习语是长期以来在特定社会和文化背景下自然形成的固定词组、短语或短句,往往具有隐喻或比喻的成分,能够非常形象和生动地表达出某种意义。
英汉两种语言历史悠久,均包含着大量的习语。但由于文化和思维的差异,中文习语和英文习语之间的翻译,总是存在着某种意境上的缺憾。
比如“不入虎穴,焉得虎子”的英文翻译就体现不出中文的意境:Nothing brave, nothing have.
不过,也不是所有的习语都会如此,也存在一些习语在两种语言的脑回路中就体现出了惊人的一致。
比如汉语里,我们用“血浓于水”来强调骨肉亲情的重要性,这和英语中“blood is thicker than water”这个习语就惊人地相似。
尽管处于不同的文化环境中,人们在认知世界或领悟人生的方式上,也会呈现出一些共通之处。也就是说,不同的语言在表达同一种意义时,其词汇选择可能会采用相似或相同的联想机制。
今天我们就来讲讲中英文里达到了神同步的十五组习语表达,一起来看看吧!
1、初步成果the first fruits
first fruits字面意思是第一批水果,而树上结的第一批果实也就是今年的第一批收益,也就是最初的成果。
2、血比水浓Blood is thicker than water.
例句:
Families have their problems and jealousies, but blood is thicker than water.
家家有本难念的经,也都难免互生嫉妒,但总归血浓于水。
3、绞尽脑汁Rack your brain(s)
例句:
You rack your brain, trying to come up with a new topic, but your mind is blank.
你绞尽脑汁试图提出一个新话题,但你脑袋里却是一片空白。
4、花钱如流水Spend money like water
例句:
They both spend money like water.
他们两人都是花钱如流水。
5、隔墙有耳Walls have ears
例句:
Not so loud. Walls have ears.
不要太大声, 隔墙有耳。
6、半斤八两six of one, half a dozen of the other
It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.
这不过是半斤八两而已。
7、浑水摸鱼fish in troubled waters
例句:
Estelle had been trying to fish in troubled waters.
艾丝特尔一直试图浑水摸鱼。
8、视觉盛宴a feast for the eyes
例句:
His newly released film has such lush cinematography that it is truly a feast for the eyes.他的新影片采用了华丽的拍摄技术,让观众们大饱眼福。
9、一石二鸟Kill two birds with one stone
例句:
I killed two birds with one stone and picked the kids up on the way to the supermarket.
我在去超市的途中顺便接了孩子,一举两得。
10、相思病无药可治No herb will cure love
例句:
Yeah, we had a brief fling, but it's over now, love is a sweet torment, thus, no herb will cure love.
是的,我们曾经有过一段短暂的恋情,但现在都已过去,爱是一种甜蜜的折磨,无药可医。
11、牵着鼻子走lead sb (around) by the nose
例句:
Intelligent people cannot be led by the nose.
聪明的人不会让人牵着鼻子走。
12、垫脚石stepping stone
例句:
Many college students use their degrees as a stepping-stone to dream jobs.
许多大学生把学位作为找到理想工作的垫脚石。
13、担任副手;第二把手play second fiddle
例句:
Tired of playing second fiddle, she resigned and started her own company.
厌倦了充当配角,她辞职并创办了自己的公司。
14、左耳朵进右耳朵出in one ear and out the other
例句:
Everything you say to him goes in one ear and out the other.
不管你跟他说什么,他都当作耳旁风。
15、以眼还眼,以牙还牙an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
这个习语出自《圣经》,中英文同源。“以眼还眼,以牙还牙”也是汉语成语中少有的外来语之一。
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