A comparative study of the differences between Chinese and English idioms 英语毕业论文.doc

A comparative study of the differences between Chinese and English idioms Abstract This paper first point out the backgrounds and the definition and characteristics of idioms,include the definition of idioms and common characteristics of idioms. Then expatiates their completely different idioms using habits and what and how to made it thay way,this paper compares the different idioms between English and Chinese toward four ways: geographical contidions, religious beliefs, legends and fables., histories and cultures. Finally, it concluded that translating idioms is a tough and fascinating job. The methods proposed in this essay cannot be naturally counted as perfect, and they are likely to leave much to be desired. The essay is written only in the hope that it will be of some help to the translation of Chinese and English idioms and a better fulfillment of a translators duty as ambassador of cultural exchange. Key words: idioms, legend,religious beliefs,different, Chinese and English idioms Content Abstract.2 Content3 、Introduction 4 、Definition and characteristics of idioms.4 （一）Definition of idioms 4 （二）common characteristics of idioms.5 、Cultural differences between Chinese and English idioms 7 （一）geographical conditions .8 （二）religious beliefs .9 （三）legends and fables .9 （四）Histories and cultures 10 IV、Conclusion 11 V、References .12 A Comparative Study of the Differences Between Chinese And English Idioms 、Introduction Every language contains a large amount of idioms, which consist of the essence of a language. People create them in daily lives and work during hundreds of years. Chinese and English are both languages with a long history and they have developed the abundance and variety of idioms, which make themselves more vivid, more succinct, and more profound. Idioms not only derive from cultures, but also reflect distinguishable cultural features. The reason why people like using idioms in their language so much can be summarized as some aspects. Firstly, idioms are generally short and fixed, while their meanings are profound. So they are easily used and remembered. Secondly, people sometimes use idioms, instead of using a sentence or a paragraph, to achieve some rhetorical effects. Idioms play such an indispensable role in peoples daily lives that the translation of idioms is of special importance. To discuss the translation methods in respect of cultural features will be the main task of the following chapters.1 、Definition and characteristics of idioms （一）Definition of idioms In almost all cases, Chinese idioms are referred to as “chengyu”. People may think that the English word “idiom” is equivalent to “chengyu” in Chinese because “idiom” is customarily translated into “chengyu”. In fact, no exact equivalence can be established between the English “idiom” and the Chinese “chengyu”. Here, it is significant and necessary for us to find a satisfactory definition for each before any attempt should be made to compare the two. Some authoritative dictionaries give the definitions of the word “idiom” as follows: 1succession of words whose meanings must be learnt as a whole 2a group of words in a fixed order having a particular meaning, different from the meanings of each word understood on its own 3a phrase which means something different from the meanings of the separate 1 英语的习语.载上海外国语学院外国语. 1979 年第 4 期 p.1. words from which it is formed 4a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words From the definitions mentioned above, we know that the word “idiom” mainly refers to “a set phrase” which should be understood as a whole. While the Chinese “chengyu” can be defined broadly or narrowly, what will be discussed here are the definitions of idioms in the broad sense. To conclude the definition of Chinese “chengyu”, some references provide great help. Cihai(辞海) defines “chengyu” as “a kind of shuyu (熟语) ，set phrases or word groups that are of customary usage”.( Xia, 1999: 4699) Ciyuan( 辞源) puts “chengyu” as “an old saying of common usage and those phrases or clauses which are set in form to express a complete idea.”(Cai *牵肠又挂肚) B. Deleting a word from it (e.g. *armed to the teeth; *惊弓鸟) C. Replacing a word with another (e.g. *kick a bucket; *木已成船) D. Changing its grammatical structure 2林承璋英语词汇学引论 武汉大学出版社，2005 年 2 月版 (e.g.*the roof is hit; *拔剑张弩 ) As is shown in the above examples, there are strict constraints on variation of an idiom in normal circumstances. 2Figures of speech in idioms Vividness and profundity of idioms are partially due to their figures of speech, which enhance the impact and appeal in terms of form and meanings. Generally, the most common figures of speech applied in idioms include simile, metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche and repetition, which help to convey their meanings and to achieve certain rhetorical effects. Simile： Simile is the direct comparison, in which subject, reference and indicator are all present. For example: as clear as crystal as pale as ashes as blind as a bat eat like a bird drop like a hot potato sell like hot cake 情深似海 (love as deep as the sea)2 如花似玉 (as pretty as flowers and jade) 光阴似箭 (time flies like an arrow) 如雷贯耳 (reverberate like thunder) 如出一辙 (be exactly the same as) It is clear that the English comparison is indicated in most cases by such words as “like”, “as”, while the Chinese, by words like “如”,“似”, etc. 3 Metaphor ： Metaphor is also a comparison, but the comparison is implied, not expressed with the word “as”, “like”, “如” or “似”,etc. For example: a wet blanket to make a splash to blow ones own trumpet to lead a cat-and-dog life 花容月貌 (fair as a flower and beautiful as the moon) 虎头蛇尾 (to begin well but fall off towards the end) 镜花水月 (flowers in a mirror and the moons reflection in water- insubstantial objects) 3 平洪， 张国扬. 英语习语与英美文化M. 北京： 外语教学与研究出版社, 1999 P24-25 掌上明珠 (a pearl in the palm-a beloved daughter) 草木皆兵 (the grass and trees are thought to be enemy soldiers-imaginary fears) Metonymy： It is substituting the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated. For example: behind bars (in prison-bars stand for the bars around the prison cell) make up a purse (collect money-purse stands for money) go under the hammer (goods are sold in a auction market-hammer refers to the auction) marry money (marry a wealthy person- money is the symbol of a rich man) 巾帼英雄 (heroine; 巾帼 originally means womans headdress in ancient China and later it comes to stand for a woman) 青梅竹马 (green plum and a bamboo horse-a friendship formed in childhood) 投笔从戎 (cast aside the pen and join the army-give up intellectual pursuits for a military career) Synecdoche： When a part is substituted for the whole or the whole for a part, synecdoche is applied. For example: earn ones bread (bread stands for all the daily necessities) two heads are better than one (head stands for a man) 情人眼里出西施 (Beauty lies in lovers eyes) 之乎者也 (pedantic terms) Repetition： Repetition, meaning that the same word appears repeatedly in an idiom, is used to achieve special effects. For example: measure for measure dog eat dog to call a spade a spade diamond cut diamond 三三两两 寥寥无几 碌碌无为 含情脉脉 、Cultural differences between Chinese and English idioms Culture has influenced idioms so greatly throughout history that we can even say that culture is the cradle of idioms. In this cradle, idioms have been created, refined and developed. Idioms naturally reflect cultural features. By comparing the idioms, we can have a general idea about cultural differences between Chinese and English idioms. （一）geographical conditions Great Britain is a kingdom of islands. The English people are relatively familiar to sailing so that there are a large number of idioms about sea, ship or sailing. For example: all at sea (uncertain; vague) all hands to the pump (everyone must make a special effort) between the devil and deep sea (in a hazardous or precarious position) a drop in the ocean (a very small amount, esp. when compared with the larger amount that remains or is needed) when ones ship comes home (when one suddenly become very rich or successful) ships that pass in the night (people who meet by chance and who are unlikely to meet again) While the Chinese civilization has been built on agriculture, there are an amazing number of farming idioms. For example: 枯木逢春 (spring comes to the withered tree-to get a new lease of life) 顺藤摸瓜 (follow the vine to get the melon) 斩草除根 (to cut down the grass and pull up the roots-to destroy something root and all) 瑞雪兆丰年 (a timely snow promises a good harvest) 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 ( as you sow, so will you reap) The Chinese often use the idiom 雨后春笋(to prosper like bamboo shoots after a spring rain) to describe a rapid development and a large production. The English counterpart is “like mushroom”.4 Since not so much bamboo is grown in England, and even the word “bamboo” is of foreign origin, it is impossible for the English people to use the image of bamboo commonly in their idioms. On the contrary, Chinese people have been so familiar with bamboo and our lives had depended on it so much in the past. People ate bamboo shoots, read books inscribed on bamboo strips, 4 Fernando Chitra, Idioms and Idiomaticity. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2000. wore a bamboo hat, traveled in a bamboo raft, and lived in a bamboo house and so on. Because of the close connection with bamboo, Chinese people have created many idioms around it. For example: 胸有成竹 (having a ready-formed plan) 势如破竹 (like splitting bamboo-having the irresistible force) 罄竹难书 (ones misdeeds are too numerous to record) 竹马之交 (friends from childhood days) （二）religious beliefs Religion plays a great part in the development of history. English people mostly profess Christianity and they value the God as the supreme sage.5 Some idioms include the image of the God. For example: for Gods sake (to express irritation) honest to God (truthfully) in the lap of the gods (beyond human control) Gods gift to somebody (something seems specially created to be useful) There are also many idioms from the Bible, the sacred writings of Christianity. For instance: fly in the ointment (the Old Testament -Ecclesiastes) handwriting on the wall (the Old Testament -Daniel) make bricks without straw (the Old Testament- Exodus) heap coals of fire on someones head (the Old Testament -Proverbs ) hide ones light under a bushel (the New testament-Matthew). Chinese people are chiefly influenced by Buddhism and Taoism. Buddhism was introduced into China towards the end of the Western Han Dynasty. Subsequently, some idioms related to Buddhism emerged. For example: 借花献佛 ( present Buddha with flowers given by another) 回头是岸 (turn the head and the shore is at hand-to repent and be saved) 大慈大悲 (infinitely compassionate and merciful) 不二法门 (the only proper course to take) 平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚 (never burn incense when all is well but clasp Buddhas feet when in distress-do nothing until the last minute) Some idioms also came directly or indirectly from Taoism. Here are some examples: 脱胎换骨 (be reborn; thoroughly remold oneself) 回光返照 (the last radiance of the setting sun-momentary recovery of consciousness just before death) 5 郭建忠. 当代美国翻译理论. 武汉： 湖北教育出版社, 1999. 59-82. 灵丹妙药 (a miraculous cure) 道高一尺,魔高一丈 (as virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten) （三）legends and fables English and Chinese differ widely in their historical backgrounds, each having its own legends and fables on which many idioms have been based. For instance: 守株待兔 (stand by a stump waiting for more hares to come and dash themselves against the stump-trust to chance and windfalls) 愚公移山 (the Foolish Old Man removed the mountains-with dogged perseverance) 老马识途 (an old horse knows the way-an experienced person knows the ropes) 毛遂自荐 (Mao Sui recommend himself-to recommend oneself to a post without others introduction) 精卫填海 (the mythical bird jingwei trying to fill up the sea with pebbles- dogged determination to achieve ones purpose) The English language also has idioms endowed with distinctive national characteristics. For example: Pandoras box (a source of extensive but unforeseen troubles or problems) Achilles heel (a weakness or fault in somebody or something which may not be apparent to anybody but which if discovered can be used to damage him or it) Hobsons choice (no choice at all, esp. because one has to choose between what one is offered or nothing at all) Pyrrhic victory (a victory gained at too great cost) （四）Histories and cultures History culture is the culture that is formed during special process of history development. Each nation has its own history, the history culture formed during the long history river is also quite different. Therefore, when doing translation between two languages, we will meet difficulties in translation arising from differences in history culture. History allusions are the important representative of history culture and the rarity of a nations history culture. They have strong national color and distinctive cultural characteristics, containing rich history culture information and showing features of different history culture. If we want to translate these allusions properly, we must understand their rich connotation and use proper translation method, or else we cannot express and convey the connotation of history allusions appropriately. For example, “三个臭皮匠，合成一个诸葛亮.” “诸葛亮” is known by every Chinese. He is the representative of wisdom. But foreigners may not know who he is, what relationship he has with “臭皮匠”. If we use literal translation, we cannot convey rich history culture which is contained in this sentence. Therefore, only by adopting the method of combination of literal translation and adding translation, can we make cultural information of original language reappear. We can translate this sentence like this: Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Chukeh Liang, the mastermind. Many idioms have history persons who are known by foreigners, such as “叶公 好龙”, “毛遂自荐 ”, “班门弄斧 ”, “名落孙山”, “项庄舞剑，意在沛公 ”, “狗咬吕洞 宾， 不识好人心.” Etc. Every idiom and allusion contains colorful Chinese history culture. Therefore, while doing translation, we should firstly understand the connotation of the allusion, paying attention to differences between different cultures and adopting proper translation method. Western culture also has its own history. Idioms and allusions are frequently found in Bible and Shakespeares works. Now writers and speakers quote these idioms and allusions.For example, “listening is his heel of Archiles”. Here “the heel of Archiles” is an allusion coming from Greek mythology. Archiles is a history person in Greek. He is very strong and powerful. But he has a fatal weakness, which is his heel. Thus this phrase comes into being. There is such a sentence in Time, “Many took to gambling and got it over their heads, borrowing fr