汉英数字文化比较及其翻译

　　汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译
　　〔Abstract〕Numbers，asaspecialpartinthescienceoflinguistics，arewordsoriginallyusedtoexpressquantityorsequence。NumbersservethesamecalculatingfunctioninbothChineseandEnglish。Butbecauseoftheculturalpersityfoundinthenationalpsychology，religiousbeliefandmythology，numbersareendowedwithabundantculturalconnotationsandassociations。AndbothChineseandEnglishpeopleshowdifferentcults，taboosandconnotationstowardsthedifferentoridenticalnumberssoastogeneratetheirownnumeralcultures。Therefore，intheprocessoftranslatingnumbers，especiallyonesinthefolklanguageandliteraryworks，translatorsshouldmakearelativelythoroughstudyofthelanguageandculturebothinChineseandEnglish，andconsiderthediscrepancyinthevaguenessofnumbersrespectivelybeforerenderingsatisfactorytranslations。
　　〔KeyWords〕numbers；Chinese；English；comparison；translation
　　【摘要】数字是语言科学中的一个特殊领域，是表示数量或顺序的词类。在汉英两种语言中，数字作为计算功能的意义是一致的。但由于受民族心理、宗教信仰、神话传说等文化差异的影响，数字被赋予了丰富的文化内涵。对不同或相同的数字，汉英有着不同的崇尚或禁忌习俗，以及不同的联想和意义，并由此而孕育出各自独特的数字文化。因此，在翻译数字，尤其在民间语言和文学作品中，要对汉英两种语言与文化有较全面的了解，并充分考虑到英汉数字的模糊语义的差异，灵活运用不同的翻译方法，才能译出形神兼备的作品。
　　【关键词】数字；汉语；英语；对比；翻译
　　1。Introduction：
　　1。1Language，cultureandnumbers
　　1。1。1Therelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture1。1。2Thedefinitionofnumbers
　　Asfarastherelationshipbetweenelementsoflanguageandcultureisconcerned，thewordsrelatemosttightlytotheculture。Andnumbers，asanimportantpartinlanguageworld，haveaninformativefunction。Butwhatisnumber？AsOxfordAdvancedLearner’sEnglishChineseDictionarydefines，Anumberisawordorsymbolthatrepresentsanamountoraquantity〔3〕。Numbersareusedwidelyineveryaspectoflife。Withoutnumbers，nothingcangetalongwellintheworld。Asweknow，numbersaregrammaticallypidedintocardinalnumbers，ordinalnumbers，multiples，fractionsandapproximatenumbersinChineseandEnglishlanguage。
　　AndtheconceptofnumbersstemsfromtheNature，fromhumanbeings’observationandexplorationtotheobjectiveworld，fromtherealizationandgeneralizationtothephysicalworld〔4〕。Anumberistheabstractconceptthatcanbeconsiderednotonlyasthewordbutalsoasthesymbol。Numbersarecreatedfromtheinteractionofhumans’socialandculturalbehaviorwiththeirabilitytoconceptualizetheiroutsideworld。Sonumbersarenotmerelymathematicaltools，butextendedasmetaphorsintheidiomaticusageswithaseriesofconnotations。ChinesepeopleandEnglishpeopleshowdifferentappetitestowardsthenumbers。SothereexistdifferentculturalconnotationsandextensionsbetweenChineseandEnglishnumbers。Thispaper，fromperseculturalbackgroundsofnumbersinChineseandEnglish，discussesthediscrepancyinthenationalpsychology，religiousbelief，mythologyandsoon，andgeneralizesseveralmethodsoftranslationinnumbers，especiallyinliteraryworks，soastofacilitateinterculturalorcrossculturalcommunication。
　　2。TheculturalpersitybetweenChineseandEnglishnumbers
　　Allhumanbeingsusenumberssothatthecultureofnumbershascomeintobeing。Numberspenetrateintoeveryaspectofhumanlife汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译〔5〕。Yet，numbers，whichreflectthescalesofthematerialworld，havebeenendowedwithrichculturalconnotationsduetothedifferentculturalbackgrounds。AsfarasChinesecultureisconcerned，itbearssomesimilaritiestotheworldculture，butithasbeenlayingmorestressontheusagesofidioms。TherearenumerousChineseidiomsandidiomaticusageswithnumbers，suchas：说一不二，五湖四海，三教九流，一日不见，如隔三秋，三十六计走为上计，三句话不离本行，八九不离十，百战不殆，七零八落，九霄云外，九九归一，十万火急andsoforth。
　　InEnglishrelatedculture，therearealsoalargequantityofidiomsoridiomaticusageswithnumbers，suchasthreesheetsinthewind，theupperten，secondtonone，twobyfour，fourletterman，catch22，twoleftfeet，andsoon。Besides，oddnumbersexcept13，arefavoredandadornedbywesternpeople。Forinstance，numbersevenwithmarkedreligiouscolourisusedfrequentlyintheScripturestosignifycompleteness。Similarly，multiplesofsevenarealsousedinasimilarsenseofcompleteness〔6〕。ButinChinese，itisontheotherwayaround。Althoughthediscrepancyinthesocialtraditionandthepersityinthenumericalcultureareuniversal，thereexistsageneralcultofnumbersinbothChineseandEnglish。Thefollowingpartwillfocusontheculturalsourcesofnumbercultorworshipfromthreeaspects，thatis，nationalpsychology，religion，andmythology。
　　2。1Numbersandpsychologyofnationalculture
　　InChineseculture，heavenandearthproduceeverythingbytheinteractionoftwoexistentialandpowerfulforcesoftheuniverse，yinandyang。Sincenumberswereconsideredamysticalpartoftheuniverse，theancientChineseregardedoddnumbersasyangormasculineandevennumbersasyinorfamine〔7〕。Nine，asthelargestsingledigit，tookonthemeaningofultimatemasculinityandimpliedtheloftiestreverenceforheaven。Therefore，thenumberninesymbolizedthesupremesovereigntyoftheemperorwhowastheSonofHeaven。Andthenumbernine（oritsmultiples）isoftenemployedintheChineseancientarchitecture，particularlyimperialbuildings。Ancientpalaceswereusuallydesignedasninesectionarchitecturalcomplexesrelatedtothenumbernineinthenumberorsize。TaketheForbiddenCity，locatedinthecenterofBeijingforexample。Ithasatotalof9，999bays，andtheGateTowerofTian’anmenhasninebyninebays。Thusnumbernineoritsmultipleisubiquitousinthearchitectureofthesacrificialtemple。AndtheNineDragonScreennearBeihaiParkhasalsobeenconnectedwithnumbernine。TheChinesepeopleshowpreferencetonumbernine，notonlyontheconstructionofthebuilding，butalsoinotherfields，suchas：AnnualfestivalfeastsfortheroyalcourtoftheQingconsistedof99kindsoffoods。Andapisionofancientfeudalgovernmentofficialswasninelevel。Besides，tocelebrateanemperor’sbirthday，therewere81formsofentertainmentcalledthenineninebigcelebrationtowishtheemperorgoodluckandlongevity〔8〕。Byandby，thenumberninebecameexclusivelyreservedandadornedbyChinesepeople，eventoday。
　　Generallyspeaking，inChineseculture，evennumbersareregardedtobeluckyandpropitioussymbols，whichcanbringpeoplegoodluckandfortune，whileoddnumbersareincomplete。ButasfarasEnglishpeopleareconcerned，thisphenomenonisontheotherwayaround。Theypreferoddnumberstoevenones，suchasthree，seven，ofcourseexcludingnumberthirteen，asisknowntonearlymostEnglishspeakingpeople。Whencelebratingorsendingflowerstofriendsorrelatives，peopleshouldtakeone，three，five，orevenmore（excluding
　　1hr3），whereas，peoplesendtwoorfour，sixflowersoritsmultiplewhencondolingwithdeceasedpersons。Butincontrast，Englishpeopleworshipnumberfour，whichisthesymbolofjustice，righteousness，power，thefountainofcreation，andthekeyofeverythingintheworld〔11〕。Forinstance，totheearlypeople，thecosmosismadefourelements：earth，air，water，andfire。
　　2。2Numbersandreligionorphilosophy
　　Religion，consideredtobethekernelsourceofaculture，withoutdoubtinfluencespeople’sconceptionofculture，becauseofitsdominantroleinmostcountries。ForancientChinese，threestandsforthethreepartsoftheuniverse：heaven，earth，andman。Anditissaidthattherearethreecreatorsoftheuniverse，governingtheearthandthefairyland。Chinesetraditionalculturehasbeencloselyconnectedwiththereligions，dominatedmainlybyphilosophicalConfucianismforover2000years。AndConfucianismhasintertwinedtightlywithTaoismandBuddhism，whosethoughtsbringaprofoundinfluenceonthecultureofChinesenumbers。InLaotzu（《老子》），Laoziexpressedthatoneproducestwo，twoproducesthreeandthreeproduceseverything。（道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物）〔12〕。Therefore，inChinesetherearisemanyidiomaticphrases，like三教九流，三思而后行，三人行必有我师焉，余音绕梁，三日不绝，一日不见，如隔三秋，andthelike。Numberthreeindicatesperfectionandcompleteness。Theidiom三生有幸expressesthatapersonisfortunateallhislife。Here三生referstothepreviouslife，presentlifeandnextlife。
　　And，Christianity，asthemainstreamculture，hasastronginfluenceintheculturalconnotationofnumbersinwesterncountries。ThereligioustraditionoftheChristianTrinity，thatis，Father，Son，andHolySpirit，hasendowedamysteriousnumberthreewithpinityandperfection。〔13〕Thewidespreadinterestofnumberthreestillremainsinthewesterner’smindorthinkingtoday。Manythingsthatareparticularlycompletearestampedwithnumberthreeintheareaslikephysics，mathematics，philosophyandsoforth。Therearethreecompletingtime，thatis，past，presentandfuture。Similarly，numberseven，anumberwithstrongreligiouscolour，isusedfrequentlyintheBible，indicatingthatGodspentsevendaysinCreation。Attimesithasreferencetobringaworktowardcompletion，oritcanrefertothecompletecycleofthingsasestablishedorallowedbyGod。ThereareplentyofidiomsoridiomaticusageswithseveninEnglishculture，suchas，theSevenVirtues，includingFaith，Hope，Charity，Justice，Fortitude，Prudence，Temperance；theSevenDeadlySins，saying，Pride，Wrath，Envy，Lust，Gluttony，Avarice，Sloth；theSevenchampionsofChristendom，thesevendaysofcreation，theSeventhHeaven，andsoon。And，accordingtotheBible，numbersixattimesrepresentsimperfection。Thenumberofthewildbeastis666andiscalledaman’snumber（Re13：
　　1hr8），indicatingthatithastodowithimperfect，fallenman，anditseemstosymbolizetheimperfectionofthatwhichisrepresentedbythewildbeast。Thenumbersixbeingemphasizedtoathirddegree（thesixappearinginthepositionofunits，tens，andhundreds）thereforehighlightstheimperfectionanddeficiencyofthatwhichthebeastrepresents，orpictures〔14〕。
　　Numberthirteenisregardedasanevilnumber，standingforunfortunate。AccordingtotheScripture，Judah，thethirteenthcomerduringthelastsupper，betrayedJesus。Hence，peopleinwesterncountriesavoid13inmanyaspectsoflife。Peopleavoidaroomnumbered13，aseatinthe13throwofanairplaneorrentingaflatonthe13thfloor〔15〕。Andinafewinstancesperiodsofjudgmentorpunishmentseemtobeassociatedwithnumberforty。Ninevehwasgivenfortydaystorepent。Theworldwasfloodedforfortydaysforpeople’sevildoing。Sofortyisanumberdenotingbadlucktothewesterners〔16〕。
　　Numbersandmythology
　　MythologyassociatedwithnumbersinbothChineseandEnglishculturehasdeeplyinfluencedtheculturalconnotationsofnumbers。InChinese，theculturalconnotationsofnumbershaveconnectionwiththeancientmyth。Forinstance，fourcharacterwords三头六臂originatedfromChinesemyth，narratingasupernaturalbeing。Nezha，whotakeschargeofthejustice，hasthreeheadsandsixarms。Hehasvastlymagicpowertotransformhimselfintothreeatrandom。Accordingly，numberthreeisendowedwithculturalconnotationsofmagicandpower。
　　And，EnglishcultureshavebeenmorestronglyaffectedbytheGreekandRomanmythology，whosegodsresemblethecharacterofhumanswithfeelingsanddesires，happinessandsadness。InRomanmyth，godJupiter，whosepowerstemsfromhistridentorthreeprongedthunderstickinhishand，governstheothers。Neptune，th汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译egodofthesea，reliesonhisthreeprongedspear，andPlutoisadogwiththreeheads。Thusnumberthreeislodgedwithextensionofpowerandpinity。Andthenumberthirteen，inaccordancewiththewesternmyth，isanevilone，whichhasasimilarconnotationandsymbolizationtoChristianity。Itissaidthattwelvegodswerepresentatabanquetheldinheaveninhonorofthesoldierssacrificedinthebattle。Duringthedinner，thedemoniacRocky，anunexpectedperson，arrivedandkilledthesonoftheheadgodAustintodeath。Hence，thewesternersavoidnumberthirteenjustliketheplague〔17〕。
　　Allinall，thefunctionofnumbersisnotlimitedinthecalculationormathematics。Itisobviousthatnumbershavegraduallyevolvedthroughoutthelonghistoryofhumanity，inresponsetopracticalrequirementsforcalculation，formingaspecialcultureofnumbers。Fromtheanalysisabove，weknowpeopleshowdifferentattitudesandpreferencetowardsnumber。Thus，studyingthepersityofnumbercultsinEnglishandChinesenotonlyhelpsusunderstandtheirspecificculturesbetter，butalsofacilitatesinterculturalcommunication。
　　3。VaguenessofnumbersinChineseandEnglish
　　Vaguenessandprecisenessaretwoparadoxicalcharacteristicsofhumanlanguage。Numbers，whosebasicfunctioniscalculation，areintegrationofnotionandsymbol。Butinmostcases，alotofnumbersinidiomsdonotdesignatequantitiesanymore，nottosayprecisequantities。SomenumbersinidiomsmeansmallquantitiesbothinChineseandinEnglish〔18〕。InChinese，一（one），二or两（two），三（three）areoftenusedtoindicatesmallquantities。Forinstance，一本万利，i。e。asmallinvestmentbringsatenthousandfoldprofit。So一inthesetphrasemeansasmallinvestmentorcapital。And略知一二meanstoknowalittle。Comparedtoone，twoandthree，thenumbersfromfourtotenarebignumbersrelatively，aswellashundred，thousand，tenthousand，millionandbillion。Sothesenumberscanbeusedtoexpresslargequantities。Forinstance，inChinese，wehavesetphrases：三令五申，三番五次，五光十色，五颜六色，千金买笑，千方百计，万目睽睽andthelike。InEnglish，wecanseesuchasentenceTheseventiessawasuccessionofonehitwonderswhowerefamousovernightandthenneverheardofagain。Hereonehitwondermeansthesuccess，whichlastsashortperiodoftime。Andnowlet’slookatanotherexample：Theywontheirlastgame。Butoneswallowdoesn’tmakeasummer，theyarestillbottomoftheleague。oneswallowdoesn’tmakeasummermeansonecan’tbecertainthatmoregoodthingswillhappenandthewholesituationwillimprovejustbecauseonegoodthinghashappen。Here，oneswallowdoesn’tstrictlyrefertoonegoodthing，butasmallquantity。InEnglish，wecanseetheproverbAcathasninelives，whichmeansthatacathasavigorouslife。Thus，ninecanalsoexpressmany。
　　ChineseandEnglishusedifferentcountingunits。So，inChinese，万（tenthousand），and亿（ahundredmillion）areemployedtodesignateaverylargequantities，whereasmillionandbillionareusedtoachievethesameeffectinEnglish。Forexample，inChinese，wesay万分感谢whileinEnglish，thanksamillionissubstituted。
　　ChinesecultureandEnglishculturearequitedifferentfromeachother。Inturn，thedifferencesbetweentheminfluencethevaguemeaningsoftheirnumbersinevitably。Therefore，understandingwhatthenumbersrefertobecomesanimportantfactorintranslatingnumbers，especiallyinliteraryworks。
　　4。MethodsoftranslationforChineseandEnglishnumbers
　　Thesamenumbersindifferentcountrieswithperseculturalbackgroundswillsparkdissentingassociationsorconnotations。Insomecases，thetargetlanguagesharesthesameassociationorconnotationandlinguisticfeaturewiththesourcelanguage。Butinmostcases，thesourcelanguagenumbersornumeralexpressionsmayproducespecificculture，whichisunknowntothetargetlanguagereaders。Thereby，thetranslationofnumbersissimpleonthesurfacebutcomplicatedinessence。Translationishereconceivedprimarilyasaprocessofinterculturalcommunication，whoseendproductisasmoothandacceptabletextinspecificsituationandculture。Sodecisionmakinginthemethodsoftranslationdependsonthespecificcontextandrespectiveculturebackground。
　　4。1Literaltranslation
　　Literaltranslation，alsocalledwordforwordtranslationbyCicero，Horaceandvirtuallyeveryonethereafter〔19〕，isanotionwhichhasbeenattheheartofmosttranslationcontroversiesformanycenturies。Asatranslationstrategy，literaltranslationclearlyhasitsuses。Here，theprecisewordsandwordorderarefollowedandtranslatedintothetargetlanguagewhereverpossible。And汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译thisstrategyinvolvesthesamemeaningforasourcelanguageexpressionandbringsaboutthesameimpactonthetargetreaderanditcanalsoprovidelanguagelearnerswithusefulinsightsintothestructureofthetargetlanguage。Surely，literaltranslationcanbeemployedinthepretextofnotcausingmisunderstanding。
　　E。g。：
　　（1）好容易熬了一天，这会儿瞧见你们，竟如死而复生的一样。真真古人说一日三秋，这话再不错的。
　　（曹雪芹《红楼梦》）
　　ButIsurviveditsomehow，andnowthatwe’retogetheragainIfeelasifI’djustrisenfromthedead！Onedayapartseemsthreeautumns。Howtruethatoldsayingis。〔20〕
　　（2）咱那面红旗呢？
　　叫吴淑兰掂了啦
　　哪个吴淑兰？敢情是有三头六臂？
　　（王汶石《新结识的伙伴》）
　　Whathappenedtoourredflag？
　　Wushulanhascapturedit
　　WhatWushulan？Don’ttellmeshehasthreeheadsandsixarms！〔21〕
　　Asstatedabove，一日三秋or一日不见，如隔三秋expressesthataday’sseparationseemsaslongasthreeyears。Itisliterallytranslatedintoonedayapartseemsthreeautumns，whichnotonlyretainstheoriginalmeaningbutisunderstandableandreadabletothetargetreader。Thesameisinthecaseof三头六臂，originatingfromtheChineseancientmythaboutthesuperhuman，Nezha。Thus，intheexample
　　（2），translatingitliterallyintothreeheadsandsixarmswillgivepeopleanexpressionofvividnessandpowerfulness。Generallyspeaking，someidiomsandproverbscanbetranslatedpracticallyaccordingtothetranslatabilityofthesourcelanguage，tosuchanextentthatthepeopleoftargetlanguagecanassimilatethemtofertilizetheirculture。And，henceitalsocanretainsomeofitspersitythroughliteralismandengenderaviewoftranslationinwhichthetargetlanguageinspecificculturalcontextisparamount。
　　（3）IloveOphelia，fortythousandbrothers
　　couldnot（withalltheirquantityoflove）
　　makeupmysum
　　我爱奥菲利亚，四万个兄弟的爱
　　加起来也休想抵得上我的分量〔22〕
　　（4）Puttingtwoandtwotogether，asthesayingis，itwasnotdifficultformetoguesswhotheexpectedMarquiswas。
　　（W。Thackeray，TheNewcomes）
　　正如二加二等于四那么简单，我不难推断出还没来的侯爵是谁了。〔23〕
　　TheEnglishpeopleliketoemployfortyorfortythousandtoindicatealargequantity，justasthesentenceslistedintheexample
　　（3）。Wecanstillunderstanditsmeaningevenifitistranslatedinto四万个。Andputtingtwoandtwotogethermeansguessthetruthfromwhatonesees，hears，etc。So，evenifitistranslatedastheexpressionabove，itisstillreadableandunderstandable。
　　4。2Freetranslation
　　Freetranslationisatypeoftranslationinwhichmoreattentionispaidtoproducinganaturallyreadingtargettextthantopreservingthesourcetextwordingintact。Itisalsoknownassenseforsensetranslation。Andaccordingtodifferenttexts，differenttechniquesareemployedintranslation。
　　4。2。1Meaningtranslation
　　Inthecourseoftranslating，sometimeswefinditdifficultorimpossibletotranslateliterallytogetequivalencebetweenthesourcelanguageandthetargetlanguage，duetothepersityintheculturalbackgroundsandtheexpressions。InEnglishandChineselanguage，someidiomsoridiomaticusageswithnumberscarryparticularculturalconnotations，whichhavenoidenticalorsimilarcharactersinanotherlanguage。Thismeansthenecessity，inorderfortheintercommunicationtoberealizableinpractice，offreerenderinginbothsourcelanguageandthetargetlanguage。
　　E。g。
　　（1）七碟子八碗摆了一桌。
　　Helaidoutanelaboratespread。〔24〕
　　（2）一听说他又要来，她七窍生烟。
　　Whensheheardhewouldcomeagain，shefumedwithanger。
　　（3）阿Q候他略停，终于用十二分的勇气开口了。
　　（鲁迅《阿Q正传》）
　　AhQwaitedforhimtopause，andthenscreweduphiscouragetospeak。〔25〕
　　Thesetphrase七碟子八碗isadialect，usedtodescribeasubstantialmeal。And，七窍referstosevenaperturesinthehumanhead，i。e。eyes，ears，nostrils，andmouth。七窍生烟meansveryangry。AndthetranslationaboveisappropriateandacceptabletotheEnglishpeople。
　　（4）SeventytimessevendidItakecounselwithmysoul。
　　我在内心深出不知考虑了多少次。〔26〕
　　（5）Everyonesprangtohisfeet，butthebusinesswasoverintwotwos。（R。Stevenson，NewArabianNights）
　　此时大家都一跃而起，但转眼间他就一命呜呼。〔27〕
　　（6）AreyoutakingPamouttonigh汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译t？
　　Ah，that’sthesixtyfourthousanddollarquestion！
　　你今晚打算带帕姆出去吗？
　　唉，这真是个难题！〔28〕Thismethodoftranslationisnotalwaysconcernedwiththewordsoftheoriginalforms，butwithunderstandingthemeaningofthetext。Sometimesmorewords，sentencesorevenparagraphsaretobeaddedsoastobeunderstandable。
　　4。2。2Thetechniqueofreplacement
　　Ithappensonthepremiseofnotdisturbingtheoriginalmeaningandcontext。SincethereexistsubstantialidiomsoridiomaticusagesaboutnumbersinbothEnglishandChinese，thismethodinvolvesreplacingaculturalspecificexpressionwithatargetlanguageexpressionwhichiscertainorlikelytohaveasimilarimpactonthetargetlanguagereader，sothattheidiominthetargetlanguageconveysroughlytheexactlysamemeaningasthatofthesourcelanguageidioms。
　　E。g。：
　　（1）普及工作若是永远停留在一个水平上，那末，教育者和被教育者岂不是半斤八两？
　　（毛泽东《在延安文艺座谈会上的讲话》）
　　Ifpopularizationremainsatthesamelevelforeverwillnottheeducatorsandthosewhoareeducatedbesixofoneandhalfadozenoftheother？
　　（2）廖湘云用尽九牛二虎之力，才把季交恕拉曳起来
　　（李六如《六十年的变迁》）
　　LiaoxiangyuneventuallysucceededinpullingJiJiaoshuupfromthegroundwithHerculeanefforts。〔30〕
　　（3）柳嫂子有八个头，也不敢得罪姑娘。
　　（曹雪芹《红楼梦》）
　　EvenifMrs。Liuhadninelives，she’dneverdareoffendyou。〔31〕
　　（杨宪益，戴乃迭译）
　　Inthefirstsentence，半斤八两isaChineseusage。Accordingtotheoldweighingapparatus，onejin（斤）equalssixteenliang（两）jinandliangarebothunitsofweighing。So，半斤八两meansasituationthatisgoodandbadtoanequaldegree。WhentranslatedintoEnglish，itcanbetransferredintothecorrespondingtheEnglishidiomsixofoneandhalfadozenoftheotheronaccountofduodecimalnumbersysteminwesterncountrieslikeEnglishandsoon。
　　Suchmethodsoftranslationcanbefoundinotheridiomsasfollowing：
　　人生七十古来稀Thedaysofouryearsarethreescoreyearsandten〔32〕。
　　二一添作五gofiftyfifty
　　一不做，二不休inforapenny，inforapound。
　　anineday’swonder昙花一现
　　tentoone十有八九
　　tobeflungtothefourwinds抛到九霄云外
　　atsixesandsevens乱七八糟
　　athousandandoneways千方百计
　　4。2。3。Thetechniqueofadjustment
　　Inordertobeinconformitywiththeprincipleoftraditionandthinkingofthetargetlanguage，someexpressionsofnumbersshouldbeenlargedornarrowedwhentranslatedintoanotherlanguage，becauseofthedifferentusagesinnumbers。
　　E。g。
　　（1）薛蟠也假说来上学，不过是三天打鱼，两天晒网，却不曾有一点进益。
　　（曹雪芹《红楼梦》）
　　XuePanhadhastenedtoregisterhimselfasapupil。Hisschoolgoingwas，needlesstosay，apretenceonedayfishingandtwodaystodrythenetastheysay，andhadnothingtodowiththeadvancementoflearning。
　　（杨宪益，戴乃迭译）〔33〕
　　（2）鹰击长空，
　　鱼翔浅底，
　　万类霸天竞自由。
　　（毛泽东《沁园春长沙》）
　　Eaglescleavetheair，
　　Fishglideinthelimpiddeep，
　　n汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译汉英数字文化比较及其翻译bsp；Underfreezingskiesamillioncreaturescontendinfreedom〔34〕。
　　（3）背河的这面街房，却故意不连贯，三家五家隔有一巷。
　　Thehousesonthenorthernbankoftheriverareseparatedaccordingtothedesignthathaslanesrunningbetweeneverythreeorfourofthemandstepsleadingdowntotheriverbank〔35〕。
　　（4）千山鸟飞绝，万径人踪灭。
　　（柳宗元《江雪》）
　　Ahundredmountainsandnobird，
　　Athousandpathswithoutafootprint。〔36〕
　　（5）Aslavethatisnottwentiethpartofthetitheofyourprecedentlord
　　一个不及你先夫千分之一的奴才〔37〕
　　Forthefirstexample，三and两intheoriginaltextdesignatenoprecisequantity，buttheirvaguemeaning，sowhenwetranslateitintoEnglish，wecannarrowthenumberjustastheabove，retainingitsoriginalvagueness。And，万（tenthousand）isnotasfrequentlyusedinEnglishasinChineseduetothedifferentunitofcounting。Similarly，inexample
　　（5），translatingtwentiethinto千分之一ismoreacceptabletousChinese。
　　5。Conclusion
　　Numbers，asanimportantthemeinhumanity，arefilledwithmysteryandconnotationsbothinEnglishandChinesesincetheearliesttime。Peoplearesurroundedbytherhythmofnumbers。Butdifferentnationsshowquitedifferentappetitesfornumbersduetothedifferentculturalbackgrounds。Thus，culturalfactorsnecessitatedecisionmakingontranslationstrategies。Itisgenerallyagreednowadaysthatliteraltranslationandfreetranslationdonotformabinarycontrast，andthatthemostappropriatetranslationstrategywillvaryaccordingtothetextbeingtranslatedandthepurposeofthetranslation。ThetranslatorshouldhavearelativelythoroughunderstandingoftheChineseandEnglishcultureinordertoconveythecorrectmeaningofnumbers，especiallytheiridioms。
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　　〔34〕同〔4〕P246
　　〔35〕同〔18〕P43
　　〔36〕同〔9〕P73
　　〔37〕同〔22〕P86P