中英颜色词的文化差异与翻译(英文翻译版)

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

中英颜色词的文化差异与翻译(英文翻译版)

”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， red 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