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中英颜色词的文化差异与翻译(英文翻译版)

The cultural differences of color words between English and ChineseTranslation

Abstract: Red, white, black three color words have similarities in associative meaning, Chinese culture and Western culture in the symbolic meaning and semantics, and there are also differences,with the common, confusing phrases and idioms translation, let people know the importance of color words in English and Chinese in two cultures.

Keywords:color words; symbolic meaning; cultural difference; idiom

Color is closely related with human life, we every hour and moment is not in dealing with color. Represents various color words embody national cultural features of English and Chinese culture is different,the performance of different national "personality”, with significant cultural stigma. The same color words often contain different symbolic significance. Therefore, correctly grasp the deep meaning of color words in the two languages and the correct translation, master the vocabulary and idioms in the English language, has a role can not be ignored in cross—cultural communication。

This paper focuses on three color words: red (red), white (white), black (black), it is in the two languages of English and Chinese language and culture differences be explained, and some common translation and confusable vocabulary and idioms, for English learners.

一。RED

Whether in China or in western countries, often live with festive red Move on, but in China the symbolic meanings of red more strongly。 Red symbolizes celebration, successful, thriving, warm,such as "full house",”good”,"fire”。Chinese traditional wedding tone mainly in red, the bride wearing red clothes, cover red hijab, a red candle, with red hi word, a faction be bursting

with happiness. In the Anglo—American countries, the bride dressed in white wedding dress, wearing a white wedding dress。 "Red" stands for "fire" in British and American culture,

"blood", ”agression”,"excitement”,”Rage","violence”, such as "seered",”red—handed", "a red battle" is reminiscent of violence and bloodshed. Red in China is also a symbol of revolution,such as "red", "be both red and expert”, while in English often pejorative meaning, with "red",”radical left.", Such as ”red belt", ”red activities”。 Red in Chinese also refers to people who favor or boss,such as ”red”, ”popular"; A joint-stock enterprises at the end of the year profits distributed to shareholders in economic terms,such as ”bonus","bonus”, While in English refers to economic or business often have ”deficit”,"loss" meaning, such as ”be in the red”,”red ink"。

Red refers to the color, has the same meaning in English and Chinese,refer to the ”red", "black”,"red” and other means, can be used as adjectives and nouns。 It refers to the traffic,with "red" in English and chinese.

1. And "red" the relevant vocabulary, idioms and English to Chinese language

1) 红白喜事——-weddings and funerals

China known as the wedding for weddings, funerals for the funeral, and Anglo-American countries marriage funeral custom is different, So it should not be directly translated into "red and white happyoccasions” in translation, or foreigners will be terrified.

2)红娘——-go— between/match— maker

”Matchmaker" Yuan drama ”the West Chamber” heroine。Yingying’s maid, she contributed to urge YingYing and Zhang Sheng binding, then folk is known as ”matchmaker” eager to others marriage,not a name.

3)红粉;红颜——-a young beauty

Both the beauty, corresponding to the English "red" can’t, Wu Weiye of the Qing Dynasty "round”:”six Army Song wail with white mourning dress, re d crown anger as a confidante.”Chinese old beautiful woman die or be married to a bad husband is beautiful,often have ”since ancient times, confidante much"。 So in the translation should adopt free translation, avoid direct translation of color. For example,红颜薄命译为“a beautiful girl has an unfortunate life".

4)《红楼梦》——-The Story of the Stone

"A dream of Red Mansions" also known as ”stone”. A dream of Red Mansions in Chinese refers to the magnificent buildings, the old often refers to a rich woman. Many people directly translated into ”A Dream of the Red Mansion", but the British translator David Hawks in translation is not to take the literal translation, but taking into account the ”differences in English and Chinese culture, according to red” translate”a dream of Red Mansions” alias "stones".

5)红本—-—memorials to the throne read and written in red by Chinese emperors The Ming Dynasty eunuch Liu Jin dictatorship, the memorial has two copies, a name for the emperor's white, a fine—sounding name red this to Liu Jin, but later until the Qing Dynasty, almost by Emperor Zhupi is red。 Such as take the words too literally, directly translated into "red book", will let the Anglo-American countries were considered to be a cover for the red book, and misunderstand the meaning。

6) 红尘——-the world of mortals; human society

Buddhism, Taoism and other known world to red, so in the translation should be the translation of the true meaning of。

7) 红豆--—love pea

Wang Wei "Acacia” poem:”health and southern red beans, spring a few branches。 Take home an armful, for my sake, as a symbol of our love. In China, red is used to symbolize love or love,so in the translation should adopt free translation can play a vivid effect。

8)满堂红-——all— round victory; success in every field

In the translation of this phrase should adopt free translation, translation of red in Chinese means "victory, the success of" symbolic significance.

9)红榜--—honour roll

In the translation of "honor roll” also should adopt free translation, translation of the "red" ”victory in the Chinese language, the symbolic meaning of success", not the literal translation.

10) 红利—-—extra dividend; bonus

Chinese in the "dividend” means a part of the dividend,”red” is not a color,not the ”red" in English, the translator should adopt free translation。

11)红运——-good luck

”Good luck” means good luck, the translator should adopt free translation。

12)红糖———brown sugar

Here the "red" instead of "red” in English translation, this is the expression of English and Chinese color misalignment。

13)红茶—-—black tea

Lbid。

14) 红得发紫—--extremely popular

The word "red", with the color "purple", in order to translate the true meaning, should not use literal translation and free translation, color, in order to reach to a proper extent to express

the true meaning of the word.

15)又红又专——-both socialist- minded and vocationally proficient

"Be both red and expert” is used to describe the advanced sex revolution, so the translation should be the translation of the Chinese characteristics。

2。And ”red" relevant vocabulary, idioms and their translation in English

1) be in the red—-—亏损;赤字

In English ”red” not only means ”red" color,with "deficit” in terms of economic or business,”loss" and other means, the commonly used "in the red",”red ink" said, so the translator should grasp the correct meaning of the word, in order to avoid mistranslation。2) red- ball———(美俚)货运快车;铁路特快货车

”Red- ball” is not a Chinese "red",but ”express", namely the express freight train; railway express freight.

3) red ink———赤字;亏损;亏空状态

”Red ink” in English refers to the accounting records of Central Plains debit or loss of red ink balance, interpreted as "deficit; loss; the red.". For example:The company went into red ink last year。(去年那家公司处于亏空状态。)

4) red— blooded--—精力充沛的;健壮的;(作品)充满紧张情节的

Although the ”red" and ”blood", but "red- blooded" does not refer to red blood, not bleeding。For example: Tom is a red- blooded American boy。(汤姆是个精力充沛的美国男孩。)

5) roll out the red carpet--—表示热忱而隆重的欢迎和接待

The English "red carpet” refers to the red carpet to welcome the distinguished guests,extension of the said warmly and grand welcome and reception。 For example:We rolled out the carpet for the President of the United States when he visited our country.( 美国总统访问我国时,我们以隆重的礼仪欢迎他。)

6) see red—-—火冒三丈;气得要命

The translation must not take the words too literally understanding of "see red", this word is derived from the Spanish Matador with red cloth provoke bulls to madness, we used an analogy to ”fly into a rage for some reason or circumstance, mad”. For example:

I see red whenever I hear that man' s name。(我一听到那人的名字, 便火冒三丈。)

7) red eye———廉价、质劣的威士忌

”Red eye” is not a Chinese "red eye” or ”pinkeye", but also refers to a kind of cheap,poor quality of the source whiskey, whisky on the people, the eyes will be redness. For example:We drank a lot of red eye when I was in college.(在大学念书的时候, 我们喝了许多廉价威士忌。)

8) red— handed———在犯罪现场被捕

Whether in English or Chinese, red has the meaning of "blood", or the color。 The murderer bloodstained hands called ”red hands". For example:The murder was caught red—handed, the gun still in his hand.(杀人犯当场被捕了, 枪还抓在他手里。)

9) red— letter day———值得纪念的/有特殊意义的/喜庆的日子

Whether in China or in western countries, holiday or Sunday, calendar the date on are printed on the red, a happy happy day.It was one of the red- letter days of my life。(这是我一生中值得纪念的吉日之一.)

10) red- pencil-——修改; 校订; 检查;删除

Much of the truth about the massacre was red- pencilled.

( 关于屠杀的真相大部分经审查删剪了.)

11) paint the town red——-( 俚语) 饮酒作乐;狂欢庆祝

They decided they would paint the town red after winning so much money by gambing on the horses. ( 赌马赢得了那么多钱, 他们决定狂欢庆祝一下。)

12) red tape—-—繁文缛节; 拖拉费时的繁琐手续

"Red tape” means "to bind documents with red” with the old, now kn own as the ”unnecessary and overelaborate formalities; hauling cumbersome procedures and time-consuming"。 For example:He gets things done by cutting through the bureaucratic

red tape。( 他能避开官僚的繁文缛节把事情迅速办好。)

13) red flag———(用作危险信号或停止信号的)示警红旗; 易爆危险品旗; 激怒因素;引人冒火的事In Chinese, ”red flag” is the symbol of the revolution, the symbol of progress, advanced, but ”red flag" in British and American culture is refers to ”red flag” and other means。 For example: When your mother raises her voice, remember it is always a red flag and you' d better shut your mouth.(当你妈妈提高嗓门时,记得那是危险信号,你最好少说话。)

14) red herring-——转移注意力的东西或话题

Mentioning adult education in a discussion on decolonization is a complete red herring.

(在讨论非殖民化时谈成人教育,这全是转移注意力的闲扯。)

15) red cap———红帽子; 搬运工

”R ed cap" in addition to the red hat, in American English also refers to "the airport or railway station". For example:When I arrived at the airport, a red cap helped me with my heavy luggage.(当我到达机场时,一名搬运工来帮我提沉重的行李。)

二.WHITE

Chinese traditional culture is heavy red bogey white, white and death, the funeral linked, such as "red funeral" in the "white” refers to the funeral。 The traditional funeral in white tone,with white to mourn. And in the Anglo—American culture, ”white” stands for "purity", ”chastity”, ”innocence”,”happiness”, "Brightness" meaning。As Chinese traditional heavy red, British and American wedding in white color, the bride wore a white wedding dress, to symbolize the purity of love and marriage, happiness.

Chinese in the "white” wi th "clear;see" meaning, such as ”unrighted wrong"; ”blank; no results; in vain; free;no pay" meaning, such as ”white boiling water”, "in vain", "eat"; and ”error; statement" accent to say the drama,such as ”white”,"monologue” etc.. The implication is t hat in English "white” does not have. And the English "white" can also refer to a ”white", ”upright; honest” meaning, but the Chinese ”white” is not the meaning of。

But the color in Chinese culture and Western culture also has some of the same point: with "pure (purity)”, "innocent (innocence) symbolic meaning,such as" Chinese "flawless white jade”, "innocent", the English ”a white soul"; in the aspect of politics,have ”the reactionary;counter—revolutionary" symbolic meaning; refers to the color, the two cultures with similar colors, such as the Chinese ”Snow White", the English "Snow White"; in the two cultures are doctors and nurses wear color hospital, a symbol of their work is pure and noble,such as "doctor", ”angel in white” has been accepted by the whole world culture。

1. And the "white" relevant vocabulary, idioms and English to Chinese language

1)白璧无瑕-—-flawless white jade; spotless virtue

"Flawless white jade" refers to the beauty of triclosan net work, metaphor of people or things without the shortcomings,as a "white jade”.So in the translation should pay attention to the word is the original meaning and extended meaning,such as the former is translated into ”flawless white jade”; if the latter is translated into "spotless virtue” or ”impeccable moral integrity”。2)白菜-——Chinese cabbage

"Chinese cabbage” also known as "cabbage","cabbage”, commonly known as ”vegetables”,similar to the cabbage,but is not the same, should be translated into "Chinesecabbage”, to show the difference between。

3)白藏———autumn; fall

"Er Ya Shi”: ”autumn of white Tibetan", it should be translated as ”autumn” or ”fall".

4) 白丁——-the common people

”Private” refers to the "civilian;not fame”, translation should be taken to avoid the。

5) 白痴—--idiot; fool

It refers to "a kind of" the most severe mental retardation,equivalent to the English ”idiot",”fool” means.

6)白费———to lose; to waste; to be in vain

"Waste","waste", ”waste" refers to "waste; useless”, has nothing to do with the "white” color, corr esponding to the English "white” can not, the translator should adopt free translation。

7) 白银-——silver

The ancient Chinese called silver yellow white,”white” refers to the ”silver”。

8)白马王子———prince charming

”Prince Charming" refers to ”the girl lo ve ideal young man",and "Prince Charming” in English means ”married Cinderella and the prince; the ideal of marriage, both men" is the corresponding.

9) 白手起家———to rise in life by one' s own efforts; to start from scratch

This idiom means ”no economic basis or in poor condition and create a career", so the translation cannot translate the color, because the ”white" refers to the ”empty-handed or manual”, rather than ”the white hand”.

10)白字-—-wrongly written or mispronounced character

White is not white,but refers to ”mistakes or read the wrong word or character"。

11) 白话———vernacular

The vernacular Chinese (Mandarin) refers to a written language, such as the vernacular Chinese,vernacular fiction, and regardless of color,can not use the "white” in English translation. When the vernacular means "can not be achieved or not according to the words”, such as ”empty talk”, should be translated into "noncence".

12)白描———a kind of Chinese outline drawing; the simple, straightforward style of writing Baimiao refers to the techniques of Chinese painting. It originated from the ancient "white painting”, also refers to a style of literary creation, with concise text, without contrast, depict a vivid image。 Translation note around.

13) 白战———fight unarmed

White and unarmed combat, no weapons, no white war.

14)白头偕老———live to ripe old age in conjugal bliss; remain a devoted couple to the end of their lives

This idiom means ”couples living together to the old" married ”a harmonious union lasting a hundred years,common in the eulogy; said of a couple”, "bald” does not mean "white head”,it means ”old”。

15) 白开水-——plain boiled water

”No tea or other things of boiling water", not "white” boiling water, translation without the white color。

16) 白衣天使———nurse

"Angel in white” is the nurse of the name, "doctor" is on the doctor’s name, so the translation of "nurse” and ”doctor" on the line。

2. And "white" the relevant vocabulary, idioms and their translation in English

1) white alert—-—解除空袭警报

International air raid alarm is divided into three kinds,namely ”yellow alert”,"Red Alert” and ”white alert" refer to ”yellow alert”,"warning” and "the all-clear"。

2) white book——-白皮书

"White book" refers to the "government, Parliament and other published political, diplomatic,financial and other major issues of files,this is the white”,"white paper” has been accepted by the people。

3) white coffee———加牛奶的咖啡

Coffee milk color looks better than the original light,so the English called ”white coffee".

4) white collar———白领

The ”white collar” directly translated as ”white-collar” has been accepted by the people, it refers to the mental work white-collar class.

5) white elephant-——累赘的东西

"White elephant” does not refer to the elephant, but refers to the ancient king of Thailand to "white elephant” to give out the retainer, can not sell, raise it and spend a lot of money story, later described it as useless but not any treatment, and the need for money or labor to management and maintenance. For example:

6) white feather-——怯懦; 胆小鬼

Don’t put the "white feather" translated into ”white feather”, Old English think tail minister Bai Yumao cockfighting is improved, and not good fight, to a man of cowardice or coward。

7) white goods——-家用白色织物;大型家用电器

The Anglo—Americans sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths colour mostly white; their household appliances are mostly white.

8) white— haired/headed boy———得宠儿; 幸运儿

9) white hands—-—清白无辜; 廉正;诚实

The phrase is not a white hands, but the metaphor of ”innocent; integrity; honest y”。10) white hope——-被寄予厚望的人(或事物) ; 承担艰巨任务的人

11) White House———白宫

”White House” literal translation ”White House", referring to the president of the United States White Palace or the United States government, had to accept the people.

12) white— knuckle—-—神经紧张的; 引起神经紧张的

13) white lady—-—鸡尾酒

”White lady" does not mean ”white lady",nor ”dressed in white lady”, but also refers to a kind of cocktail gin, orange wine, lemon juice, shake with ice and strain into a protein, can also refer to a "cocaine".

14) white lie—-—善意的谎言

"White lie" means "a harmless lie",translated as ”white lie" or ”not hurt the important essentials lie" properly.

15) white market—-—白市; 合法交易市场

Because of the ”white" in English is ”pure” meaning, ”white market” to describe and ”black market (black)” instead of the official market, fitting.

16) whitewash-——粉饰; 掩盖

"Whitewash" refers to the original ”white coat",after dressing or conceal errors and shortcomings compared to.

17) white war———不流血的战争;经济战

To refer to a bloody wa r with the "red battle/war” in English, with corresponding white war to describe the war without bloodshed, mainly refers to economic warfare.

18) white days—-—吉日; 好日子

Because of the "white" with ”fortunate; lucky" meaning, so the correct translation of the phrase is "auspicious day”。

Semantics in the Chinese culture and American culture in black and symbolic significance has roughly the same, ”dark",”black”,”evil", "cruel",”illegal" meaning, such as the Chinese "dark forces", ”black",”black heart”; the English ”black heart” ”black market", etc。。 But the symbolic significance of black in Anglo—American culture is more strongly, it is ”sinister","evil”, "criminal", "despair", "mourning", "demons" meaning. It is the analogy always give a person a kind of terrible, even the evil feeling。Black also contains a ”devastating;gloomy;angry" meaning, such as "Black Friday (unlucky Friday)”, ”in a black mood (depressed mood)”, "give sb。 a black look (ferocious stare sb。)"。

1。汉语中与“黑”有关的词汇、习语及其英译

1)黑帮———reationary/sinister gang

The society covert activities of criminal gangs, use reationary or sinister to translate more image, outstanding。

2)黑店———ganster inn

Refers to the murder plunders the goods inn, "ganster (bandits, bandits) to transla tion” is preferable to ”black".

3)黑不溜秋——-swarthy

The dialect describe black ugly,while in English, ”swarthy” is the meaning of.

4)黑社会———Mafia— style organizations; gangland

T he Anglo—Americans have black society called "Mafia- style organizations; ga ngland”。

2。英语中与“black”相关的词汇、习语及其汉译

1) Black and white———白纸黑字; 书面

”Black” means ”black ink","white” means ”whitepaper", meaning black words written on white paper, conclusive evidence in Chinese saying, put it down in black and white on the source of。

2) black- bag-——非法秘密搜查

In American English, it refers to the illegal secret search the United States Federal people do。

3) black belt———黑腰带

Now ”black belt" is mainly used to refer to "the highest level of judo”

4) black box-——黑匣子

The English "black box" refers to the electronic equipment installed in the aircraft, used to record flight data, because its name is black。

5) black coffee—-—清咖啡;不加牛奶(或奶油) 的咖啡

The British and Americans do not add milk (or cream) in coffee called black coffee, from the milk (or cream) coffee white coffee.

6) black eye—-—乌黑的眼睛;丢脸的事,耻辱;

"Black eye” and ”dark eyes or bruised eyes", a "disgrace still in American spoken English; stigma;bad reputation”。

7) Black Hand———黑手党;黑社会组织;

”Black Hand" is not a black hand it m eans "mafia or black social organization", it has become a specific appellation。

8) black hole———黑洞

”Black hole" in the field of astronomy refers to the ”black hole”, but it also "black jails;

9) Black Friday—-—不吉利的星期五

Jesus suffering so on Friday, with Black Friday, metaphor calamity, dangerous unknown. 10) black— letter day———倒霉的日子

"Black” is ”unlucky" mean in English, "white", "auspicious; good", with "black—letter day" and ”white day to refer to (good day)" the opposite meaning。

11) blacklist———黑名单

"Blacklist" in English means "list of people or organization to boycott or punish”, Chinese translation is ”black list”, and "whitelist" white list contrary。

12) black market———黑市

The "black market” translated into the black market is v ery appropriate, because both the illegal trade means, with the official market "white market" means just the opposite。

13) blackout———灯火管制;暂时性失去记忆

”Blackout” means there are many, such as "power; power; painted out;remove;” out of the stage lights ",the most common means” Blackout ”or” temporary loss of memory"。

14) black sheep——-害群之马;败类; 有辱门楣的人

”Black sheep” from the proverb ”There is a black sheep in every frock”,used to describe ”an evil member of the herd” or "scum; the black sheep of the fa mily”。

15) black smith—-—铁匠

”Black Smith” means to create a darker color, metal (such as iron) craftsmen,with ”White Smith" to refer to create lighter hardware (such as silver).

英汉颜色词的翻译和比较(英文版)

Comparison and Translation of English and Chinese Color Word Abstract The tendency of worldwide economic globalization has been intensified, and people have close exchanges in almost every fields. The role of culture in the interaction between people from all nations is becoming extremely crucial. This paper discusses the translating and contrast of color words in China and the West, which mostly involves three sections, the definition and the differences of color words, the contrast with color words and methods used in translation in English and Chinese. Meanwhile, the first part contains three respects, namely, the definition, categories that consists of basic color words, color words with colors of objects and color words in shades, as well as the reasons for the discrepancies in color words, which includes the different ethnic beliefs lead to differences in color words, influence of different modes of thinking and representation on color words and influence of different political systems and social differences on color words. And the second part mainly covers six respects, namely, the various implication and usage of color words in these two languages, such as red, black, white, yellow, blue and green. Ultimately, the last part involves two respects, namely, literary translation and free translation that contains cultural equivalence and functional equivalence. By comparing and translating color words about these two kinds of languages, this essay, for one thing, will aim at making a profound analysis of the discrepancies about the utilization of color words about the two languages and the reasons for the discrepancies; for another, the writer expects to offer tiny advice and references on color words in the future. Key Words: Chinese and English color words, comparison, translation 摘要 随着世界经济全球化的发展,各国人民在政治、经济和文化之间的交往日益密切。文化在各国人民相互交往过程中的作用变得越来越突出。本篇论文主要是针对英汉颜色词的翻译和比较,主要包括三个方面,即色彩词的定义和不同,英汉色彩词的对比和英汉色彩词翻译过程中所使用方法。同时,第一部分包括三个方面,即定义,分类,其中包括基本色彩术语,色彩词的对象色彩和色差颜色词,和造成英汉色彩词差异的原因,其中包括不同的伦理信念导致色彩词的差异,关于色彩词思维和表达差异的影响和政治体制和社会差异的影响。其次,第二部分包括六方面的内容,即英汉色彩词内涵及使用的差异,如红色,黑色,白色,黄色,蓝色和绿色。最后,第三部分包括两方面的内容,即直译

中英颜色,动物,数字文化差异原则(中西差异)英语版

文化差异原则 1.2、 3、黄色 4、蓝色 5、文化差异问题是一个非常复杂的问题,英汉颜色词语的词义有时对应, 有时相佐,有时无对应。译者要在两种语言之间进行翻译,不仅要掌握两国的语言文字,而且要深刻理解两种文化之间的差异,在翻译时应该仔细推敲,谨慎处理。 2.动物差异 语言是人类社会进行交际的重要工具,同时也是文化的重要载体。不同民族的语言既受到本民族社会文化的制约,又反映各自特定的文化内容。如果某一民族的人们不了解某一特定民族的文化因素,则不可能进行有效与顺利的交流。因此,必须把语言知识和文化知识结合起来才能顺利地进行交流。研究对外汉语教学的专家赵贤州先生(1992)说:“跨文化交际之所以成为可能,正是人类享有某些共同的文化信息;而跨文化交际之所以产生某些偏差,是因为双方不能共享另一些有差异的文化信息”。英汉这两种各具特色却大相径庭的语言形式,其表达方式与文化习惯存在一定差异。这些五彩斑斓、丰富多彩的表达方式与纷繁复杂的习惯差异是由于汉民族文化与英美民族文化之间存在着民族历史、社会制度、道德信仰、文学艺术、心理特点、风俗习惯、价值观念、思维方式、生活方式以及地域风貌等等差别。只有充分了解英汉文化的背景知识,才能进行更有效、更顺利的交际。在英语文化中把人的某种特点与动物相比较并不常见,但汉语言中却

有很多这种比喻的例子。通过上面这个小例子, 我们可以看出,如果在翻译中遇到这种与动物有关的比喻性句子时, 我们一定要考虑西方文化的因素,避免用中国人的习惯说法代替西方人的习惯说话。 这里还有这些搭配并不是固定不变的,比如bull(公牛)这种动物,经常跟angry(愤怒)搭配,但它也可以跟mad(疯 狂)、strong(强壮)等搭配,因此千万不要搞教条,一定要灵活运用。古代原始人与动物为伍,生活在深山密林之中,捕鱼狩猎,以野生动物为食,繁衍生长。直到今天,动物仍然是人类生存与发展的物质基础之一,人类的生活一刻也离不开动物的存在。正因为人类与动物相依相存,频繁接触,因此在人类语言中必然存在着大量以动物为喻体的隐喻性词语,并依据动物的外貌、习性等特征赋予它们特定的情感和喻义。同时,又由于英汉两个民族在地域生态、历史传统、宗教信仰等文化各个方面的差异,隐喻中所含有的文化内涵也大不相同。 英语国家都把狮子比喻成“百兽之王”,比喻勇敢、威严、权势、凶猛等。当比喻一个人勇猛时,会描述他为“ He is a lion. ”英国历史上查理一世因其“勇武善战”被誉为“ the lion-hearted king ”(狮心王),史称“狮心查理王”。正因为英语词汇 lion 的这种语义,在学术界有“威望”的人,也被称为“ a literary lion ”,同汉语的“执牛耳”、“泰斗”。[11] (P219-222) 英国自豪地以狮子作为自己国家的标志,英国国徽的中心图案是 lion ,因此英国又被称之为“ the British Lion ”,所以 to twist the lion ’s tail 意为“向英格兰挑战”。“ Lion and Unicom ”(“雄师”

颜色在中国文化和英美文化中给人的含义和联想是也有所不同

中国文化和英美文化 颜色在中国文化和英美文化中给人的含义和联想是也有所不同。汉民族似乎对蓝色颇有好感,蔚蓝色的天空和海洋常能激发人们热爱大自然,对未来无限的遐思和憧憬,于是“我爱蓝天”比喻航空飞行员热爱本职工作,“我爱蓝色的海洋”比喻水兵对大海的深情。然而在英语文化中,“蓝色”不仅不能引发英美人的憧憬和遐想,反而会使人感到“忧郁、沮丧和悲观”,He looks blue .意思是“他看上去不开心”,这是情绪过度忧郁的结果。英语中holiday blue 相当于winter holiday depression,指冬季假期圣诞节来临,雪下个不停,人困在家里,感到无聊寂寞时的心情或情绪。美国有“蓝色星期一(blue Monday )”意思是“不开心的星期一”,即指度过快乐的周末后,星期一又要上学或上班,所以情绪不好。“魂断蓝桥”是一部令人感伤的爱情电影;所有这些蓝色与悲伤之间的联系由1920年的歌曲“The Blues ”(《伤感之歌》加强了。“布鲁斯音乐(blues)”就起源于美国南方一种缓慢、忧郁的乐曲。 中国人喜欢红色,用“红布”象征喜庆,男女结婚称为“红事”,走“红运”象征顺利和成功。“红色”还象征无产阶级革命,如电影“闪闪红星”、“红色娘子军”等等。而在英美文化中,红色则意味着流血、危险或暴力, 给人一种不详之兆。 斗牛士用来激怒牛的红布“red rag/red flag ”被比喻为“令人恼怒的事物”,还有当看到商业英语中的“in the red ” 别以为是盈利,相反,它的意思是表示“赤字、亏损、负债”。汉语中的“红人”在英文中却和“紫色”有关,翻译成英语是“be raised to the purple ”。这是因为西方的帝王和主教有穿紫袍的传统,紫袍加身意味着上升到显赫的地位。汉语中黄色被视为尊色,如“黄袍”、“黄门”“黄榜” 等都与尊贵和荣耀联系在一起。黄色具有“尊严”“崇高”和权利的象征意义,在中国人的心理上占有极其重要的地位。而英语中的yellow 却表示“却懦”“卑鄙”等。在英语中“绿色”一直和“嫉妒”相连。英美人认为,人在嫉妒时,人的眼睛是绿色的(green-eyed ),因此,汉语中的“红眼病、眼红” 在英文里却是“be green with envy ”。英国的大剧作家莎士比亚著名的悲剧《奥塞罗》(Othello)也有“绿眼妖魔”之说(Green-eyed monster), 用以表达“嫉妒、妒忌”。 中国人和英美人的思维方式的不同都反映在语言之中。中国人看问题喜欢从一般到个别,而西方人往往更注重个别。这一点我们从英语的时间排序和地点排序是从小到大、而汉语是从大到小可略见一斑。如英语中表示日期的顺序是“日月年”(“月日年”的顺序是美式说法),“2005年9月22日星期四早晨8:00”, 在英语里我们要说“ 8:00 on Thursday, 22 September, 2005” 中国人写信封地址要从大地名到小地名,先写国家,后省、市,再写区、街道、楼号、门牌号,最后才是收信人的姓名,英美人则恰恰相反,先写收信人的名,再是姓,然后是门牌,小地名到大地名。英美人与中国人的姓名表达方式也有所不同,姓名表达

英语文化中英色彩词语对比

英语文化:中英色彩词语对比 【编者按】在不同的文化中,色彩所代表的含义也不尽相同。在此,小编简要列举六个主要颜色词——红、绿、黄、蓝、白、黑在英语和汉语中的对比和翻译。 一、色彩词语的翻译 语言是文化的载体,同时又是文化的重要组成部分。而词语又是语言中最活跃的因素,最敏感地反映了社会生活和社会思想的变化,是语言中最能反映文化特征的部分。它们的产生、变异和发展都包含着丰富、复杂的文化信息,如地理环境、社会历史、政治经济、风俗民情、宗教信仰、审美取向、价值观念及思维方式等等,其中色彩词语最能体现浓厚的民族色彩和鲜明的文化个性,体现不同民族、不同历史文化的特点,使不同民族的语言呈现出不同的特色。这就要求译者在广泛地、准确地了解他国文化中的观念、信仰、习俗、价值标准等方面的同时,真实传达本国文化的价值与灵魂,才能真正做到不同文化间的有效交流。世界各民族语言表达颜色的词语多寡不一,分类各异。英语和汉语对基本颜色词的分类差别不大。汉语中有赤、橙、黄、绿、青、蓝、紫,英语中有red(红),white(白),black(黑),green(绿),yellow(黄),blue(蓝),purple(紫),gray(灰),brown(棕)。这些基本颜色之间有相同的方面,也有不同的区别。另外,受地理环境、民情风俗、思维方式、宗教信仰、民族心理等因素的影响,各种颜色对于不同民族的人而言,在视觉和心理上所引发的联想和象征意义也不尽相同。下面简要列举六个主要颜色词——红、绿、黄、蓝、白、黑在英语和汉语中的对比和翻译。

二、色彩词语翻译与文化语境 (一)红色 red 1.在英语和汉语中,红色red有时可以完全对应,如:红旗—red flag,红场 —the Read Square,红十字会—Red Cross,红葡萄酒—red wine。 Just mentioning his ex-wife's name was like a red rag to a bull. (直译)提他前妻的名字简直就是在公牛面前摆红布。(实译)一提他前妻的名字他就火冒三丈。 通常,在翻译含有色彩词语的句子时,一些初学者会直译,一不留神,闹出不少笑话,如上句。结合上面谈到的文化语境,我们知道它包含许多因素。这里就联系到其中的风俗民情因素。众所周知,斗牛是西班牙一种传统的民间活动,经久不衰。在观众济济的开阔场地上,一块红布,在斗牛士左右晃动下,引得公牛怒火冲天,暴跳不已。了解了这一点后,我们不难知道 like a redrag to a bull 的意思 是 very likely to make someone angry or upset. 此处可以采用意义对等法,上句应译为:一提他前妻的名字他就火冒三丈。 2.此外,英语中有些带red的短语在汉语中有引申意义,如:大怒 see red,负 债 be in the red,重要的日子 red-letter day,繁文缛节 red tape,当场发现某人正做坏事 catch sb. red-handed。 (二)绿色 green 在埃及寺庙的地面是绿色的。在希腊和摩尔人中绿色代表胜利。对于穆斯林来说绿色是神圣的,在前往圣地麦加朝圣之后他们手拿绿色的旗帜,头戴绿色的(穆斯林的)头巾。他们甚至把做祷辞用的小块地毯也设计成绿色图案。苏格兰高地人以身穿绿色来代表荣誉。绿色也是爱尔兰的国色。绿色作为交通信号色则表示通行。在医疗急救设备上往往涂有绿色。在家庭中使用绿色可有益于消除身心疲惫。 1.green在英语中可以表示“嫉妒、眼红”,如: green with envy, green as jealousy, green-eyedmonster 都是指“十分嫉妒”的意思。汉语中表示“嫉妒”意义的“眼红”,应该翻译为 green-eyed 而不能翻译为red-eyed。 2.由于美元纸币是绿颜色的,所以 green 在美国也指代“钱财、钞票、有经济实力”等意义,如: In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have greenpower backing them. 在美国政治竞选中获胜的候选人通常都是些有财团支持的人物。

中英文化中词语颜色的差异

中英文化中词语颜色的差异 文化差异又是跨文化交际中的一个主要障碍,所以了解这些文化差异,对语言学习者而言十分重要。 英汉颜色词的文化差异表现 ·历史传统的差异 在英国人心目中,白色是上帝、天使、幸福、纯洁的象征。“西方人举行婚礼时,新娘要穿白色的婚纱,这源自于英国国家的宗教故事,magi和draids在基督复活时穿着白色的衣服。因此,白色在西方国家被广泛地用在婚礼上。而白色在中国则是丧色。自古以来亲人死后家属要穿白色孝服,办“白事”,胸襟上别着白色的小花,以此表达对死去亲人的哀悼和敬意。 红色在中华民族的传统中是一种喜庆色,象征着吉祥、如意,使人联想到幸福与健康。过新年时贴上红对联,举行婚礼时新娘都要穿上红色喜服,墙上、门上、窗上都贴上红喜字,客人送的礼金或长辈给的红包,都要用红纸包着,结婚后生了孩子,有些地方还要向亲朋好友送红鸡蛋,以示喜庆。但在以英语为母语的英美民族中,红色则意味着流血、恐怖和危险,甚至会使人联想到淫荡、低级趣味。如:现代西方城市有很多red light district(红灯区),英语中的scarlet有“鲜红的、淫荡的、罪名昭彰”之意。 由此可见,因历史传统的不同,英汉两民族对待颜色的态度也大相径庭,中国文化尚红轻白,而英美文化则重白轻红。 ·民族心理的差异

民族心理就像一条幽暗的地下长流,涌动在一个民族意识的岩层里,流贯在该民族的血脉中。中西方人们的心理因素及看待问题的方式,往往存在着种种差异。英汉民族中,不同的颜色词可能用于描述同一种物质的客观表象。英语说black tea,汉语说“红茶”。为什么同样的一种茶被描述成了不同的颜色?英国人着眼于茶叶 的颜色,称其为“黑”,而中国人则着眼于茶水的颜色,称其为“红”,这是由于两民族之间观察事物的角度不同,看似矛盾的东西,其实并不矛盾。再如,yellow(黄色)一词,黄色在中国封建社会里是法定的尊色,象征着皇权、辉煌和崇高。黄色乃是“帝王之色”——古老中国的象征。具有这种文化心理的人便很难想象,在英语文化里,黄色往往有忧郁、病态、令人讨厌、胆小的涵义。如:yellow-bellied(胆怯的),a yellow streak(生性怯懦),yellow card(足球等运动中的黄牌,由裁判员出示,用以向运动员提出警告),the yellow press(低级报刊,故作耸人听闻的报道以哗众取宠的报纸)等。 ·宗教信仰的差异 英语中有些颜色的象征意义,受宗教影响颇深,颜色被赋予不同的宗教内涵与寓意。在中世纪,教会指定艺术家在绘画时使用某些颜色。如圣母玛利亚的长袍要画成蓝色,在准备式期间,基督的衣服要画成蓝色;在无知受到诱惑时,画成黑色;复活时画成红色或白色。为什么要如此变换色彩呢?这与他们的宗教想象分不开,蓝色代表他们来自天堂,黑色则代表来自基督与黑暗使者的遭遇,红色

英汉颜色词的文化对比与翻译

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The cultural differences of color words between English and ChineseTranslation Abstract: Red, white, black three color words have similarities in associative meaning, Chinese culture and Western culture in the symbolic meaning and semantics, and there are also differences,with the common, confusing phrases and idioms translation, let people know the importance of color words in English and Chinese in two cultures. Keywords:color words; symbolic meaning; cultural difference; idiom Color is closely related with human life, we every hour and moment is not in dealing with color. Represents various color words embody national cultural features of English and Chinese culture is different,the performance of different national "personality”, with significant cultural stigma. The same color words often contain different symbolic significance. Therefore, correctly grasp the deep meaning of color words in the two languages and the correct translation, master the vocabulary and idioms in the English language, has a role can not be ignored in cross—cultural communication。 This paper focuses on three color words: red (red), white (white), black (black), it is in the two languages of English and Chinese language and culture differences be explained, and some common translation and confusable vocabulary and idioms, for English learners. 一。RED Whether in China or in western countries, often live with festive red Move on, but in China the symbolic meanings of red more strongly。 Red symbolizes celebration, successful, thriving, warm,such as "full house",”good”,"fire”。Chinese traditional wedding tone mainly in red, the bride wearing red clothes, cover red hijab, a red candle, with red hi word, a faction be bursting with happiness. In the Anglo—American countries, the bride dressed in white wedding dress, wearing a white wedding dress。 "Red" stands for "fire" in British and American culture, "blood", ”agression”,"excitement”,”Rage","violence”, such as "seered",”red—handed", "a red battle" is reminiscent of violence and bloodshed. Red in China is also a symbol of revolution,such as "red", "be both red and expert”, while in English often pejorative meaning, with "red",”radical left.", Such as ”red belt", ”red activities”。 Red in Chinese also refers to people who favor or boss,such as ”red”, ”popular"; A joint-stock enterprises at the end of the year profits distributed to shareholders in economic terms,such as ”bonus","bonus”, While in English refers to economic or business often have ”deficit”,"loss" meaning, such as ”be in the red”,”red ink"。 Red refers to the color, has the same meaning in English and Chinese,refer to the ”red", "black”,"red” and other means, can be used as adjectives and nouns。 It refers to the traffic,with "red" in English and chinese. 1. And "red" the relevant vocabulary, idioms and English to Chinese language 1) 红白喜事——-weddings and funerals China known as the wedding for weddings, funerals for the funeral, and Anglo-American countries marriage funeral custom is different, So it should not be directly translated into "red and white happyoccasions” in translation, or foreigners will be terrified. 2)红娘——-go— between/match— maker

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