中英颜色词的文化差异与翻译(英文翻译版).doc

The cultural differences of color words between English and ChineseTranslationAbstract: 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; idiomColor 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.REDWhether 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 language1) 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- makerMatchmaker Yuan drama the West Chamber heroine. Yingyings 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 beautyBoth the beauty, corresponding to the English red cant, 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 emperorsThe Ming Dynasty eunuch Liu Jin dictatorship, the memorial has two copies, a name for the emperors 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 societyBuddhism, Taoism and other known world to red, so in the translation should be the translation of the true meaning of.7) 红豆love peaWang 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 fieldIn 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 known as the unnecessary and overelaborate formalities; hauling cumbersome procedures and time-consuming. For example: He gets things done by cutting through the bureaucraticred 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Red 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 with 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 that 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 language1) 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, corresponding 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 love 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nurseAngel in white is the nurse of the name, doctor is on the doctors name, so the translation of nurse and doctor on the line.2. And white the relevant vocabulary, idioms and their translation in English1) 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 Dont 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; honesty.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 prop