典故所承载的文化信息通常反映了一个民族的文化传统和长期积淀的民族心理,在翻译过程中,采取直译法,保留了其原有的形象特征,有利于保留汉语典故的民族特色,促进文化交流,又能丰富译文语言
保留形象释译
这是指在译文中保留原文中的典故形象,同时增译简短的翻译性的词语或短句,这样既保持了原文典故的形象特征,又能完整的表达典故的原意,不仅有利于读者的理解,而且在一定程度上增强了译文语言的修饰效果.
保留形象加注
有时候在译文中虽然保留了汉语典故的形象,但是由于文化背景的差异,典故的含义很难为译文读者所理解,特别是一些蕴含着历史事件和故事传说的典故,为了便于读者的理解,加注不是为一个行之有效的办法.通过加注,可以详尽的介绍相关的文化背景知识,帮助读者理解文章,了解其中的文化知识
.改换形象意译
不同国家不同民族,文化传统,生活习俗等等都是千差万别的,同时由于生活环境和方式的差异,所形成的思维方式和语言表达习惯也各有不同,就算在表达同一概念时也往往会采取不同的喻体,所以汉语典故在英译的时候,必须改换喻体,采用国外读者所熟悉的喻体形象, 套用
英语中相应的短语,我们也把这种翻译方法称为 “套译”.
使用这种方法,用西方典故来反以汉语典故,不仅用词简练,还能达到对等的联想效应.
舍弃形象意译
中华民族和西方民族有不同的民族心理特征,不同的思维方式,而且某些典故由于文化背景大相径庭,使得读者无法从喻体形象联想其喻意,因此在翻译时可以舍弃其形象而仅翻译出其喻意,这样可以使得目的语更加通顺,便于读者理解.

The cultural information borne by the classical allusions often reflect a nation's cultural tradition and psyche accumulated over the years. If we adopt literal translation, that is to say, to preserve the original features and characteristics, we will be able to better preserve the national features of Chinese classical allusions, promote cultural exchanges and render the translation more colorful.

1. Translation preserving the original images with explanations

This mothod helps preserve the original images of the allusions by the way of adding to the translation concise explanatory phrases or sentences, thus the original meanings of the allusions are fully translated. It will not only help the readers to better understand the translation, but also will enhance the modification of the translaton to some extent.

2. Translation preserving the original images with footnotes

Sometimes, although the original images of Chinese allusions are preserved in the translation, owing to different cultural background, the readers of the translation may still have difficulty in understanding the meaning of the allusions, expecially those derived from historical events and folkloric legends. To solve this problem, adding footnotes can be an effective choice. Footnotes may provide detailed information on the cultural background, help the readers understand the articles and the cultural knowledge within.

3. Translation changing the original images

Differances in cultural tranditions and customs occur in various countries and nations. Different living conditions and styles formulate various habbits of reasoning and expression. That is why for the identical definition, different similes are used. Therefore, when the Chinese classical allusions are translated into English, we must change the similes into the familiar ones to the foreign readers. We can also borrow existing correspondent phrases in English, thus we may name this method "Borrowing Translation". Through this method, namely, turning Chinese allusions into western ones, the translation will be concise, and can arouse people's associations.

4. Translation without the original images

The Chinese and western nations have different psychical features and reasoning process. Owing to the great difference in cultural background concerning certain allusion, the reader can hardly deduce the real meaning from a simile. In this case, in the process of translation we may abandon the original images of the allusion, while preserving its real meaning. By doing so, we can make our translation smoother and more comprehensible to the readers.