1、Cultural Differences between English and Chinese on Idioms OriginsAbstract Different people from different cultures may have different understandings of the same sentence because they know little about the target cultures. While the ultimate aim of English teaching as a foreign language is to cultiv
2、ate students competence to apply English correctly, fluently, and appropriately in cross-cultural communication. However, due to lack of knowledge of cultural differences, many college students fail to achieve this purpose during the actual communicating activities. It is necessary for us to study t
3、he cultural differences in some fields between China and Western countries. Language is the most principal means for inter-cultural communication. Idioms, a part of language, are the essence of culture in every country. Using language in such communication, we often come across some idioms with dist
4、inctive cultural characteristics, so it is a very important and complicated thing for us to understand and use these idioms correctly. Therefore, in this paper, we will discuss the idioms reflecting the differences of Chinese and Western cultures in various levels with many lively, important, and in
5、teresting examples of idioms. Key Words idioms; origins; cultural differences between English and Chinese从 习语 来源看中英 文化差异本【摘 要】 同一句话，不同文化背景的人的反应有时是不同的，甚至会截然相反。究其原因，是说话双方没有真正掌握对方的文化。大学 英语教学的目的，是使学生在跨文化交流中可以正确、流利与恰当的运用 英语。而大学生在实际交流活动中，往往不能达到这一目的，这是因为他们对中两方 文化差异不够了解。因此，完全有必要对中西 文化差异进行详细的研究。语言是跨文化交际中最主要的
6、手段。在运用语言进行跨文化交际时,由于民族 文化差异,难免会遇到具有鲜明文化特色的成语和 习语,而对此确切地理解并正确地加以运用,则是一个十分重要而又复杂的问题。 习语是各国文化的精髓，反映各国的风俗习惯。因此，本文从最能体现中西 文化差异的 习语着手，论述 习语在文化的各个层次上所反映的中西 文化差异，并采纳大量生动有趣的例子作为论据进行适当的分析。【关键词】 习语; 来源; 英语; 汉语; 文化差异Cultural Differences between English and Chinese on Idioms OriginsAbstract Different people from
7、different cultures may have different understandings of the same sentence because they know little about the target cultures. While the ultimate aim of English teaching as a foreign language is to cultivate students competence to apply English correctly, fluently, and appropriately in cross-cultural
8、 communication. However, due to lack of knowledge of cultural differences, many college students fail to achieve this purpose during the actual communicating activities. It is necessary for us to study the cultural differences in some fields between China and Western countries. Language is the most
9、principal means for inter-cultural communication. Idioms, a part of language, are the essence of culture in every country. Using language in such communication, we often come across some idioms with distinctive cultural characteristics, so it is a very important and complicated thing for us to under
10、stand and use these idioms correctly. Therefore, in this paper, we will discuss the idioms reflecting the differences of Chinese and Western cultures in various levels with many lively, important, and interesting examples of idioms. Key Words idioms; origins; cultural differences between English and
11、 Chinese从 习语 来源看中英 文化差异本【摘 要】 同一句话，不同文化背景的人的反应有时是不同的，甚至会截然相反。究其原因，是说话双方没有真正掌握对方的文化。大学 英语教学的目的，是使学生在跨文化交流中可以正确、流利与恰当的运用 英语。而大学生在实际交流活动中，往往 不能达到这一目的，这是因为他们对中两方 文化差异不够了解。因此，完全有必要对中西 文化差异进行详细的研究。语言是跨文化交际中最主要的手段。在运用语言进行跨文化交际时,由于民族 文化差异,难免会遇到具有鲜明文化特色的成语和 习语,而对此确切地理解并正确地加以运用,则是一个十分重要而又复杂的问题。 习语是各国文化的精髓，反映各
12、国的风俗习惯。因此，本文从最能体现中西 文化差异的 习语着手，论述 习语在文化的各个层次上所反映的中西 文化差异，并采纳大量生动有趣的例子作为论据进行适当的分析。【关键词】 习语; 来源; 英语; 汉语; 文化差异 IntroductionLanguage is inseparable from culture. For one thing, language is a part of culture and plays an important role in it. For another, as a mirror of culture, language is strongly infl
13、uenced and shaped by culture; meanwhile, it reflects culture. Idioms include metaphorical phrases, slang, colloquialism, proverb and so on. As an essential part of the language and culture of a society, idioms are characterized by their concise expressions, rich and vivid, involving geography, histo
14、ry, religious belief, living conventions and so on. They are usually highly specialized in meaning and closely tied to distinctive cultural features and cultural attitudes. It is believed that idioms are the most culturally loaded element in any language s vocabulary. Undoubtedly they are often hard
15、 to understand and harder to use correctly. English and Chinese idioms, closely related to their own culture, convey different cultural features and messages of their own nation, reflecting their own culture.1P281-282 There exists vast difference between English and Chinese culture and this differen
16、ce occurs in English and Chinese idioms, too. Based on others research, this paper intends to explore it by fully analyzing the main cultural reasons causing idiomatic expressions differences in both Chinese and English.1.Different living circumstanceThat culture is determined by geographical enviro
17、nment is a subjective view of geographical determinism. It cannot be denied, however, that natural environment including geographical position, climate, ecological condition is something that plays contributory role in the formation of a culture. People dwelling in a certain region try to adapt them
18、selves to the surroundings so that livelihood can be maintained. As a result, their special way of living, thinking and behaving is formed as a side-product of their relationship with the environment.1.1. Geographical environmentBritain is an island country. People who live along seacoast and whose
19、livelihood is dependent on the sea will have idioms about water, sailing, island and fish. For example, we speak in Chinese挥金如土，but we should render it into English as “spend money like water“. There are a lot of English idioms about ship ,water and fish: “as close as an oyster“(守口如瓶)，“cast an ancho
20、r to windward“(未雨绸缪), “at sea“(茫然)，“to keep ones head above water“(奋力图存)，“to take the wind out of somebodys sail“(先发制人)，“tower ones sail“(甘拜下风)，“in full sail“(全力以赴)，“sail under false colors“(欺世盗名)，“half sea over“(酒喝得太多), “fish begins to stink at the head“ (上梁不正下梁歪)，“never offer to teach fish to swim
21、“ (不要班门弄斧)，“dull fish“ (枯燥无味的人); “plain sailing“ (一帆风顺)，“to trim ones sail to the wind “ (见风使舵), “to be in the same boat“ (同舟共济)，“to burn ones boat “ (破釜沉舟), “a big fish in a little pond“(山中无老虎，猴子称霸王).2P110 本On the other hand, the Han People live on land, they belong to an agrarian society that plac
22、es agricultural production at the top of the national agenda, regarding industry and commerce as the non-essentials. During th e long history of farming, the Chinese language has accumulated large numbers of farmers idioms, like二人同心，黄土变金(When two people are of the same mind, even clay may be changed
23、 into gold)，上无片瓦，下无寸土(as poor as a church mouse)，人不亏地，地不亏人(The masters footsteps fatten the soil)，瓜熟蒂落(Things will be easily settled when conditions are ripe)，瑞雪兆丰年(a timely snow promises a good harvest)，五谷丰登(abundant harvest of all food crops),种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆( as a man sows, so shall he reap )，四体不勤，五谷不分(
24、can neither do physical work nor distinguish rice from wheat).3P991.2. ClimateClimate is another factor in the living condition. While Britain is located in western hemisphere, with North Temperate Zone and marine climate, so “west wind“ is the symbol of spring. The famous English poet Shirley s “Od
25、e to West Wind“ is a praising song of spring. Summer in Britain is a warm and comfortable season, which is usually linked with “lovely“, “gentle“ and “nice“. Shakespeare compares lover to a summer in one of his poems, “shall I compare thee to a summers day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.“4
26、(Shakespeares Sonnet 18) The west wind blows from the Atlantic Ocean as warm and gentle as Chinese east wind and brings voluminous rain to this area. So that Britain abounds in rain can be proved in some idioms concerning rain: “to make hay while the sun shines“ (趁热打铁), “ rainy day“（穷困时期）, “ to rain
27、 or shine“（无论如何）, “to rain cats and dogs“（倾盆大雨）, “ as right as rain“（非常正确）, etc. Britain used to be known as a country of fog partly due to the dampness and warmness of the weather condition and partly to the air pollution as side product of the industrial revolution. Therefore, in English there are
28、 some idiomatic expressions concerning fog, such as “in a fog“（云里雾里），and “to have not the foggiest idea“. “Spring up like mushrooms“ (雨后春笋) may become incomprehensible to Chinese learner if he is unaware that this idiom implies the richness of mushroom growing in the wet area in Britain just as “bam
29、boo“ in Chinese specialty, and “as plentiful as blackberries“(黑莓遍地) also indicates the ecological environment in Britain, for blackberries are easily available in England.In Chinese culture, “east wind“ is “the wind of spring“; spring is warm and colorful, and it is regarded as the beginning of all
30、lives. There are many idioms in China, which refer to spring：春暖花开(in warm spring, all the blossoms are in full bloom.), 春意盎然(spring is very much in the air), 一年之计在于春(the whole years work consists in a good start in spring)，万紫千红总是春(it is spring when the gayest colours abound). Spring has the image of
31、 good things, so Chinese “春” is used in some idioms to express this: 满面春风(ones face radiates happiness),春风化雨(the life-giving spring breeze and rain-salutary influence of education). Summer is always connected with extremely hot or the intense heat, so赤日炎炎似火烧(the blazing sun scorches like fire)、骄阳似火(
32、the burning sun is like a fire) are terms often used to describe summer.So different living surroundings may produce different idioms and different culture. 2. Different historical allusionDifferent countries possess different history culture, which mainly comprises allusion, myths, poems, ancient b
33、ooks and records, etc. Among them, allusion is the most important; it reflects the national characteristic. Idioms from history culture are the gems of human cultural heritage. It is worthwhile for us to learn them well. Ther e are lots of idioms coming from the historical allusion. The structures o
34、f these idioms are very simple but they have profound meaning, so we cannot translate and understand these idioms from the literal meaning. The different historical backgrounds of the English and Chinese people have their different legends and anecdotes about historical figures which have provided r
35、ich and varied materials for their idioms, and consequently give a national color to the idioms in the two languages. It is necessary for us to learn and understand the English allusion as well as the Chinese allusion. It can enlarge our scope of knowledge, widen our field of vision and it is useful
36、 to learn about the origin and development of English and Chinese language and literature. 2.1. Historical eventsIn most, if not all, languages, people embellish their speech or writing with references to characters or events from their history, that is to say, idiomatic expressions are closely rela
37、ted to a countrys history. Take the aspect of language for example: there are a lot of idioms in the Chinese language which cannot find an equivalent in the English language because the history of the two countries are quite different. Many Chinese idioms are from their own historical events which a
38、re well-known by Chinese people. For instance, the following idioms are from historical events in Ancient China: 风声鹤唳,草木皆兵(be in an extremely nervous state in which one is frightened by the slightest sound) is from the defeat of Fu Jians(苻坚) army at Feishui River during the East Jin Dynasty; 卧薪尝胆(to
39、 sleep on brushwood and taste gall-to undergo self-imposed hardships so as to strengthen ones resolve to wipe out a national humiliation) comes from The Historical RecordsYues State Emperor Gou Jians Noble Family(史记越王勾践世家): “When Yues State Emperor Gou Jian returned to his state, he had much physica
40、l suffering and was mentally worried. He placed a bitter gall in front of his seat, and he had a look at it when he sat or slept and tasted it when he had meals. “; 沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌 concerns great beauties in ancient times. This idiom comes from Dai Shanfus Academician Tao Writes Good Landscape When Dr
41、unken(戴善夫陶学士醉写风光好): “To my mind, this woman is so beautiful that she will make the fish sink and the birds alight, or she will put the flowers to shame and outshine the moon. “;5P126,537,57 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 expresses the wisdom of the masses exceeds that of the wisest individual, for诸葛亮 is regarded as th
42、e master mind during the last years of the East-Han Dynasty.本England has a history of more than one thousand years and has much less important historical events than China. So the English language has much less idioms from historical events than the Chinese language, but there are still some, for ex
43、ample, “to meet ones Waterloo“(一败涂地) is from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, which means to be completely defeated; The idiom “Dunkirk evacuation“(敦刻尔克撤退)comes from the Second World War and originally meant the retreat of the English-French troops forced by the German. Now the expression
44、 means to retreat in disorder. “When Greek meet Greek, then comes the tug of war“ means “a fierce battle“. A story is told that, in 1936, Emilio Mola headed four columns to attack the capital-Madrid, before attacking, he delivered a speech t hat the four columns had surrounded Madrid, while the fift
45、h column was in the city. That is how the idiom “the fifth column“(第五纵队)came into being.6P209 Similar examples are “Columbuss egg“(哥伦布竖鸡蛋)(In the famous story of Columbuss egg, the explorer, irritated at being told that his exploits were easy, challenged the guests at a banquet to balance an egg on
46、its end. When all had failed, he succeeded by flattening one end by tapping it against the table, a trick that any would then have been able to repeat. Repetition is easier than innovation.)7 and “to eat crow“(吃下乌鸦) which means to be forced to change hat one has said; admit that one is wrong. “The o
47、rigin of to eat crow is that towards the end of the war 1812, a British officer encountered an American hunter near the British line, gained control of his musket and thereby forced him to eat the crow he had just shot. The American complied, but when his musket was returned, he forced the British o
48、fficer to do the same.8 Rome and Denmark once occupied England for a long time, so the conquest influenced the English to a certain extent: “six of one and half a dozen of the other“(半斤八两) comes from Denmark, whereas “return to ones muttons“(言归正传)and “do in Rome as the Romans do“(入乡随俗)are from Franc
49、e and Rome respectively. The history of mankind is almost the history of war, which is the source of numerous idioms, as is mirrored in the following English and Chinese idioms: “What millions died that Caesar might be great“(一将功成万骨枯)，“to steal a march on“(先发制人)，“to put up the sword“(讲和). The Chinese nation has a long history of war for more than two thousand years, and therefore the Chinese language is rich in such idioms, which often appear in the following historical books such as左传，史记，三国志，三国演义，水浒传. They are 兵不厌诈(The
