摘　要

英语和汉语中有很多习语，其中有许多关于动物的习语。这些动物词有着各自的文化内涵，其翻译直接影响着整篇文章的翻译水平。英语动物词的文化内涵并不完全同汉语动物词相同。因此，如何准确翻译这类动物词成为重中之重。习语的翻译主要采用直译、意译、直译与意译相结合、借用同义成语和译文加注等方法。在习语的翻译过程中，译者们掌握和熟悉两种语言以及其文化是非常重要的。他们必须从风俗和文化背景的角度，通过对汉语和英语语言学和文化差异的理解，尽量去把握习语的内在含义，从而使其观点与原文的精神相一致。本文主要对中英动物词翻译进行比较，从而探究出一套动物词的翻译方法。这对习语的翻译以及跨文化交际有着极其重要的意义。

关键词：习语；动物词；翻译
 
Abstract

Language is the bearer of culture, and idioms are heavily culturally loaded phrases and sentences. There are a lot of idioms in both English and Chinese, many of which are the idioms denoting animals. As these animal words have their own cultural connotation, their translation directly affects the quality of the whole passage. Because of the different regional, historical, cultural and religious factors, the connotations of animal words in English do not always coincide with those in Chinese. Therefore, how to deal with the idioms composed of animal words becomes an important problem in translation. The methods of idioms translation include literal translation, free translation, combination of literal translation and free translation, English and Chinese corresponding translation and translation with notes. To translate idioms，it is very important for the translators to master and well acquaint themselves with the original language and the target language and their cultures. They should set out from the aspects of customs and cultural backgrounds and try to grasp the connotation of the original idiom by understanding linguistic and cultural differences between English and Chinese so as to make his version alike the original text in spirit. This thesis explores the methods of how to translate idioms composed of animal words through the comparison between Chinese and English animal idioms and translation. This research had great significance in handling well idioms in translation and cross-cultural communication.

Key words: idioms；animal words；translation

1    Introduction
This paper is intended to discuss the translation of idioms composed of animal words. Idioms are very important and extremely interesting part of language. English and Chinese idioms carved with animal words account for a great part in translation. It is known that translation is a cultural exchange as a cross-linguistic, cross-cultural and cross-social communicative activity. As far as idioms translation is concerned, the essences of language and culture are difficult aspects of translation. If we can understand and use idioms properly, our language command increases constantly.