（一）汉语的意合和英语的形合
中国的思维方式具有形象性、具体性的特点，强调悟性、直觉、心领神会。反映这种思维方式的中文不但本身是象形文字，直观性强，而且在组词造句方面也处处体现以神统形，形散神不散的特点。词组中的词语之间，句子中各组成成分之间经常没有明显的连接词而意义自现，也就是说，读者完全可以从字里行间会出意来。还有众多的汉语句子，不需要表达时间关系和逻辑关系的连接词而意思能完美传达。如“下了课去跳舞”，“试是试了，没成”，“开门七件事，柴米油盐酱醋茶”等，不胜枚举。因为中文有重意念的特点，句子之间一般呈隐形连贯，各种逻辑关系隐含于意义中，读者完全可以根据上下文看出逻辑关联，得到句义。
而英语就不同，因为西方形式逻辑的哲学背景，长期以来，人们重分析和实证，思维经受严密的逻辑训练，有精确性特点，英语的发展也带有这些思维特点的烙印。英语重形合，单个词语一般来说会有规律的形态变化，在句子中有数、格、时态等的一致。英语句子各成分之间需要关联词连接，以表明其中的逻辑关系。即使再长再复杂的句子或段落，可以从关联词和连接词分析它们之间的关系，从而得出句义，因而，有人说英语句子是以形统神，以形显义。比如以上所举的几个中文句子，译成英语的话，每句话关联词都不能缺，否则就是错误的、不合语法的。
形象地说，汉语句子短而散，像散落盘子的珍珠，珠子间没有线连。与英语相比，汉语句子灵活多变，组句成篇时，意随心动，句子如行云流水，自然流动，所以，我们说汉语句型有流散性特点。关于英语和汉语的句式特点，前人已有诸多总结。有人说汉语句子是竹式结构，没有枝蔓，精悍短小；还有人讲汉语句子如大江河水，后浪推前浪。而英语句子，人们认为它们像一棵棵参天大树，枝繁叶茂。英语句子虽多虽长，但是形式严谨规范，不会零乱和流散。我们来对比一下英汉这两种句式，看是不是这样。
“As a luminous blonde with nearly translucent pale skin, intelligent blue eyes, and a lovely facial bone structure, Streep possesses a fragile, fleeting beauty that allows her to be as earthy and plain as she can be glamorous and radiant.
金发碧眼，光鲜靓丽，皮肤白皙如玉，蓝眼睛中闪显灵气，瘦削的脸庞秀美动人—斯特里普具有一种纤巧流动之美，使她既富魅力、光彩照人、又自然朴实、平淡入俗。”
（二）汉语的感性和英语的理性
汉语民族的思维模式呈现出主客体一致的特点，叙述事物时将认识和情感融为一体，有“动之
以情，晓之以理”的说法。行文造句时，融情于景、情景交融；为加强感染力，还极力铺陈渲染，堆砌华丽词藻，重复同义近义，再辅以夸张、排比、拟人等修辞手法；追求平衡对称和节奏韵律美，处处流露出感性思维的特点。而英语民族长期以来客观冷静、富于逻辑的思维方式，使得英语表达客观严谨，少用夸张排比修辞，句子简洁凝练，行文庄重冷静。所以，如果把下面这段话直译为英语时，可以想象英美读者的反映，怪不得有英语读者觉得这篇译文可笑，批评全文充斥着极度夸张。
“中华大地，江河纵横；华夏文化，源远流长。。。[然后才讲到本地，再讲到龙舟节]轻快的龙舟如银河流星，瑰丽的彩船似海市蜃楼，两岸那金碧辉煌的彩楼连成一片水晶宫，是仙境? 是梦境? 仰视彩鸽割飞，低眸漂灯留霓，焰火怒放，火树银花，灯舞回旋，千姿百态，气垫船腾起一江春潮，射击手点破满天彩球，跳伞健儿绽空中花蕾，抢鸭勇士谱水上凯歌… 啊，××城是不夜城，龙舟会是英会！
(译文如下)：
The divine land of China has its rivers flowing across; the brilliant culture of China has its roots tracing bake long…
editor的汉语
The light-some dragon-boats appear on the river as though the stars twinkle in the milky way. The richly decorated pleasure boats look like a scene of mirage. The splendent awnings in green and gold chian into a palace of crystal. Is this a fairy-land or a mere dream? Looking above, you can see the beautiful doves flying about. Looking below, you can see the sailing lamps glittering. Cracking are the fireworks, which present you a picture of fiery trees and silver flowers. Circling are the lantern-dancers, who present you a variation of exquisite manner. Over there the motor-boats are plowing the water, thus a tide stirs up. Over there, the marksmen are shooting to their targets; thus colorful beads whirl around. Besides, the birds’s chirping, the potted landscape’s charm, the exhibition of arts and painting, all claim a strong appeal to you. Therefore, we should say: ×× is a city of no light; its Dragon-Boat Festival a gathering of heroes.
Come on, Dear Friends! Come on, Honourable guests!…”
我们在汉语表达时经常会用一些夸张手法增加文采，渲染气氛，在汉语读者看来无可厚非，可是如果直译这些夸张修辞的话，英语读者会觉得不可接受。如：
1）这是一片神奇的土地，是人间仙境，是世外桃源。
CE: It’s a magic land, a paradise on the earth.
SE: It’s a nice place, a retreat away from the bustle of the city.
2）陈嘉庚的名字将被载入史册，与天地同在，与日月同辉。
CE: Tan Kah Kee’s name will be recorded by history, last as long as the heaven and the earth and shine as brightly as the sun and the moon. 
RV: Tan Kah Kee’s name has gone down in history and will be remembered eternally.
3)
“花园式工厂，园林式社区，天蓝水清地绿，路洁楼靓景秀，常年草木长青，四季花香四溢。
The company takes great pride in its landscaped plant, and garden-like residential area, providing a beautiful natural environment in all seasons.”
英语表达较汉语平素、直白、简洁，所以我们在汉英翻译时应尽量使自己的译文符合英语的表达习惯。像以上列举的这些含有夸张修辞的句子，如果我们“忠实地”翻译的话，反而会引起英美读者的反感。
（三）衔接（Cohesion）
包括指代，名词化，动词化等，是内容通顺，简洁的必要手段。
e.g. 1厦门的冬天比北京暖和。
CE: The winter in Xiamen is warmer than Beijing.
SV: The winter in Xiamen is warmer than that in Beijing.
另外，在人称代词方面，汉语和英语还有一个显著的不同，那就是，在汉语中，如果出现了指代的人或物后，之后再提到他们时，通常会省略指代词，但在英语中不允许出现这种情况，特别是所指代的人或物处于主语的位置时。现在我们看一个例子以加深理解。
e.g. 2:
1）
柯灵，生于1909年，浙江绍兴人。○中国现代作家，1926年○发表第一篇作品叙事诗《织布的妇人》，1930年○任《儿童时代》编辑，1949年以前○一直在上海从事报纸编辑工作，并积极投入电影、话剧运动。解放后，○曾任《文匪报》副总编辑。○现任上海电影局顾问。
Ke Ling was born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, in 1909. He is a modern Chinese writer. His first writing, the narrative poem, The Woman Weaver appeared in 1926. He was one of the editors of Children’s Times from 1930 onwards, before 1949 he was all along engaged in editorial work in newspaper offices and took an active part in activities of film and modern drama in Shanghai. After liberation, he filled the post of deputy editor-in-chief of Wenhui Bao for a period. He is at present adviser to the Shanghai Film Bureau.
    从这个例子中，我们可以看出汉语中允许人称代词做主语时省略，而英语不允许，所以，我们在翻译时要特别留意这一点。
2）他向老师解释了上次考试失败的几个原因，但没有一个原因能说服老师。
CE: He gave his teacher some reasons for his failure in the last exam, but all the reasons that he gave could not convince the teacher.
SV: He explained to his teacher why he failed in the last exam, but none of his reasons were convincing. 
3）改变传统不是为了告别传统，恰恰是为了更好地保留好传统，捍卫好传统。
CE: Moderating tradition is not to abandon the tradition, but to preserve and safeguard the tradition.
SV: Moderating tradition is not to abandon it, but to preserve and safeguard it.
4) 在促进亚洲经济发展方面，中国需要一个和平稳定的亚洲，亚洲也需要一个和平稳定的中国。
CE: In promoting the Asian economy, China needs a peaceful and stable Asia, and the Asia also needs a peaceful and stable China.
SV: In promoting the Asian economy, China needs a peaceful and stable Asia and vice versa.