从习语来源看中英文化差异

CulturalDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseonIdiomsOrigins从习语来源看中英文化差异[Abstract]Differentpeoplefromdifferentculturesmayhavedifferentunderstandingsofthesamesentencebecausetheyknowlittleaboutthetargetcultures.WhiletheultimateaimofEnglishteachingasaforeignlanguageistocultivatestudents'competencetoapplyEnglishcorrectly,fluently,andappropriatelyincross-culturalcommunication.However,duetolackofknowledgeofculturaldifferences,manycollegestudentsfailtoachievethispurposeduringtheactualcommunicatingactivities.ItisnecessaryforustostudytheculturaldifferencesinsomefieldsbetweenChinaandWesterncountries.Languageisthemostprincipalmeansforinter-culturalcommunication.Idioms,apartoflanguage,aretheessenceofcultureineverycountry.Usinglanguageinsuchcommunication,weoftencomeacrosssomeidiomswithdistinctiveculturalcharacteristics,soitisaveryimportantandcomplicatedthingforustounderstandandusetheseidiomscorrectly.Therefore,inthispaper,wewilldiscusstheidiomsreflectingthedifferencesofChineseandWesternculturesinvariouslevelswithmanylively,important,andinterestingexamplesofidioms.

[KeyWords]idioms;origins;culturaldifferencesbetweenEnglishandChinese从习语来源看中英文化差异【摘要】同一句话，不同文化背景的人的反应有时是不同的，甚至会截然相反。究其原因，是说话双方没有真正掌握对方的文化。大学英语教学的目的，是使学生在跨文化交流中可以正确、流利与恰当的运用英语。而大学生在实际交流活动中，往往不能达到这一目的，这是因为他们对中两方文化差异不够了解。因此，完全有必要对中西文化差异进行详细的研究。语言是跨文化交际中最主要的手段。在运用语言进行跨文化交际时,由于民族文化差异,难免会遇到具有鲜明文化特色的成语和习语,而对此确切地理解并正确地加以运用,则是一个十分重要而又复杂的问题。习语是各国文化的精髓，反映各国的风俗习惯。因此，本文从最能体现中西文化差异的习语着手，论述习语在文化的各个层次上所反映的中西文化差异，并采纳大量生动有趣的例子作为论据进行适当的分析。

【关键词】习语;来源;英语;汉语;文化差异Introduction

Languageisinseparablefromculture.Foronething,languageisapartofcultureandplaysanimportantroleinit.Foranother,asamirrorofculture,languageisstronglyinfluencedandshapedbyculture;meanwhile,itreflectsculture.Idiomsincludemetaphoricalphrases,slang,colloquialism,proverbandsoon.Asanessentialpartofthelanguageandcultureofasociety,idiomsarecharacterizedbytheirconciseexpressions,richandvivid,involvinggeography,history,religiousbelief,livingconventionsandsoon.Theyareusuallyhighlyspecializedinmeaningandcloselytiedtodistinctiveculturalfeaturesandculturalattitudes.Itisbelievedthatidiomsarethemostculturallyloadedelementinanylanguage'svocabulary.Undoubtedlytheyareoftenhardtounderstandandhardertousecorrectly.EnglishandChineseidioms,closelyrelatedtotheirownculture,conveydifferentculturalfeaturesandmessagesoftheirownnation,reflectingtheirownculture.[1]P281-282ThereexistsvastdifferencebetweenEnglishandChinesecultureandthisdifferenceoccursinEnglishandChineseidioms,too.Basedonothers’research,thispaperintendstoexploreitbyfullyanalyzingthemainculturalreasonscausingidiomaticexpressionsdifferencesinbothChineseandEnglish.1.Differentlivingcircumstance

Thatcultureisdeterminedbygeographicalenvironmentisasubjectiveviewofgeographicaldeterminism.Itcannotbedenied,however,thatnaturalenvironmentincludinggeographicalposition,climate,ecologicalconditionissomethingthatplayscontributoryroleintheformationofaculture.Peopledwellinginacertainregiontrytoadaptthemselvestothesurroundingssothatlivelihoodcanbemaintained.

Asaresult,theirspecialwayofliving,thinkingandbehavingisformedasaside-productoftheirrelationshipwiththeenvironment.

1.1.Geographicalenvironment

Britainisanislandcountry.Peoplewholivealongseacoastandwhoselivelihoodisdependentontheseawillhaveidiomsaboutwater,sailing,islandandfish.Forexample,wespeakinChinese挥金如土，butweshouldrenderitintoEnglishas"spendmoneylikewater".TherearealotofEnglishidiomsaboutship,waterandfish:"ascloseasanoyster"(守口如瓶)，"castananchortowindward"(未雨绸缪),"atsea"(茫然)，"tokeepone'sheadabovewater"(奋力图存)，"totakethewindoutofsomebody'ssail"(先发制人)，"towerone'ssail"(甘拜下风)，"infullsail"(全力以赴)，"sailunderfalsecolors"(欺世盗名)，"halfseaover"(酒喝得太多),"fishbeginstostinkatthehead"(上梁不正下梁歪)，"neveroffertoteachfishtoswim"(不要班门弄斧)，"dullfish"(枯燥无味的人);"plainsailing"(一帆风顺)，"totrimone'ssailtothewind"(见风使舵),"tobeinthesameboat"(同舟共济)，"toburnone'sboat"(破釜沉舟),"abigfishinalittlepond"(山中无老虎，猴子称霸王).[2]P110

Ontheotherhand,theHanPeopleliveonland,theybelongtoanagrariansocietythatplacesagriculturalproductionatthetopofthenationalagenda,regardingindustryandcommerceasthenon-essentials.Duringthelonghistoryoffarming,theChineselanguagehasaccumulatedlargenumbersoffarmers'idioms,like二人同心，黄土变金(Whentwopeopleareofthesamemind,evenclaymaybechangedintogold)，上无片瓦，下无寸土(aspoorasachurchmouse)，人不亏地，地不亏人(Themaster'sfootstepsfattenthesoil)，瓜熟蒂落(Thingswillbeeasilysettledwhenconditionsareripe)，瑞雪兆丰年(atimelysnowpromisesagoodharvest)，五谷丰登(abundantharvestofallfoodcrops),种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆(asamansows,soshallhereap)，四体不勤，五谷不分(canneitherdophysicalworknordistinguishricefromwheat).[3]P99

1.2.Climate

Climateisanotherfactorinthelivingcondition.WhileBritainislocatedinwesternhemisphere,withNorthTemperateZoneandmarineclimate,so

"westwind"isthesymbolofspring.ThefamousEnglishpoetShirley's"OdetoWestWind"isapraisingsongofspring.

SummerinBritainisawarmandcomfortableseason,whichisusuallylinkedwith"lovely","gentle"and

"nice".Shakespearecompareslovertoasummerinoneofhispoems,

"shallIcomparetheetoasummer'sday?Thouartmorelovelyandmoretemperate."[4](Shakespeare’sSonnet18)ThewestwindblowsfromtheAtlanticOceanaswarmandgentleasChineseeastwindandbringsvoluminousraintothisarea.SothatBritainaboundsinraincanbeprovedinsomeidiomsconcerningrain:"tomakehaywhilethesunshines"(趁热打铁),"rainyday"（穷困时期）,"torainorshine"（无论如何）,"toraincatsanddogs"（倾盆大雨）,"asrightasrain"（非常正确）,etc.Britainusedtobeknownasacountryoffogpartlyduetothedampnessandwarmnessoftheweatherconditionandpartlytotheairpollutionassideproductoftheindustrialrevolution.Therefore,inEnglishtherearesomeidiomaticexpressionsconcerningfog,suchas"inafog"（云里雾里），and"tohavenotthefoggiestidea"."Springuplikemushrooms"(雨后春笋)maybecomeincomprehensibletoChineselearnerifheisunawarethatthisidiomimpliestherichnessofmushroomgrowinginthewetareainBritainjustas"bamboo"inChinesespecialty,and"asplentifulasblackberries"(黑莓遍地)alsoindicatestheecologicalenvironmentinBritain,forblackberriesareeasilyavailableinEngland.

InChineseculture,"eastwind"is"thewindofspring";springiswarmandcolorful,anditisregardedasthebeginningofalllives.TherearemanyidiomsinChina,whichrefertospring：春暖花开(inwarmspring,alltheblossomsareinfullbloom.),春意盎然(springisverymuchintheair),一年之计在于春(thewholeyear’sworkconsistsinagoodstartinspring)，万紫千红总是春(itisspringwhenthegayestcoloursabound).Springhastheimageofgoodthings,soChinese“春”isusedinsomeidiomstoexpressthis:满面春风(one’sfaceradiateshappiness),春风化雨(thelife-givingspringbreezeandrain---salutaryinfluenceofeducation).Summerisalwaysconnectedwithextremelyhotortheintenseheat,so赤日炎炎似火烧(theblazingsunscorcheslikefire)、骄阳似火(theburningsunislikeaf2.Differenthistoricalallusion

Differentcountriespossessdifferenthistoryculture,whichmainlycomprisesallusion,myths,poems,ancientbooksandrecords,etc.Amongthem,allusionisthemostimportant;itreflectsthenationalcharacteristic.Idiomsfromhistoryculturearethegemsofhumanculturalheritage.Itisworthwhileforustolearnthemwell.Therearelotsofidiomscomingfromthehistoricalallusion.Thestructuresoftheseidiomsareverysimplebuttheyhaveprofoundmeaning,sowecannottranslateandunderstandtheseidiomsfromtheliteralmeaning.ThedifferenthistoricalbackgroundsoftheEnglishandChinesepeoplehavetheirdifferentlegendsandanecdotesabouthistoricalfigureswhichhaveprovidedrichandvariedmaterialsfortheiridioms,andconsequentlygiveanationalcolortotheidiomsinthetwolanguages.ItisnecessaryforustolearnandunderstandtheEnglishallusionaswellastheChineseallusion.Itcanenlargeourscopeofknowledge,widenourfieldofvisionanditisusefultolearnabouttheoriginanddevelopmentofEnglishandChineselanguageandliterature.

2.1.Historicalevents

Inmost,ifnotall,languages,peopleembellishtheirspeechorwritingwithreferencestocharactersoreventsfromtheirhistory,thatistosay,idiomaticexpressionsarecloselyrelatedtoacountry'shistory.Taketheaspectoflanguageforexample:therearealotofidiomsintheChineselanguagewhichcannotfindanequivalentintheEnglishlanguagebecausethehistoryofthetwocountriesarequitedifferent.ManyChineseidiomsarefromtheirownhistoricaleventswhicharewell-knownbyChinesepeople.Forinstance,thefollowingidiomsarefromhistoricaleventsinAncientChina:风声鹤唳,草木皆兵(beinanextremelynervousstateinwhichoneisfrightenedbytheslightestsound)isfromthedefeatofFuJian’s(苻坚)armyatFeishuiRiverduringtheEastJinDynasty;卧薪尝胆(tosleeponbrushwoodandtastegall---toundergoself-imposedhardshipssoastostrengthenone'sresolvetowipeoutanationalhumiliation)comesfromTheHistoricalRecords•Yue’sStateEmperorGouJian’sNobleFamily(《史记·越王勾践世家》):"WhenYue’sStateEmperorGouJianreturnedtohisstate,hehadmuchphysicalsufferingandwasmentallyworried.Heplacedabittergallinfrontofhisseat,andhehadalookatitwhenhesatorsleptandtasteditwhenhehadmeals.";沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌concernsgreatbeautiesinancienttimes.ThisidiomcomesfromDaiShanfu’sAcademicianTaoWritesGoodLandscapeWhenDrunken(戴善夫《陶学士醉写风光好》):"Tomymind,thiswomanissobeautifulthatshewillmakethefishsinkandthebirdsalight,orshewillputtheflowerstoshameandoutshinethemoon.";[5]P126,537,57三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮expressesthewisdomofthemassesexceedsthatofthewisestindividual,for诸葛亮isregardedasthemastermindduringthelastyearsoftheEast-HanDynasty.

EnglandhasahistoryofmorethanonethousandyearsandhasmuchlessimportanthistoricaleventsthanChina.SotheEnglishlanguagehasmuchlessidiomsfromhistoricaleventsthantheChineselanguage,buttherearestillsome,forexample,"tomeetone'sWaterloo"(一败涂地)isfromthedefeatofNapoleonatWaterlooin1815,whichmeanstobecompletelydefeated;Theidiom"Dunkirkevacuation"(敦刻尔克撤退)comesfromtheSecondWorldWarandoriginallymeanttheretreatoftheEnglish-FrenchtroopsforcedbytheGerman.Nowtheexpressionmeanstoretreatindisorder."WhenGreekmeetGreek,thencomesthetugofwar"means"afiercebattle".Astoryistoldthat,in1936,EmilioMolaheadedfourcolumnstoattackthecapital---Madrid,beforeattacking,hedeliveredaspeechthatthefourcolumnshadsurroundedMadrid,whilethefifthcolumnwasinthecity.Thatishowtheidiom"thefifthcolumn"(第五纵队)cameintobeing.[6]P209Similarexamplesare"Columbus'segg"(哥伦布竖鸡蛋)(InthefamousstoryofColumbus'segg,theexplorer,irritatedatbeingtoldthathisexploitswereeasy,challengedtheguestsatabanquettobalanceaneggonitsend.Whenallhadfailed,hesucceededbyflatteningoneendbytappingitagainstthetable,atrickthatanywouldthenhavebeenabletorepeat.Repetitioniseasierthaninnovation.)[7]and"toeatcrow"(吃下乌鸦)whichmeanstobeforcedtochangehatonehassaid;admitthatoneiswrong."Theoriginof‘toeatcrow’isthattowardstheendofthewar1812,aBritishofficerencounteredanAmericanhunterneartheBritishline,gainedcontrolofhismusketandtherebyforcedhimtoeatthecrowhehadjustshot.TheAmericancomplied,butwhenhismusketwasreturned,heforcedtheBritishofficertodothesame.[8]RomeandDenmarkonceoccupiedEnglandforalongtime,sotheconquestinfluencedtheEnglishtoacertainextent:"sixofoneandhalfadozenoftheother"(半斤八两)comesfromDenmark,whereas"returntoone'smuttons"(言归正传)and"doinRomeastheRomansdo"(入乡随俗)arefromFranceandRomerespectively.

Thehistoryofmankindisalmostthehistoryofwar,whichisthesourceofnumerousidioms,asismirroredinthefollowingEnglishandChineseidioms:"WhatmillionsdiedthatCaesarmightbegreat"(一将功成万骨枯)，"tostealamarchon"(先发制人)，"toputupthesword"(讲和).TheChinesenationhasalonghistoryofwarformorethantwothousandyears,andthereforetheChineselanguageisrichinsuchidioms,whichoftenappearinthefollowinghistoricalbookssuchas《左传》，《史记》，《三国志》，《三国演义》，《水浒传》.Theyare兵不厌诈(Therecanneverbetoomuchdeceptioninwar)，兵荒马乱(amidsttheravagesandturmoilofwar),短兵相接(cutandthrust)，赶尽杀绝(cutdownthegrassanddiguptheroots)，知己知彼，百战不殆(Knowtheenemyandknowyourself,andyoucanfightahundredbattleswithnodangerofdefeat),临阵磨枪(tosharpone'sspearonlybeforegoingintobattle).

2.2.Fablesandmythologies

Idiomsareusuallycloselyrelatedtodistinctiveculturalfablesandmythologies.GreekandRomancivilizationshaveagreatinfluenceontheEnglishlanguage,sotheGreekandtheRomanmythologieshavegreatlyenrichedtheEnglishidioms.MostEnglishallusionscomefromtheBibleandtheGreekRomanMyth.Let'stakeaglanceatthefollowingidioms:"Achilles'heel"(致命弱点)whichisfromtheGreekmythologyhasthemeaning"theoneweakspotinaman'scircumstancesorcharacter"."APandora'sbox"(潘多拉之盒)whichmeanstheoriginofallevilsisalsofromGreekmythology;[9]P360,10and"Penelope'sweb"(铂涅罗铂的织物,指永远做不完的工作),Greekmythology,referstoworkneverends;"crocodile'stears"(鳄鱼眼泪)isfromTheVoiageandTravaileofSirJohnMandevillewrittenbySirJohnMandeville,[10]P504,147(itisjustliketheChineseidiom“猫哭老鼠假慈悲”)etc."DavidandJonathan"meansapairofdevotedfriends.ThestoryisfromtheBible:JonathanisDavid’sfriend,andhealwaysprotectshimfromdanger.(likeChinese“管鲍之交”);"EveryCaesarhashisBrutus"impliesthatoneshouldbeawareofone'sfalsefriendincaseonewouldbebetrayedbyhim.Here,BrutuswasonceafriendofCaesarwhowasmurderedbyhim.Anotherexample,HerculeswasoneofthemostfamousheroesinGreekmythologies.Hekilledtwosnakeswhenhewasababy,andwasknownasamanofmuscle.Becauseofthis,he"walks"intotheEnglishidioms:"Hercules'choice"means"therewardoftoilinpreferencetopleasure","theHerculianefforts"(九牛二虎之力)，"thepillarsofHercules"(天涯海角).Inaddition,Aesop'sFablesgreatlyinfluencetheEnglishidioms.Perhapsyouarequitefamiliarwiththeseidioms:"mistaketheshadowforthesubstance"(以假当真，捕风捉影),"sourgrapes"(聊以自慰),"nurseaviperinone'sbosom"(姑息养奸)，"thelion'sshare"(最大或最好的份额),"tocuttheGordianknot"(快刀斩乱麻).

MostofthefollowingChineseidiomsarefromChinesehistoricalworksandancientfablesandfairytales.Theyarevividwithprofoundmeanings.Forexample:拔苗助长:trytohelpseedinggrowbypullingthem---spoilthingsbyunduehaste;囫囵吞枣:swallowadatewhollywithoutchewingortastingit---uncriticalacceptancewithoutrealcomprehensionofwhatonereadsorstudies;画龙点睛:drawtheeyeswhenpaintingadragon---acrucialtouchwhichdriveshomeapointotherwisedifficulttoexplain;邯郸学步:learnthewaysofwalking---imitateothersonlytoloseone’soriginality;夜郎自大:itreferstoblindedbyone’spresumptuousself-conceit.Suchallusionsnotonlymakethelanguagericher,butalsomakecommunicationmuchmorevividandofteneasier.

2.3.Literaryworks

Idiomsfromliteraryworksarealsooneofthemainsourcesfromwhichidiomsarederived.InEnglishliterature,Shakespeareplaysaveryimportantrole;hisdramasarethemajorsourceofthiskind:"applaudonetotheecho"(掌声雷动),"dieinharness"(因公殉职),"makeassurancedoublysure"(加倍小心)and"atonefellswoop"(一下子，一举)comefromMacbeth;"haveanoldheadonyoungshoulders"(年轻却有头脑)and"toclaimone'spoundofflesh"(割某人的一磅肉)arefromTheMerchantofVenice;"hoistwithone'sownpetard"(搬起石头砸自己的脚)and"outofjoint"(杂乱无章)arefromHamlet.Besides,thewoksofotherfamouswritersalsostoreagreatmanyidioms:"anine-daywonder"(昙花一现)appearsinTroilusandCressidwrittenbyGeoffreyChaucer;"aflyonthewheel"(妄自尊大)derivedfromAesop'sFable,canrefertoassumingaself-importantair;"mindone'seye"(当心你的眼睛)---CharlesDickensBarnabyRudge;“Readingmakesafullman,conferenceareadyman,writinganexactman”------BaconOfStudies,Catch22(第22条军规)---JosephHeller'sCatch22;"theuglyduckling"(丑小鸭)isfromHanAnderson'stales.[11]P23

Chineseidiomslike精卫填海(themythicalbirdtryingtofilluptheseawithpebbles,apersonwithstrongwill)and机关算尽太聪明，反算了卿卿性命(toomuchcunninginplottingandschemingisthecauseofherownundoing"arefrom《山海经》and《红楼梦》respectively;项庄舞剑，意在沛公(toactwithahiddenmotive)，天网恢恢，疏而不漏(God'smillgrindsslowbutsure)，山高水低(unfortunateaccidentsorhappenings)，弃暗投明(quitthereactionariesandsidewiththepeople)areallfromancientChineseliterature《史记·项羽本纪》《老子》《金瓶梅词话》《三国演义》Andtherearemanyotherexamples:毕恭毕敬(extremelydeferential)and风雨飘摇(swayinginthestorm)------《诗经》;文质彬彬(gentleandpolite)and小不忍则乱大谋(Ifyouaretootender-heartedoversmallmatters,you'lljeopardizeaffairsofgreatmoment)------《论语》;东施效颦(nowitmeansimitatingsomebodystupidly)------《庄子·天运》;兵临城下(withtroopclosinginonthecity)and心满意足(toone'sheart'scontent)------《水浒传》;欲穷千里目，更上一层楼(Youcanenjoyagrandersightbyclimbingtoagreaterheight)------王之涣《登鹳鹊楼》;物换星移(Thingschangewiththepassingofyears)------《藤王阁序》;谁言寸草心，报德三春晖(Suchkindnessasyounggrassreceivesfromthewarmsuncan'tberepaid)------孟郊《游子吟》.[12]P233.Differentreligionsandbeliefs

Asaculturalphenomenon,religion,whichisthemanifestationofdifferentcultures,isthevitalpartofhumanthought.Itpenetratesintoeverypossibleaspectofpeople'slife,whichconsequentlycausesgreatculturaldifferencebetweenpeoplewithdifferentreligiousbeliefs.

Chinaisamulti-religiouscountry,yetcomparativelyspeaking,BuddhismhasagreaterinfluenceinChineseculture.ItwasfirstintroducedintoChinainthefirstcenturyAD,andhasshapedtheChineselanguage,diet,arts,etc.,andgreatlystimulatedthedevelopmentofChineseliterature.ThelargenumberofwordsandidiomsderivedfromBuddhismisoneofthemanifestationsofitsinfluence,suchas现身说法(tomakeapersonalexampleasaneffectivemeansofconvincingothers),半路出家(switchtoanewtradewithoutsolidfoundation)，放下屠刀，立地成佛(AbutcherbecomesaBuddhathemomenthedropshiscleaver---awrongdoerachievessalvationassoonashegivesupevil)，救人一命胜造七级浮屠(tosaveahumanlifeisbetterthanbuildingaseven-storeyedpagoda)，一尘不染(remainedspotless)，做一天和尚，撞一天钟(takeapassiveattitudetowardone'swork),借花献佛(topresentBuddhawithborrowedflowers---toborrowsomethingtomakeagiftofit)，五体投地(tothrowoneselfdownatsomebody'sfeetinadmiration)，平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚(Neglecttoburnone'sjossstickbeforeanidolintimesofpeace,thenembracetheBuddha'sfeetinacrisis).Herethewordswithemphasizedsymbolssuchas“身”,“法”,“出家”,“成佛”etc.arewordsderivedfromtheactivitiesofBuddhisminChina.[13]P52

Besides,totheordinaryChinese,Heavenisthesupremeruleroftheworld.AllhappeningsontheeartharebelievedtobecontrolledandarrangedbyHeaven,henceitgivesrisetothefollowingidioms:谋事在人，成事在天(Manproposes,Heavendisposes)，生死由命，富贵在天(Lifeanddeatharedecreedbyfate,rankandrichesdeterminedbyHeaven)，民以食为天(Foodisthenecessityofthepeople)，天理不容(Heavenwillnottolerateinjustice)，天生我才必有用(TheremustbesomeuseforthetalentHeavengrantedme)，一人得道，鸡犬升天(Whenonebecomesahighofficial,evenhisfowlsanddogswillgetpromoted).

IncontrasttotheChinese,mostofthewesternersareChristians,whobelievethattheworldwascreatedbyGod,andthateverythingintheworldisarrangedanddisposedofaccordingtoGod'swill.TheteachingsandbeliefsconcerningChristianityarerecordedintheBible,whichhascontributedagreatdealtoEnglishidioms,formanyEnglishpeoplewhobelieveinChristianityallreadtheBible.Therefore,numerousidiomshavecomeintopeople'scolloquialspeech,andhavebecomemottoes:"Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves"(自助者天助),"fallonstonyground"(没有结果),"fallbythewayside"(半途而废),"askforbreadandbegivenastone"(得非所求),"sowthewindandreapthewhirlwind"(恶有恶报),"oldAdam"(本性的罪恶),"adoubtingThomas"(不肯轻易相信别人的人),"allthingstoallmen"(八面玲珑),"beardthelion"(敢在太岁头上动土)and"aneyeforaneye"(以牙还牙)

Liketheword"Heaven"inChinese,GodisahouseholdwordinEnglish.Itisoftenusedintheiroralconversation,fortheybelievethatGodissojustice,mercifulandpowerfulthatheiscapableofhelpingtheneedyandrelievingthedistressed,forexample,"Oh,myGod","ThankGod","Godblessme","Manproposes,Goddisposes","honesttoGod"etc.4.Differenttraditionsandcustoms

Cultureislongacquiredfromcustomsandhabits.Thesecustomsandhabitsarerepresentativeofthewayoflivingofacertainspeechcommunityandtheyaremirroredinthehabitualspeakingofthelanguage.

4.1.Foodandcooking

FoodisoneoftheaspectsofculturaltraditionthatarereflectedinEnglishidioms.InmostEuropeancountries,wheatusedforbakingbread,barleyforbrewingwineandoatforfeedinganimalsarethemajorsupplyoffood.Bread,butter,jam,cheese,etc.areusualkindoffoodindailymeals.Breadisoneofthesuppliesforliving.So"toearnoneabread"means"tomakealiving"."Breadandbutter"(日常所需),asmajorfoodoftheWesternersisalsoanidiommeaning"theusualneedsoflife"."Toknowwhichsideone’sbreadisbuttered"(知道自身利益所在)isaninterestingidiomimplying"toknowwhereone’sinterestlies".Tobutterbothsidesofone'sbreadmaysatisfyaperson'sappetitebetter,so"tobutterbothsidesofone'sbread"(过舒适的生活)isusedtomean"toobtainancomfortableliving".Itiscertainlyabadluckifsomeonehastoeathardcheese,so"hardcheese"(倒霉)gotitsmeaning"badluck."

InChina,mostoftheareasespeciallythesouthgrowrice,somanyidiomshavetodowithrice:巧妇难为无米之炊(Eventhecleveresthousewifecan'tcookamealwithoutrice)，茶余饭后(overacupofteaorafterdinner---atone'sleisure),不当家不知柴米贵(Hewhotakeschargeknowstheresponsibility)，看菜吃饭，量体裁衣(toadaptoneselftocircumstances).ChinahasalonghistoryofcookingandtheChineseareknownasthemostcriticalandatthesametimethemostcausaleaters,fortheyattachgreaterimportancetofoodthananyotherpeople,asisreflectedinthesayingslike:家常便饭(dailyfoodpreparation)，粗茶淡饭(coarseteaandbrownrice)，大鱼大肉(abundantfishandmeat---richfood),添油加醋(toexaggerateembellishmentto),画饼充饥(todrawcakestoallayhunger)，鸡毛蒜皮(aninchbreaksnosquare),生米煮成熟饭(What'sdonecannotbeundone).SuchexpressionsarequiteabundantintheChineselanguage.Inourdailylife,theChineseusuallygreeteachotherwith"Haveyoueatenyourmeal?",whichhasbeenahottopicforculturallinguists.Theidiom吃人的嘴软(Onceyouhaveacceptedsomebody'sinvitationtoameal,youwillfinditdifficulttosayanythingagainsthim)reflectsthephilosophyoftheChinese.Thatiswhymostoftheproblemscanbesolvedatthedinnertable,whichsurprisesthewesternbusinessmen.

4.2.Animals

TheEnglishandChinesepeoplehavetheirownindividualstateofmind,whichaddnationalcoloringtotheidioms,duetotheirdifferentlivingconditions.TheEnglishandtheChinesepeopletraditionallyhavedifferentopinionsofanimals,suchas“dog”,theEnglishpeoplehaveahighopinionofthedogandthinkadogtobeafaithfulfriend,thustherearemanycanineidiomsinEnglish,mostofwhichhaveacommendatorysensesuchas"cleverdog"---cleverboyorcleverguy;"tohelpalamedogoverastile"---tohelpapersonintrouble;"Loveme,lovemydog"---acceptmyfriendsasyours.

However,InChina,peopleoftendespisesuchananimal,therefore,adogisusuallyassociatedwithaderogatorysense:狗血喷头(atorrentofabuse),狗头军师(wickedcounselor),狗眼看人低(bedamnedsnobbish),狼心狗肺(rapaciousasawolfandsavageasacur),狗急跳墙(despairgivesacouragetoacoward),打落水狗(kickthemanwhenheisdown),狗嘴里吐不出象牙(afilthymouthcan'tutterdecentlanguage).Whenonenoticesthedifference,itwouldbeeasyforhimtounderstandwhytheChinesewouldatfirstfeelinsultedforbeingcalled"aluckydog",whiletheEnglishmightbegreatlypuzzledbytheutterance"Wecan'tgooutforthereisadogoutside",becauseherethe“dog”isusedmetaphoricallytorefertospiesorservilefollowers.[14]P15

Anothercaseinthispointisdragon.Chinesepeopleadmireandworshipthisimaginedanimal.ItisthesymboloftheChinesenation;anditisthesymbolofauthority,strengthandgoodfortune.InEnglish,thoughdragoncanbringtheassociationof“strength”and“power”,itgivesderogatoryassociation.WhenseeingthiswordinEnglish,peoplealwaysthinkofcruelty,devilishnessandviciousness.ButChineseidiomssuchas望子成龙,龙飞凤舞,龙子龙孙,龙凤呈祥expressChinesepeople’sappreciationandlovetodragon.

Similarly,owlimplieswisdomandcalmnessintheWest.Theidiom“aswiseasanowl”indicatesthatEnglish-speakingpeopleassociatewisdomwiththisbird.Inchildren’sbooksandcartoons,theowlisusuallysolemnandwise.Indisputesamongbirdsandbeasts,itistheowlthattheygotoforadvice.Sometimes,thebirdisconsideredasimpracticalandfoolish.Butingener