英汉颜色词的文化内涵对比与翻译（修改页码）(2)

A Contrastive Study of Color Words in Chinese and English and Their Translation

Outline

Thesis Statement: Recent studies of contrast and analysis of Chinese and western culture in the symbolic meaning of color words that we in the practical life better appropriate and application of words of color in Chinese and western culture. 1. Introduction

2. Color Words in Chinese and English 2.1 Black 2.2 White 2.3 Red 2.4 Green 2.5 Yellow 2.6 Blue

3. The Translation of Color Words

3.1 Literal Translation 3.2 Free Translation 4. Conclusion

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A Contrastive Study of Color Words in Chinese and English and Their Translation

Table of Contents

1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………1 2. Color Words in Chinese and English……......……………………………………….1 2.1 Black.........................................................................................…………………1 2.2 White………………………………………........................................................2

2.3 Red………………………………………. .............................................……….2 2.4 Green....................................................................................................................3 2.5 Yellow...................................................................................................................4 2.6 Blue.......................................................................................................................4 3. The Translation of Color Words……...………………………………………..….…5

3.1 Literal Translation………….........……………………………………………...5 3.2 Free Translation…………………………………………................……………5 4. Conclusion...................................................................................................................6 Notes ………………..………………………………….…………………………....7 Bibliography ……………………………..…………….………………………….....7

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A Contrastive Study of Color Words in Chinese and English and Their Translation

I. Introduction

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.1 In my opinion, color words are used to describe colors of things and they have traits of national culture. Since different country have different customs, culture background and religions, the same color may have different meanings. As a result, it is important for the translators to consider about the exactly definition of the color words. In this way, translations will be clearer and true. 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. The following will list the same and the differences between Chinese and English in the same color word.

II. Color Words in Chinese and English

Here I will site six color words –black, white, red, green, yellow and blue, to show the same and the difference between Chinese and English culture.

2. 1 Black

\is the very darkest color, like night or coal. It also means \light; completely dark\

In Chinese, the \黑\is always together with \reactionary and evil, misfortune, illegal and covered\黑市, 黑帮, 黑心肠, 黑社会, 黑客\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黑幕, 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 English, \depressing\2 For example, \\sheep\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. Although black means dead and evil, it also stands for solemn and dignified. Black suit is the westerner’s favorite traditional dress. In solemn

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A Contrastive Study of Color Words in Chinese and English and Their Translation

occasions, the officials and celebrities would prefer to dress in black. There is no greatly discrimination by using \

2. 2 White

In Chinese , \白\洁白无暇\雪白\清白无辜\白\ \died his family members must dress in white, and hold a funeral and this is called 白事. \白\白拿\白给\白\白费力气\and \白白浪费一天的时间\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, their houses are 白屋.

In English, \like \（白衬衫）, \ (一口洁白无瑕的牙齿). \（吉日）, \（一个做好事的巫师）, \（善意的谎言）. Sometimes, \as a sheet\（苍白如纸）, \（懦弱胆小的）for example. 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.

2.3 Red

In Chinese, \红\红榜\红红火火\红灯笼\走红运\and \红\分红\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.

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A Contrastive Study of Color Words in Chinese and English and Their Translation

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.

In English, \red letter day\（是一个喜庆的日子）, \（表示红地毯并可引申为隆重欢迎的意思）. But \（血战）, \（紧急警报）,\（火灾）, \（血淋淋的）, \（负债累累）. In these words, \

Red in the western culture mainly refers to color of blood, and in minds of the westerner, blood is the \violence and dangerous, for example red hands, red revenge, and a red battle. It also stands for radical and violent, such as red 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 \bars or night-clubs\something happen on it\is given to an important guest. In accordance with some textual research, the commendatory meanings are from the Far East.

2.4 Green

\reen\

or \For example, \with new growth.\雨天过后，大地一片新绿)

In Chinese, \绿\stand for \it often appear with \hills and clear waters\Chinese use \绿\青山绿水\绿叶成阴\绿茸茸\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\symbol of low position in the official career.

In English, \stand for \vigor\Like \be in the green of one's years\某人正风华正茂), \老当益壮) . At the same time, \means \greenhorn--a person who is not experienced. \\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

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