Different meaning of colours in East and West
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Abstract: There are a lot of words using to discribe colour in both English and Chine language. It is the color words make the language expression more vivid and full of variety. Although the colour words are approximately same in there conceptual meaning, there are different cultural connotation of the same colour word of the two language .This article points out the different cultural connotation of colour words which borns in different culture environment through the analysis of rveral common colour words in Chine and English language and expound the reason of that. In order to improve communicative ability and avoid culture conflict.
Key Words语文书七年级上册: Colour Words ,Culture Communication, English and Chine Language.
The so-called color words is the words which express a kind of colour. As colour is a kind of visual effect, humans which have the same physiology mechanism and same optic nerve st
ructure should have the same perception on colour at root .However , the difference on living environment ,psychological factors ,religious belief ,thinking method and cultural background will give the colour words different pragmatic meaning .So that the English and Chine nationality have the different associative meaning on the same colour ,some of which are even on the contrary .
Comparison of connotation on colour words:
1.Red
Red is the most spitadvocated colour in Chine culture .It is the colour of sun. The sun brings warm and bright sunshine to all things on the earth and let them grows up. In chine culture ,red is the symbol of happiness and fortune. Along to the Chine language, posperous is called“红火”, good luck is called “红运” ,being popular is called “走红”, a beautiful woman is called “红颜”,”红袖” . Red is also the symbol of revalotion in the modern history of China. The early army of the Communist Party is called “The Red Army (红军)”. And a man is both socialist-minded and professionally competent is called “
又红又专” . In addition ,red can also stand for Envious and jealous, for instance “眼红” .
But in western culture ,red is the colour of blood .Once somebody lo too much blood ,he will facing death, so that in most cas ,red has the derogatory nce .As the example : “in the red” means loss; 老年人脚水肿怎么消除“red alert” means emergency alert; ”redtape” means gobbledygook ;and “red battle” means bloody battle .In a few cas, red also have the meaning of joyous, such as “red letter day” which has the same meaning to the word “anniversary” .
2.Yellow
Yellow is the colour of the emperor in ancient China .It is the symbol of nobility lofty and power .For instance “the Yellow Emperor” ,”Yellow Robe” ,”黄道吉日” means a lucky day .However, yellow also means obscene and degenerative things in modern Chine culture ,such as “黄色电影红岩的作者是谁”, “扫黄”, and so on .But the meaning don’t exist in English. In western culture ,yellow is the colour of clothes which Judas ,who betrays the Jesus, wears ,so that yellow is the symbol of contemptibility and timidity . For example: “yellow d
og” stands for mean person ;“yellow streak” means timidity .Yellow is also a particular colour in some cas ,such as “yellow pages” ,”yellow boy” ,责字开头的成语”yellow alert” and so on .
3.White
In the traditional Chine culture ,white is a basic taboo ,it is the symbol of death ,for example “白” in “红白喜事” means beravement. White also stands for Decayed, reactionary and lag behind such as “白色恐怖” .Then white means failure and stupid becau the ones who lo the war would rai a white flag. White also reprents sciolist, civilians is called “白丁” in the accient China. Finally, in the moderm Chine culture, white also have commendatory meaning ,for instance “白领” ,”白衣天使想开一家面馆” and so on .
The reason for the different meaning of colour words between English and Chine culture:
Physiologically speaking, people should have the same perception of colours, but the diff
erence on environment ,histroy and thinking method make us giving the same colour different meanings .
1.Differences on living environment:
China is originated in the Yellow River basin of agricultural civilization, which made the Chine advocated the yellow ,the colour of earth and the colour of the rice. What’s more, as the sun shine is the source of an agricultural nation ,the colour of the sun ,red ,is given the meaning of joyous and happiness. But the western culture borns in the Aegean a and the people would be happy to e the blue sky and white cloud .
2.Different in history:
In Chine history, yellow was the colour which ud by the emperor and royal members, it is the symbol of nobility ,while in the western countries this colour is not yellow but purpure becau in accient tho archon often wear in purpure .
3.淳亲王府Differences on thinking method:
Chine often associate the things to tho ems like. But westerners often u abstract thinking. 苹果手机真假For example: red is the colour of fire and Chine give it the meaning of thriving, like the fire ri, while westerners associated red with fire disaster and danger .
In a word ,the difference in meaning of colour shows the different culture psychology and appreciation of the beauty. And only when we understrand the difference can we communicate with a foreigner without a hitch.
Reference:
[1] [2] Youdao dictionary
