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1、
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 i
2、dioms 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 fascin
3、ating 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 translator’s duty a
4、s ambassador of cultural exchange.
Key words: idioms, legend,religious beliefs,different, Chinese and English idioms
Content
Abstract 2
Content 3
Ⅰ、Introduction 4
Ⅱ 、Definition and characteristics of idioms 4
（一）Definition of idioms 4
（二）common characteri
5、stics of idioms 5
Ⅲ、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 Betw
6、een Chinese And English Idioms
Ⅰ、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 th
7、e 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. Firstl
8、y, 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 people’s daily lives th
9、at 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. 《英語的習(xí)語》.載上海外國語學(xué)院《外國語》. 1979年第4期p.1.
Ⅱ 、Definition and characteristics of idioms
（一）Definition of idioms
In almost all cases,
10、 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, i
11、t 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:
1．succession of words whose meanings must be learnt as a whole
2．a(chǎn) group of w
12、ords in a fixed order having a particular meaning, different from the meanings of each word understood on its own
3．a(chǎn) phrase which means something different from the meanings of the separate words from which it is formed
4．a(chǎn) group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible fro
13、m 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
14、 broad sense. To conclude the definition of Chinese “chengyu”, some references provide great help. Cihai(《辭?！? defines “chengyu” as “a kind of shuyu (熟語)，set phrases or word groups that are of customary usage”.( Xia, 1999: 4699) Ciyuan(《辭源》) puts “chengyu” as “an old saying of common usage and those
15、 phrases or clauses which are set in form to express a complete idea.”(Cai & Fu, 1980:1186) Xiandai Hanyu Cidian(《現(xiàn)代漢語詞典》) defines “chengyu” as “set phrases or clauses that people have customarily used for ages in terse forms and with incisive meanings.”(Lv, 2006: 173) So we can define “chengyu” as
16、a kind of set phrase or clause, which is often quoted by the common people to express a complete and incisive meaning.林承璋《英語詞匯學(xué)引論》 武漢大學(xué)出版社，2005年2月版
（二）common characteristics of idioms
1．Structural integrity
An idiom is a set phrase or a sentence whose meaning should not be understood from the
17、 meanings of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit. (Hornby, 2003: 734) As a general rule, no elements in idioms can be altered. Replacement of the words in an idiom will ruin the integrity and alter the original meaning. An idiom such as “see red” (to be angry) can not be ch
18、anged into “see scarlet” which only means to see the bright red color of something. In Chinese, we can say 三更半夜, but not 三更半晚. Neither can we turn 喪家之犬 into 喪家之狗. An idiom allows no variation in form under normal circumstances. Unless he is consciously making a joke or attempting a play on words, a
19、speaker or writer cannot normally do any of the following with an idiom.
A. Adding a word to it
(e.g. *like the father, like the son; *牽腸又掛肚)
B. Deleting a word from it
(e.g. *armed to the teeth; *驚弓鳥)
C. Replacing a word with another
(e.g. *kick a bucket; *木已成船)
20、 D. Changing its grammatical structure
(e.g.*the roof is hit; *拔劍張弩)
As is shown in the above examples, there are strict constraints on variation of an idiom in normal circumstances.
2．Figures of speech in idioms
Vividness and profundity of idioms are partially due to their figures of speech, wh
21、ich 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 direc
22、t 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
23、似玉 (as pretty as flowers and jade)
光陰似箭 (time flies like an arrow)
如雷貫耳 (reverberate like thunder)
如出一轍 (be exactly the same as)
It is clear that the English comparison is indicated in most cases by such words as “l(fā)ike”, “as”, while the Chinese, by words like “如”,“似”, et
24、c. 平洪， 張國揚(yáng). 英語習(xí)語與英美文化[M]. 北京： 外語教學(xué)與研究出版社, 1999 P24-25
Metaphor ：
Metaphor is also a comparison, but the comparison is implied, not expressed with the word “as”, “l(fā)ike”, “如” or “似”,etc. For example:
a wet blanket
to make a splash
to blow one’s own trumpet
to lead a
25、 cat-and-dog life
花容月貌 (fair as a flower and beautiful as the moon)
虎頭蛇尾 (to begin well but fall off towards the end)
鏡花水月 (flowers in a mirror and the moon’s reflection in water---insubstantial objects)
掌上明珠 (a pearl in the palm---a beloved daughter)
26、
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)
m
27、ake 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)
巾幗英雄 (heroine; 巾幗 originally means woman’s headdress in ancient C
28、hina and later it comes to stand for a woman)
青梅竹馬 (green plum and a bamboo horse---a friendship formed in childhood)
投筆從戎 (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
29、for a part, synecdoche is applied. For example:
earn one’s 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 lover’s eyes)
之乎者也 (pedantic terms)
Repetition：
Repetition, mea
30、ning 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
三三兩兩
寥寥無幾
碌碌無為
含情脈脈
Ⅲ、Cultural differences between
31、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 gener
32、al 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 (unc
33、ertain; 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 one’s sh
34、ip 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 (s
35、pring comes to the withered tree---to get a new lease of life)
順藤摸瓜 (follow the vine to get the melon)
斬草除根 (to cut down the grass and pull up the roots---to destroy something root and all)
瑞雪兆豐年 (a timely snow promises a good harvest)
種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆 ( as you sow, so will you reap
36、)
The Chinese often use the idiom 雨后春筍(to prosper like bamboo shoots after a spring rain) to describe a rapid development and a large production. The English counterpart is “l(fā)ike mushroom”. Fernando Chitra, Idioms and Idiomaticity. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2000.
Since
37、 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 pas
38、t. People ate bamboo shoots, read books inscribed on bamboo strips, 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 pla
39、n)
勢如破竹 (like splitting bamboo---having the irresistible force)
罄竹難書 (one’s misdeeds are too numerous to record)
竹馬之交 (friends from childhood days)
（二）religious beliefs
Religion plays a great part in the development of history. English people mostly profess Christianity and
40、they value the God as the supreme sage. 郭建忠. 當(dāng)代美國翻譯理論. 武漢： 湖北教育出版社, 1999. 59-82.
Some idioms include the image of the God. For example:
for God’s sake (to express irritation)
honest to God (truthfully)
in the lap of the gods (beyond human control)
God’s gift to somebody
41、(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 str
42、aw (the Old Testament-- Exodus)
heap coals of fire on someone’s head (the Old Testament --Proverbs )
hide one’s 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 t
43、he Western Han Dynasty. Subsequently, some idioms related to Buddhism emerged. For example:
借花獻(xiàn)佛 ( present Buddha with flowers given by another)
回頭是岸 (turn the head and the shore is at hand---to repent and be saved)
大慈大悲 (infinitely compassionate and merciful)
不二法門 (
44、the only proper course to take)
平時不燒香,臨時抱佛腳 (never burn incense when all is well but clasp Buddha’s feet when in distress---do nothing until the last minute)
Some idioms also came directly or indirectly from Taoism. Here are some examples:
脫胎換骨 (be reborn; thoroughly remold oneself
45、)
回光返照 (the last radiance of the setting sun---momentary recovery of consciousness just before death)
靈丹妙藥 (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
46、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)
老馬識途 (an o
47、ld horse knows the way---an experienced person knows the ropes)
毛遂自薦 (Mao Sui recommend himself---to recommend oneself to a post without other’s introduction)
精衛(wèi)填海 (the mythical bird jingwei trying to fill up the sea with pebbles---dogged determination to achieve one’s purpose)
The English la
48、nguage also has idioms endowed with distinctive national characteristics. For example:
Pandora’s 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 b
49、e used to damage him or it)
Hobson’s 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 proce
50、ss 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 allusio
51、ns are the important representative of history culture and the rarity of a nation’s 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
52、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, “三個臭皮匠，合成一個諸葛亮.” “諸葛亮” is known by every Chinese. He is the representative of wisdom. But foreign
53、ers 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 informa
54、tion 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 “葉公好龍”, “毛遂自薦”, “班門弄斧”, “名落孫山”, “項(xiàng)莊舞劍，意在沛公”, “狗咬呂洞賓， 不識好人心.” Etc. Every id
55、iom 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.
56、Idioms and allusions are frequently found in Bible and Shakespeare’s works. Now writers and speakers quote these idioms and allusions.For example, “l(fā)istening 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
57、 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 from Shalock to pay their debts”. Hence the writer cited Shalock from Shakespeare’s play The
58、Merchant of Venice for a usurer. Shalock is no more a person in the play but a history image now. For Chinese, he may not know about Shalock. Other western cultural images with colorful history information can also be found in idioms and allusions, such as “paint the lily”; “meet one’s Waterloo”; “c
59、ut the Gordian’s knot”; etc. If we want to translate these allusions properly, we should also pay attention to the differences between Chinese and western cultures and use appropriate methods.
IV、Conclusion
In the process of their development, idioms have been influenced by cultural factors, such
60、as geographical conditions, customs and traditions, religious beliefs, legends and fables, and even people’s emotions for animals. From the time when idioms were created, they have been developed and used to daily life. Undoubtedly, idioms are the branch of languages that best reflect their own nati
61、onal color. The comparison of the cultural differences of idioms will be a good means for us to know more about idioms. And this will provide help for us to translate idioms well.
The author tries his best to discuss the translation methods in the aspect of culture differences. However, due to his
62、limited ability and time, the methods discussed in the thesis can only involve the most basic ones. But even the same idiom may be translated in various ways in different context. A translator must keep in mind that methods are to serve the purpose of fully carrying out the principles of faithfulnes
63、s and expressiveness. In a word, 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 Chi
64、nese and English idioms and a better fulfillment of a translator’s duty as ambassador of cultural exchange.
As the world is getting smaller, communication between countries is becoming frequent. Idioms are usually used by common people and they may become the barrier which communication run into.
65、The author hopes that there will be more attention paid to this kind of research to overcome the barrier.
V、References
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[2]Understanding Cultures through Their Key Words Anna Wierzbicka N.Y: Oxford Univer
66、sity Press 1997
[3]Cross-cultural Encounters: Face-to-face Interaction Brislin, Richard W N.Y: Pergaman Press 1981
[4]Cross-cultural Encounters: Face-to-face Interaction Brislin, Richard W N.Y: Pergaman Press 1981
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[6]詞海編輯委員會. 詞海（縮印本）[R]. 上海：上海辭書出版社. 1989.
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[11]李軍，
A comparative study of the differences between Chinese and English idioms英語畢業(yè)論文
