1. 人山人海:在诗词用语(poetic expression)里,老外也有使用:“a (the) sea of faces”,颇有咱的“人山人海”的味道。例如:Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片人山人海的听众,A先生发表一篇动人的演说。)Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(克林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。)。可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有“人海”的感觉。因此,可以说:“I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. ”但在平地的人群中,就不说:“I saw the sea of faces.”也不说:“There is a sea of faces.”只说:“I saw a large crowd of people.”
2、家家有本难念的经:有人译成:“Every family cooking - pot has a black spot.”(意思是:每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点。)这样说法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是:“Many families have skeletons in the closet.(许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸,骨骸就是指家丑。)”;或者说:“Every family has its own source of shame.(每个家庭都有自己的丑事)”;说白些,就是:“Every family has its own problem.”
3、天下无不散的宴席:有人直译为:“There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.”老外听后,也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法,也许更易理解:“All good things come to an end.(意思是:所有好的事情,总有结束的一天。)”;假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:“Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart.(bosom friend是指知心的好友)”