【正文】 牛二虎之力”meanstake great effort or timein Chinese，but the牛（bu11）and虎（tiger wi11 not appear in the translation since the meaning of the phrase has very little connection with these two animals after long time39。s use.（2）本已成舟，也只好如此了！ What39。s done is done，and can39。t be undone．The idiom木已成舟means＂the thing was sett1ed and couldn’t be altered.＂Its images木（wood）and舟（a boat）bee dim， so we can translate into What39。s done is done according to its context. Of course，just as we should be careful ofdead translation，we should also be cautious ofrandomtranslation in using free trans1ation.Only when you change the sentencestructure or the figure of speech but rnake no addition to or omission of the original meaning at will can your translation be regarded as proper free translation；otherwise，it is merely 39。 random 39。 translation．［151（劉重德，1998∶54）］ Combination of literal and liberal translation In order to exactly convey the original meaning，translators sometimes use both ways of literal translation and liberal example∶ （1）瞎子點(diǎn)燈白費(fèi)蠟can39。t be rendered simply by on1y one way. Usually瞎子點(diǎn)燈can be translated intoa b1ind man lighting a cand1e；but白費(fèi)蠟will be translated into use1ess by it39。s liberal meaning. ′Γhus the whole idiom wi11 betranslated intoas useless as a blind man lighting a candle. （2）不到黃河心不死Unti］all is over ambition never ambition never dies；while if不到黃河心is trans1ated intountil the Yellow River is reached，the foreign readers rnay be confused about what is the relation between ambition and Ye11ow Rive.Conclusion Nowadays, with the rapid development of information technology and economic integration, the world has turned into a global village. Translation is no longer considered a process of transcending but a tool of intercultural munication. The need for proper, correct trans1ation bees stronger and stronger. As idiorns are the crystal1ization of people39。s wisdom, experience and know1edge, more and more attention has been paid to their translation39。 A good mastery of idioms is not only of great help but also of great signifcance in intercultural cornmunication39。 The thesis focuses on a discussion of cultural features of English and Chinese idioms and their translation. We may f1nd that there are plenty of differences between Eng1ish and Chinese. When we make idiom trans1ation we39。d better take these cultural elements into consideration, or it wi]l be hard for us to achieve fdelity Ruency and elegance. In addition to this, we know that there are many strategies for idiom trans1ation。 howeve1 it is not an easy job to try to fnd the most appropriate method39。 It is essential for the translator to hold a serious attitude39。 Nowadays, translation plays an important role aiding understanding an increasingly integrated world. The study of translation fom a cultural perspective is increasing all over the world. A translato1 also a travele1 is someone engaged in a journey fom one culfure to another. The study of strategies and methods of translating idiom will equip us to better understand and promote the cu1tural exchange between Chinese and English cultures.References［1］Bassnett，Susan. Translation Studies［Ml,Shanghai∶Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press，2004．［2］Gibbs，．Skating on thin ice∶ Literal meaning and understanding idioms in conversation [J]．Discourse Processes，9，17－30，1986.［3］Katan， Cultures［M⒈上海：上海外語教育出版社，2004［4］Kramsch， and Culture [M]上海：上海外語教育出版社 2000.［5］Lefevere，Andre. Translation，History and Culture [M]. London and New York∶Routledge，1992.［6］ Nida，Eugene A．Language， Culture， and Translating［M］. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press，1993.［7］［M］.北京：中國(guó)對(duì)外翻譯出版公司，2001［8］［M］.北京：人民文學(xué)出版社，2003．［9］鄧炎昌，［M］.北京：外語教學(xué)與研究出版社，1989．［10］［M］．北京：人民文學(xué)出版社，1998.［11］“文化與翻譯”研究述評(píng)「J］.外語與翻譯，（1）， 2001．［12］「J］.西安外國(guó)語學(xué)院學(xué)報(bào)，（4）， 2001．［13］郁福敏，［M⒈上海：上海交通大學(xué)出版社，1999.［14］［M］.上海：上海外語教育出版社，1980.Idiom TranslationA Cultural Contrastive PerspectiveSHIWEI Abstract: As idioms are a crystallization of human language and culture, special attention has been paid to idiom translation. English and Chinese, as two languages owning most speakers in the world todag both abound in idioms39。 Misunderstanding of cultural factors in English and Chinese idioms oRen causes failure in munication. Therefore, a contrastive study of cultural factors in English and Chinese idioms is very meaninghl. In recent decades, the contrastive studies of English and Chinese have been progressed quite greatly in China. Some scholars have eVer made C0ntraStive studies of English and Chinese idioms。 but due to the p1exity of cultura1 factors in idioms, it is stil1 needed to make more sfudies from the perspective of cu1ture. This thesis focuses on the study of the parison between Chinese and English idioms from culfural perspective and translation39。 This contrastive study of culfural factors in English and Chinese idioms reveals that to be bilingual one must be bicultural. The author hopes that the thesis will serve to arouse readers39。 interest in translation, cultivate their English ability and intercultural awareness.Key words: English and Chinese idiom。 contrastive study。 idiom39。s translation