Idiom Interpretation
Some idioms which exhibit strong national or cultural characteristics can neither be handled by borrowing idioms from the target language nor translated literally because it would cause misunderstanding or could not be easily accepted by native speakers of the other language. In this case, it is necessary to resort to paraphrasing according to the context. For example:
鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利。 一不做，二不休
心里象有十五个吊桶，七上八下 王小二过年，一年不如一年 deteriorate 擀面杖吹火-----一窍不通 碰一鼻子灰 打开天窗说亮话
木已成舟，只好如此了。 不管三七二十一
小巫见大巫 to be simply nothing compared to … a fly on the wheel a bull in a china shop to paint the lily
(an area) flowing with milk and honey
2.4 Literal translation combined with paraphrasing (直
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Idiom Interpretation
译加注法)。
This approach is used when certain idioms, particularly those with historical stories or names involved, can hardly be understood and accepted by the listener, and the interpreter cannot find their proper equivalents in the target language. If literal translation were used, they would lose their original vividness.
灵活处理是指根据上下文的语境，参照套语已有的译法，加上自己的创造，灵活地译出原话的含义。有几个方法可以研究：
（1）结合译法。即将直译和意译结合起来，句子中的套语可直译的用直译，不能用直译的用意译。如：
美国动不动就对人采取贸易制裁，其实是搬起石头砸自己的脚，到头来吃亏的还是他自己。
The US easily takes trade sanctions against other countries. In fact, like lifting a rock only to drop on its own toes, it is the US that suffers in the end.
他们决心摆脱贫困，再也不能倒回过那牛马不如的生活。 They are determined to get rid of poverty, for they would never return to the old days when they led a dog’s life. (2) 近层译法。即先直译，后面再根据上下文的需要加上套语的释意。如：
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Idiom Interpretation
科学的事不能一步登天，需要艰苦的努力。
Science calls for painstaking/unremitting efforts, one cannot reach the sky in a single bound------ attain the highest level in one step.
这事生米已煮成熟饭，不必后悔了。
Don’t be regretful, the rice is already cooked------ what is done cannot be undone.
展览是综合性的，由于参观时间短，我们只能走马观花。 As the visit is short for such a comprehensive exhibition, we could, like a Chinese saying goes, only look at the flowers while passing them on horseback------ glance over things hurriedly. 杀鸡给猴看 to kill the chicken to frighten the monkey---- to punish somebody as a warning to others
班门弄斧 to show off one’s skill with the axe before Lu Ban the master carpenter-----to display one’s slight skill before an expert/ to teach your grandma to suck eggs/ to teach fish to swim
三个臭皮匠，赛过诸葛亮。Three cobblers with their wits combined surpass Zhu Geliang the mastermind -----Two heads are better than one.
(3) 共同译法。即原语中共同的（重复的）部分可以合并的即合并在一起翻译出来。汉语为了加强语气，常常用同一
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Idiom Interpretation
句型，排比的结构来阐述道理，描绘事物。口译时，可根据情况，有的可以把共同的部分合起来翻译，有的用对应方式照译。如：
要加强对党员干部特别时领导干部的严格要求、严格管理、严格监督。
Party members, especially leading officials, should be subject to strict requirements, management and supervision. (也可译为：be subject to high standards, rigorous management and close supervision.)（这句汉语的“严格”，英译时只用了一个 “stricter”作为后面三个词requirements, management and supervision的共同的修饰语）
各级政府要把两个文明作为统一的奋斗目标，一起部署，一起落实，一起检查。
Governments at all levels should take the two aspects of material development and ethical and cultural progress as a unified objective in our endeavour, to be planned, implemented and examined together.
增强人们的自立意识、竞争意识、效率意识和民主法制意识
enhance the people’s awareness of self-reliance, competition, efficiency, and the rule by law (三个“意识”，英语一个awareness)
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Idiom Interpretation
领导干部要自重、自省、自警、自励，以身作则，言行一致。
Leading officials should exercise self-respect, self-reflection, self-caution and self-encouragement, set an example for others, and match their words with deeds. (用对应方式照译)
（4）剖析译法。即将该套语的语言形式剖开，将它的内在含义翻译出来。这种方法主要用于带有数字的汉语套语。比如“三下乡”，原指“文化、科技和医疗”。遇到这种情况，口译时要去掉它的外壳，不用去管那个数字而把它的内容译出来，否则听者根本无法听懂。在同一场口译中，其后遇到同一个套语，可以借用汉语数字型的套语形式进行翻译，这时听者已经知道它的内涵，能够理解和接受了。如： 繁荣文学艺术，要坚持“二为”方向。（为人民服务，为社会主义服务）
In flouring literature and art, efforts should be made to adhere to the orientation of serving people and the cause of socialism.
要教育人民成为“四有”人民，教育干部成为“四有”干部。（有理想、有道德、有文化、有纪律）
The masses of people and officials should be taught to have ideals and moral integrity, and to be well-educated and self-disciplined.
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