笔译考前必看实用翻译技巧 5

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五、汉语成语翻译的多样性

例：欢天喜地

1)宁荣两处上下内外人等，莫不欢天喜地。(曹雪芹：《红楼梦》，第十六回)

Then high and low alike in both mansions were filled with joy.

2)那小厮欢天喜地，答应去了。(曹雪芹：《红楼梦》，第三十九回)

The boy assented and made off in high spirits.

3)我才已经和他母亲说了，BANNED已经欢天喜地应了。(曹雪芹：《红楼梦》，第七十二回)

I've spoken to Chaixia's mother and she's consented gladly.

4)两个小头目听了这话，欢天喜地，说道：“好了!众人在此少待一时。”(施耐庵：《水浒传》，第十七回)

The junior officers were delighted.“Excellent,” they said. “Just wait here a little.”

5)不论归迟归早，那妇人顿羹顿饭，欢天喜地服侍武松，武松倒过意不去。(施耐庵：《水浒传》，第二十四回)

Whenever he returned home，whether early or late，Golden Lotus had food ready.She served him with obvious pleasure.It rather embarrassed him.

6)得蒙差遣，欢天喜地，收拾枪刀。(施耐庵：《水浒传》，第六十三回)

Happy with their mission，they gathered their weapons.

7)石宝得胜，欢天喜地，回城中去了。(施耐庵：《水浒传》，第九十五回)

The victorious Shi Bao returned to Hangzhou in jubilation.

8)他们没有杀人的罪名，又偿了心愿，自然都欢天喜地的发出一种呜呜咽咽的笑声。(鲁迅：《呐喊》中的《狂人日记》)

Then they can enjoy their hearts’ desire without being blamed for murder.Naturally that delights them and sets them roaring with laughter.

汉语成语“欢天喜地”形容非常高兴，其中“欢”和“喜”表示高兴，“天”和“地”表示“非常”的意思，并非真正表示“天地”。这是汉语文学作品中常用的成语之一。像这样的成语并不能根据其字面意思来翻译，“天”和“地”不能译成，heaven和earth。这条成语可根据原文的实际含义来翻译：to be highly elated。我们也可用对等的英语成语来翻译：to go into raptures;to be in high glee。上面8个例句中的“欢天喜地”采用了8种不同的译法，充分显示了多样性译法的优越性：1)were filled with joy;2)in high spirits;3)gladly;4)were delighted;5)with obvious pleasure;6)happy;7)in jubilation;8)delights。

在采用多样性翻译方法时，可参考英语的和汉语的同义词词典，也可参考英汉和汉英词典。比如，在翻译汉语成语“大惊小怪”时，我们可以先参考英语同义词词典，查fussy这一基本词条，同时再参考汉英成语手册，查“大惊小怪”的各种英译。综合以上两类词典里的相应词语和词组，“大惊小怪”就会有大量的多样性译法：

(1)be surprised or alarmed at sth quite normal

(2)be surprised or alarmed at sth perfectly common

(3)make a fuss about nothing

(4)make unnecessary ado about trifles

(5)make a fuss about(sth)

(6)fuss about[over]sth[trifles]

(7)much ado about nothing

(8)much[great]cry and little wool

(9)a flurried[hurried]ado about trifles

(10)get alarmed for[about]nothing

(11)get nothing for nothing