摘要：

汉语成语是中国文化的一大瑰宝，其中以四字格的短语居多。它与英语成语有着本质上的区别，为了翻译好汉语四字格成语，避免一些常见的错误，我们必须很好地掌握成语英译策略。本文旨在对近二十年来有关四字格成语研究的文献和书展开研究，进行归纳、分类、总结，讨论了四字格成语的定义、翻译方法、目前的问题，并提出笔者认为可以解决目前问题的策略。

关键词：汉语四字格成语；翻译；策略
 
Abstract:
The Chinese language is rich in idioms, in which there are a lot of four-character phrases. The Chinese four-character idioms are quite different from the English idioms. We have to learn the translation strategies well to make sure that we translate them correctly and to avoid some common errors. Based on articles from journals and books during recent 20 years on four-character idioms, having made analysis and summary of these articles, this paper aims to talk about the definition, translation methods, and current situations. The author puts up with several points in the research that can be implemented to solve the problems.

Key words: Chinese four-character idioms; translation; strategies

1. Introduction
The Chinese language is rich in idioms just like many other highly-developed languages. Idioms mirror the culture and history of a certain language, so translating idioms is a tough job. Idioms which make up an indispensable part in the Chinese language are featured by their conciseness in form, richness in implication and simplicity in structure. They are the core and pith of a language and are helpful to make Chinese animate and vivid. Most of them are four-character idioms, which form an indispensable part in Chinese idioms. Generally speaking, it is very hard to find an absolute equivalent expression of an idiom in a target language. First of all, by adding the meaning of each element of an idiom together can by no means help people understand most of the idioms. Secondly, people cannot understand most of the idioms literally, that is, sometimes idioms do not mean something that a translator thinks at the first sight for the reason that an idiom is regarded as integrity. As a result, anyone, without understanding of Chinese cultures and history, without comprehending of basic translation methods, has great difficulties in translating idioms. Therefore, translation of idioms from Chinese into English is a tough job.