以下是一些常見中文口語的英譯，儘量不把中文口語（俗語）照字直譯，以免「拖泥帶水」，導致老外「滿頭霧水」。而是把口語中的主要意思，用簡單易懂的字句，試譯為美語，供讀者參考。
（1）害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無：
可譯成：
You (We) should not hurt others, but protect yourself (ourselves ) from being ( getting ) hurt.
或：
Do not ( intend to ) hurt others, but be prepared to pro-tect yourself from being ( getting ) hurt.
( intend to 可省去 )
美語也有另一說法：
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.（肯定句）（unto 是古字＝to）
或：
Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.（也可用否定句）
（也就是「己所不欲，勿施於人」）
在日常生活上只說：
Treat others as you want to be treated.
因為這是祈使句，所以句首的you被省去。就是說，你對待別人，就像你要別人怎樣對待你。
（2）養不教父之過：
可譯為：
It is a father's fault to rear a child and not educate him/her.
或：
To rear and not educate a child is a father's fault.
或：
To raise a child without education is a father's fault.
不過老外往往倒認為教養兒女是母親的責任；至少也是父母或師長的責任。
在美國，兒女在16歲前（各州年齡規定不同）如果父母不送他們去上學，是犯法的。（除非父母能證明是 home-schooling )
（3）天下大勢，合久必分，分久必合：
有人譯成：
Of all the great events under Heaven, when united for long, there must be separation ; when separated for long, there must be re-unification.
也可譯成：
It is a law of the universe that when long united, there must be separation ; when long separated, there must be re-unification.
老外也有另一說法：
Nothing is permanent , but change.
或：
Nothing stays the same but change.
（除變動外，沒有永恆的事。）（but＝except）
也就是：Life is always in flux.
（flux 是湧流＝flow，而 in flux意思是 in flowing 或changeable；也就是生活是處於不斷的變化中。）
（4）大廈千間，夜眠六尺；
良田萬頃，日食斗米：
照字面，可以譯成：
Even though you own a mansion with a thousand rooms , you only sleep in a six-foot-long bed；even though you own ten thousand acres of land , you eat only a small bowl of rice.
簡單地說：
Even you have an abundance of wealth, you can per-sonally only use a small portion of it.（it 指 wealth）
許多美國人也認為人生不必拚命追求金錢、物質，因為死了也帶不走。所以他們常說：You can not take it with you.（it 指 wealth）他們有錢人，非常熱心公益慈善事業，很少花在吃喝玩樂。這點，老中有錢人，可以學習。
還有，美國人也常說：
No matter how rich they are, we are all the same in the end.
（似乎，有錢沒有什麼了不起，大家最後都一樣。）
（5）處變不驚，莊敬自強：
有人譯成：
Don't be disquieted in time of adversity. Be firm with dignity and vigorous self-reliance.
或：
Remain calm in the face of adversity；maintain your dignity and self-reliance.
簡單地說：
Be calm and self-reliant in time(s) of adversity.
或：
Be calm and (be) not afraid in time(s) of adversity.
（第二個 be，可以省去。老外喜歡寫肯定句，愈簡單愈好。）
（6）開卷常有益，勝遊百花園：
可譯成：
It's always better to read a book than to visit a beautiful ( gorgeous ) garden.
或：
You will gain more knowledge by reading a book than visiting a flower garden.
（7）入國問禁，入鄉隨俗：
可按字面譯為：
On entering a country , ask what is forbidden ; on en-tering a village , ask what are the customs.
或譯成：
When you are in a new nation, you should understand its laws and customs.
或：
Be culturally aware when entering a new country.
老外也有類似的說法：
When in Rome , do what Romans do.
除非開玩笑，不說：
When in America, do what Americans do.
2005-09-04
发表于 2005-9-6 19:07
