顾老师成语课堂

专业解析成语典故 | 中英对照+文化背景+用法示例

成语解析:动物成语

📚 成语释义

1. 画蛇添足 (Draw legs on a snake)

His unnecessary explanation was like drawing legs on a snake.
他多余的说明简直是画蛇添足

2. 狐假虎威 (A fox borrowing the tiger's fierceness)

He's just a fox borrowing the tiger's fierceness - don't be intimidated.
他只是狐假虎威,别被吓到。

3. 守株待兔 (Stand by a tree stump waiting for rabbits)

Waiting for luck without effort is like standing by a tree stump waiting for rabbits.
不努力只等运气就是守株待兔

4. 对牛弹琴 (Play the lute to a cow)

Explaining philosophy to him is like playing the lute to a cow.
跟他讲哲学简直是对牛弹琴

💡 顾老师提示:动物成语往往通过动物行为比喻人性,翻译时既要传达字面意思,也要解释实际含义。注意中英文化中动物象征意义的差异。

🔊 成语出处

画蛇添足

出自《战国策》:比赛画蛇,先成者饮酒。一人先成,又添画蛇足,反失其酒。

狐假虎威

出自《战国策》:狐狸借老虎之威吓跑百兽,比喻倚仗他人权势欺压人。

守株待兔

出自《韩非子》:农夫因偶然捡到撞树而死的兔子,便不再耕作,终日守株待兔。

💡 顾老师文化小贴士:

  • 龙在中国象征皇权,西方则是凶猛怪兽
  • 狗在中文多含贬义(如"狗仗人势"),在西方多为褒义
  • 蝙蝠因谐音"福"在中国是吉祥物,西方则与吸血鬼联系

🎯 用法示例

1. 画蛇添足 → 形容做多余的事反而坏事

The golden frame on this modern painting is like drawing legs on a snake.
这幅现代画配金框简直是画蛇添足

2. 狐假虎威 → 形容倚仗他人势力欺压人

The assistant was just a fox borrowing the tiger's fierceness when scolding us.
那个助理训斥我们时不过是狐假虎威

3. 对牛弹琴 → 比喻对不懂道理的人讲道理

Talking about art with him is like playing the lute to a cow.
跟他谈艺术简直是对牛弹琴

使用注意:

  • 多数动物成语含贬义,使用时要注意场合
  • 翻译给外国人时建议先直译再解释
  • 避免字面直译造成误解(如"亡羊补牢"不宜直译为"Mend the fold after sheep are lost")

📝 随堂练习

1. 翻译并解释:

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot"(螳臂当车)

2. 文化对比:

中文"鹤立鸡群" vs 英文"A swan among ducks"

中文"一箭双雕" vs 英文"Kill two birds with one stone"

3. 情景应用:

当同事把简单工作复杂化时,可以说这是______(画蛇添足)

当有人想不劳而获时,可以说这是______(守株待兔)