人山人海:有人直译为:People mountain people sea. 这就是"中国英文",老外很难理解。他们指"人多"时,通常只说:"There is a large crowd of people."如果看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:"There is (was) a long movie line."
不过在诗词用语(poetic expression)裏,老外也有使用:"a (the) sea of faces",颇有咱的"人山人海"的味道。例如:Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望著一片人山人海的听众,A先生发表一篇动人的演说。)Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(克林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。)。
可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有"人海"的感觉。因此,可以说:"I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. "但在平地的人群中,就不说:"I saw the sea of faces."也不说:"There is a sea of faces."只说:"I saw a large crowd of people."
reference:
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/hansen-green