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we think are the most useful and common methods for translating Chinese allusion into English.

2.1 Literal Translation

A literal translation is a translation that follows closely the form of the source language. In the translation of Chinese allusion, literal translation means not invading conditions of English culture, translation should fully save image and cultural characteristics of Chinese allusions to save their integration content and presentation. It is often treated as a desirable method translation if the translation is not difficult to understand, it’s not necessary to be verbose. Due to the similarities between Chinese and English，this method is usually used. We can translate the Chinese allusion into English directly and simply. Look at the example.“调虎离山”，it means to decoy the tiger to leave from the mountain. In this allusion we can know“虎” means tiger and “山” means mountain. It is obvious that these two things exist in Chinese. When we translate “调” we can use decoy or lure，means to attract someone. So the allusion can be translated as to decoy (lure) the tiger to leave from the mountain. It uses the literal translation. When read it we can know the meaning clearly. There is another example.“口蜜腹剑”we can use the same translation method. This allusion means to be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted. In this allusion，“口” is naturally translated as mouth.“蜜” is naturally translated as honey and “腹”is naturally translated as heart while “剑” is naturally translated as dagger. These four words are very easy to translate and understand. As we all know, honey is often used to decorate mouth. Dagger-hearted means that there is a dagger in someone’s heart. So the allusion can be translated as “with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart” or “to be honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted”. It also uses the literal translation. There are some other examples of this kind are listed below, which may help us better understand the advantages of translating Chinese allusion expressions literally into English.

“夜郎自大”, the conceited King of Yelang

“路遥知马力，日久见人心”， As a long road tests a horse’s strength， so a long task proves a person’s heart.

“画蛇添足”，to draw a snake and add feet to it

“对牛弹琴”，to play the lute to a cow

“叶公好龙”, Lord She loves dragons

2.2 Replacement

We should try our best to translate Chinese allusion literally for the sake of “be faithful of the source” in certain cases，but replacing the source with an English equivalent allusion for some similarities is necessary and important. The Chinese allusion “破釜沉舟” refers to a historic story which is so familiar to everyone who live in China: the story is said that in the Qin Dynasty in ancient China，a famous man who is called Xiang Yu，a brave leader of the army fighting against the troops of the government. He ordered his armies to destroy all the pots and sunk all the boats right after they got ashore in order to show his strong determination to fight the war. If translated into English，this allusion may be translated into English allusion “to burn one’s boat”，for this English allusion is related to a historic event have something in common with the Chinese allusion. There was also a story in western. It said that Julius Caesar who is a general of ancient Rome，he ordered all the boats burnt after his army crossed the Rubicon River in order to show his dete本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。