家家有本難念的經(jīng)

有中國(guó)人譯成:Every family cooking-pot has a black spot.(每個(gè)家庭的鍋?zhàn)佣加泻谏奈埸c(diǎn))

而美國(guó)人一般這么說(shuō):Many families have skeletons in the closet.(許多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸)(骨骸就是指家丑)

或者說(shuō):Every family has its own source of shame .熋扛黽彝ザ加兇約旱某笫)

說(shuō)白些,就是:Every family has its own problem.G

天下無(wú)不散的宴席

有人直譯為:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.

英語(yǔ)說(shuō)法則是:

All good things come to an end.

(所有好的事情,總有結(jié)束的一天。)

假如是指好友最后也有分別的一天,那么可以說(shuō):

Eventually all bosom friends(知心的好朋友) will drift apart.G

禍從口出,言多必失

有人譯為:The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.老美聽了,恐怕不能完全理解。最好說(shuō)成:

Careless talk leads to trouble.煵恍⌒乃禱,會(huì)帶來(lái)麻煩)或The less said the better.(說(shuō)得愈少愈好)

甚至也可以說(shuō):Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (閉嘴少說(shuō),張眼多看。)G

口蜜腹劍,笑里藏刀

有中國(guó)人譯為:His mouth is honey his heart is a sword.

這種說(shuō)法,老美會(huì)覺得“怪怪的”,如果改成:

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

不過(guò),美國(guó)人通常只說(shuō):

He talks very warmly but his heart is very cold.

(他嘴巴很親切,但內(nèi)心很冷淡。)G

不入虎穴,焉得虎子

有人照字譯成:

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.

美國(guó)人有簡(jiǎn)單的說(shuō)法:

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

(不冒險(xiǎn),就沒有收獲。)

或者說(shuō):No pain no gain.G

《海外星云》(2000年33期)