陈霭盈 英汉习语的比较

Comparison between English and Chinese Idioms 广州大学外国语学院2014级英语二专151班陈霭盈 s402100069指导老师：蒋金运Table of ContentsChapter one Introduction (4)Chapter TwoThe similarities between English and Chinese idioms (5)Chapter Three The difference between English and Chinese idioms (6)3.1 geographical environment (6)3.2 social customs and habits (8)3.3 religion culture (9)3.4 historical culture (11)3.5 sports (12)Chapter Four Mutual borrowing between English idioms and Chinese Idioms (13)Chapter Five Conclusion (14)Bibliography (14)英汉习语的比较摘要习语是最精练的承载文化信息，反映人类社会生活的语言符号，英汉习语的文化内涵极为丰富，但由于各民族文化差异的存在，导致英汉习语在许多方面存在着不对应现象。

需要通过对中英文化差异进行比较研究，学习英汉习语的文化内涵与差异，才能运用恰当的翻译方法理解两种语言。

往往同一个习语在不同的上下文中就必须用不同的翻译方法作灵活的处理。

这就要求研究者不断提高跨文化交际的敏感性，不但要有双语能力，而且还要有丰富的双文化乃至多文化的知识，从而得到处理习语翻译中文化差异的最佳方案，以适应在不同的文化环境中进行有效交际的需要。

关键词：文化内涵，翻译Chapter OneIntroductionChinese has a long history and abundant vocabularies,and idiom has a high frequency in common communication.According to the new edition of “Ocean of words”,the idiom is a kind of idiomatic phrase,of which is composed of four words the majority.Some can be understood from literally,such as “小题大做”,”后来居上”.Some should be known the source of the stories,such as”朝三暮四”，”杯弓蛇影”.Chinese idioms is base of four words,and many of them are syllable harmony,adaptation level and oblique tones.The four words structure is firm and seldom be displaced,such as “说三道四”can not be replaced with”说四道三”，”破釜沉舟” can not be replaced with”破舟沉斧”.English is the most widely used and has most number of vocabularies in the world. English idiom is an expression established in the usage of a Language that ispeculiar to itself either in grammatical construction or inhaving a meaning that cannot be described as a whole fromtheconjoined meanings of its elements.In addition,being similar with the Chinese idioms,the whole meaning of many English idioms can not reckoned from each composing word.Such as “do sb brown”,”fly of the handle”.Moreover,some English idioms can not be replaced optionally.For example,in the same boat.Boat can not be replaced with ship.In general,the structure of English idioms is not as fixed as Chineseidioms. However,the scope of application of English idioms is wider that Chinese idioms.Because the English idioms include some special usage of some words,such as the a large number of verbal idioms,nominal idioms,the prepositions of idioms and proverbs.This paper mainly study about the similarities between English and Chinese idioms,the difference between English and Chinese idioms and mutual borrowing between English idioms and Chinese Idioms.Chapter TwoThe similarities between English and Chinese idioms Human beings coexist in this material world and share the common culture. Cultural similarity is the overlap of Chinese and English idioms,for deriving from the same living environment and feelings.In this way,although Chinese and Western cultures have different cultural backgrounds,they still have amazing similarity.For example:趁热打铁to strike while the iron is hot如履薄冰to be on the thin ice晴天霹雳like a bole from the blue火上浇油to pour oil on t flame浑水摸鱼to fish in the troubled water如坐针毡to sit on pins and needles以眼还眼，以牙还牙an eye for an eye,an tooth for a toothFrom the examples being mentioned above,it obvious shows that in Chinese and English idioms,they have many similarity whatever expression or mode of thinking.Chapter ThreeThe difference between English and Chinese idioms3.1 geographical environmentRegional culture refers to the culture is formed by the living environment,and living conditions in different regions.Different languages,which are affected by different regional culture, have different mode of thinking and expressions, result in expressing the same meaning with different expressions.The production of idioms is related to the geographical environment of people's life. Britain is an island country surrounded by the sea.In the history,the navigation in Britain has been very developed,there have been many idioms related to navigation and water.Thus,the”sea of culture” in English idioms are reflected vividly.For example:to rest on one ’soars (暂时歇一歇)between the devil and deep sea(进退两难, devil为船板间的缝隙)all at sea (不知所措)cast an anchor to windward (未雨绸缪)to keep one’s head above Water(奋力图存)To express wasting money, In English is “speed the money like water”,and in Chinese is “挥金如土”.China is a great agricultural country since ancient times,so people’s work and life is closely related to the land.As a result,Chinese idiom metaphor is about the land.In Chinese,the meanings of land for people is about homeland and the nostalgic emotion.Such as “土生土长”、”皇天后土”、”怀土之情”.In addition,different climate also contribute in different understanding.China, is in Asia and Europe, east to the Pacific Ocean,which belongs to temperate continental climate.And Britain,is located in the Western Hemisphere, north temperate,which belongs to temperate marine climate.In Chinese culture,the “east wind”means spring,indicate the green spring garden.Summer is always associated with hot.”赤日炎炎似火烧”,”骄阳似火”,is the description of summer.And the “westerly” is a metaphor for the declining power or desolation and depression.Such as”西风残照”,”喝西北风”.On the contrary,Summer in Britain is a warm and pleasant season,often associated with “lovely”,”gentle”,”beautiful”. Shakespeare compares spouse with summer.”Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Thouart more lovely and more temperate.”And warm westerly is symbol of hope and spring.The British romantic poet Shelley’s poem-Ode to the West Wind,sings the praises of westerly,which is metaphor of revolution storm coming and the indication of hope and bright.3.2 social customs and habitsCustoms and habits is a social phenomenon, including social etiquette, habits, lifestyle, marriage traditions, beliefs, superstition and so on.Different countries have obvious cultural differences in metaphor and aesthetic standards.Therefore,the individual's understanding will be affected by the lack of cross cultural knowledge.For instance,there are many difference in the use of animal metaphors,which is the most typical of people’s attitude towards dogs.In western culture,dogs are regarded as the most loyal friends,often associated with "friends, reliable, loyal, brave" and other beautiful words together.In the concept of the west, the dog is a kind of cute animal, the British and American people are particularly fond of. In English idioms, it is often with a dog's lovely imagination to compare people's behavior.Therefore, English idioms are not derogatory about dogs.For example,a child who grew up in Britain cultural environment,when he learns about ”dog”,he will know the connotation”The dog is man’s best friend.”So,in English,it has an idiom ”love me love my dog””,lucky dog”.But a child who grew up in China,will be taught that dog is dirty and danger.Thus,in Chinese,it has many idioms about dogs,such as “狗眼看人低”(be damned snobbish),”狗仗人势”(be a bully under the protection of a powerful person) and so on.On the contrary,Chinese people have a favorable attitude toward cat,suchas”她可爱的像一只小猫咪”.But in western culture,”cat” is often used as a metaphor of an "insidious evil woman",such as see which way the cat jumps(见风使舵).The huge difference in the custom will cause great difficulties in the translation of English and Chinese idioms.If the translator translates “痛打落水狗”as “beat a dog in the water”without the context of interpretation,which is not only convey the Chinese intention,but also cause misunderstanding and resentment in the English reader.3.3 religion cultureWhen it comes to religious culture, the French religious and social school representative Toure Cam holds the opinion that all religious phenomenon can be summed up in two basic categories-beliefs and rituals.Because the two cultures also reflect different historical and cultural and religious ideas, the different religious beliefs of different ethnic groups will also be evident in their idioms.Religion has a great influence on the historical development,so some idioms will have deep religious color.China has greatly affected by Buddhism and Taoism. Britain has deeply influenced by the culture of Greece,Rome and Christianity.And Differences in religious beliefs also have a clear reflection on idioms.For example:In Chinese, many idioms come from “Budd hist sutras”.E.g.1: 苦海无边，回头是岸The bitter sea has no bounds,repent and the shore is at hand. E.g.2: 脱胎换骨Cast off one’s old self.E.g.3: 苦中作乐Enjoying life though hard up.E.g.4: 天网恢恢, 疏而不漏Heaven's vengeance is slow but sure.In western culture,the majority of western people believe in Christianity.As a Christian classic, "the Bible" is their compulsory reading.So the story, fable, and the method of analogy in “the Bible” is easy to accept.And in British literature,people and thought are always cited by artist.Proverbs and idioms which are produced by “the Bible”become daily words.For example:E.g.1: Now you can meet Samaritans again,here,there and everywhere. “Samaritans”is a person in “the Bible”.He is a kindhearted and helpful man.So,this sentence can be translated to:现在你又可以处处见到乐于助人的人了。