用英语说"寿比南山"怎么说?我外公今天生日,想在晚上吃饭时用几种语言跟他说生日快乐.有朋友知道吧?

Question

用英语说"寿比南山"怎么说?
我外公今天生日,想在晚上吃饭时用几种语言跟他说生日快乐.
有朋友知道吧?

Answer 1

小议“福如东海,寿比南山”的英译
这是典型的中国文化的词汇表达.外国人不一定知道“东海”和“南山”,但是一定知道“海”有多深,“山”有多高.有如大海那么宽广无边的“福”,有高山那么高的“寿”,当然是三生有幸的美事了.所以,这两句汉语可以直译,如：
May your age be as the southern mountain and your happiness as the eastern seas.
May your happiness be as boundless as the eastern seas and your life as long as the long lasting southern mountains.
然而,在一定的情况下,不一定那么译.如：
I wish you boundless happiness and a long,long life.
Much happiness and a long,long life to you.
在祝贺某人的生日时,英语表示“福寿无边,长命百岁!”的表达法,也有如上汉语表达的神韵：
Many happy returns (of the day)!福寿无边,长命百岁!（年年有今日,岁岁有今朝!）