A contrastive study of color words in Chinese and English 英语论文

A contrastive study of color words in Chinese and English 英语论文 A contrastive study of color words in Chinese and English Abstract: There are different kinds of colors. Color is closely related to people’s life. In human language, the color words are frequently used, and endowed with plentiful emotion and cultural connotation. In both Chinese and English, the words of different colors are abundant. We should pay attention to not only their own basic meaning but also their deeper symbolic meaning. Due to the respective cultural background and tradition, people's feeling and expression to the color are not the same, so the symbolic meaning of color can produce great difference between Chinese and Western culture. This paper is to make a contrastive study of some major difference in color words. Key words: color words , culture , western , Chinese 摘要:在我们生活中有许多种颜色。颜色与人们的生活紧紧联系在一起。在人类语言里颜色 词经常用到，并且被赋予不同的情感和文化象征。在中文和英文中不同的颜色词很丰富。我 们不仅要注意他们的基本含义还要注意他们深层含义。由于各自的文化背景和传统，人们对 颜色的感觉是不相同的，所以颜色词的象征意义可以产生中国与西方文化的巨大差异。这篇 论文对比研究颜色词的主要差异。 关键词:颜色词 , 文化 , 西方 , 中国 1 The definition of color From the scientific definition, color is a visual phenomenon launched, reflected or caused through certain light wave by the object; it is one kind of visual essential features of human eye. 2 Basic color words in the Chinese and English culture Color words in each nation’s language differ from one anther in the world. On the basic color words, there is not so much difference in English and in Chinese. In Chinese, there are 赤、橙、 黄、绿、青、蓝、紫，while in English there are red, white, black, green, yellow, blue and purple. Owing to the different historic cultural background of the two cultures, the same color words have different symbolic meanings. 2.1Red Red in the Chinese culture is a basic esteem color. In the Chinese's mind, it signifies excitement and succeeding, lucky, loyal and flourishing. In Chinese traditional wedding, people put up the character 喜, the bride is dressed in red, the bridegroom wears a red flower on his breast. On happy days, people decorate their houses with red lanterns and doublets. 红火 means prosperous, 红尘 means the world of mortal, 红包 is a red envelop containing money as a gift, tip or bonus. We say someone 走红 when he has his good lot, and 红人 means the one who is trusted unduly by his superiors. In Chinese, red has the most pronounced political color, and is frequently used to stand for revolution and progress. The first regime of the Communist Party is 红色政权, and the first armed forces is 红军.And 红卫兵 the red guard, 红色根据地 the red base area. Besides, 红烛 the red candle stands for dedication. Red also means beautiful and pretty. A lady’s splendid dress is called 红妆 , a beautiful young woman is 红袖 or 红颜. Red in the western culture mainly refers to color of blood, and in minds of the westerner, blood is the “liquid of the life”. So the westerners always associate red with the violence and dangerous, for example red hands, red revenge, and a red battle. It also stands for radical and violent, such as r ed revolution, red activities, red-headed; like a red rag to a bull means likely to cause strong violence. It also stands for dangerous and tense, such as red alert, a red flag. Red in the west also has commendatory meaning, which is joyous, such as paint the town red means "go out and enjoy a lively, boisterous time in bars or night-clubs", a red-letter day means “a day that is important or remarkable because something happen on it”, and the red carpet is specially good or respectful treatment that is given to an important guest. In accordance with some textual research, the commendatory meanings are from the Far East. 2.2 White White, opposite to red, is a basic taboo color in Chinese traditional culture. It is the expression of exhausted and non-blooded, non-life, and stands for death and ill omen. For example, when one died his family members must dress in white, and hold a funeral and this is called 白事. In Chinese feudal society, the common people were forbidden to dress in any other colors except white, so they were called 白衣 or 布衣. The persons with no position are 白丁 or 白身? (p22), their houses are 白屋. White in the western culture is usually an esteem color. White is considered pure. White is the traditional color for the brides at weddings, and to wear white at funerals would be offensive. As white is the color of the snow, so there is a white Christmas and a white winter. Lily white means as white and pure as lily. White stands for honest and upright, such as a white spirit, white man, and white hand. White also stands for lucky, such as one of the white days in somebody’s life, white magic, and white hope is a person who is expected to bring success to a team. White stands for legal and non-malice, such as white market, white list. Besides, white also has derogatory meanings; show the white feather means act in a cowardly way, the same as white lipped, a face white with fear, as white as a sheet. White flag symbolizes giving up on something. 2.3Black In Chinese traditional culture, black and white both belong to the Five Colors. In Chinese funeral, people usually wear a black armband to show their mourns to the death relative. On one hand, black stands for solemn and just, such as Baozheng ; On the other hand, it stands for evil and reactionary, like 黑心肠 , 黑幕,黑帮,黑手. Black also stands for illegal and commit such as走 黑道,黑店 is the hotel the does illegal deals,背黑锅 means be treated unjustly. Besides, black means misfortune, such as 黑材料，黑五类，黑夫妻，黑后台 and so on. In the west, black is a taboo color, which stands for darkness. It means death and sinister, such as Black Mass, to wear black for her mother, black words, a black letter day, Black Friday. Black symbolizes wicked and guilty, for example, black man, a black deed, black guard, Black-hand, black-hearted. And it means disgrace, such as a black mark; a black eye ,A black sheep. And black means dejected and resent: black dog, black future, a black look, and black thoughts. Althoughblack means dead and evil, it also stands for solemn and dignified. Black suit is the westerner’s favorite traditional dress. In solemn occasions, the officials and celebrities would prefer to dress in black. 2.4Yellow In Chinese traditional culture, yellow is located in the center of the Five Colors. So far, yellow is still the symbol of old China.黄袍 is the emperor’s dress,黄屋 is his carriage,黄钺is his guard of honor, 黄榜 is the proclamation published by him. And 黄道吉日 means an auspicious day.However, yellow in modern China has negative meanings, such as 黄色书刊，黄色录象.Here yellow has an extended meaning of obscene and pornographic, while in English are “the blue video”, “the blue talk”. Yellow in the west mostly has derogatory meanings. Here are some examples: yellow alert: alert in advance a yellow dog: a contemptible person yellow looks: suspicious looks yellow streak: tending to be coward and chicken-hearted In English, yellow has some particular meanings in certain texts that have no relationship with sentiment. For example, the yellow pages is the telephone dictionary, yellow boy is the golden coins. 2.5Green In the Chinese traditional culture, Green ranks the first in the Five Colors, signifying everything grows. In the feudal society, the dress of the government official on a lower level was regularized to be green, so it also symbolizes humble. 青衫绿袍 is a symbol of low position in the official caree. In English there is a term green-eyed or green with envy, both of them mean jealous and envious. However in Chinese眼红describes the same meaning. In Chinese 带绿帽子means to be a cuckold. If we translate it word by word, misunderstanding will arise. No matter in English or Chinese, this symbolic meaning of green is all identical. Green in the western culture is mainly related to the color of the plants, it is the symbol of vigor and energy, for example, a green old age is associated with an old but vigorous man or woman. And to remain green forever means to keep fresh and vigorous forever, and also in the green; green also means fresh, such as keep a memory green, a green wound, green meat; and it means immature, inexperienced and easily fooled, such as a green hand, a green horn refers to a raw, simple and inexperienced person, easily fooled or parted from his money. In some certain phrases, green has different meanings. For example, green-light means give permission to go ahead with. 2.6Purple In China, purple is more often adopted by the feudal emperors and the Taoism. They called the auspicious air 紫气, the Taoist books are 紫书, the place which the deity living in is 紫台, the emperors’ palace is 紫禁城(the Forbidden City). In English, purple shares the same connotation as in Chinese language. In the eye of Westerners, purple is the symbol of emperor and power. “to be born in the purple” means “to be born in a royal family”; “to be raised to the purple” means “to be promot ed to the position as a pope”; “purple passages” means “too florid words”, etc. In Chinese, 红得发紫means popular. Here is more: marry into the purple: marry into a family of high social position purple patches:pompous passages turn purple with rage: fly into a fury Purple Heart: an insignia awarded to those wounded in the battle 2.7 Blue It seems that blue is a favorable word to Chinese.The blue sky, can arouse us to yearn for a better future. In Western culture, however, blue does not associate with happiness and imagination, but gloom and depression. He is in a blue mood means he is sad or gloomy. Blue is also often associated with high social status or being aristocratic. He is a real blue blood means he is from an aristocratic family. In addition, in U.S., a book with the names of famous figures, especially top government officials, is called blue book. Blue film means erotic film while in Chinese we call it 黄色电影。Here are more examples: blue about the gills: in depression blue devils: depression and gloom once in a blue moon: not very often at all. blue in the face: look pasty blue murder: horrible screaming and shouts sing the blues: in low spirits; very depressed out of the blue: happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected 3Conclusion A language can reflect the development of a nation’s history and culture. The symbolic meanings of color words have great distinction in different cultures. They are shaped in the long-term development of the society. The colors bring us a wonderful and splendid world, and color words make it easier to express our thought, make our expression more apt and vivid. Correctly understanding colors and their deeper symbolic meaning will be a great help for people in different cultures to communicate. References: [1] 《英汉语言文化对比研究》 李瑞华主编 上海外语教育出版社 1997.3 [2] Gu Jiazu , Lu Sheng, Language and culture ,Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1990.6. [3]Chinese and English Dictionary, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,1992.2. [4]Advanced Learner’s English Chinese Dictionary，Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2004.5. A Contrastive Study on Color between Chinese Culture and Western Culture [Abstract] Both Chinese and English are rich in words which are used to express different kinds of color. They not only have their own original meanings, but also have the wide-ranging symbolic meanings. Besides, the symbolic meanings are not the same in different culture, but have their own characteristics. So some colors become adorable to people, but some become taboos. This paper centers on the different symbolic meanings of colors and different usage of colors between Chinese culture and western culture. Seen from this angle of comparison between Chinese culture and western culture, this essay tries to analyze and explore the effect of cultural development on the symbolic meanings of colors. [Key Words] comparison; color words; culture; connotation Contents 1.Introduction………………………………………………………………………………3 2. The necessity and importance of learning the symbolic meanings on color words in Chinese culture and western culture……………………………………………………...3 3. The concrete types and application of color …………………………………………..5 3.1 The symbolic meanings of color red in Chinese culture and western culture……………5 3.2The symbolic meanings of color white in Chinese culture and western culture ………….8 3.3 The symbolic meanings of color black in Chinese culture and western culture…………10 3.4 Other types of color……………………………………………………………………...12 3.4.1Yellow…………………………………………………………………………………...123.4. 2 Green…………………………………………………………………………………..13 3.4.3 Blue…………………………………………………………………………………….13 4. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….14 致谢语„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„.14 引用文献„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„.15 中文摘要„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„.16 1. Introduction The words of color reveal their own charm in the languages of humanity. Both Chinese and English are rich in words which are used to express different kinds of color. So we should pay much attention to these words. They not only have their own basic meanings, but also have the wide-ranging symbolic meanings. The differences of symbolic meanings are caused by different historical setting, customs, aesthetic attitudes and so on. They are a durable cultural phenomenon throughout the development of human society. The symbolic meanings have its own characteristics, and they are not the same in different cultures. The culture of colors is very important in our life. Because of this, some colors become adorable to people, but some become taboos. As we all know, China is quite far away from most of the English-speaking countries, and there are marked differences between our country and those English-speaking countries owing to the physical boundaries of oceans and mountains, natural phenomenon, historical setting, aesthetic attitudes, social cultural backgrounds and so on. So people’s feeling of color and their ways of expressing them are not almost the same. Thus the symbolic meanings of color between Chinese culture and western culture will be quite different from each other. This paper focuses on the words of color and the symbolic meanings of these words between Chinese culture and western culture, it also shows us the comparison between them. We can know that the use of color terms varies from language to language, from culture to culture. 2. The necessity and importance of learning the symbolic meanings on color words in Chinese culture and western culture. Although we may not realize it, when we converse with others, we communicate by a lot of expressions connecting with color words or phrases such as “a white day”, “blue Monday”, “black market” and so on. Thus the “color language” becomes a part of both Chinese and western culture. So in order to communicate effectively in an English-speaking country, one should know about the symbolic meanings of the color words which are also an important media through which people communicate with each other. In both Chinese and western culture, color words are abundant in cultural connotations. Owing to the differences of geographical environments and customs, color words or phrases have different cultural backgrounds in Chinese and English languages. In cross culture communication, color words more or less have the same or different features. Through learning the symbolic meanings on color words in Chinese culture and western culture, we can also know better about the skills used in translating the color words in both cultures. A particular color term may be associated with different things and emotions in different language communities. Besides, in the long course of human history, colors keep a close relationship with us human beings and have a deep effect on human living and growth. This relationship brings people all kinds of complicated emotions such as love, sympathy, disgust and fear. The American scholar Rudolf Arnheim pointed out in his essay <>(色彩论)that “color is powerful in expressing people’s emotion.”(1980:56). So it is much necessary for us to learn the symbolic meanings of color words carefully. Color is considered to be one of the most useful and powerful design tools you have. People respond to different colors in different ways, and these responses take place on a subconscious emotional level. Color as a result of seeing is supposed to be felt the same to people all over the world .However, due to different language habits ,historic background, traditional customs and so on, there are many differences in the use of color words such as" white, yellow and black" as well as in the understanding and mastering of the same color between English and Chinese .Therefore, it is practically important to know and study the differences, thus promoting the cultural communication and translation practice.