一桶水搖不響，半桶水響叮當。有人照字面譯成：The full pot of water makes no sound; the half-empty pot of water is noisy. 老外聽后，也許會感到困惑。他們有自己的說法：A little knowledge (or learning) can be (or is) dangerous.（一知半解很危險）或者說：Still water runs deep.（靜水深不可測）也可以說：He who knows the most says the least.（懂得越多的人，反而說得越少。） 至于“大智若愚”，通常可以這么說：A truly wise person does not show off his (her) ability.（真正聰明的人，是不會顯要自己的能力）
水落石出。有人照字直譯為：As the water level sinks,the stones are exposed. 這樣說，恐怕老外還是聽不懂。他們的說法是：All secrets may eventually come to light. (所有祕密最后總會曝光。) 也可以說：Eventually, every secret will be disclosed.
這山望到那山高。有人譯成：The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.（意思是：墻那邊的蘋果最甜）當然，如要譯成：If you stand on a mountain, you feel the distant mountain seems higher than yours. 老外也勉強能接受。而他們的最習慣說法是：The grass always looks greener on the other side.（另一邊的草，看來總是綠些。）
烈火煉真金，患難見真情。有人譯成：Fire is the test of gold；adversity is the test of friendship. 這句譯文，雖然很好，老外也能了解，但是他們還有另外的說法：Liquor brings out a person's true color.（烈酒能顯示一個人真正的特色）或者說： Wine reveals a person's true heart. 雖然老外不用“烈火煉真金”的比喻，但有“路遙知馬力”的說法：By a long road, we know a horse's strength；at times of difficulty, we discover a friend's true character.
雷聲大，雨點小。有人譯為： The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls. 或者說：All we hear is thunder, but no rain falls. 雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解，但是老外的說法是這樣的：Actions speak louder than words. (行動勝于言談) 或All we hear is words, but there is no action. （只動嘴不動手）或Actions and words should go hand in hand. (言行必須一致) 另外，還有英語里還有這樣的說法：An empty barrel makes biggest sound.（空洞的話說得太多了。）
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量。有人譯為：A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper.這樣的譯法只是直譯，如果能夠稍加修改，老外就能了解：A man can not be judged by his appearance, nor can the water in the sea be measured by a bucket. 不過，老外通常的說法是這樣的：We can not judge a person by appearance only. 或 You can not judge a book by its cover.(意思是：一本書的好壞取決于它的內容，而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否。)
口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀。有人譯為 His mouth is honey; his heart is a sword. 外國人聽了會對這樣的比喻摸不著頭腦，如果要形容某人“口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀”，我們可以說 with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart, 或者 honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.也可以更直接的譯成He is an evil man who has a mouth that praises and a hand that kills.
少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。有人譯成 If you neglect study when you are young, what may happen to your old age? 這句問句會把老外問得云里霧里，因為他們沒有“學而優則仕”的思想，也不認為功課差，將來就會傷悲。他們勸告子女經常說的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / more promising future. (努力用功會帶給你光明的前程。) 當然也可以對年輕人說：Study hard when you are young. It will pay off when you get older. (年輕時好好努力，到老的時就會覺得學有所值。)
學如行舟，不進則退
如果直譯成：Learning is like rowing upstream; not to advance is to drop back. 老外聽后，也許會感到一頭霧水。這樣修改一下，表達可以清晰一些：Learning seems like rowing upstream(逆流); if one does not advance, one will fall back. Learning is like rowing against the current(激流), if one does not advance, one will retreat. 更直接的說法是：If you don't make progress, you will fall behind.
一日為師，終身為父。有這樣的譯法：He who teaches me for one day is my father for life. If you are my teacher for even one day, you will be my teacher (mentor) all my life. He who teaches me may be considered my father-figure for life. 這幾種譯法意思都是“老師即使對我只有一天的教誨，也會讓我一生都受用不盡�！蓖鈬艘灿兴麄儽磉_師生關系的諺語，如：Teach others to fish and they will fish for a lifetime.(授人以魚，不如授人以漁) Give a man fish, he will have a meal; teach him to fish, he will have food all his life.
忠言逆耳，良藥苦口。有人譯成Faithful words are contrary to the ears; good medicine tastes bitter to the mouth.也有人反譯為：Bitter words are medicine; sweet words bring illness.Good advice often jars on the ears; bitter pills have good effects. 這些說法，老外也會“一知半解”，不如直接一點說成：Honest advice may be distasteful to the recipient. Honest advice is hard to accept. Truth is a hard pill to swallow.更簡單的說就是：Truth hurts.
近墨者黑，近朱者赤。有人直譯為：one who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black.(vermilion 是朱砂或鮮紅色的意思) 也有人譯成：When you touch black, you become black; when you touch red, you become red. 這種說法，恐怕老外一時無法理解真正含意。不過他們倒有這么說：One takes the behavior of one's company. (一個人的行為，往往受到朋友的影響。) 或 One takes on the attributes of one's associates. (attributes 復數時是指品質、特性；associates 指朋友、同事) 簡單的說，就是：Watch the company you keep!(小心交朋友！) 或者也可以說成: As he who lies with dogs will ride with fleas, how could your son learn anything good by mixing with those people? (你兒子跟那些人混在一起,能學出個好來?) |
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