與明喻和暗喻相比，借喻的形式更簡短，喻體和本體的關系更密切——因為本體和喻詞都不出現(xiàn)，直接由喻體來代替本體。這種最隱蔽的比喻形式使得喻體更加引人注目，從而突出了它所取代的本體的意義和特征。

英語中的metaphor —部分類似于漢語的暗喻,還有一部分類似于漢語的借喻。下面通過例句分析譯者對《紅樓夢》中借喻的翻譯情況。

首先來比較同一喻體在不同上下文中的譯文：

1)鳳姐也不多坐,執(zhí)意就走了。進園中將此事告訴與尤二姐，又說我怎么操心打聽，又怎么設法子，須得如此如此方救下眾人無罪，少不得我去拆開這魚頭，大家才好。（第六十八回）

楊譯：

She went to the Garden and told Second Sister what had happened，explaining how worried she had been, how she had ascertained the facts，and what would have to be done to keep them all out of trouble. She promised to get them out of the dilemma.

霍譯：

As soon as she was back，Xi-feng went into the Garden to tell Er-jie about these latest developments. She told her how worried she had been when she heard about the lawsuit，and what she had found out as a result of her inquiries.Then she explained what had to be done now in order to ensure that none of the others got into trouble.

2)我聽見這話，氣得倒仰，查是誰說的，又查不出來。這日久天長，這些個奴才們跟前，怎么說嘴。我反弄了個魚頭來拆。（第六十九回）

楊譯：

Talk like that makes me furious. I've tried to find out who started this, but I can't.If this goes on, how are we to hold up our heads in front of these slaves? I seem to have landed myself in a foul mess.

霍譯：

Needless to say, when I first heard this story I was flabbergasted. I've tried to find out who started it，but I've had no success. Oh,these servants! Just as I thought I'd done something to feel proud of，I find that I've got a fish's head like this on my plate to contend with!'

鳳姐兩次用“魚頭”作喻體，用以比喻一件麻煩的事情。例1的兩段譯文都沒有譯出這一喻義；例2的楊譯 I seem to have landed myself in a foul mess.雖然也是比喻句（是以seem to為喻詞的明喻），如果運用“回譯法”檢驗，其意為“我反身處一片亂麻之中”——顯然比原文的“魚頭”顯得俗套、抽象。單就對借喻的翻譯進行評價而言，只有例2的霍譯保留了原文生動的喻體形象，其修辭效果可與原文相媲美。

再請比較下面的譯文：

3)白眉赤臉，那里來的孩子？他不過指著哄我們那個棉花耳朵的爺罷了。（第六十九回）

楊譯：

Which of all those fine fellows she knew got her with child? It's only this credulous master of ours who's taken in by her.

霍譯：

I'd like to ask her where she got that child from. She may fool that cottoneared master of ours.