4 ． Idioms

    Generally speaking ， idioms are semantically and structurally fixed expressions which ， in essence ， are kind of accumulation of culture ． Take Chinese for example over thousands of years ， Chinese people has gradually formed their own language on the basis of their specific living and thinking habit ． Each generation does not absolutely accept the cultural heritage of the last generation ． Instead ， they both develop what is useful and discard what is not ． In this process ， the essence culture in the past is retained in language and passed on as fixed language expressions ． How idioms distinctively reflect a nation ' s culture rests on the following factors ：

  (1)Geographical features.

    A given cultural entity exists in a given geographical space ， therefore ， it unavoidably reflects the features of the region ． Different regions with different scenes have particular characteristics ． In language expressions ， there ' s a striking contrast when natural landscapes are used metaphorically ． For instance ， in the Chinese idiom 有眼不识泰山，“泰山” is a famous mountain and here is used to refer to the VIPs ． Any foreigners with scant knowledge of Chinese culture can hardly catch the meaning expressed here ．

Other examples like：

    不到黄河不死心 (refuse to give up until all hope is gone ． ) 得陇望蜀 (covet Sichuan after capturing Gansu—have insatiable desires or ambitions) ． Here “ 黄河，陇，蜀 ”are peculiar Chinese geographical culture ． It's the same as the English idioms which reflect a certain feature of a region as well ． such as ，“ talk like a Dutch uncle( 谆谆教诲 ) ， shoot Niagara( 孤注一掷 ) ， take a French leave( 不辞而别 ) ． For a better understanding and use of these idioms ， one need to find out the features of the word used metaphoricaly ．

  (2)Traditional customs.

    In Chinese culture ， the animal “马 (horse) ” seems to be frequently used commendatorily like in 骏马 (fine horse ／ steed) ，千里马，老马识途，老骥伏枥 etc ． This usage is traditionally related to the importance of horses in Chinese history ． As an agricultural nation ， horses at one time have been assistants of farmers ． That ' s why Chinese nation is so in favor of horses ．

     However ． in English ，“ horse' ' is more often used neutrally like the idioms ：

    eat 1ike a horse( 吃得非常多 ) ：
    work 1ike a horse( 辛苦地干活 ) ：
    beat a dead horse( 死马当作活马医 ) ．

     A nation that is enthusiastic about horse race also has a host of idioms with “ horse", ， but horse is still considered as neutral like ． bet on the wrong horse( 支持错了对象 ) ， that is a horse of another color( 那是另一回事 ) ， a dark horse( 实力难测的赛马 ) ．

    The Chinese word “狗” is always derogatory as in 鸡呜狗盗，狗急跳墙，痛打落水狗 etc ． But in English “ dog' ' can be used commendatorily or neutrally 1ike ， Love me ， love my dog( 爱乌及乌 ) ． Every dog has its day( 凡人皆有得意日 ) ． Wake a sleeping dog ( 惹事牛非 ) ． Help a lame dog over a stile( 助人度过难关 )etc ．

  (3)Religion.

    It is evident that Chinese nation is also influenced by religion ． In idioms ，三教九流，鬼斧神工，鬼使神差，有钱能使见推磨，道高一尺， 魔高一丈． Al1 are attached to religious features ． Others like ，借花献佛，临时抱佛脚，做一天和尚撞一天钟，二个和尚没水吃． All are used metaphorically ． During the medieval period Christianity almost extended to every aspect of English speaking nations so that there are idioms ， as poor as the church mouse( 一贫如洗 ) ： Man proposes ， God disposes( 谋事在人，成事在天 ) ； make a god of one ' s belly( 一味追求吃喝 ) ： Go to hell( 见鬼去吧 ) ．

    From the above, it is not hard to see language and culture are closely related ． Because of the cultural differences ， there must be difficulty in translating idioms ．

5 ． Translation of Idioms

    Different national cultures 1ead to various idioms of a given speech community ． This culture differences present a lot difficulty in translating ． But idiom is a part of language and it's proved that idioms can be translated ． Generally ， there ' re three ways ：

  (1)Totally literal translation.

    We know in translation it's not hard to transfer meaning but to keep the original flavor is not easy ． Some idioms can be translated literally ． For example ，丢脸 (lose face); 药补不如食补 (Diets cares more than the doctors); 巧妇不做无米之炊 (Eyen the cleverest housewife can't cook a meal without rice) ：大树底下好乘凉 (A good tree is a good shelter) ： A 1l roads ， lead to Rome( 条条道路通罗马 ) ： Give him an inch and he ' ll take a mile( 得寸进尺 ); Constant dropping wears the stone( 滴水穿石 ) ； fish in troubled waters( 混水摸鱼 ) ； lie down on the job( 磨洋工 ); hang by a thread( 千钧一发 ) ： plain sailing( 一帆风顺 ) ： wash one ' s hands of( 洗手不干 ) ： skin deep( 肤浅 ) ．

    The above translations take both form and content into consideration ． For the target language readers they're more likely to have the equivalence ．