Idiom Interpretation
社会主义道德建设要以“五爱”为基本要求。（爱祖国、爱人民、爱劳动、爱科学、爱社会主义）
The building of socialist ethics should take cherishing a deep love for the motherland, the people, work, science and socialism as the basic requirements.
有的缩略词虽不带有数字，但是从字面意思上理解不到它的具体内容，也需要用剖析翻译的办法恢复它实际的内容，才能让听者明白。如：
“扫黄打非”，其具体意思是：清除黄色书刊的销售和非法出版
“eliminate the sale and production of pornographic and illegal publications”
“打假”（打击生产冒牌（假）货的人）“mount an attack on producers of counterfeit products”
“严打”(“严厉打击经济犯罪活动”，也指“严厉打击走私活动”“严厉打击各种犯罪活动”，应根据实际内容具体翻译出来) “be relentless in fighting economic crimes”, “relentlessly crack down on smuggling”
3. Practical advice for handling idioms
1) When interpreting idioms, we must take into full consideration the differences between the Chinese and English
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Idiom Interpretation
cultures and languages. We should avoid using seemingly identical but actually erroneous idioms in interpreting. If we can find an idiom in the target language that corresponds exactly to that in the source language, so much the better, because expressions familiar to the listeners make our translation more easily accepted. However, more often than not, we cannot find an idiom equivalent in meaning. In that case, we should not misuse any idioms in the target language, not unless we are sure of them. As a matter of principle, we would rather sound flat than elegant but erroneous. For example:
有眼不识泰山。 To entertain an angel unawares (≠ to have eyes but fail to see Taishan Mountain)
你可不能食言呀！You cannot break your promise. （≠ You cannot eat your words.）
You are pulling my leg. 你在开玩笑。
A horse stumbles that has four legs. 人非圣贤，熟能无过。 I’m dead-beat today. 今天我筋疲力尽。 He’s leading a dog’s life. 他过着非人的生活。
2) Try to memorize as many idioms as possible along with their established versions of translation in the process of training. Many idioms have more than one version of translation. It would be very convenient and helpful if an interpreter trainee
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Idiom Interpretation
could remember these generally accepted versions of idioms. For example:
己所不欲，勿施于人。 Do as you would be done by.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
Do not do to others what you do not wish to be done to yourself. 说曹操，曹操到。
Talk/Speak of an angel, and you will hear her wings. Speak of the wolf, and you will see his tail. Talk/Speak of the devil and he will appear. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。
If one does not work hard in youth, one will regret it in old age.
A young idler, an old beggar.
They must hunger in frost that will not work in heat. 3) If we hear an idiom or a string of idioms that we find hard to translate, we must, first of all, try our best to comprehend the meaning of the idiom or idioms in the light of the contest and renders the meaning rather than the individual words. Whichever method is used we must try to convey original message. For example:
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Idiom Interpretation
我们必须独立自主、自力更生地发展国防。
We must develop our defense independently and self-reliantly. 中国人民解放军70多年的历史，是从小到大、从弱到强的发展史。
The seventy-odd years’ history of the PLA is a history of its growth in size and strength.
Don’t argue with him. He has already got one foot in the grave. 别和他争了，他已经是风烛残年的人了。
It was a long time before someone broke the ice at the meeting. 会上出现了很长时间的僵局。
4）In case we fail to find an equivalent for an idiom in the target language, we must at least try to distinguish commendatory terms from derogatory terms. Then we can interpret the idioms creatively and flexibly. In so doing, we won’t go too far from the real meaning of an idiom, nor would we commit the mistake f “reversal of sense”.
A commendatory term is one that essentially carries the quality of being good and commendable and expresses praise and approval.
For example:
坚韧不拔 to persevere in tenacious efforts; staunch and
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Idiom Interpretation
unyielding
呕心历血 to work one’s heart out; to shed one’s heart’s blood
绚丽多彩 bright and colorful; gorgeous
A derogatory term is one that tends to take away the good and commendable qualities and serves to belittle someone or something that the term is applied. For example:
弄巧成拙 to try to be clever only to end up with a blunder; to outsmart oneself
忘乎所以 to forget oneself; to get swollen-headed 胆小如鼠 as cowardly as a mouse; as timid as a hare; chicken-hearted
丧心病狂 as mad as a March hare 4. 练习 时事类：
改革开放政策 Reform and opening up policy 经济指标 economic indicator
人均国民生产总值 per capita gross national product 国民收入 national income 财政收入 fiscal revenue
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