汉语典故英译.doc

三、典故翻译的常见方法
1）直译
直译就是将诗词中的典故按字面译出。直译对读英译
文的中国读者来说理解起来困难不大， 一般说从英译文不
难明白原文的典故内容及喻指含义。例如王昌龄的七绝名
篇《出塞》中有这样的句子：“但使龙城飞将在，不教胡马度
阴山”。这里用了汉代飞将军李广威震边塞的典故。笔者见
到中外译者七种不同的译文，其中六种都是直译的。Bynner
的译文是：
Oh，for the winged General at the Dragon City/That never
a Tartar horseman might cross the Ying Mountains.
除Bynner 外，文殊、裘克安、许渊冲、土大镰、毛小雨五
家的译文大体类似，只不过有的把“龙城飞将”译为Winged
Marshal of Dragon (文殊、王大镰)、General's Wei and Li of
old(裘克安)或flying general of Dragon City(毛小鱼)而已。
直译的缺点是不谙中国文化的西方读者无法明白原诗
典故的史实， 更谈不上深刻理解典故的喻义和作者用典的
良苦用心了。如我国古代名诗《枫桥夜泊》中有：
姑苏城外寒山寺，
夜半钟声到客船。
Outside the city of Suzhou
Is resounding a distant knell.
It is Cold-H ill Monastery 一
Towards us, tolling its midnight bell.
原文描绘的寂静氛围很容易感染人，使人将“寒山”理
文学作品中典故翻译之浅谈
□河南科技学院外语系张泽芬
159
解为“Cold H ill"，将“寒山寺”误解为“寒山上的一座寺庙”。
而事实上，苏州城外有“寒山寺”，却没有一座“山”。诗中的
“寒山寺”因此寺曾住过唐代一位叫“寒山”的高僧而得名。
至于“寒山”取这个名有无寓意，无人知道。如果将其直译，
无疑会带来错误信息。所以，原译文拟改为音译“Han Shan
Monastery。
2) 直译加注和意译
《红梭梦》第三十七回探春给宝玉的短笺中有两处用
典:“…风庭月榭，惜未宴集诗人:帘杏溪桃，或可醉飞吟盏。
孰谓莲社之雄才，独许须眉：直以东山之雅会，让余脂粉。”
其中“莲社”、“东山”为两典故。
“莲社”、“东山”与笺中的“诗坛”、“吟社”意思相近，都
是指会友作诗。“诗坛”、“吟社”是泛称词，是特称词。探春故
意变换说法，一方面是为了不重复;二来构成骄偶句式，节
奏感强;三来文字精练而富表现力。
文字精练而富表现力，既然是典故的特色(也是好处)，
那么如果能在译文中保留这种特色那是最好不过的了。以
下我们就来看看对于这两个典故， 杨霍两家分别是怎么处
理的。
“莲社之雄才”杨译：The genius of the lotus Society.然
后加注：Monk Hui-yuan of the Tsin Dynasty organized this
society in Lushan.
“东山之雅会”杨译：Cultural gathering like those in the
Estern Hills. 然后加注The Tsin Dynasty landlord -offical
Hsieh An used to organize cultural gatherings in his county
retreat.
“莲社之雄才”霍译：The genius of the poety clubs.
“东山之雅会”霍译：The tunnable concert of muses.
这两条注释， 分别用很简洁的文字交代了慧远和谢安
的活动。即杨译用的是“直译加注释”的方法。而霍译主要采
取的是意译的手段。如“莲社”译成poety clubs;而“东山之
雅会”则译成，“the tunnable concert of muses”。
3）“异国风味”音译
在英译文化词语及典故时， 用音译形式直接投射到异
域文化空间，“不仅可以充分传达原作的异国风味， 而且可
以引进原语的表达方式，丰富我们的语言。中国文化典籍的
许多文化词语的英译便能迎刃而解。译者采用音译的翻译
技巧，充当了文化使者，减少了文化损失，弘扬并传播了古
老的中华文明和灿烂的中华民族文化。我们从下面的例子
来看汪先生的“音译”技巧:
花把青春卖，花生锦绣灾。有一个夜舒莲，扯不住留仙
带;一个海棠丝，剪不断香囊怪;一个瑞香风，赶不上非烟在。
你道花容那个玩花亡?可不道你这花神罪业随花败。(牡丹
亭第二十三出)
这段唱词含有三处典故， 分别讲述了三位中国古代皇
后、贵妃、殡妃的玩花而亡的故事。一是，东汉灵帝荒淫无
度，建立了裸游馆。里面有流香渠，渠中荷花晚上开放(舒)，
白天卷合，叫夜舒荷。灵帝常常和宫女们在这里寻欢作乐。
汉成帝宠幸赵飞燕。一次，赵飞燕起舞，值风起，她说:“仙
乎，仙乎，去故而就新。”左右拉住了她的裙子，才把她留下。
赵飞燕在成帝死后，畏罪自杀。汪先生英译为：“ there was
a lotus that bloomed at night, and Empress Feiyan died
on the site.”“留仙带”指的是赵飞燕皇后。全句的意思是比
喻赵飞燕为玩花而亡。译者用音译，"Empress Feiyan"。二
是，“剪不断香囊怪”，疑是杨贵妃的故事。安史之乱平定后，
唐明皇回到长安。他叫人把贵妃的骸骨重新安葬。墓开，只
见锦香囊一个。汪先生译为“L ady Y ang was buried with
it”. "Empress Feiyan”和“Lady Yang”使外国读者体味到原
作的“异国风味”，也使得“Empress Feiyan""Lady Yang”在国
外家喻户晓。汪先生充当了文化使者。三是，“一个瑞香风赶
不上非烟在”是一个唐人传奇故事，武公业的爱妾非烟，和
书生赵象偷偷相爱了。赵象送给她的诗中有两句:“瑞香风
引思深夜，知是蕊宫仙驭来。”后来事泄，非烟被武公业毒打
而死。汪先生的译文: “Concubine Feiyan was flogged to
death..” 音译增词的翻译方法充分地传达了原作的异国风
味。Empress, Lady, Concubine 等增词恰到好处地说明了三
位中国古代美女的特殊地位。译文中died, buried, was
flogged to death 传达了杜丽娘因玩花而亡的意象。译文的
取舍恰到好处，不但保留了原文文化特色四、改译

汉语典故英译

《现代汉语词典》将典故定义为“诗文里引用的古书中的故事或词句”。《辞海》将典故定义为“诗文中引用的古代故事和有来历出处的词语”。应该说，典故多涉及古代故事或古人的诗词歌赋与其他作品中的词句，但也不尽然。例如，人们常用的华威先生、国外常用的某某门涉及的都是现代与当代事件。因此，我们可以概而言之，典故多源于历史、寓言、神话、传说和事件，多见于历史记载、文学作品和报刊杂志。例如，焚书坑儒源于历史事件，买椟还珠源于寓言，精卫填海源于神话，伊朗门源于当代事件等。这些典故，有的见于历史记载，有的见于诸子百家，有的见于现代报刊。
如上所述，典故往往与成语一起合称成语典故，语法功能和结构与成语的语法功能和结构也基本相同，因此这里不再说明典故的语法功能和结构。
汉语典故英译是个棘手问题。典故既有本义也有转义，如果希望读者真正理解它的本义和转义，还得介绍典故的出处。我们这里采用这样的做法，紧接在将要翻译的典故之后用汉语简要说明该典故的出处，翻译时，先翻译本义，再翻译现行的使用义，最后用增加注释的方法用英语简要地译介该典故的出处，但不是严格地将该典故的汉语部分译成英语，而是用比相应的汉语介绍更为简略的英语来介绍。下面我们选择20个典故并对之进行英译。

百步穿杨
典出《战国策.西周策》，有关情节可大致简述如下。楚国有个叫养由基的，十分善射，在百步之外能射中杨柳的叶子，百发百中。后来用百步穿杨来形容人们善射。
To shoot an arrow through a willow leaf at the distance of 100 steps; extremely good at shooting
Note: The allusion goes back to Yang Youji, an excellent shooter in the Zhou Dynasty, who could shoot an arrow at a willow leaf one hundred steps away and never missed the target.

班女之才
典出《后汉书.列女传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。班女名班昭，班彪之妹。班彪编著《汉书》，剩下八表和《天文志》没有写完就去世了。班昭接替其兄，完成了他的未竟之业，她还是皇后与贵人的老师，被认为是极富才学的女性。班女之才多用于描写才高的女性。
(of a female) as capable as Ban Zhao; talented
Note: Historic records have it that Ban Nü, whose name is Ban Zhao, the younger sister of Ban Biao, a historian famous for his monumental work of A History of the Han Dynasty. However, the historian died leaving the writing unfinished. Then Ban Zhao was assigned the task and completed the writing. For her talent, Ban Zhao was also appointed tutor for the empress and the emperor’s concubines.

伯乐相马
典出屈原《怀沙》，有关情况可大致简述如下。伯乐姓孙名阳，善于相马。后来经常用伯乐比喻善于发现人才的人。
Bo Le is very capable of discovering best horses; as capable as Bo Le in discovering talents
Note: Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet of the State of Chu in the Warring State period, believed it that Bo Le was very capable of discovering best horses. The allusion is now often used to refer to persons capable of discovering and fostering talents.

东施效颦
典出《庄子.天运》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代著名美女西施因患有心痛病，经常颦额或者说皱眉头。村里有个丑女看见觉得很美，于是也学着颦额，结果反而更丑了。后来多用东施效颦比喻胡乱模仿，结果反而不美。
An ugly girl follows the suit of the pretty lady Xishi by knitting her eyebrows; imitate awkwardly
Note: Legend has it that Xi Shi, a lady living in the State of Yue in the late years of Spring and Autumn period and famous for her beauty in ancient China, often knitted her eyebrows due to her illness. An ugly girl in the village saw this, believing that the behavior added much to her beauty. Then she followed Xi Shi’s suit by knitting her own brows the way Xi Shi did. However, it turned out that she became all the more ugly.

董狐直笔
典出《左传.宣公二年》，有关情节可大致简述如下。春秋时晋灵公欲杀赵盾，赵盾逃亡。他的从弟赵穿起兵攻打晋灵公并在桃园将他杀死。史官董狐认为，此举是赵盾弑君，并不畏赵盾的权势，冒着生命危险将这件事载入了史册。后来多用此典比喻人们不为权者讳、不为贤者讳，在史册或其他书籍中，实事求是地记载或谈论他们的过失。
Dong Hu, a historian in Spring and Autumn period, recorded historic facts as they were without any distortion to appease officials for their vanity; (in recording historic events) call a spade a spade as Dong Hu did
Note: Historic records have it that during the Spring and Autumn period, when Duke Ling of Jin was going to kill Zhao Dun, who then escaped by running away, Zhao Dun’s distant brother Zhao Chuan took armed forces to attack the duke and killed him in a peach garden. Dong Hu, the historian, believed that it was an act of regicide on the part of Zhao Dun and recorded the act in history this way despite Zhao Dun’s overwhelming power that might threaten his life. The allusion is later used to refer to speaking frankly.

负荆请罪
典出《史记.廉颇蔺相如列传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。廉颇和蔺相如都是赵国人，廉颇是赵国大将，蔺相如出身低微，但在对秦国的斗争中多次建立功勋，被拜为上卿，官位高于廉颇。廉颇不服，屡屡找茬子羞辱蔺相如。蔺相如为国家计，顾全大局，总是退让。后来廉颇知道了，蔺相如屡屡退让，不是怕他，而是担心将相不和，秦国会乘机侵略赵国。那样，赵国就会灭亡，老百姓就会遭殃。此事感动了廉颇，于是他身背荆杖到蔺相如府上请罪。后来多用此典指犯了错误又主动承认错误、改正错误的举动。
To make apology by carrying a twig of the chaste tree and asking the one to whom the apology is made to beat him or her; making an active apology
Note: Historic records have it that Lian Po and Ling Xiangru were courtiers of the State of Zhao. Lian Po was the famous general at the time. Born humbly, Ling Xiangru was promoted to the position higher than Lian Po’s for his outstanding contributions in the struggles against the State of Qin. This made Lian Po jealous and tried to slight Ling Xiangru, who thought that if he and Lian Po were in discord or conflict, then the State of Qin would take the opportunity to invade the State of Zhao. Therefore, Ling Xiangru always tried to avoid any possible conflict with the general. Having learned of this, Lian Po realized that he was wrong and went to Ling Xiangru’s mansion to make apology by carrying a twig and asking Ling Xiangru to beat him for his wrong doings.

风声鹤唳
典出《晋书.苻坚载记》。这个典故也常常说成风声鹤唳，草木皆兵。有关情节可大致简述如下。东晋时期，国家分裂，南北对峙，北方的前秦主苻坚率兵攻打南方的东晋，结果被东晋打得惨败而归。苻坚等人站在城楼上观望对方，见东晋军容整齐，将八公山上的草木也当成晋军。此前，在淝水被击败而逃亡之时，将风声与鹤声也当成了追兵的呐喊声。淝水之战是我国历史上有名的以少胜多的战例，后来常用风声鹤唳或风声鹤唳，草木皆兵来形容人们由于非常害怕，便捕风捉影，将不是那回事也当成那回事了。
To take the moan of wind and the cry of cranes for enemy’s shouting; fearful at any slight omen; very apprehensive
Note: Historic records have it that when Qian Qin, a state on the north, was utterly defeated by Dong Jin, a state on the south, on their way of escaping, Qian Qin’s generals and soldiers took the moan of wind and the cry of cranes for enemy’s shouting, and grass and trees for enemy’s chasing forces. This allusion is now used to refer to people’s groundless fears.

邯郸学步
典出《庄子.秋水》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代燕国有一个少年看到邯郸人走路姿态很优美，就学他们的样子走路，结果没有学会，反而将自己原来的走路方法也忘了，只好爬着回去。后来用这个典故形容人们盲目地模仿他人，结果反而弄糟了。
To walk as people of Handan do; to imitate awkwardly
Note: Legend has it that a youngster from the State of Yan saw that the Handans’ walk was very graceful and then tried to acquire the walking manner but only to find that he did not learn anything at all and had forgotten how he originally walked. Therefore, he had to crawl all the way back home. The allusion is now used to ridicule those who imitate blindly.

惊弓之鸟
典出《战国策.楚策四》，有关情节可大致简述如下。有一天，更羸和魏王在一起，看见有一只鸟从天空飞过。更羸对魏王说，我将弓拉开，不搭箭虚射出去，鸟会应声而落。魏王不信。更羸果然拉虚弓而使飞鸟落地。其实，那是一只受了伤的鸟，听到弓弦响就吓得坠落下来。后来用这个典故形容人遭受打击后，心理非常脆弱，常产生不必要的恐慌。
A bird that fell down at the sound of an arrowless shooting; a deadly frightened person
Note: Tradition has it that Geng Lei and the king of the State of Wei were once together, seeing a bird flying across the sky. Geng Lei said to the king that if he shot without an arrow, the bird would also fall down. The king did not believe it and Geng Lei did as he had said and the bird really fell down. It turned out that the bird had been wounded by a previous shooting and was frightened down at the sound of Geng Lei’s arrowless shooting. The allusion is now used to refer to people who, having experienced a crisis or danger, are still affected by the lingering fear.

劳燕分飞
典出《乐府诗集.东飞伯劳歌》，有关诗文的细节可大致简述如下。劳为伯劳鸟，它和燕子一个飞到东，一个飞到西，两下分开了。后来用之比喻夫妻或情侣两离分。
The bird of Bo Lao and the sparrow fly apart; be separated
Note: In a poem, it was said that the bird of Bo Lao and the sparrow flew separately one eastward and the other westward. The allusion is now used to refer to separation of a couple or lovers.

孟母三迁
典出《烈女传》，有关情节可大致简述如下。为了孟子和其他孩子有一个良好的成长环境，孟母（孟子的母亲）三次搬家以避免不好的成长环境。后来人们常用此典褒奖那些教子有方的女性，有时也用以指好邻居。
The mother of Mencius moved their home three times; moving one’s home for the desired environment for the education of one’s children
Note: Tradition has it that Mrs Meng, mother of Mencius, moved her home three times for an ideal neighborhood for the education of her son Mencius and his brothers. The allusion is now used to give praise to those who are good at educating their young.

女娲补天
典出《淮南子.览冥训》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代天的四极是残缺的，神人伏羲的妹妹女娲炼五色石以补天，斩断巨鳌的足来支撑四极。后来人们常用此典来褒奖人们救国救难、匡正乾坤的壮举，也用于指治理灾难。
Nü Wa patches the sky; to save the populace by patching the sky or doing a great deed
Note: Legend has it that when the sky and the earth began to separate, the four corners of the sky were fragmentary. Then Nü Wa, Fu Xi’s sister, fostered stones of color to patch the sky and cut the four legs from a giant tortoise as poles to support the sky. In this way, she contributed a great deal to the mankind. The allusion is now used to such heroic deeds as salvation of the nation or pulling the people through crisis or natural disasters.

杞人忧天
典出《列子.天瑞》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代杞国有个人害怕天崩地陷，无处安身，终日忧愁，以致寝食俱废。后来多用此典指有些人对有些事产生不必要的担心与害怕。
A certain person from the State of Qi worries that the sky would fall down and he would have no place to harbor himself; groundless worry
Note: Legend has it that a certain person from the State of Qi worried that the sky would some day fall down and he then would have no place to shelter himself from the disaster. He worried day and night as to neglect his meal and sleep. The allusion now applies to the case of groundless worry.

绕梁三日
也有说成余音绕梁的，典出《列子.汤问》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代有个叫韩娥的歌手，在去齐国的路上没有办法，在雍门卖唱乞食。唱得很好，走了之后三天之内人们仍感到余音未散，仿佛还在梁间回绕。后来用此典形容优美的歌曲。
Whirling around the beam for three days; (of a song) so excellent as to let the audience feel it lingering for a long time
Note: Legend has it that in ancient time, Han E once on the way to the State of Qi had no food but to beg by singing. She sang so beautifully that three days after she left, the audience still felt that the song was lingering in the hall. The allusion now applies to the description of excellent songs or music.

塞翁失马
也有说成塞翁失马，焉知非福的，典出《淮南子.人间训》，有关情节可大致简述如下。古代边塞有位老翁丢了马，人们都来安慰他。他却说，马丢了，说不定还是一种福气呢。后来那匹马回来了，还引回了胡人的一匹马。此时人们又来向他贺喜。他说，说不定是一种祸事呢。正如所言，不久他的儿子因为骑那匹马摔断了腿。后来人们用此典形容祸福相依，相互转化，难以逆料。
The frontiersman loses his horse; a loss may turn out to be a blessing
Note: Legend has it that a frontiersman once lost his horse and his neighbors came to comfort him. However, he said to the neighbors that the loss might turn out to be a blessing. Later, the horse came back with another horse of the Tartars and then his neighbors came to extend their congratulations. However, he said on the occasion that the blessing might turn out to be a misfortune. It really so happened that his son rode the horse, fell down from it and had his leg broken. And the story continues in that line.