2017年6月英语四级翻译：十二生肖

英语自学网

　　十二生肖(the twelve Chinese
Zodiacs)是中国传统文化的重要组成部分，它们源于自然界的11种动物和一个民族图腾(totem)。十二生肖代表动物的性格特点各不相同。到了龙年或虎年，人们常说“生龙活虎”;马年人们会说“马到成功”;猪在中国人的眼里是“宝”的意思;牛是勤劳(diligence
)的象征，这一点在鲁迅的诗句“俯首甘为孺子牛”中有着完美的体现。
        　　参考答案：
        　　The twelve Chinese Zodiacs,including eleven animals in the nature and a
national totem,play an important role in the Chinese traditional culture.The
twelve symbolic animals have their own characteristics. In the Year of Dragon or
the Year of Tiger,people will say shenglonghuohu-full of vim and vigor;in the
Year of Horse,people will say madaochenggong—to gain an immediate success.In
Chinese eyes,pig is a "treasure".Ox is a symbol of diligence,which is well
presented in the verse by Lu Xun一an outstanding writer in China,“head bowed,like a willing ox I serve the children”.
        　　1.生龙活虎、马到成功:中国成语在翻译时可以先译为拼音，再进一步解释其内涵。“生龙活虎”即“精力充沛，活力四射”，可译为vim and vigor;
“马到成功”即“快速获得成功”可译为gain an immediate success。
        　　2.牛:生肖中的“牛”用ox来表达，而不用如cattle, cow, bull等其他表示“牛” 的词。
        　　3.俯首甘为孺子牛:可直译为Head bowed, like a willing ox I serve the
children;或者根据其表达的“愿意为弱小服务的精神”译为modesty combined with the spirit of willingly
serving the young and weak。同时，译文要简略给出鲁迅的身份，以使译文内容更为周全。