口語中譯英
由於中西文化背景不同，許多中文口語或雙關(guān)語（pun），如果「字字直譯」，就與原意差距很大，往往令美國人難以理解。所以我採用不拘泥字句的意譯，也許較能溝通。不知讀者以為然否？
（1）知己知彼，百戰(zhàn)百勝：
（就是說，正確地估計自己和充分的了解對方，就能取得鬥爭中的勝利。）
可譯為：
To win a war, one should both fully understand oneself and carefully evaluate one\'s opponent.
或：
To achieve victory in war, one must carefully know oneself and the enemy.
或：
Whenever we want a victory, we need to understand both ourselves and our opponent.
（2）知足常樂：
（就是說，為人要知足，才能保持愉快的心情。）
可譯為：
To have a happy life, one should be contented.
或：
Contentment is the key to happiness.
或：
Happiness consists in contentment.
或：
Having gratitude for your life is an element of happiness.
（3）敗軍之將，不足以言勇：
（就是說，吃過敗仗的將軍，再沒有什麼可以吹噓的。）
可譯成：
A defeated general should not talk about bravery or courage.
或：
If you are a defeated general, do not boast about your past.
或：
After having been defeated, a general has nothing to brag about.
（4）知無不言，言無不盡：
（就是提出自己的意見，毫無保留。）
可譯成：
Without any reservation, he fully expressed his ideas.
或：
Whatever he knows, he expresses himself fully.
或：
With self-confidence, one can express oneself any way one wants to.
(5) 話不投機(jī)半句多：
（就是沒有共同點(diǎn)，說不到一塊兒。）
可譯成：
If you cannot talk harmfully with each other, a half sentence will be too much.
或：
Two people can hardly carry on a conversation unless they have something in common.
或：
Having nothing in common will cut a conversation very short.
(6) 人急生智，狗急跳牆：
（也就是事情逼急了，就會採取極端的措施。）
可譯為：
As the last result, a person can think of something unusual; so may a dog.
或：
In time of emergency, man as well as dog, can do something unexpected.
假如譯成：
When a person is at risk, he (she) may come up with a smart idea; when a dog is pushed too far, it may jump the wall.
（也可以溝通）
(7) 飽暖思*慾：
（也就是人有錢享受時，就會生非分之想。）
可譯成：
If one lives a comfortable lifestyle, it will lead one to promiscuous thoughts.
或：
If one lives high on the hog, one\'s minds may fill with dirty thoughts.
或：
Increasing material possessions will lead to increasing immoral thoughts.
或：
When one has a comfortable life, one\'s mind may end up in the gutter.
（8）受人之託，忠人之事：
（也就是受了別人的付託，要替人家努力把事情辦好。）
可譯為：
When you promise someone to do something, you should try to do it well.
或：
When you make a promise, see it through.
或：
When you give your word to someone, you should honor it.
（9）貧居鬧市無人問，富在深山有遠(yuǎn)親：
（就是說，貧窮時，無人理睬，有錢時，車馬盈門。）
如果譯成：
If you are poor, few friends will visit you even if you live in a city ; if you are rich, many friends will visit you even if you live in the country.（也可以溝通）
說白了，就是：
When times are tough, friends are few; when times are prosperous, friends are many.
或：
You can see the true color of friendship in times of hardship.
（10）英雄無用武之地：
（也就是雖有本領(lǐng)，但無法發(fā)揮。）
可譯成：
A hero cannot use his fighting skills fully all the time.
或：
One can not utilize one\'s full potential all the time.
或：
Nobody can go full blast all the time.
（11）明是一盆火，暗是一把刀
（也就是表面十分熱情，背後居心不良）
可譯為：
On the surface, he is a warmer; at heart, he has a sword.
老外也有類似說法：
He is nice to your face, but will stab you in the back.
或：
He is a wolf in the sheep clothing.
或：
Smile and be a villain.
（笑容滿面的壞蛋）（如同笑裡藏刀）（出自莎士比亞）
(12) 君子動口，小人動手：
（也就是說，君子只講道理，小人才動手打人。）
可譯成：
A gentleman will use words to face conflict while a lesser man will use his fists.
或：
A well-educated person uses his mouth while a rude person uses his fists.
（不用hands）
或：
A civilized person always handles things peacefully, while a rude person (handles things) recklessly.
也就是：
Kind words turn away wrath. (wrath=anger) （=A soft answer turns away wrath.）
（柔和回答，消退怒氣。）
或：
Better talk than fight.
(13) 事不三思，終必後悔：
（就是說，事情總要反覆考慮再做，否則就會後悔。）
可譯成：
Before doing something, one should think carefully; otherwise one may reGREt later.
或：
To avoid regret, one needs to consider carefully before doing something.
或：
Before taking action, one should consider all the con-sequences.
簡單地說，就是：
Think first, act later.
或：
Measure twice, cut once.
或：
Look before you leap.
（三思而後行）
(14) 初生之犢不畏虎：
（喻年輕人無所畏懼，或沒有經(jīng)驗(yàn)，做事蠻幹一場。）
可譯成：
A young cow will not fear a tiger.
說白些就是：
A young and inexperienced person will do things fearlessly.
或：
As young people are often fearless, they engage in reckless activities.
(15) 近水樓臺先得月：
（就是說，條件方便，就可以多得利益。）
如果譯為：
You will see the moon better if you stand in the right place.（也可以溝通）
說白些，就是：
If you are in a better position, you can get more benefits.
或：
You have a better chance to succeed if you are in the right situation.
（16）飯後百步走，活到九十九：
（也就是飯後散步，有益健康。）
可譯成：
If you walk several hundred steps after meals, you may live 99 years.
也就是：
Walking after every meal is good for your health.
或：
Taking a long walk after every meal will lead to longevity.
（17）沒有家賊\，引不出外鬼來：
（就是說，沒有內(nèi)*，外*很難成功。）
可譯成：
Without internal assistance, the external devil will not easily succeed.
或：
Without the help of the inside mole, outside spy will not succeed.
（這裡mole，指長期潛伏的間諜。）
（18）好馬不吃回頭草：
（也就是說，事情已經(jīng)不好挽回，或不能重複做已做過的事。）
如譯成：
A good horse eats the grass in front of it, but not behind it.（也可溝通）
也就是：
The second time is never as good as the first time.
或：
You should never look back.
或：
What is done is done.
（木已成舟）
或：
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
（覆水難收，哭也無用。）
（19）好男不吃分家飯，好女不穿嫁時衣：
（就是說，不能靠父母的餘蔭過日子，喻人都要獨(dú)立，有志氣）
如譯成：
An independent man will not live on family support; an independent woman will not spend her financial dowry. (也能溝通）
或：
One should be independent without being supported by one\'s family.
或：
You should have your own integrity without being influenced by your parents.
（20）好話不背人，背人沒好話：
（就是說，好事不怕人家知道，怕人知道的，一定不是好事）
如譯成：
Words spoken in front of others are supposed to be nice, but words spoken behind others\' backs are not.（也能溝通）
也就是：
Good words are spoken in front of others while bad words are spoken at others\' backs.
或：
If you have something to say, say it to my face.
（21）別時容易，見時難：
（就是說，離別容易，再相見就不容易了）
可譯成：
It is easy to Part Company, but difficult to get together.
或：
To depart from friends seems easier than to get together with them again.
也就是：
To lose friendship is easier than to regain it.
（22）冰凍三尺，非一日之寒：
（也就是說，事情成為目前的狀況，不是一天形成的）
如譯成：
Three inches of ice did not freeze in one day.
（老外也懂）
說白了，就是：
This bad situation did not happen over night.
或：
There must be a history behind this problem.
（23）閉著眼睛捉麻雀：
（就是自己欺騙自己，或盲目行動和不重視實(shí)踐的主觀主義）
如譯為：
One tries to catch sparrows with closed eyes.
（老外也懂）
也就是：
One is fooling oneself with unrealistic expectation.
或：
He takes foolish action because he is unrealistic.
(24)先小人，後君子：
（就是先把條件講在前頭，然後再談交情）
可譯成：
One should always lay the ground rules for your relation-ship to avoid future misunderstanding.
或：
Be clear on your expectation and assumption at the be-ginning of a relationship.
(25)各人自掃門前雪，莫管他人瓦上霜：
（也就是只顧自己，不管別人）
如譯為：
One sweeps one\'s own snow by the door regardless of other\'s frost on the roof.
（老外也懂）
說白些，就是：
A selfish person always puts himself (herself) ahead of others.
或：
Take care of yourself; don\'t worry about others.
(26)自古紅顏多薄命：
（也就是說，太漂亮的女人，往往命運(yùn)\不佳）
可譯成：
It is said that a beautiful woman may have a tough time in her life.
或：
A beautiful woman seems to have a tragic fate.
或：
Misfortune and pretty woman seem to go hand in hand.
(27)百尺竿頭，更進(jìn)一步：
（就是在已有的成績上作進(jìn)一步的努力，以獲得更大的成就）
可譯為：
To reach even higher levels of success, one needs to per-severe.
或：
With additional efforts, your current success will flourish.
或：
Although you are a success, you may continue to climb the ladder higher.
(28)吉人天相：
（就是好人自有好報）
可譯為：
A good person will be rewarded with good luck.
或：
Goodness will be rewarded with goodness.
或：
A good deed will be rewarded.
(29)打破砂鍋問到底：
（就是堅(jiān)持追問或問個明白，一定要弄個水落石出）
可譯成：
He asks questions to an unreasonable level of detail.
或：
One constantly asks detailed questions to the extreme.
(30)民以食為天：
（也就是吃飯問題最重要）
可譯成：
To feed people is the biggest issue for a country.
或：
The most basic human concern is having enough food on the table.
或：
A country should concern itself (herself) with feeding its (her) people.
（全文完）
由於中西文化背景不同，許多中文口語或雙關(guān)語（pun），如果「字字直譯」，就與原意差距很大，往往令美國人難以理解。所以我採用不拘泥字句的意譯，也許較能溝通。不知讀者以為然否？
（1）知己知彼，百戰(zhàn)百勝：
（就是說，正確地估計自己和充分的了解對方，就能取得鬥爭中的勝利。）
可譯為：
To win a war, one should both fully understand oneself and carefully evaluate one\'s opponent.
或：
To achieve victory in war, one must carefully know oneself and the enemy.
或：
Whenever we want a victory, we need to understand both ourselves and our opponent.
（2）知足常樂：
（就是說，為人要知足，才能保持愉快的心情。）
可譯為：
To have a happy life, one should be contented.
或：
Contentment is the key to happiness.
或：
Happiness consists in contentment.
或：
Having gratitude for your life is an element of happiness.
（3）敗軍之將，不足以言勇：
（就是說，吃過敗仗的將軍，再沒有什麼可以吹噓的。）
可譯成：
A defeated general should not talk about bravery or courage.
或：
If you are a defeated general, do not boast about your past.
或：
After having been defeated, a general has nothing to brag about.
（4）知無不言，言無不盡：
（就是提出自己的意見，毫無保留。）
可譯成：
Without any reservation, he fully expressed his ideas.
或：
Whatever he knows, he expresses himself fully.
或：
With self-confidence, one can express oneself any way one wants to.
(5) 話不投機(jī)半句多：
（就是沒有共同點(diǎn)，說不到一塊兒。）
可譯成：
If you cannot talk harmfully with each other, a half sentence will be too much.
或：
Two people can hardly carry on a conversation unless they have something in common.
或：
Having nothing in common will cut a conversation very short.
(6) 人急生智，狗急跳牆：
（也就是事情逼急了，就會採取極端的措施。）
可譯為：
As the last result, a person can think of something unusual; so may a dog.
或：
In time of emergency, man as well as dog, can do something unexpected.
假如譯成：
When a person is at risk, he (she) may come up with a smart idea; when a dog is pushed too far, it may jump the wall.
（也可以溝通）
(7) 飽暖思*慾：
（也就是人有錢享受時，就會生非分之想。）
可譯成：
If one lives a comfortable lifestyle, it will lead one to promiscuous thoughts.
或：
If one lives high on the hog, one\'s minds may fill with dirty thoughts.
或：
Increasing material possessions will lead to increasing immoral thoughts.
或：
When one has a comfortable life, one\'s mind may end up in the gutter.
（8）受人之託，忠人之事：
（也就是受了別人的付託，要替人家努力把事情辦好。）
可譯為：
When you promise someone to do something, you should try to do it well.
或：
When you make a promise, see it through.
或：
When you give your word to someone, you should honor it.
（9）貧居鬧市無人問，富在深山有遠(yuǎn)親：
（就是說，貧窮時，無人理睬，有錢時，車馬盈門。）
如果譯成：
If you are poor, few friends will visit you even if you live in a city ; if you are rich, many friends will visit you even if you live in the country.（也可以溝通）
說白了，就是：
When times are tough, friends are few; when times are prosperous, friends are many.
或：
You can see the true color of friendship in times of hardship.
（10）英雄無用武之地：
（也就是雖有本領(lǐng)，但無法發(fā)揮。）
可譯成：
A hero cannot use his fighting skills fully all the time.
或：
One can not utilize one\'s full potential all the time.
或：
Nobody can go full blast all the time.
（11）明是一盆火，暗是一把刀
（也就是表面十分熱情，背後居心不良）
可譯為：
On the surface, he is a warmer; at heart, he has a sword.
老外也有類似說法：
He is nice to your face, but will stab you in the back.
或：
He is a wolf in the sheep clothing.
或：
Smile and be a villain.
（笑容滿面的壞蛋）（如同笑裡藏刀）（出自莎士比亞）
(12) 君子動口，小人動手：
（也就是說，君子只講道理，小人才動手打人。）
可譯成：
A gentleman will use words to face conflict while a lesser man will use his fists.
或：
A well-educated person uses his mouth while a rude person uses his fists.
（不用hands）
或：
A civilized person always handles things peacefully, while a rude person (handles things) recklessly.
也就是：
Kind words turn away wrath. (wrath=anger) （=A soft answer turns away wrath.）
（柔和回答，消退怒氣。）
或：
Better talk than fight.
(13) 事不三思，終必後悔：
（就是說，事情總要反覆考慮再做，否則就會後悔。）
可譯成：
Before doing something, one should think carefully; otherwise one may reGREt later.
或：
To avoid regret, one needs to consider carefully before doing something.
或：
Before taking action, one should consider all the con-sequences.
簡單地說，就是：
Think first, act later.
或：
Measure twice, cut once.
或：
Look before you leap.
（三思而後行）
(14) 初生之犢不畏虎：
（喻年輕人無所畏懼，或沒有經(jīng)驗(yàn)，做事蠻幹一場。）
可譯成：
A young cow will not fear a tiger.
說白些就是：
A young and inexperienced person will do things fearlessly.
或：
As young people are often fearless, they engage in reckless activities.
(15) 近水樓臺先得月：
（就是說，條件方便，就可以多得利益。）
如果譯為：
You will see the moon better if you stand in the right place.（也可以溝通）
說白些，就是：
If you are in a better position, you can get more benefits.
或：
You have a better chance to succeed if you are in the right situation.
（16）飯後百步走，活到九十九：
（也就是飯後散步，有益健康。）
可譯成：
If you walk several hundred steps after meals, you may live 99 years.
也就是：
Walking after every meal is good for your health.
或：
Taking a long walk after every meal will lead to longevity.
（17）沒有家賊\，引不出外鬼來：
（就是說，沒有內(nèi)*，外*很難成功。）
可譯成：
Without internal assistance, the external devil will not easily succeed.
或：
Without the help of the inside mole, outside spy will not succeed.
（這裡mole，指長期潛伏的間諜。）
（18）好馬不吃回頭草：
（也就是說，事情已經(jīng)不好挽回，或不能重複做已做過的事。）
如譯成：
A good horse eats the grass in front of it, but not behind it.（也可溝通）
也就是：
The second time is never as good as the first time.
或：
You should never look back.
或：
What is done is done.
（木已成舟）
或：
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
（覆水難收，哭也無用。）
（19）好男不吃分家飯，好女不穿嫁時衣：
（就是說，不能靠父母的餘蔭過日子，喻人都要獨(dú)立，有志氣）
如譯成：
An independent man will not live on family support; an independent woman will not spend her financial dowry. (也能溝通）
或：
One should be independent without being supported by one\'s family.
或：
You should have your own integrity without being influenced by your parents.
（20）好話不背人，背人沒好話：
（就是說，好事不怕人家知道，怕人知道的，一定不是好事）
如譯成：
Words spoken in front of others are supposed to be nice, but words spoken behind others\' backs are not.（也能溝通）
也就是：
Good words are spoken in front of others while bad words are spoken at others\' backs.
或：
If you have something to say, say it to my face.
（21）別時容易，見時難：
（就是說，離別容易，再相見就不容易了）
可譯成：
It is easy to Part Company, but difficult to get together.
或：
To depart from friends seems easier than to get together with them again.
也就是：
To lose friendship is easier than to regain it.
（22）冰凍三尺，非一日之寒：
（也就是說，事情成為目前的狀況，不是一天形成的）
如譯成：
Three inches of ice did not freeze in one day.
（老外也懂）
說白了，就是：
This bad situation did not happen over night.
或：
There must be a history behind this problem.
（23）閉著眼睛捉麻雀：
（就是自己欺騙自己，或盲目行動和不重視實(shí)踐的主觀主義）
如譯為：
One tries to catch sparrows with closed eyes.
（老外也懂）
也就是：
One is fooling oneself with unrealistic expectation.
或：
He takes foolish action because he is unrealistic.
(24)先小人，後君子：
（就是先把條件講在前頭，然後再談交情）
可譯成：
One should always lay the ground rules for your relation-ship to avoid future misunderstanding.
或：
Be clear on your expectation and assumption at the be-ginning of a relationship.
(25)各人自掃門前雪，莫管他人瓦上霜：
（也就是只顧自己，不管別人）
如譯為：
One sweeps one\'s own snow by the door regardless of other\'s frost on the roof.
（老外也懂）
說白些，就是：
A selfish person always puts himself (herself) ahead of others.
或：
Take care of yourself; don\'t worry about others.
(26)自古紅顏多薄命：
（也就是說，太漂亮的女人，往往命運(yùn)\不佳）
可譯成：
It is said that a beautiful woman may have a tough time in her life.
或：
A beautiful woman seems to have a tragic fate.
或：
Misfortune and pretty woman seem to go hand in hand.
(27)百尺竿頭，更進(jìn)一步：
（就是在已有的成績上作進(jìn)一步的努力，以獲得更大的成就）
可譯為：
To reach even higher levels of success, one needs to per-severe.
或：
With additional efforts, your current success will flourish.
或：
Although you are a success, you may continue to climb the ladder higher.
(28)吉人天相：
（就是好人自有好報）
可譯為：
A good person will be rewarded with good luck.
或：
Goodness will be rewarded with goodness.
或：
A good deed will be rewarded.
(29)打破砂鍋問到底：
（就是堅(jiān)持追問或問個明白，一定要弄個水落石出）
可譯成：
He asks questions to an unreasonable level of detail.
或：
One constantly asks detailed questions to the extreme.
(30)民以食為天：
（也就是吃飯問題最重要）
可譯成：
To feed people is the biggest issue for a country.
或：
The most basic human concern is having enough food on the table.
或：
A country should concern itself (herself) with feeding its (her) people.
（全文完）