国外许多名言警句有时候读起来也让人纳闷以致于郁闷,因为它们号称是Chinese Proverb(中国谚语),但我作为中国人却不甚了了,想不出来这些Chinese Proverb 到底对应哪些“中国谚语”。
比如下面这些Chinese Proverb,我可以大致翻译出其意义,但是还没有想出对应的中文原句:
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
鸟儿唱歌不是因为它们有了答案,而是因为它们有歌要唱。
A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.
送花的手上留有香味。(赠人玫瑰,手有余香)
A book tightly shut is but a block of paper.
一本没有打开的书就是一团纸。
A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.
孩子的一生就像一张白纸,周边每个人都会在上面留下印记。
A fool judges people by the presents they give him.
糊涂人根据他人的送礼决定亲疏。
A nation's treasure is in its scholars.
学者是国家的财富。
A rat who gnaws at a cat's tail invites destruction.
咬猫尾巴的老鼠自寻毁灭。
Be the first to the field and the last to the couch.
第一个出工干活,最后一个上床休息。
Do not employ handsome servants.
别雇佣长得好看的佣人。
Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet.
别用斧头拍打朋友额头上的苍蝇。
Don't open a shop unless you like to smile.
你要是不喜欢微笑就别开店。
He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.
张口发问可能让你表现出5分钟的无知,但是不发问的人永远会无知。
He who strikes the first blow admits he's lost the argument.
辩论中的两个人,第一个动手的那个人就是承认辩论失败的那个人。
If you bow at all, bow low.
既然低了头,干脆就多低点。