2017翻译硕士考研：《三十六计》英文表达(1)

备考指导来源：新东方网整理 2016-01-25　

《孙子兵法》三十六计(Thirty-Six Stratagems)乃兵家之经典著作。语源于南北朝，成书于明清，是汉民族悠久文化遗产之一。古人学好三十六计，带兵打胜券在握。现代人习之，在商场职场生活领域中，古为今用。而三十六计在外国也极受欢迎！那么我们就一起看看三十六计的英文表达吧!

第一套胜战计

Chapter 1: Winning Stratagems

第一计瞒天过海

crossing the sea under camouflage

▌原文

备周则意怠;常见则不疑。阴在阳之内，不在阳之对。太阳，太阴。

▌英文注释

Mask your real goals, by using the ruse of a fake goal, until the real goal is achieved. Tactically, this is known as an 'open feint': in front of everyone, you point west, when your goal is actually in the east.

第二计围魏救赵

relieving the state of Zhao by besieging the state of Wei

▌原文

共敌不如分敌;敌阳不如敌阴。

▌英文注释

When the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly, then attack something he holds dear. Know that he cannot be superior in all things. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour, a weakness that can be attacked instead. The idea here is to avoid a head-on battle with a strong enemy, and instead strike at his weakness elsewhere. This will force the strong enemy to retreat in order to support his weakness. Battling against the now tired and low-morale enemy will give a much higher chance of success.

第三计借刀杀人

killing someone with a borrowed knife

▌原文

敌已明，友示定，引友杀敌，不自出力，以《损》推演。

▌英文注释

When you do not have the means to attack your enemy directly, then attack using the strength of another. Trick an ally into attacking him, bribe an official to turn traitor, or use the enemy's own strength against him.

第四计以逸待劳

waiting at one's ease for the exhausted enemy

▌原文

困敌之势，不以战;损刚益柔。

▌英文注释

It is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you know when and where the battle will take place, while your enemy does not. Encourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conserve your strength. When he is exhausted and confused, you attack with energy and purpose.

第五计趁火打劫

plundering a burning house

▌原文

敌之害大，就势取利，刚决柔也。

▌英文注释

When a country is beset by internal conflicts, when disease and famine ravage the population, when corruption and crime are rampant, then it will be unable to deal with an outside threat. This is the time to attack.

第六计声东击西

making a feint to the east and attacking in the west

▌原文

敌志乱萃，不虞，坤下兑上之象。利其不自主而取之。

▌英文注释

In any battle the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage. Even when face to face with an enemy, surprise can still be employed by attacking where he least expects it. To do this you must create an expectation in the enemy's mind through the use of a feint.