因为汉英结构不同，表达方法迥异，硬性翻译不只读起来别扭，而且会闹出笑话。这就需要译者在翻译时灵活用整理的方法，将句子整理，凸显汉语中所隐含的层次，补充所缺失的成分。有时要将简单句译成并列句，有时将并列句译成主从句。
在纪念大学毕业20周年聚会时，我突然问起原来的班主任：我个子又不矮，如何把我安排在了第一排呢？
At the reunion party for 20 anniversary of graduation from university, I suddenly asked my former teacher in charge of our class then: Since I am not of short stature1, how did you arrange me at the first row?
一个高度近视的女博士去擦鞋店擦高统靴，秃顶老板亲自蹲下来给她效劳。
When a woman doctor who suffers a severe myopic2 went to shoes-polishing shop for her buskins，the bald boss squatted3 down to serve her personally.
黑体字部分，正是契合了英语的表达习惯。
6、戒愚忠，不谙增减之道
大家耳熟能详的东西外国人或许会感到一头雾水，译者需要增加必要的说明和补充或者减译。不然，外国人会不知所云。毕竟，中文翻译英文最后是给外国人看的。
比如：风水
fengshuithe location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family.
比如：（美国对台）三不政策
会当凌绝顶，一览众山小。
One day I shall climb
Clear to the summit,
See how small surrounding
Mountain TOPs appear as they lie below me
（新西兰人路易艾黎译《杜甫望岳》）
I can't open my eyes to watch you jumping into the fiery4 pit, for I will shut my eyes at the time.