摘 要：成语是语言演化过程中不可或缺的精髓，它蕴藏着极为细腻的文化传统及特有的生活习性。而设喻式成语是意象语言的核心，并在中英语言中占有相当的比重。另外，设喻式成语因其自身的特殊结构与意义之间的矛盾，成为翻译中的一大难题。因此，本文在结构和意像内涵两个层面上对英汉设喻式成语分别进行比较，并对设喻式成语的翻译策略进行探讨。通过对英汉设喻式成语的对比分析及其翻译策略的研究，使人们更好地理解和掌握设喻式成语，并为今后更好地翻译英汉成语总结方法，为翻译工作带来更多的便利。

关键词：设喻式成语；结构；意像内涵；翻译策略

Abstract：Idioms are essential parts of the evolution of language. They have a very fine cultural tradition and unique living habit. And metaphorical idioms are the core of idioms and also take a considerable proportion in English and Chinese language. In addition, due to the contradiction between their special structures and metaphorical meanings, metaphorical idioms have become a major problem in translation. Therefore, this study makes a comparison between English and Chinese metaphorical idioms in two aspects: structure and image connotation, in order to explore the translation strategies of metaphorical idioms. Through the study of metaphorical idioms and their translation strategies, it can help people better understand and master metaphorical idioms, and bring more convenience for translation.

Key words: metaphorical idioms; structure; image connotation; translation strategy

Contents

摘 要 i

Abstract ii

I. Introduction 1

II. An Overview of Metaphorical Idioms 2

2.1 The Definition of Metaphorical Idioms 2

2.2 The Features of Metaphorical Idioms 3

2.3 Previous Studies on Metaphorical Idioms 3

III. The Comparison of Metaphorical Idioms in English and Chinese 4

3.1 The Comparison of Structures in Metaphorical Idioms 4

       3.1.1 The Simile in Metaphorical Idioms 6

       3.1.2 The Metaphor in Metaphorical Idioms 7

       3.1.3 Other Forms in Metaphorical Idioms 9

3.2 The Comparison of Image Connotation in Metaphorical Idioms 9

IV. The Strategies Adopted in Metaphorical Idioms Translation 10

4.1 The Strategies Adopted in Image Correspondence 10

4.2 The Strategies Adopted in Image Conflict 11

4.3 The Strategies Adopted in Image Vacancy 11

V. Conclusion 12

Bibliography 13

Acknowledgements 14

A Comparative Study on Metaphorical Idioms in Chinese and English and the Translation Strategies

I. Introduction

Idioms are the essence of language, they are formed thoroughly in the process of using, which generally have a vivid and profound connotation, as well as concise and comprehensive national colors. Idioms originate from people’s life and practice. People have same or similar to life experience, understanding of things, psychological and logical thinking in general, so it will have roughly the same or similar idioms. People live in different social environments, with different customs, religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds, so it will produce different idioms. Idioms can not only make people understand it, apply it correctly, absorb rich nutrition, and enhance the ability of language expressions, but also can make them understand the cultural background and living habits, increase their knowledge and broaden their horizon.

Metaphorical idioms are the core of idioms which use some different things to describe a thing or things, and also hint the imagery and contain similar characteristics of idioms. Metaphorical idioms in English and Chinese are closely related with people’s thinking. They not only embody the cultural characteristics, but also reflect the characteristics of thinking, and Chinese and English in terms of culture and thinking have similarities and differences. Metaphorical idioms are the combination of words which means something different from the inpidual words of the idioms. This kind of idioms mainly conclude simile, metaphor, synecdoche and some other idioms. They also take a considerable proportion in English and Chinese language. Because of the contradiction between metaphorical meanings and their special structures, metaphorical idioms have become an essential problem in translation.