習(xí)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(xí)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(xí)語譯成漢語首先要正確理解其含義，認(rèn)識其文化特點(diǎn)，注意英漢習(xí)語之間的異同，然后運(yùn)用正確的方法翻譯。在準(zhǔn)確地傳達(dá)原習(xí)語的意義的同時，還應(yīng)充分考慮到原文的濃郁民族風(fēng)格——不同的文化背景、不同的思維方式、不同的文法和表達(dá)習(xí)慣。
一、英漢習(xí)語比較
從形和義的角度來看，英漢習(xí)語的異同大體表現(xiàn)在以下四個方面：
A.英漢習(xí)語形義全同, 這類習(xí)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(xí)語形義基本相同, 這類習(xí)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(fù)
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(xí)語形似義異,這類習(xí)語相當(dāng)多，例如：
When a dog is drowning every one offers him drink. （狗若落水人人救，強(qiáng)調(diào)人人伸出援之手。）
救了落水狗，反咬你一口（強(qiáng)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(qiáng)調(diào)嚴(yán)格執(zhí)行法律。）不知者無罪（強(qiáng)調(diào)網(wǎng)開一面）
Strike while the iron is hot （強(qiáng)調(diào)"抓住時機(jī)"）趁熱打鐵（著重"抓緊行動"）
Lock the stable-door after the horse is stolen.（強(qiáng)調(diào)為時已晚。）
亡羊補(bǔ)牢（強(qiáng)調(diào)受到損失后想法彌補(bǔ)，以免再受損失。）
D.英漢習(xí)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(fēng)
E.英漢習(xí)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(qiáng)度日
make one's blood freeze令人恐懼
have bats in the belfry頭腦有點(diǎn)古怪
see the sun活著
一、英漢習(xí)語比較
從形和義的角度來看，英漢習(xí)語的異同大體表現(xiàn)在以下四個方面：
A.英漢習(xí)語形義全同, 這類習(xí)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(xí)語形義基本相同, 這類習(xí)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(fù)
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(xí)語形似義異,這類習(xí)語相當(dāng)多，例如：
When a dog is drowning every one offers him drink. （狗若落水人人救，強(qiáng)調(diào)人人伸出援之手。）
救了落水狗，反咬你一口（強(qiáng)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(qiáng)調(diào)嚴(yán)格執(zhí)行法律。）不知者無罪（強(qiáng)調(diào)網(wǎng)開一面）
Strike while the iron is hot （強(qiáng)調(diào)"抓住時機(jī)"）趁熱打鐵（著重"抓緊行動"）
Lock the stable-door after the horse is stolen.（強(qiáng)調(diào)為時已晚。）
亡羊補(bǔ)牢（強(qiáng)調(diào)受到損失后想法彌補(bǔ)，以免再受損失。）
D.英漢習(xí)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(fēng)
E.英漢習(xí)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(qiáng)度日
make one's blood freeze令人恐懼
have bats in the belfry頭腦有點(diǎn)古怪
see the sun活著