·雷聲大，雨點(diǎn)小
有人譯為：
The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls. 或者說(shuō)：All we hear is thunder, but no rain falls.
雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解，但是老外的說(shuō)法是這樣的：
Actions speak louder than words. (行動(dòng)勝于言談)
或All we hear is words, but there is no action. （只動(dòng)嘴不動(dòng)手）
或Actions and words should go hand in hand. (言行必須一致)
另外，還有英語(yǔ)里還有這樣的說(shuō)法：
An empty barrel makes biggest sound.（空洞的話說(shuō)得太多了。）
·人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
有人譯為：
A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper.
這樣的譯法只是直譯，如果能夠稍加修改，老外就能了解：
A man can not be judged by his appearance, nor can the water in the sea be measured by a bucket.
不過(guò)，老外通常的說(shuō)法是這樣的：
We can not judge a person by appearance only. 或 You can not judge a book by its cover.
(意思是：一本書(shū)的好壞取決于它的內(nèi)容，而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否。)
·口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀
有人譯為 His mouth is honey; his heart is a sword.
外國(guó)人聽(tīng)了會(huì)對(duì)這樣的比喻摸不著頭腦，如果要形容某人“口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀”，我們可以說(shuō) with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart, 或者 honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.也可以更直接的譯成He is an evil man who has a mouth that praises and a hand that kills.
·少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲
有人譯成 If you neglect study when you are young, what may happen to your old age?
這句問(wèn)句會(huì)把老外問(wèn)得云里霧里，因?yàn)樗麄儧](méi)有“學(xué)而優(yōu)則仕”的思想，也不認(rèn)為功課差，將來(lái)就會(huì)傷悲。他們勸告子女經(jīng)常說(shuō)的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / more promising future. (努力用功會(huì)帶給你光明的前程。)
當(dāng)然也可以對(duì)年輕人說(shuō)：
Study hard when you are young. It will pay off when you get older. (年輕時(shí)好好努力，到老的時(shí)就會(huì)覺(jué)得學(xué)有所值。)
·學(xué)如行舟，不進(jìn)則退
如果直譯成：
Learning is like rowing upstream; not to advance is to drop back.
老外聽(tīng)后，也許會(huì)感到一頭霧水。這樣修改一下，表達(dá)可以清晰一些：
Learning seems like rowing upstream(逆流); if one does not advance, one will fall back. Learning is like rowing against the current(激流), if one does not advance, one will retreat. 更直接的說(shuō)法是：
If you don't make progress, you will fall behind.
有人譯為：
The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls. 或者說(shuō)：All we hear is thunder, but no rain falls.
雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解，但是老外的說(shuō)法是這樣的：
Actions speak louder than words. (行動(dòng)勝于言談)
或All we hear is words, but there is no action. （只動(dòng)嘴不動(dòng)手）
或Actions and words should go hand in hand. (言行必須一致)
另外，還有英語(yǔ)里還有這樣的說(shuō)法：
An empty barrel makes biggest sound.（空洞的話說(shuō)得太多了。）
·人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
有人譯為：
A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper.
這樣的譯法只是直譯，如果能夠稍加修改，老外就能了解：
A man can not be judged by his appearance, nor can the water in the sea be measured by a bucket.
不過(guò)，老外通常的說(shuō)法是這樣的：
We can not judge a person by appearance only. 或 You can not judge a book by its cover.
(意思是：一本書(shū)的好壞取決于它的內(nèi)容，而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否。)
·口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀
有人譯為 His mouth is honey; his heart is a sword.
外國(guó)人聽(tīng)了會(huì)對(duì)這樣的比喻摸不著頭腦，如果要形容某人“口蜜腹劍，笑里藏刀”，我們可以說(shuō) with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart, 或者 honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.也可以更直接的譯成He is an evil man who has a mouth that praises and a hand that kills.
·少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲
有人譯成 If you neglect study when you are young, what may happen to your old age?
這句問(wèn)句會(huì)把老外問(wèn)得云里霧里，因?yàn)樗麄儧](méi)有“學(xué)而優(yōu)則仕”的思想，也不認(rèn)為功課差，將來(lái)就會(huì)傷悲。他們勸告子女經(jīng)常說(shuō)的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / more promising future. (努力用功會(huì)帶給你光明的前程。)
當(dāng)然也可以對(duì)年輕人說(shuō)：
Study hard when you are young. It will pay off when you get older. (年輕時(shí)好好努力，到老的時(shí)就會(huì)覺(jué)得學(xué)有所值。)
·學(xué)如行舟，不進(jìn)則退
如果直譯成：
Learning is like rowing upstream; not to advance is to drop back.
老外聽(tīng)后，也許會(huì)感到一頭霧水。這樣修改一下，表達(dá)可以清晰一些：
Learning seems like rowing upstream(逆流); if one does not advance, one will fall back. Learning is like rowing against the current(激流), if one does not advance, one will retreat. 更直接的說(shuō)法是：
If you don't make progress, you will fall behind.