中英翻译必备：汉语四字格翻译

DogMyCats

（一）并列关系
名山大川 famous mountains and great rivers
名胜古迹 scenic spots and historical  sites
湖光山色 landscape of lakes and hills
青山绿水 green hills and clear waters
奇松怪石 strangely-shaped pines and grotesque rock formations
平等互利 equality and mutual benefit
扬长避短 play up strengths and avoid weaknesses
反腐倡廉 fight corruption and build a clean government
简政放权 streamline administration and institute decentralization
集思广益 draw on collective wisdon and absorb all useful ideas
国泰民安 the country flourish and the people live in peace and harmony

政通人和 the government functions well and people cooperate well
国计民生 national welfare and the people’s livelihood
辞旧迎新 bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new
徇私舞弊 bend the law for personal gain and engage in fraud
流连忘返 linger on with no thought of leaving for home
国际局势复杂多变 the complex and volatile international situation
开拓进取 blaze new trails and forge ahead
求同存异 seek common ground while shelving differences



（二） 语意重复
广袤无垠的中华大地 the boundless expanse of the Chinese territory
高瞻远瞩的决策 a visionary/far-sighted decision
贯彻落实重大决策carry out/ implement a series of major policy decisions
层峦叠嶂 peaks rising one after another
优胜劣汰 survival of the fittest
延年益寿 prolong one’s life
灵丹妙药 panacea / miraculous cure
长治久安 a long period of stability
求真务实 pragmatic
审时度势 size up the trend of events
招商引资 attract investment
誉满全球举世闻名 world-renowned
功在当代，利在千秋 in the interest of the current and future generations
继往开来，承前启后 (continue the past and open up the future ) break new ground for the future
路遥知马力，日久见人心 Time will tell.
吃的苦中苦，方知甜中甜 no sweet without sweat
车到山前必有路，船到桥头自然直 in the end things mend /there’s always a way out
急功近利 eager for instant success and quick profits
大黑扫黄 crack down on gangland and pornography
德高望重 of high ability and integrity

互利互补 mutually complementary and beneficial
互谅互让mutual understanding and accommodation
遵纪守法 observe the relevant code of conduct and the law

DogMyCats

（三） 目的关系

减员增效 downsize (and cut payroll) to improve efficiency (for efficiency)
退耕还林 return cultivated land to forest or pastures
集资办学 raise money to set up new schools
结党营私 form cliques for private gain
扭亏为盈 turn a loss-making enterprise into a profitable one



（四） 途径方式

寓教于乐 teach through lively activities
因材施教 teach students according to their aptitude
按劳分配 distribution according to performance
以商养文 support /sponsor cultural activities with the profits from doing business



（五） 偏正词组

廉洁奉公 honestly perform one’s official duties
环境绿化 environmental greening
超前消费 premature consumption; Over-consume; excessive consumption
以强凌弱 the strong domineering over the weak
以人为本 people foremost; People-oriented



（六） 动宾关系

优势互补 complement each other’s advantages
自主经营，自负盈亏 make one’s own management decisions, take full responsibility for one’s own profits and losses



（七） 条件关系

不进则退 no progress simply means regression



（八） 省略意象
瞻前顾后 overcautions and indecisive
源远流长 have a long history
呕心沥血 spare no efforts
画龙点睛 bring out the crucial point
花天酒地 go on the loose
汗马功劳 exploits
闻名遐迩 famous
独具匠心 original
中流砥柱 mainstay, chief cornerstone
鱼米之乡 a land of milk and honey
世外桃源 a haven of peace
浩如烟海的文化典籍 numerous volumes of literature



外研社官方博客  http://blog.sina.com.cn/fltrp19