.
every dog has its day.
这里的day,是指opportunities, 即成功的机会;而dog 则泛指那些地位低下、似乎没有出息的人。“士别三日,当刮目相看”,落魄的人若发奋图强,总会有出头之日。 (又作all dogs have their days。)
例如:
you must not look down upon him. though poor and gloomy. he could turn out to be outstanding one day. as the saying goes, every dog has its day. if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.
这是一句很经典的谚语,也就是我们中文里说的“近朱者赤,近墨者黑”。 在这条英文谚语中体现出来的只是“近墨者黑”的一面。虽然中文里还有成语“出污泥而不染”一说,但环境对于人的影响仍然不可小觑。
例如:
-just to a friend’s.
-to a friend’s? just for a glass of liquor, huh? you’re going to be drowned in liquor, i’d say! if you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up to find yourself with millions of fleas!
it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog.
人非圣贤,孰能无过。人们总会犯一些错误,也许做者无心但观者有意。有些小人,自己抱残守缺,不干实事,却挖空心思,找别人的缺点和麻烦。欲加之罪,何患无辞? 例如: -did you know that jeff’s been fired?
-no. what for?
-jeff sometimes had ideas different from our boss’s.
-yeah, but jeff hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?
-well, boss is boss。 it is always easy to find a stick to beat a dog. you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.
这句谚语说的是:人老了思想容易僵化,对新生事物很难接受。
例如:
don’t forget wang is already 80. at his age, you can’t expect him to learn the tap dance. you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, you know.
从以上的几则谚语我们可以观察到中西文化的一个有趣的区别。西方人经常用狗来比喻人,如,lucky dog(幸运儿),因为他们并不歧视狗。而在汉语中,有不少涉及狗的谚语和成语都是贬义的,如“狗改不了吃屎”、“挂羊头卖狗肉”、“狗仗人势”、“狗嘴里吐不出象牙”等。当然,英文中dog一词有时也带有贬义,但往往含义与中文不尽相同,我们使用时切忌望文生义。如,it is a dog’s life chris is leading。 某位教授认为“a dog’s life”的意思是“悲惨的生活”,因而在一篇论及中英文化差别的文章中将其译成“过着牛马不如的生活”。其实“a dog’s life”指的是“争吵不休,过着不安宁的日子”。这类成语很多,如go to the dogs(每况愈下),dog-eat-dog(狗咬狗的,损人利己的),dog in the manger(占着茅坑不拉屎的人)。还有一些没有任何褒贬涵义的用法,如dog days(大热天),doggy bag(餐馆里的打包袋),据说,早先人们碍于面子,不愿明说要把剩菜带回家吃,佯称要带给狗吃,所以叫doggy bag.
上面四条西方谚语都可以在汉语中找到相似的表达,但下面两条却全然不同了。lightning never strikes the same place twice.
“闪电从不打同一个地方”,与我们说的“福无双至,祸不单行”恰恰相反,这也是差异的一个有趣的体现。
例如:
-how were your exams? all over?
one swallow does not make a summer.
swallow 是燕子。西谚说,一只燕子飞来不能代表夏天的来临。而中国成语却说, 一叶知秋。两种说法各有其智慧。“one swallow does not make a summer”强调的是要区别一般
性与特殊性的辩证哲理; 而“一叶知秋”体现的则是从细微的端倪窥见总体趋势的睿智。 例如:
-hey, look! the scores are already 2:1!liverpool is sure to win, i bet! -i don’t think so. one swallow does not make a summer. miracles always happen the last minute.篇二:浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异
浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异
学生:罗玲指导老师:谷一明
摘要:谚语是语言文化的瑰宝,它以其深刻、简练的语言浓缩了各民族的历史文化,反映了劳动人民的生活实践经验。透过谚语的窗口来窥探中西方文化中的风俗习惯、宗教文化及思维方式的差异,令人更深刻的感悟到谚语传递的文化蕴含。本文着重从谚语折射出的对生存环境、风俗习惯、宗教信仰和道德观念四方面来探讨中西方文化的差异。
英语经典谚语
1. Pain past is pleasure.
(过去的痛苦就是快乐。)[无论多么艰难一定要咬牙冲过去,将来回忆起来一定甜蜜无比。]
2. While there is life, there is hope.
(有生命就有希望/留得青山在,不怕没柴烧。)
3. Wisdom in the mind is better than money in the hand.
(脑中有知识,胜过手中有金钱。)[从小灌输给孩子的坚定信念。]
4. Storms make trees take deeper roots.
(风暴使树木深深扎根。)[感激敌人,感激挫折!]
5. Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. (心之所愿,无所不成。)[坚持一个简单的信念就一定会成功。]
6. The shortest answer is doing.
(最简单的回答就是干。)[想说流利的英语吗?那么现在就开口!心动不如嘴动。]
7. All things are difficult before they are easy. (凡事必先难后易。)[放弃投机取巧的幻想。]
8. Great hopes make great man. (伟大的理想造就伟大的人。)
9. God helps those who help themselves.(天助自助者。)
10. Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more.
(四个简短的词汇概括了成功的秘诀:多一点点!)
[比别人多一点努力、多一点自律、多一点决心、多一点反省、多一点学习、多一点实践、多一点疯狂,多一点点就能创造奇迹!]
11. In doing we learn.(实践长才干。)
12. East or west, home is best.(东好西好,还是家里最好。)
13. Two heads are better than one.(三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮。)
14. Good company on the road is the shortest cut.(行路有良伴就是捷径。)
15. Constant dropping wears the stone.(滴水穿石。)
16. Misfortunes never come alone/single.(祸不单行。)
17. Misfortunes tell us what fortune is.(不经灾祸不知福。)
18. Better late than never.(迟做总比不做好;晚来总比不来好。)
19. It's never too late to mend.(过而能改,善莫大焉;亡羊补牢,犹未晚也。)
20. If a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well.(如果事情值得做,就值得做好。)
21. Nothing great was ever achieved without
enthusiasm.(无热情成就不了伟业。)
22. Actions speak louder than words.(行动比语言更响亮。)
23. Lifeless, faultless.(只有死人才不犯错误。)
24. From small beginning come great things.(伟大始于渺小。)
25. One today is worth two tomorrows.(一个今天胜似两个明天。)
26. Truth never fears investigation.(事实从来不怕调查。)
27. The tongue is boneless but it breaks bones.(舌无骨却能折断骨。)
28. A bold attempt is half success.(勇敢的尝试是成功的一半。)
29. Knowing something of everything and everything of something.
(通百艺而专一长。)[疯狂咬舌头]
30. Good advice is beyond all price.(忠告是无价宝。)
It takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred years to bring up a generation of good men. / It takes three generations to make a gentleman. 十年树木,百年树人
An uncut gem goes not sparkle. / The finest diamond must be cut. / Unpolished pearls never shine. 玉不琢,不成器 To strike while the iron is hot. 趁热打铁.
Good luck would never come in pairs. 福不双至.
Fire proves gold, adversity proves men. 烈火显真金,逆境识英雄.
Long hair and short wit. 头发长,见识短.
Blood is thicker than water. 血浓于水.
If you would not be known to do anything, never do it. 若要人不知,除非己莫为.
In unity here is strength. 团结就是力量.
He whose belly is full believes not him who is fasting. 饱汉不知饿汉饥.
Easier said than done. 说时容易做时难.
Idleness is the root of all evil. 懒惰是万恶之源.
Wall has ears. 隔墙有耳.
这类对应谚语,从形式上几乎看不出任何文化差异.在谚语的起源上,有些甚至可能是相互的借鉴或翻译.东西方文化交流的比较研究,或许会提供一些证据.但不同文化中能有如此相通的谚语流传,也说明人类社会的文化积累过程有很多基本的共同进程.
还有一类谚语,所表达的含义完全相同,但所隐喻于的事物略有文化上的差异.比如:
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. 宁做鸡头,不做凤尾.
The foremost dog catches the hare. 早起的鸟儿有虫吃. Every potter praises his own pot. 老王卖瓜,自卖自夸. The fox preys farthest from home. 兔子不吃窝边草. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. 要知道梨子的滋味,最好是亲口尝一尝.
One swallow does not make a summer. 一花独放不是春.
外国谚语集锦
外国谚语集锦
.cn 2004/12/08 16:22 点点英语
修身篇--戒言{一个事物会引起风暴的谚语}.
1。Actions speak louder than words. 事实胜于雄辩。
[注] 相似的有:
Deeds, not words.
Fine words butter no parsnips. 好话中听不中用。
The greatest talkers are least doers. 说的最多的人往往做的最少。
A little help is worth a deal of pity. 一点点实际的帮助胜于一大堆口头的怜悯。
2。All your geese are swans. 牛皮吹破,希望落空。
3。Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no fibs. 想要不受骗,就别问问题。
4。Bad news travels fast. 坏事传的快。{一个事物会引起风暴的谚语}.
5。Better to ask the way than to astray. 与其闭口迷路,不如开口问道。
[注] 这句话告诫我们不懂就要问,免得遇上不必要的麻烦。
6。Brevity is the soul of wit. 言贵简洁。
7。Easier said than done. 说时容易做时难。
8。Fling dirt enough and some will stick. 诽谤重复多遍就会有人相信。
[注] 相似的谚语有:
Give a dog a bad name and hang him. 给人强加恶名,毁灭人的一生。
Give a lie twenty-four hours' start,and you can never overtake it.
24小时不辟谣,谣言成事实。
与此相似的中国谚语有:是非吹入凡人耳,万丈黄河洗不清。
9。He who excuses himself accuses himself. 欲盖弥彰。
10。His heart can not be pure whose tongue is not clean. 言语脏者,心灵不净。
11。If the cap fits, wear it. 如果这顶帽子合适你,就戴吧!
[注] 意为:如果你认为我是在讲你,那么就认为我在讲你吧。
12。It is one thing to promise and another to perform.
许诺是一回事,实现诺言是另一回事。
13。No one is informed but he who inquires. 多问长知识。
14。Not good is it to harp on the frayed string . 老调重弹,音不悦耳。
[注] 意指老说一个话题令人生厌。
15。One lie makes many. 一旦撒谎,欲止难休。
16。Praise makes good men better and bad men worse.
表扬使好的人变得更好,坏的人变得更坏。
17。Silence gives consent. 缄默即是认可。
[注]相似的谚语有:
No answer is also an answer.
18。There is a sin of omission as well as of commission.
做与不做均是过。
修身篇--延寿
1。After a dinner sit a while ,after a supper walk a mile. 午饭后歇歇,晚餐后走走。
2。An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 一天一个苹果,不要求医问药。
3。Bed is a medicine. 睡好觉,如服药。
4。Early to bed and early to rise. 早睡早起使你聪明健康和富裕。
5。An empty sack cannot stand upright. 空粉袋,站不直。
[注] 寓意人以粮食为主。
6。The end makes all equal. 死亡面前人人平等。
7。A healthy mind is in a healthy body. 身体好则精神爽。
8。A little labour, much health. 适度劳动,没病没痛。
9。Medicines are not meant to live on. 不能靠医药救命。
10。Seek your salve where you get your sore.
何处得病痛,何处寻药医。(或:心病还需心药医。)
养身篇--养性
1。Beggars must not be choosers. 要饭的哪能挑肥拣瘦。
[注] 相似的谚语是:
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. 人家送你马,切莫看口齿。
2。Blessed is he who experts nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. 不奢望得到任何东西的人最幸福,因为他永远不会失望。
[注] 这句话告诫人们不要对未来过于乐观。
There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. 杯到嘴边还会失手。
汉语谚语“知足长乐”的意思与此句相似。
3。Better wear out shoes than sheets. 穿破鞋子,胜于磨破床单。{一个事物会引起风暴的谚语}.
4。Care is enemy to health. 忧愁是健康之敌。
5。Care kill a cat. 忧虑伤身。
6。Cleanliness is next to godliness. 爱洁净仅次于敬上帝。
7。Comfort is better than pride. 宁愿舒适,不慕虚荣。
8。A contented mind is a perpetual feast. 知足常乐
9。Courtesy costs nothing. 谦恭有礼,惠而不费。
[注] 这句话的另一种形式是:
There is nothing that costs less than civility. 彬彬有礼,惠而不费。
10。Don't meet trouble half-way. 不要自寻烦恼。
11。Don't outrun the constable. 不要背债。
[注] 这句谚语的另一种形式是:
Don't overrun the constable.
从前讨债是英国警察的职责之一,如果你到期不付应付的款项,债权人报警,债务人就可能被逮捕入狱。
12。Eavesdropoers never hear any good of themselves.
隔墙之耳(偷听者)永远听不见被人夸。
[注] 这句谚语告诫人们不要过于好奇。
The fish will soon be caught that nibbles at every bait.嘴谗的鱼儿早上钩。
He who peeps through a hole may see what will vex him. 孔中窥视,只见烦恼事。 Too much curiosity lost paradise. 太强好奇心,失去伊甸园。
13。A fault confessed is half redressed. 承认错误等于改正了一半。
[注] 参见另一句谚语:
Open confession is good for the soul. 有错承认,心里安然。
与此相似的中国谚语是:知错改错不是错,知错不改错中错。迷途知返,得道未远。
14。Gluttony kills more than the sword. 饕餮杀人剩余甚于刀剑。
相近的中国谚语:狂饮伤身,暴食伤胃。
15。He is rich that has few wants. 知足者富。
汉谚“贪字近贫”与此英谚可谓中西双壁。
16。Hew not too high lest the chips fall in thine eye.
斧子切莫举过头,以防木屑掉进眼。
[注] 此谚语告诫人们不要野心勃勃,要认识到自己的局限。
与此相反的谚语:Faint heart ne'er won fair lady. 懦夫难赢美人心。
17。It takes two to make a quarrel. 两个人才吵的起架。
18。Let not the sun go down on your wrath. 不可含怒到日落。
19。Make the best of a bad bargain. 泰然处逆境。
20。Make the best of a bad job. 随遇而安。
富有哲理的英文谚语
富有哲理的英文谚语
1. Pain past is pleasure.
无论多么艰难一定要咬牙冲过去,将来回忆起来一定甜蜜无比。
2. While there is life, there is hope.
有生命就有希望/留得青山在,不怕没柴烧。
3. Wisdom in the mind is better than money in the hand. 脑中有知识,胜过手中有金钱。
4. Storms make trees take deeper roots.
风暴使树木深深扎根。/感激敌人,感激挫折!
5. Nothing is impossible for a willing heart.
心之所愿,无所不成。/坚持一个信念就一定会成功。
6. The shortest answer is doing.
最简单的回答就是干。
7. All things are difficult before they are easy. 凡事必先难后易。/放弃投机取巧的幻想。
8. Great hopes make great man.
伟大的理想造就伟大的人。
9. God helps those who help themselves.
天助自助者。
12. East or west, home is best.
东好西好,还是家里最好。
13. Two heads are better than one.
三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮。
14. Good company on the road is the shortest cut. 行路有良伴就是捷径。
15. Constant dropping wears the stone.
滴水穿石。
16. Better late than never.
迟做总比不做好;晚来总比不来好。
17.Actions speak louder than words.
行动比语言更响亮。
18.The tongue is boneless but it breaks bones.
舌无骨却能折断骨。
19.Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. 无热情成就不了伟业。
20.Knowing something of everything and everything of something. 通百艺而专一长。
1 Be honest rather clever.
诚实比聪明更要紧。{一个事物会引起风暴的谚语}.
2 Being on sea, sail; being on land, settle.
随遇而安。
3 Be just to all, but trust not all.
要公正对待所有的人,但不要轻信所有的人。
4 Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.
眼见的不能全信,耳闻的也不能半信。
5 Be slow to promise and quick to perform.
不轻诺,诺必果。
6 Be swift to hear, slow to speak.
多听少说。
7 Better an empty purse than an empty head.
宁可钱袋瘪,不要脑袋空。
8 Better an open enemy than a false friend.
明枪易躲,暗箭难防。
9 Better good neighbours near than relations far away. 远亲不如近邻。
10 Between the cup and the lip a morselmay slip.
功亏一篑。
11 Between two stools one falls to the ground. 脚踏两头要落空。
12 Beware beginnings.
慎始为上。
13 Big mouthfuls ofter choke.
贪多嚼不烂。
14 Bind the sack before it be full.{一个事物会引起风暴的谚语}.
做事应适可而止。
15 Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚,人以群分。
16 Birth is much, but breeding is more. 出身固然重要,教养更且重要。
西方文化谚语
Man proposes, God disposes.
这个说法最早见于14世纪,起初以 “If man proposes evil, God disposes of it.” 的形式出现, 意思是上帝会阻止想要为恶的人。这里的God, 既可以指上帝, 又可以指天意。 就像我们常说的“尽人事, 听天命”、“谋事在人,成事在天”一样, 尽力而为之后, 还要顺从自然的规律。 毕竟,人类是自然的一部分, 凡事皆不可强求, 与自然的和谐是人类的生存之本。
例如:
A: Bob, how about tomorrow’s driving test?Sure to pass,huh?
B: I don’t know. I’ve done enough, I’d say. Anyway, man proposes, God disposes. I am praying for good luck.
It is a sin to steal a pin.
该句的字面意思是: 即使是偷一根针也是一种罪过。还记得那句古训吗?“勿以恶小而为之, 勿以善小而不为。”冀望之切,溢于言表。不要因为犯的是小错就可以听之任之。 例如:
Honesty is the best policy. Never covet what is not yours, for it is a sin to steal a pin.
If you play with fire, you get burnt.
正如西方谚语所说:Fire is a good servant but a bad master.
火在人们的掌控之下时是人类股掌之上的可爱精灵:篝火给人温暖,烟花处处讨人欢心。可是一旦它的力量过大,就凌驾于人类之上,再不受人的掌握。权力亦是如此,当它逐渐膨胀
不可收拾时,就成为一个暴戾的君王,统治人们的言行。所谓“玩火者必自焚”,铤而走险的盲目举动会招致无穷祸患。
例如:
The abuse of power has sent many people into jail, which shows that playing with fire could get you burnt.
Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
很形象的一句谚语。所有的菜肴都必须趁热吃,唯独revenge是个例外。“君子报仇,十年未晚。”
例如:
He has done serious wrong to his friends. You just wait and see. They will not let him go scot-free. Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
There is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪,有水才行船。
任何事情的发生都是有前兆的,“流言”的兴起有时也不完全是无中生有。虽然说是“坐得船头稳,不怕浪来颠”(相似的西谚是“Do right and fear no man。”),但风起于青萍之末,一只蝴蝶扇动翅膀就可能引起大洋彼岸的一场大风暴。做人、谋事,谨慎为佳。 例如:"No smoke without fire," said the detective.
"Smoke signals can be misread," countered Sloan.
Every dog has its day.
这里的day,是指opportunities, 即成功的机会;而dog 则泛指那些地位低下、似乎没有出息的人。“士别三日,当刮目相看”,落魄的人若发奋图强,总会有出头之日。 (又作All dogs have their days。)
例如:
You must not look down upon him. Though poor and gloomy. he could turn out to be outstanding one day. As the saying goes, every dog has its day. If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.
这是一句很经典的谚语,也就是我们中文里说的“近朱者赤,近墨者黑”。 在这条英文谚语中体现出来的只是“近墨者黑”的一面。虽然中文里还有成语“出污泥而不染”一说,但环境对于人的影响仍然不可小觑。
例如:
-Harry! How come you’re back so late? Where’ve you been?
-Just to a friend’s.
-To a friend’s? Just for a glass of liquor, huh? You’re going to be drowned in liquor, I’d say! If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up to find yourself with millions of fleas!
It is easy to find a stick to beat a dog.
人非圣贤,孰能无过。人们总会犯一些错误,也许做者无心但观者有意。有些小人,自己抱残守缺,不干实事,却挖空心思,找别人的缺点和麻烦。欲加之罪,何患无辞? 例如:
-Did you know that Jeff’s been fired?
-No. What for?
-Jeff sometimes had ideas different from our boss’s.
-Yeah, but Jeff hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?
-Well, boss is boss。 It is always easy to find a stick to beat a dog. You can’t teach old dogs new tricks.
这句谚语说的是:人老了思想容易僵化,对新生事物很难接受。
例如:
Don’t forget Wang is already 80. At his age, you can’t expect him to learn the tap dance. You can’t teach old dogs new tricks, you know.
从以上的几则谚语我们可以观察到中西文化的一个有趣的区别。西方人经常用狗来比喻人,如,lucky dog(幸运儿),因为他们并不歧视狗。而在汉语中,有不少涉及狗的谚语和成语都是贬义的,如“狗改不了吃屎”、“挂羊头卖狗肉”、“狗仗人势”、“狗嘴里吐不出象牙”等。当然,英文中dog一词有时也带有贬义,但往往含义与中文不尽相同,我们使用时切忌望文生义。如,It is a dog’s life Chris is leading。 某位教授认为“a dog’s life”的意思是“悲惨的生活”,因而在一篇论及中英文化差别的文章中将其译成“过着牛马不如的生活”。其实“a dog’s life”指的是“争吵不休,过着不安宁的日子”。这类成语很多,如go to the dogs(每况愈下),dog-eat-dog(狗咬狗的,损人利己的),dog in the manger(占着茅坑不拉屎的人)。还有一些没有任何褒贬涵义的用法,如dog days(大热天),doggy bag(餐馆里的打包袋),据说,早先人们碍于面子,不愿明说要把剩菜带回家吃,佯称要带给狗吃,所以叫doggy bag.
上面四条西方谚语都可以在汉语中找到相似的表达,但下面两条却全然不同了。Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
“闪电从不打同一个地方”,与我们说的“福无双至,祸不单行”恰恰相反,这也是差异的一个有趣的体现。
例如:
-How were your exams? All over?
-I really don’t know. I did rather poorly last time. I hope I’ll do better this time. -Come on, don’t worry about it。 You are sure to pass。 As the saying goes, lightening never strikes the same place twice.
One swallow does not make a summer.
swallow 是燕子。西谚说,一只燕子飞来不能代表夏天的来临。而中国成语却说, 一叶知秋。两种说法各有其智慧。“One swallow does not make a summer”强调的是要区别一般性与特殊性的辩证哲理; 而“一叶知秋”体现的则是从细微的端倪窥见总体趋势的睿智。 例如:
-Hey, look! The scores are already 2:1!Liverpool is sure to win, I bet! -I don’t think so. One swallow does not make a summer. Miracles always happen the last minute.
趣味英文谚语搜罗
君子报仇十年未晚--趣味英文谚语搜罗
为了学好英语,特别是为了提高英语写作和翻译水平,了解和熟悉一些英文谚语和格言十分必要。这些谚语源远流长,反映了前人在生活实践中所积累的经验和教训,既富有知识性和哲理性,又形象生动、通俗易懂。由于谚语大多韵律和谐,读来朗朗上口,听来印象深刻,所以比较容易记忆。如果再与我国相应的谚语和成语加以比较,就更易于人们全面掌握、正确使用。
(1)A fool at forty is a fool indeed.
孔子云:四十而不惑。又云:年四十而见恶焉,其终也已。 (The person who at the age of forty still evokes the dislikes of others is a hopeless case.) 西谚谈的也是这个意思,只不过换了一种说法:到了四十岁还不懂得生活的人,就真的是一个愚人。正如另一句西谚所说,Life begins at forty. 由此看来,四十岁是不惑之年,是一个人领悟生活真谛的开始,在这一点上,无论是东方抑或是西方,都有着共鸣。
e.g. John never lived up to the expectations of his family. Twenty years after college, he has accomplished nothing. Which reminds us of the proverb, "A fool at forty is a fool indeed!"
(2)Old habits die hard.
这句谚语说的是一个习惯问题。人们很难克服自身的惯性,总是喜欢走老路,或按照旧习惯去思考和行事,不管这种习惯是好还是坏。这虽是人之常情,有时不免使人偏执,带来不利影响。如果要找出一个相应的中文成语来匹配的话,那就是“江山易改,本性难移。” 当然,中文这个成语里有些许贬义,但英文这句话本身的使用却不受褒贬的限制,有时还可能有自嘲的意思。
e. g.
A: Why, I have told Joe millions of times that he should leave his dirty shoes outside, but it seems he is just turning a deaf ear to my advice!
B : Come on, calm down. Old habits die hard, you know.
(3)Bad news travels fast.
正所谓 “好事不出门 , 坏事传千里。” 坏消息、小道消息总是不径而走,其速之疾,令人咋舌。这也许与人们的猎奇心理有关,越是有争议的话题越能得到人们的关注,bad news 自然就会大有市场,令人们奔走相告。
e. g.
A: Newman missed the championship by a mere 0.1second.The news just came out at noon, but now the whole city seems to be talking about it!
B: Yeh, bad news travels fast.
(4) Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
很形象的一句谚语。所有的菜肴都必须趁热吃,唯独revenge 是个例外。“君子报仇,十年未晚。”
e.g. He has done serious wrong to his friends. You just wait and see. They will not let him go scot- free. Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
(5) There is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪,有水才行船。任何事情的发生都是有前兆的,“流言”的兴起有时也不完全是无中生有。虽然说是“坐得船头稳,不怕浪来颠”(相似的西谚是"Do right and fear no man")但风起于青萍之末,一只蝴蝶扇动翅膀就可能引起大洋彼岸的一场大风暴。做人、谋事,谨慎为佳。
e.g. "No smoke without fire, "sad the detective.
"Smoke signals can be misread," countered Sloan.
(6) Every dog has its day.
这里的day是指opportunities,即成功的机会;而dog则泛指那些地位低下、似乎没有出息的人。“士别三日,当刮目相看”,落魄的人若发奋图强,总会有出头之日。 (又作All dogs have their days)
e.g. You must not look down upon him.Though poor and gloomy. He could turn out to be outstanding one day. As the saying goes, every dog has its day.
(7) If you lie down with dogs, you win get up with fIeas.
这是一句很经典的谚语,也就是我们中文里说的“近朱者赤,近墨者黑”。在这条英文谚语中体现出来的只是“近墨者黑”的一面。虽然中文里还有成语“出污泥而不染”一说,但环境对于人的影响仍然不可小觑。
e.g. Harry! How come you're back so late? Where have you been?
--Just to a friend's.
--To a friend. Just for a glass of liquor, huh? You're going to be drowned in 1iquor. I'd say! If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up to End yourself with millions of fleas!
(8) It is easy to find a stick to beat a dog.
人非圣贤,孰能无过。人们总会犯一些错误,也许做者无心但观者有意。有些小人,自己抱残守缺,不干实事,却挖空心思,找别人的缺点和麻烦。欲加之罪,何患无辞? e.g.
--Did you know that Jeff's been fired?
--No. What for?
--Jeff sometimes had ideas different from our boss's.
--Yeah, but Jeff hasn't done anything wrong, has he?
--Well, boss is boss. It is always easy to find a stick to beat a dog.
(9) You can't teach old dogs new tricks.
这句谚语说的是:人老了思想容易僵化,对新生事物很难接受。
e.g. Don't forget Wang is already 80.At his age, you can't expect him to learn the tap dance. You can't teach old dogs new tricks, you Mow.
从以上的几则谚语我们可以观察到中西文化的一个有趣的区别。西方人经常用狗来比喻人,如,lucky dog(幸运儿),因为他们并不歧视狗。而在汉语中,有不少涉及狗的谚语和成语都是贬义的,如“狗改不了吃屎”、“挂羊头卖狗肉”、“狗仗人势”、“狗嘴里吐不出象牙”等。当然,英文中dog一词有时也带有贬义,但往往含义与中文不尽相同,我们使用时切忌望文生义。如It is a dog's life Chris is leading.某位教授认为“a dog's life”的意思是“悲惨的生活”,因而在一篇论及中英文化差别的文章中将其译成“过着牛马不如的生活”。其实“a dog's life”指的是“争吵不休,过着不安宁的日子”。这类成语很多,如 go to the dogs(每况愈下),dog-eat-dog (狗咬狗的,损人利己的),dog in the manger (占着茅坑不拉屎的人)。还有一些没有任何褒贬涵义的用法,如 dog days (大热天),doggy bag (餐馆里的打包袋),据说,早先人们碍于面子,不愿明说要把剩菜带回家吃,佯称要带给狗吃,所以叫doggy bag 。
上面几条西方谚语都可以在汉语中找到相似的表达,但下面两条却截然不同了。
(10) Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
“闪电从不打同一个地方”,与我们说的“福无双至,祸不单行”恰恰相反,这也是差异的一个有趣的体现。
e.g.
--How were your exams? All over?
--I really don't how. I did rather poorly last time. I hope I'll do better this time.
--Come on, don't worry about it. You are sure to pass. As the saying goes, lightening never strike the same place twice.
(11) One swallow does not make a summer.
swallow 是燕子。西谚说,一只燕子飞来不能代表夏天的来临。而中国成语却说,一叶知秋。两种说法各有其智慧。"One swallow does not make a summer",强调的是要区别一般性与特殊性的辩证哲理;而“一叶知秋”体现的则是从细微的端倪窥见总体趋势的睿智。 e.g.
--Hey, look! The scores are already 2:1! Liverpool is sure to win, I bet! --I don't think so. One swallow does not make a summer. Miracles always happen the last minute.