A Study Of The Principle Of Seeking Diversity And Preserving Similarity In Translating English Iconic Idioms Into Chinese

English iconic idioms refer to those which crystallize things’ nature or principles vividly and specifically through comparison between similarities of different matters with the aid of imagination from images. They mainly demonstrate three features:figurative, national and metaphorical, which set many obstacles to translators for the translations into Chinese. On one hand, the readability of translation texts needs to be paid attention to; on the other hand, the figurativeness and nationality of those idioms have to be well-kept. In view of tackling the problem, the paper puts forward a translation principle:seeking diversity and preserving similarity. The paper, from the cultural background and translation criteria of "Faith to Culture", represents the principle’s definition and characteristics, and theoretically analyzes its necessity in the translation of English iconic idioms. On this basis, the paper, with the analysis of translation examples of English iconic idioms, further explains the practical application of the principle in choosing translation strategies, that is alienation first and domestication second. Therefore the paper actually proves the principle’s reference value to the translation of English iconic idioms.