Abstract：Cultural images of idioms formed in people’s long-term life and work tend to reflect the cultural characteristics of a nation and its peculiar way of thinking. They usually have unique cultural connotations and particular emotions. The C-E translation of cultural images in Chinese idioms is the usual business for translators, which reveals directly the fascination of Chinese culture if translators can do it well. However, during the translation of idioms, translators often find that in the languages of Chinese and English, the same image in two languages denotes different cultural meanings, or a cultural image in one language does not exist at all in another language. These problems greatly increase the difficulties of translation. With lots of specific translation examples, this paper makes in-depth exploration and analysis of the difficulties in C-E translation of cultural images in Chinese idioms, and some suggested methods and practical skills are provided also in the paper in order to effectively transmit the semantic and cultural meanings of cultural images in Chinese idioms.

Key words:  cultural image  idiom  C-E translation

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 The Previous Researches-1

1.3 The Structure of the Paper-2

Chapter Two The Major Academic Concepts-3

2.1 Definition of Idiom-3

2.2 Definition of Cultural Image-3

2.3 Translation and Culture-4

Chapter Three The Difficulties and Corresponding Solutions in C-E Translation of Cultural Images in Chinese Idioms-5

3.1 Main Difficulties in C-E Translation of Cultural Images in Chinese Idioms-5

3.1.1 The Dislocation of Cultural Images-5

3.1.2 The Vacancy of Cultural Images-6

3.2 Improving Translators’ Cultural Awareness-6

3.2.1 Cultural Images from Different Environments-7

3.2.2 Cultural Images from Different Histories-7

3.2.3 Cultural Images from Different Customs-7

3.2.4 Cultural Images from Different Religions-7

3.3 Suggested Methods for C-E Translation of Cultural Images in Chinese Idioms-8

3.3.1 Reproducing the Cultural Image by Literal Translation-8

3.3.2 Reproducing the Cultural Image by Amplification or Annotation-9

3.3.3 Replacing the Cultural Image by Loan Translation-10

3.3.4 Omitting the Cultural Image-10

Chapter Four Conclusion-13

References-14