·一桶水搖不響,半桶水響叮噹
有人照字面譯成:The full pot of water makes no sound;the half-empty pot of water is noisy.
A little knowledge(or learning)can be(or is)dangerous.(一知半解很危險)
或者説:Still water runs deep.(靜水深不可測)
也可以説:
He who knows the most says the least.(懂得越多的人,反而説得越少。)
至於“大智若愚”,通常可以這麼説:
A truly wise person does not show off his(her)ability.(真正聰明的`人,是不會顯要自己的能力)
·水落石出
有人照字直譯為:As the water level sinks,the stones are exposed.
這樣説,恐怕老外還是聽不懂。他們的説法是:
All secrets may eventually come to light.(所有祕密最後總會曝光。)
也可以説:
Eventually,every secret will be disclosed.
·這山望到那山高
有人譯成:The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.(意思是:牆那邊的蘋果最甜)
當然,如要譯成:
If you stand on a mountain,you feel the distant mountain seems higher than yours. 老外也勉強能接受。
而他們的最習慣説法是:
The grass always looks greener on the other side.(另一邊的草,看來總是綠些。)
·烈火煉真金,患難見真情
有人譯成:Fire is the test of gold;adversity is the test of friendship.
這句譯文,雖然很好,老外也能瞭解,但是他們還有另外的説法:
Liquor brings out a person’s true color.(烈酒能顯示一個人真正的特色)
或者説:Wine reveals a person’s true heart.
雖然老外不用“烈火煉真金”的比喻,但有“路遙知馬力”的説法:
By a long road,we know a horse’s strength;at times of difficulty,we discover a friend’s true character.[1][2][3]