塞翁失馬,焉知非福

有中國(guó)人照字直譯為:

The old man living at the frontier煴呷)lost his horse燿on＇t pity him焒or this may not be bad fortune.

這種說(shuō)法,“中國(guó)”味道較重,老美很難理解。不過(guò)英語(yǔ)里倒流行這樣的說(shuō)法:Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.煵恍乙殘硌誆刈乓恢制碭)

說(shuō)白些,就是:There is something good in every bad situation.(每個(gè)不好的情況,都有好的一面。)也就是說(shuō):There is nothing bad that good dose not come.(好的不來(lái),未必就是壞的。)G

一言既出,駟馬難追

有人譯成:One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it.

而老美類似的說(shuō)法是:

A word once let go cannot be recalled.或:You can not take back what you have said.(你說(shuō)出的話,就不能再收回來(lái)。)G

一粒鼠屎壞鍋粥 有人照字直譯成:

One speck of rat＇s dung spoils a whole pot of rice.

一般美國(guó)人倒喜歡這么說(shuō):

One rotten apple spoils the whole bunch.熞桓隼霉壞整籃)

One rotten egg spoils the whole dish.熞桓齔艫盎盜蘇盤菜)

也可以說(shuō):One bad thing can mess up the entire plan.(一件壞事,可以影響整個(gè)計(jì)劃)

如果指人,就可以說(shuō):

One nasty熁騜ad爌erson can 熁騧ay爎uin the whole team熁騟ntire group.(一個(gè)壞家伙,害了整群人。)(即害群之馬)。G

平時(shí)不燒香,臨時(shí)抱佛腳 有人照字直譯為:

When times are easy焪e do not burn the incense熛),but when the trouble comes焪e embrace the feet of the Buddha.

這種說(shuō)法,老美也會(huì)“一知半解”。但英語(yǔ)里一般的說(shuō)法是:Worship God every day not just in times of adversity.熞每天敬拜神,不是只在困難時(shí)。)

對(duì)學(xué)生可以說(shuō):If you study hard every day焑xams will not seem overwhelming.(如果你每天用功,考試就不會(huì)形成壓力。)G(摘自美國(guó)《世界周刊》)

《海外星云》(2000年34期)