Abstract: American TV series frequently quote from Chinese classics. This is a result of the development of Chinese classical culture, and a demand by time of Chinese culture "going global", meanwhile, it also helps to enrich western culture. Through analyzing the existing quotations from Tao Te Chin and The Art of War in American TV series, it is obvious that the translation is deeply affected by show theme and culture, which undermined the accuracy and efficiency of the translation. Translators should combine the methods of literal translation and free translation, and make proper adjustments to ensure the translation quality.