本书共收词语2270余条，每条词语既有汉语详细解释，又有多种英语释义，均附有汉英对照的例句。词语以四字组合的成语为主，兼收多字组合的普通词语、方言词语、俗语、谚语、歇后语等。

《红楼梦》是我国一部具有高度思想性、高度艺术性、足以夸耀于世界的古典文学巨著。全书运用了大量极富表现力的口语、方言词语和文言词语以及有浓厚生活气息的成语、俗语、歇后语等，全面地描绘了封建社会中贵族家庭的兴衰，并且深刻地批判了封建社会的腐朽没落。有人称颂〈红楼梦〉是一部“中国封建社会的百科全书”，又是一座“词语的宝库”，它是当之无愧的。

《红楼梦》的内容极其繁复。它的包容量和涵盖面十分巨大，涉及的范围相当广泛。它包括历史典故、词章知识、职官制度、戏曲情节、名人轶事、服饰、建筑名称、名物、习俗、以及诗词典赋、酒令灯谜、对联匾额等等，真是绚丽多彩，万象森罗。

《红楼梦》中的习语，大部分是〈红楼梦〉那时代所特有的、不同于现代；其方言词语，又具有地方特点；因此理解难度很大，其中不少习语在现代汉语词典中也难找到。这就给国内外读者阅读汉语版〈红楼梦〉带来不便。

鉴于目前世界各地学习汉语之风渐入高潮，正是可以将我国伟大的古典文学巨著〈红楼梦〉介绍给国际友人学习、阅读的时机。因此，编者初步尝试，编写了这部〈红楼梦汉英习语词典〉。本词典是一部〈红楼梦〉专著双语工具书，共收〈红楼梦〉中词语2270余条，每条词语既有汉语详细解释，又有多种英语释义，均附有汉英对照的例句。本词典所收词语以〈红〉书中四字组合的成语为主，兼收多字组合的普通词语、方言词语、俗语、谚语、歇后语等。

[哀哀欲绝]

悲哀到将要气绝的地步。形容十分悲哀。也作“哀痛俗绝”。

(绝：气绝 to stop breathing—die. )

weeping as if one’s heart would break

to mourn bitterly

to grieve deeply for something as if to stop breathing

[例](1)那宝珠按未嫁女之丧，在灵前……。(13回)

Then Baozhu mourned like an unmarried daughter ,

weeping by the coffin as if her heart would break .

(2) 这里命人将鸳鸯(尸体)放下，停放里间屋内。平儿也就知道了，过来同袭人莺儿等一干人都哭的……。(111回)

While orders were given to cut down Yuan’s

corpse and lay it out in the inner room .

Word of this brought Ping’er , Xiren , Ying’er

and the other maids to the scene ,

where they mourned bitterly.

[挨肩擦脸]

肩挨着肩，脸贴着脸。形容两人靠得很近。

(挨：靠近 to be close to.

擦：贴近 to nestle up against. )

to sit ( or stand ) shoulder to shoulder and cheek to cheek

to be sitting very close to each other

to nesle up to each other.

[例] 贾珍便和三姐～，百般轻薄起来。小丫头子们看不过，也都躲了出去，凭他俩个自在取乐，不知作些什么勾当。(65回)

Then Jia Zhen and Third Sister nestled up to each other and flirted so outrageously that the maids were shocked and slipped out , leaving them to amuse themselves however they pleased.

Then Jia Zhen and Third Sister nestled up to each

other and flirted so outrageously that the maids

were shocked and slipped out ,

leaving them to amuse themselves however they pleased.

[唉声叹气]

因伤感、忧闷或悲痛而发出叹息的声音。也作“嗐声叹气”、“嗳声叹气”。

to be moaning and groaning

to sigh in despair ( or in grief )

to heave a sigh

to sigh and moan

to heave great ( or deep ) sighs

[例] (1)(你)既出来了，全无一点慷慨挥洒谈吐，仍是葳葳蕤蕤。我看你脸上一团思欲愁闷气色，这会子又～。你那些还不足，还不自在？(33回)

When you did come , you had nothing spirited

or cheerful to say but looked quite down in the mouth ,

the picture of gloom . And now you’re sighing again .

What have you to moan about ? Is anything wrong ?

(2)薛蟠(对金桂)急得说又不好，劝又不好，央告又不好，只是出入～，抱怨说运气不好。(80回)

Xue Pan was too frantic to know what to do—remonstrate ,

reason and plead with her , or beat her .

He stumped in and out of the room ,

sighing and fuming , cursing his own bad luck .

(3)那媳妇～，口不敢言，抱恨而去。(52回)

The woman sighed in despair and too cowed say another word ,

went off in high indignation .

[挨打受骂]

指受人打骂或虐待。也作“挨打受气”。

to suffer beating and receive ( or endure ) scoldings

to put up with blows and scoldings

to be beaten and cursed

to be bullied and beaten

[例] 人家的奴才跟主子赚些好体面，我们这等奴才白陪着～的。(9回)

Other people’s slaves get some reflested credit from their masters .

All we for waiting on you is beating and abuse .

[挨冻受饿]

指无衣无食的困苦生活。也作“挨饿受冻”。

to suffer from cold and hunger

to suffer hunger and cold

to endure cold and hunger

to go cold and hunger

[例] 妈妈若是疼我，听我的话，有年纪的人，自己保重些。妈妈这一辈子，想来还不致～。(100回)

If you are fond of me ,

mother , take my advice and now that you are old take better care of your health .

I can’t believe you will ever go cold and hungry .

[矮墙浅屋]

墙不高，屋子不大。意思强调家时发生的事很容易被外人知道。

The wall is low and the house small—famill

scandals may be easily spread .

The walls are thin—the disgrace of a family

is easily heard by outsiders .

[例] 薛姨妈道：“你们是怎么着，又这样翻宅乱起来。这还像个家儿吗？～的，难道不怕亲戚们听了笑话了么。”(83回)

“ What are you doing ? ” cried Aunt Xue .

“ Turning the house upside—down again !

What way is this to behave ? The walls are so thin ,

aren’t you afraid our relatives

may hear and laugh at you ? ”

[爱八哥儿]

原指可爱的东西。常用作反语，讽刺被宠爱的人。也作“爱不够儿”。

the pet

the slut

[例] 我和他(尤二姐)“井水不犯河水”，怎么就冲了他！好个～，在外头什么人不见，偏来了就有人冲了。(69回)

I kept as clear of her as well water and river water .

How could my horoscope clash with hers ?

She had all sorts of contacts outside ,

the slut . Why does the jinx have to be found gere ?