以下是一些常見中文口語的英譯，儘量不把中文口語（俗語）照字直譯，以免「拖泥帶水」，導致老外「滿頭霧水」。而是把口語中的主要意思，用簡單易懂的字句，試譯為美語，供讀者參考。
（1）害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無：

可譯成：

You (We) should not hurt others, but protect yourself (ourselves ) from being ( getting ) hurt.

或：

Do not ( intend to ) hurt others, but be prepared to pro-tect yourself from being ( getting ) hurt.

( intend to 可省去 )

美語也有另一說法：

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.（肯定句）（unto 是古字＝to）

或：

Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.（也可用否定句）

（也就是「己所不欲，勿施於人」）

在日常生活上只說：

Treat others as you want to be treated.

因為這是祈使句，所以句首的you被省去。就是說，你對待別人，就像你要別人怎樣對待你。

（2）養不教父之過：

可譯為：

It is a father's fault to rear a child and not educate him/her.

或：

To rear and not educate a child is a father's fault.

或：

To raise a child without education is a father's fault.

不過老外往往倒認為教養兒女是母親的責任；至少也是父母或師長的責任。

在美國，兒女在16歲前（各州年齡規定不同）如果父母不送他們去上學，是犯法的。（除非父母能證明是 home-schooling )

（3）天下大勢，合久必分，分久必合：

有人譯成：

Of all the great events under Heaven, when united for long, there must be separation ; when separated for long, there must be re-unification.

也可譯成：

It is a law of the universe that when long united, there must be separation ; when long separated, there must be re-unification.

老外也有另一說法：

Nothing is permanent , but change.

或：

Nothing stays the same but change.

（除變動外，沒有永恆的事。）（but＝except）

也就是：Life is always in flux.

（flux 是湧流＝flow，而 in flux意思是 in flowing 或changeable；也就是生活是處於不斷的變化中。）

（4）大廈千間，夜眠六尺；

良田萬頃，日食斗米：

照字面，可以譯成：

Even though you own a mansion with a thousand rooms , you only sleep in a six-foot-long bed；even though you own ten thousand acres of land , you eat only a small bowl of rice.

簡單地說：

Even you have an abundance of wealth, you can per-sonally only use a small portion of it.（it 指 wealth）

許多美國人也認為人生不必拚命追求金錢、物質，因為死了也帶不走。所以他們常說：You can not take it with you.（it 指 wealth）他們有錢人，非常熱心公益慈善事業，很少花在吃喝玩樂。這點，老中有錢人，可以學習。

還有，美國人也常說：

No matter how rich they are, we are all the same in the end.

（似乎，有錢沒有什麼了不起，大家最後都一樣。）

（5）處變不驚，莊敬自強：

有人譯成：

Don't be disquieted in time of adversity. Be firm with dignity and vigorous self-reliance.

或：

Remain calm in the face of adversity；maintain your dignity and self-reliance.

簡單地說：

Be calm and self-reliant in time(s) of adversity.

或：

Be calm and (be) not afraid in time(s) of adversity.

（第二個 be，可以省去。老外喜歡寫肯定句，愈簡單愈好。）

（6）開卷常有益，勝遊百花園：

可譯成：

It's always better to read a book than to visit a beautiful ( gorgeous ) garden.

或：

You will gain more knowledge by reading a book than visiting a flower garden.

（7）入國問禁，入鄉隨俗：

可按字面譯為：

On entering a country , ask what is forbidden ; on en-tering a village , ask what are the customs.

或譯成：

When you are in a new nation, you should understand its laws and customs.

或：

Be culturally aware when entering a new country.

老外也有類似的說法：

When in Rome , do what Romans do.

除非開玩笑，不說：

When in America, do what Americans do.