習語是民族語言中的精華。它短小精悍、寓意深刻，具有濃郁的民族文化特色。英語習語可包括成語、諺語、俗語、俚語等，其結(jié)構(gòu)既有短語、又有分句、還有句子。把英語習語譯成漢語首先要正確理解其含義，認識其文化特點，注意英漢習語之間的異同，然后運用正確的方法翻譯。在準確地傳達原習語的意義的同時，還應充分考慮到原文的濃郁民族風格——不同的文化背景、不同的思維方式、不同的文法和表達習慣。
一、英漢習語比較
從形和義的角度來看，英漢習語的異同大體表現(xiàn)在以下四個方面：
A.英漢習語形義全同, 這類習語為數(shù)少，例如：
Barking dogs do not bite.吠犬不咬人。
Who is contented, enjoys.知足者常樂。
Misfortunes never come singly.禍不單行。
It is harder to change human nature than to change rivers and mountains.江山難改，本性難移。
Like father, like son. 有其父必有其子。
B. 習語形義基本相同, 這類習語比上面一類在數(shù)量上要多些，例如：
as light as a feather（or as thistle-down）輕如鴻毛
to take a load off one's mind如釋重負
to run in the same groove; to cut from the same cloth.如出一轍
to make a beast of oneself形同禽獸
He that hath been bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope.一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草繩。
Shallow streams make most din.水深不響， 水響不深。
Money makes the mare go.有錢能使鬼推磨。
Reckless youth makes rueful age.少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。
C.英漢習語形似義異,這類習語相當多，例如：
When a dog is drowning every one offers him drink. （狗若落水人人救，強調(diào)人人伸出援之手。）
救了落水狗，反咬你一口（強調(diào)好心得不到好報）
Ignorance of the law is no excuse of breaking it. （法盲犯法不可恕，強調(diào)嚴格執(zhí)行法律。）不知者無罪（強調(diào)網(wǎng)開一面）
Strike while the iron is hot （強調(diào)"抓住時機"）趁熱打鐵（著重"抓緊行動"）
Lock the stable-door after the horse is stolen.（強調(diào)為時已晚。）
亡羊補牢（強調(diào)受到損失后想法彌補，以免再受損失。）
D.英漢習語形異義似, 例如：
A word spoken is past recalling. 一言既出，駟馬難追。
Great boast, small roast.干打雷， 不下雨。
Take not a musket to kill a butterfly. 殺雞焉用宰牛刀。
as dumb as an oyster 守口如瓶
to hit someone below the belt/to stab someone in the back 暗箭傷人
as weak as water 弱不禁風
E.英漢習語形義完全不同，例如：
cast one's bread upon the waters不期望報答所作之事
keep the wolf from the door免于饑餓，勉強度日
make one's blood freeze令人恐懼
have bats in the belfry頭腦有點古怪
see the sun活著
一、英漢習語比較
從形和義的角度來看，英漢習語的異同大體表現(xiàn)在以下四個方面：
A.英漢習語形義全同, 這類習語為數(shù)少，例如：
Barking dogs do not bite.吠犬不咬人。
Who is contented, enjoys.知足者常樂。
Misfortunes never come singly.禍不單行。
It is harder to change human nature than to change rivers and mountains.江山難改，本性難移。
Like father, like son. 有其父必有其子。
B. 習語形義基本相同, 這類習語比上面一類在數(shù)量上要多些，例如：
as light as a feather（or as thistle-down）輕如鴻毛
to take a load off one's mind如釋重負
to run in the same groove; to cut from the same cloth.如出一轍
to make a beast of oneself形同禽獸
He that hath been bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope.一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草繩。
Shallow streams make most din.水深不響， 水響不深。
Money makes the mare go.有錢能使鬼推磨。
Reckless youth makes rueful age.少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。
C.英漢習語形似義異,這類習語相當多，例如：
When a dog is drowning every one offers him drink. （狗若落水人人救，強調(diào)人人伸出援之手。）
救了落水狗，反咬你一口（強調(diào)好心得不到好報）
Ignorance of the law is no excuse of breaking it. （法盲犯法不可恕，強調(diào)嚴格執(zhí)行法律。）不知者無罪（強調(diào)網(wǎng)開一面）
Strike while the iron is hot （強調(diào)"抓住時機"）趁熱打鐵（著重"抓緊行動"）
Lock the stable-door after the horse is stolen.（強調(diào)為時已晚。）
亡羊補牢（強調(diào)受到損失后想法彌補，以免再受損失。）
D.英漢習語形異義似, 例如：
A word spoken is past recalling. 一言既出，駟馬難追。
Great boast, small roast.干打雷， 不下雨。
Take not a musket to kill a butterfly. 殺雞焉用宰牛刀。
as dumb as an oyster 守口如瓶
to hit someone below the belt/to stab someone in the back 暗箭傷人
as weak as water 弱不禁風
E.英漢習語形義完全不同，例如：
cast one's bread upon the waters不期望報答所作之事
keep the wolf from the door免于饑餓，勉強度日
make one's blood freeze令人恐懼
have bats in the belfry頭腦有點古怪
see the sun活著