美国人常用的经典句子
1.After you.你先请。这是一句很常用的客套话，在进／出门,上车得场合你都可以表现一下。
2. I just couldn't help it.我就是忍不住。想想看，这样一个漂亮的句子可用于多少个场合？下面是随意举的一个例子：
I was deeply moved by the film and I cried and cried. I just couldn't help it.
3. Don't take it to heart. 别往心里去，别为此而忧虑伤神。生活实例：
This test isn't that important. Don't take it to heart.
4. We'd better be off.我们该走了。It's getting late. We'd better be off .
5. Let's face it. 面对现实吧。常表明说话人不愿意逃避困难的现状。
参考例句：I know it's a difficult situation. Let's face it, OK?
6. Let's get started.咱们开始干吧。劝导别人时说：Don't just talk. Let's get started.
7. I'm really dead.我真要累死了。坦诚自己的感受时说：After all that work, I’m really dead.
8. I've done my best.我已尽力了。
9. Is that so?真是那样吗？常用在一个人听了一件事后表示惊讶、怀疑。
10. Don't play games with me!别跟我耍花招！
11. I don't know for sure.我不确切知道。
Stranger：Could you tell me how to get to the town hall?
Tom: I don't know for sure. Maybe you could ask the policeman over there.
12. I'm not going to kid you.我不是跟你开玩笑的。
Karin：You quit the job? You are kidding.
Jack: I'm not going to kid you. I'm serious.
13. That's something. 太好了，太棒了。
A: I'm granted a full scholarship for this semester.
B: Congratulations. That's something.
14. Brilliant idea!这主意真棒！这主意真高明！
15. Do you really mean it? 此话当真？
Michael：Whenever you are short of money, just come to me.
David: Do you really mean it?
16. You are a great help.你帮了大忙
17. I couldn't be more sure. 我再也肯定不过。
18. I am behind you.我支持你。
A: Whatever decision you're going to make, I am behind you.
19. I'm broke.我身无分文。
20. Mind you!请注意！听着！(也可仅用Mind。)
模范例句：Mind you! He's a very nice fellow though bad-tempered.
21. You can count on it.你尽管相信好了，尽管放心。
A：Do you think he will come to my birthday party?
B: You can count on it.
22. I never liked it anyway.我一直不太喜欢这东西。当朋友或同事不小心摔坏你的东西时就可以用上这句话给他一个台阶，打破尴尬局面：Oh, don't worry. I'm thinking of buying a new one. I never liked it anyway. 23. That depends.看情况再说。
例：I may go to the airport to meet her. But that depends.
24. Congratulations.恭喜你，祝贺你。
25. Thanks anyway.无论如何我还是得谢谢你。当别人尽力要帮助你却没帮成时，你就可以用这个短语表示谢意。
26. It's a deal.一言为定
Harry：Haven't seen you for ages. Let's have a get-together next week.
Jenny: It's a deal
许多中国人爱用俗语、成语、俚语。由于中美两国文化、风俗、思想、习惯的差异，如果照字直译，或把单字「堆在一起」，老外听了，也许就会「满头雾水」、「迷迷糊糊」，成了他们所说的「只有你们中国人听得懂」的「中国英文」（Chinese English）。
在此，把一些常见的中文俗语与一般老外的说法相对比较，或许可供有兴趣的读者参考。
1. 人山人海：有人直译为：People mountain people sea.
这就是「中国英文」，老外很难理解。他们指「人多」时，通常只说：「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到电影院门前大排长龙，也只说：「There is (was) a long movie line.」
不过在诗词用语(poetic expression) 里，老外也有使用：「a (the) sea of faces」，颇有咱们「人山人海」的味道。例如：
Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.（望着一片人山人海的听众，A先生发表一篇动人的演说。）
Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.（柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。）
可见，说话者通常要在台上或高处，才有「人海」的感觉。因此，可以说：I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中，就不说：「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说：「There is a sea of faces.」只说：「I saw a large crowd of people.」
2. 家家有本难念的经：有人译成：Every family cooking －pot has a black spot. (意思是：每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)
这样说法，老外恐怕不能充分了解。不过老外最常的说法是：
Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)
或者说：
Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)
说白些，就是：
Every family has its own problem.
3. 天下无不散的宴席：有人直译为：There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
老外听后，也许很难体会其中意义。如果按照美语说法，也许更易理解：
All good things come to an end. (意思是：所有好的事情，总有结束的一天。)
假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天，那么可以说：
Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)
4. 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚：有人照字直译为：When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.
这种说法，老外也会「一知半解」。美语里一般说法是：
Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神，不是只在困难时。)
对学生也可以说：
If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功，考试就不会形成压力。)
5. 挂羊头，卖狗肉：有人照字直译为：He advertises mutton, but sells dog's flesh. 或He hangs up a sheep's head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.
这两种译法，恐怕老外都难理解，尤其谈到「狗肉」，他们更会「反感」，因为狗是他们最爱的宠物，不过老外倒有相近的说法：
He applied bait-and-switch factics in business. (他经商的策略是先引诱顾客来，再改变货物的品质。)
(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)
This store uses bait and switch policy.
或者简单的说：
Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或
Say one thing and do another.
6. 一言既出，驷马难追：有人译成：One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.
这两种说法，中文味道嫌重，老外未必理解。不过他们倒有类似的说法：
A word once let go cannot be recalled.
或者说：
You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话，就不能再收回来。)
7. 祸从口出，言多必失：有人译为：The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.
老外听了，恐怕不能完全理解。最好说成：
Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话，会带来麻烦); 或
The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)
甚至也可以说：
Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说，张眼多看。)
1. It‘s not like that. 不是那样的
It‘s not like that.这句话是用来辟谣的。当别人误会了一件事的来龙去脉，你就可以跟他说It‘s not like that.「不是那样的。」当然随着语气及情境的不同，It‘s not like that.这句话也有可能是你用来硬拗的藉口。
2. There is nothing good playing. 没好电影可看
这里的There‘s nothing good playing.是接着问句而来的，指的是「没有好电影可看。」同样的，若是电视上没有好节目可看，你就可以说There‘s nothing good on TV.
3. I‘ve gotten carried away. 我扯太远了。
get carried away字面上的意思是「被带走了」，那么被带走的是什么呢？就是心思。当你或是他人说话的时候离了题，偏离主旨扯远了。你就可以用上这个表达法I‘ve / You‘ve gotten carried away.
4. Good thing... 还好，幸好…
在美语当中若要表达中文里「还好，幸好…」的语气，你就可以用Good thing...做开头。这个句型非常简单又好用，你只要在Good thing后面加上完整的句子就可以。
5. I don‘t believe you‘re bringing this up. 你现在提这件事真是岂有此理
你现在提这件事真是岂有此理bring something up是指「提到（某件事）」。当然情况会有正反两面。你若没想到对方会提起这件事讨骂，你可以说I don‘t believe you‘re bringing this up.。而反过来说，若你很高兴对方主动提起了一件事，你也可以用这个片语，自然说出I am glad you are bringing this up.
6. spy on... 跟监（某人）
spy这个字就是「间谍」。当动词用的意思自然就是「做间谍做的事」，也就是「监视，跟踪」之意。当你要去监视跟踪某人，美语中就说成spy on someone。
7. There‘s no other way of saying it.没有别种说法
有时候不管你再怎么转、再怎么拗，也没有办法更婉转或是避开一些绝对会出现的字，这时候你就可以用上There‘s no other way of saying it.这句话，来表达自己避无可避的为难，因为「没有别种说法。」
8. That will not always be the case. 情况不会永远是这样
case这个字有「情况」的意思，That will be the case.就是指「情况就会是这样了。」但是你若觉得现在的情况只会是暂时，不会长久，你就可以反过来说That will not always be the case.「情况不会永远是这样。」
9. She is coming on to you. 她对你有意思
She is coming on to you.这句话是用在两性的关系上，意思是「她对你投怀送抱。」也就是形容某人对某人有意思的情况，这个句型男女两性都适用；同样的情况，你也可以说She is making a pass at you.「她对你眉来眼去的。」这两种说法都很生动，而且最棒的是没有新单字，赞！
10. I was being polite.我这是在说客气话
polite这个字，我们在学校学的意思是「有礼貌的。」当然你若要说一个人有礼貌，你可以说He is polite.或是He has good manners.不过I was being polite.这句话是指「我这是在说客气话。」使用的情境比较趋近于客套而不伤和气的出发点，与「做作」artificial (a.)又不一样了。
11. stand someone up 放（某人）鸽子
stand someone up这个词组，大家若是第一次看到，想必多半是满头雾水，怎么单字全都认识，意思却完全猜不出来。其实stand someone up的意思就是「放（某人）鸽子」，这么简单又实用的句子，可得赶快记起来。
12. So that explains it. 原来如此
有时候事情的来龙去脉浑沌不清，让人摸不着头脑，若是突然曙光一现，让你豁然开朗，这会儿你就可以用上这句话So that explains it / everything.「这就都说得通了。」
13. I feel the same way. 我有同感。
当他人说出了你的感觉，你再同意也不过的时候，你就可以用上这句话I feel the same way.「我有同感。」这句话不但可以让你避免把同样的话再讲一次，帮你省了不少口水，还可以让对方觉得自己的意见被尊重呢。I feel the same way.赶快记起来。
14. Is there someone else? 你是不是有了新欢？
Is there someone else?这句话字面上是指「有其它人吗？」不过Is there someone else?这句话在使用上，问的那个「其它人」一定是感情上的「新欢，新对象」，所以若是情侣或是夫妻之间有人说了这句Is there someone else?「你是不是有了新欢？」这可就不太妙了。
15. I can‘t help myself. 我情不自禁
我无法控制自己。I can‘t help myself.这句话可不是「我帮不了自己。」（赶快消除记忆），其实I can‘t help myself. 这句话的意思是「我情不自禁。」指的是对自己的无能为力。I can‘t help... 这个句型很好用，若是你遇到一个情况，想要说「我不禁纳闷了起来。」在美语中你就可以直接说: I can‘t help but wonder.
16. come hell or high water
这个短语的使用时机是当你要去执行一项任务或是做一件事之际，只许成功不许失败的决心。就犹如中文的「就算天崩地裂…」，比喻不论发生什么状况都要去完成使命。可以用在句首当作一句话的开头，
或是放在句尾补述。
17. have something in common
have something in common是指「彼此有着共通点」，可能是嗜好，也可能是观念。若你和某人完全不对盘，丝毫没有共通点，你就可以说We have nothing in common.
18. What have you got to lose?
What have you got to lose?这句话当中的lose是指「失去」的意思，当有人犹豫不决，始终做不了决定，你就可以用这句话What have you got to lose? 「你有啥好损失的？」，来增强对方破釜沈舟的决心。
19. You shouldn‘t be so hard on yourself.
这句话是用来安慰他人的，当有人对于自己太过苛责，给与自己让人喘不过气来的压力，你就可以跟对方说这句话You shouldn‘t be so hard on yourself.「你不该这么苛责自己的」。让对方好过一些。
20. Don‘t get me started on it.
这句话是指「别让我打开话匣子」，意思是你对于某一件事或是一个主题，有很多的意见，要是让你开了话头，可能就要听你连说个七天七夜，没完没了。Don‘t get me started on it.这句话是用来表达你对一件事情牢骚满腹的心情。
--
Great wisdom means to know what is best worth knowing and to do what is best worth doing .
口译词汇之流行词汇
公平、公开just, fair and open
好莱坞大片Hollywood blockbuster
黄金时段prime time
假唱lip-synch
劲射power shot
拉拉队cheering squad
来电显示电话机caller ID telephone
论文答辩(thesis) oral defense
泡沫经济bubble economy
票贩子scalper, ticket tout
拳头产品competitive products; knockout products; blockbuster
三角恋爱love triangle
三维动画片three-dimensional animation
"扫黄打非" eliminate pornography and illegal publications
申办奥运会bid for the Olympic Games
实现中华民伟大复兴bring about a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation 市场疲软sluggish market
素质教育education for all-around development
筒子楼：tube-shaped apartment
脱贫致富cast (shake, throw) off poverty and set out on a road to prosperity 网吧Internet bar
网恋online love affair
网上冲浪surf the Internet
网上交易平台online trading platform
网友net friend
无人售票self-service ticketing
无绳来电显示电话cordless telephone with caller ID
无线应用协议WAP （wireless application protocol ）
下岗laid-off workers
下海plunge into the commercial sea
下网off line
小康之家well-off family; comfortably-off family
新秀up-and-coming star, rising star
新新人类New Human Being ；X Generation
信息港inforport
形象小姐/ 先生image representative of a product or a brand
虚拟网virtual net
学生处students' affairs division
研究生毕业证/ 学位证graduate diploma/graudate degree's diploma
摇钱树cash cow
以人为本people oriented; people foremost
义务教育compulsory education
易拉罐pop can
应试教育examination-oriented education system
舆论导向direction of public opinion
运球dribble
在职博士生on-job doctorate
早恋puppy love
招生就业指导办公室enrolment and vocation guidance office
证券营业部stock exchange; security exchange
知识产权intellectual property rights
中专生secondary specialized or technical school student
中流砥柱mainstay, chief corner stone
专卖店exclusive agency; franchised store
自我保护意识self-protection awareness
综合国力comprehensive national strength
综合业务数字网integrated service digital network (ISDN)
总裁助理assistant president
综合治理comprehensive treatment
安居工程housing project for low-income urban residents
信息化information-based; informationization
智力密集型concentration of brain power; knowledge-intensive
外资企业overseas-funded enterprises
下岗职工laid-off workers
分流reposition of redundant personnel
三角债chain debts
素质教育education for all-round development
豆腐渣工程jerrybuilt projects
社会治安情况law-and-order situation
民族国家nation state
“台独”"independence of Taiwan"
台湾当局Taiwan authorities
台湾同胞Taiwan compatriots
台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. 西部大开发Development of the West Regions
可持续性发展sustainable development
风险投资risk investment
通货紧缩deflation
扩大内需to expand domestic demand
计算机辅助教学computer-assisted instruction (CAI)
网络空间cyberspace
虚拟现实virtual reality
网民netizen (net citizen)
电脑犯罪computer crime
电子商务the e-business
网上购物shopping online
应试教育exam-oriented education
学生减负to reduce study load
写作中常用到的中国独特概念词
1中国意念词（Chinesenesses）
八卦trigram
阴、阳yin, yang
道Dao（cf. logo）
江湖（世界）the jianghu World （the traits’ world）
e.g. You can’t control everything in a traits’ world. (人在江湖，身不由己)
道Daoism（Taoism）
上火excessive internal heat
儒学Confucianism
红学（《红楼梦》研究）redology
世外桃源Shangri-la or Arcadia
开放kaifang （Chinese openness to the outside world）
大锅饭getting an equal share regardless of the work done
伤痕文学scar literature or the literature of the wounded
不搞一刀切no imposing uniformity on …
合乎国情，顺乎民意to conform with the national conditions and the will of the people 乱摊派，乱收费imposition of arbitrary quotas and service charge
铁交椅iron (lifetime) post’s; guaranteed leading post
脱贫to shake off poverty; anti-poverty
治则兴，乱则衰Order leads to prosperity and chaos to decline
2 中华民族的喜庆节日（Chinese Festivial）
国庆节National Day
中秋节Mia-Autumn Festival
春节Spring Festival
元宵节Lantern Festival
儿童节Children’s Day
端午节Dragon Boat Festival
妇女节Women’s Day
泼水节Water-Splashing Day
教师节Teachers’ Day
五四青年节Youth Day
3中国独特的传统饮食（Unique Traditional Chinese Foods）
馄饨wonton
锅贴guotie (fried jiaozi)
花卷steamed twisted rolls
套餐set meal
盒饭box lunch; Chinese take-away
米豆腐rice tofu
魔芋豆腐konjak tofu
米粉rice noodles
冰糖葫芦 a stick of sugar-coated haws (or apples,etc.)
火锅chafing dish
八宝饭eight-treasure rice pudding
粉丝glass noodles
豆腐脑jellied bean curd
4 中国新兴事物（Newly Sprouted Things）
中国电信China Telecom
中国移动China Mobile
十五计划the 10th Five-Year Plan
中国电脑联网Chinanet
三峡工程the Three Gorges Project
希望工程Project Hope
京九铁路Beijing –Kowloon Railway
扶贫工程Anti-Poverty Project
菜篮子工程Vegetable Basket Project
温饱工程Decent-Life Project
安居工程Economy Housing Project
扫黄Porn-Purging Campaign
西部大开发Go-West Campaign
5 特有的一些汉语词汇
禅宗Zen Buddhism
禅dhyana; dhgaya
混沌chaos
道Daosim, the way and its power
四谛Four Noble Truth
八正道Eightfold Path
无常anity
五行说Theory of Five Elements
无我anatman
坐禅metta or transcendental meditation
空sunyata
虚无nothingness
双喜double happiness(中)，a doubled stroke of luck(英)
小品witty skits
相声cross-talk
噱头；掉包袱gimmick, stunt
夜猫子night people; night-owls
本命年this animal year of **.
处世之道philosophy of life
姻缘yinyuan（prefixed fate of marriage）
还愿redeem a wish (vows)
6 具有文化特色的现代表述
大陆中国Mainland China
红宝书little red book
红色中国socialist China
四化Four Modernizations
终生职业job-for-life
铁饭碗iron rice bowl
大锅饭communal pot
关系户closely-related units
外出打工人员migrant workers
关系网personal nets, closely-knitted guild
五讲(讲文明、讲礼貌、讲卫生、讲秩序、讲道德)：the Five Merits focus on decorum, manners, hygiene,
disciplines and morals
四美（心灵美、语言美、行为美、环境美）：the Four Virtues are golden heart, refined language, civilized behavior, and green environment
7 中国古代独特事物（Unique Ancient Chinese Items）
宣纸rice paper
衙门yamen
叩头kowtow
孔子Confucius
牌楼pailou；pai-loo
武术wushu（Chinese Martial Arts）
功夫kungfu ；kung fu
中庸the way of medium （cf. Golden Means）
中和harmony (zhonghe)
孝顺to show filial obedience
孝子dutiful son
家长family head
三纲：君为臣纲，父为子纲，夫为妻纲three cardinal guides: ruler guides subject, father guides son hu**and guides wife
五常：仁、义、理、智、信five constant virtues: benevolence (humanity), righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity
八股文eight-legged essays
多子多福：The more sons/children, the more blessing/ great happiness
养儿防老：raising sons to support one in one’s old age
8 近一季度见诸报端的中国现代特色词汇翻译
基层监督grass-roots supervision
基础税率base tariff level
婚介所matrimonial agency
婚外恋extramarital love
婚纱摄影bride photo
黑心棉shoddy cotton
机器阅卷machine scoring
即开型奖券scratch-open ticket/lottery
集中精力把经济建设搞上去go all out for economic development
价格听证会public price hearings
甲A球队Division A Soccer Team
家政服务household management service
加强舆论监督ensure the correct orientation is maintained in public opinion
假帐accounting fraud
叫板challenge; pick a quarrel
矫情use lame arguments
渐进式台独gradual Taiwan independence
借调temporarily transfer
扩大中等收入者比重Raise the proportion of the middle-income group.
扩大内需，刺激消费expand domestic demand and consumption
外国人笔下的中国谚语
1. Add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it.
2. A book holds a house of gold.
3. Crows everywhere are equally black
4. Dream different dreams while on the same bed.
5. Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.
6. Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger, but a heart as soft as tofu.
7. An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
8. Looking for the ass on its very back.
9. The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be.
10. No wind, no waves.
11. Of all the stratagems, to know when to quit is the best.
12. Once on a tiger's back, it is hard to alight.
13. One monk shoulders water by himself; two can still share the labor among them. When it comes to three, they have to go thirsty.
14. Paper can't wrap up a fire.
15. A smile will gain you ten more years of life.
16. A sly rabbit will have three openings to its den.
17. Some prefer carrot while others like cabbage.
18. Steal a bell with one's ears covered.
19. There are always ears on the other side of the wall.
20. Vicious as a tigress can be, she never eats her own cubs.
21. A weasel comes to say 'Happy New Year' to the chickens.
22. Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook.
23. The more you sweat in Peacetime, The less you bleed during War.
24. Pure gold does not fear furnace.
25. Those who do not read are no better off than those who can not.
26. The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.
27. The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
28. He painted a tiger, but it turned out a dog.
29. If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
30. After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless.
31. A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
32. Sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, all must be tasted.
33. With money you are a dragon; with no money, a worm.
34. There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.
35. When a finger points at the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger.
36. It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun.
37. He who rides the tiger can never dismount.
38. Every day cannot be a feast of lanterns.
39. It is not the knowing that is difficult, but the doing.
40. Virtue never dwells alone; it always has neighbours.
41. The Gods cannot help those who do not seize opportunities.
Many families have skeletons in the closet.\ Every family has its own source of shame.\ Every family has its own problem. 家家有本难念的经
All good things come to an end 天下无不散的宴席
Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚：
He applied bait-and-switch factics in business/Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或
Say one thing and do another. 挂羊头，卖狗肉
A word once let go cannot be recalled./ You can not take back what you have said一言既出，驷马难追Careless talk leads to trouble/The less said the better./ Shut the mouth and open the eyes. 祸从口出，言多必失