Ｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌ Ｃｏｎｎｏｔａｔｉｏｎ ｏｆ Ｃｏｌｏｒ Ｗｏｒｄｓ Ｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ Ａｎｄ Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ

【Abstract】 Language is an important tool for our communication， and the color words occupy the prominent position in language. Language is a product of society， so it must be characterized by the culture of its own nation. Therefore， we can know that the color words vary in the connotation on account of different language habits and language background that were influenced by the culture of western countries and Chinese culture by means of contrasting and analyzing the color words. The paper will make a systematic exposition about the color words.

【Keywords】 the color words；cultural connotation

解析中西方對顏色詞文化內涵的理解 向 艷 沈 技

【摘要】 語言是人類基本的交流工具，而顏色詞在語言中占有重要的地位。語言是社會的產物，它必然會具有鮮明的民族文化特征。因此，中西方語言習慣、文化背景不同，顏色詞的內涵也不盡相同，本文將通過對比分析，闡述中西方文化對顏色詞內涵的重要影響。

【關鍵詞】 顏色詞；文化內涵

【中圖號】 G04 【文獻標示碼】 A 【文章編號】 1005-1074(2008)12-0084-01

1 Introduction

Language is an important tool for our communication，and it is an important part of culture. Like a mirror， language can reflect a culture，however， the culture can also decide its language. Only to connect the language with the culture， can we master languages deeply and communicate freely. Therefore，it is worth studying the color words， which may improve our communication and translation practice.

2 Body

2.1 eflection of local customs Both in China and in the west countries， the color word green has the same meaning——good luck. For example，in China，on 5thof May lunar month every year，people like to use mugwort (a kind of green plants with delicate fragrance) to ward off evil spirits， believing that it can bring peaceful and happy life to them.People usually insert some mugworts in door leaflet or put them on their window sill .The same with Ireland，on St. Patrick’s Day，local people are fond to be in green for their belief that green is a lucky color that must give them fortune. Therefore，there are some similaritiesof connotation of the green between China and western countries——good luck.The Chinesehave the great esteem for the good luck and auspice of Red，which is usually associated with joyful occasions.In China，in the wedding，brides must put on the red formal attire，red stocks and red shoes.The Chinesehold that white is too cold，drab，and even unlucky to be accepted.Only when they attend the funeral，do they wear pure white attire allover.From the example mentioned above，the culture has a great influence on the color words.So the color words can reflect the local customs.

2.2 Political coloring of the color words In china and other socialist countries，red is the color thatisassociated with revolution，socialism and communism.In Chinese，the color red is used as Red Army紅軍（they are revolutionists who defend the people’s interests）.However， in western counties “the Blues”efers to northern soldier during American Civil War.“a true blue”refers to party members. Only to know about more historybackgroundsof the other countries，can we understand political connotation of color words.

2.3 The new connotation of the color words with the development of society For example，With the pollution of modern industry，our environment that we rely depend on has been destroyed more and more seriously.At present，more and more people have realized the necessary and urgency of protecting our environment .So the color word--green also means\"safe\"\"health\"and \"no harm\".The environmental protection has added the new meaning to the word--- green because of the destruction of the nature with the development of modern industry.

3 Conclusion

We can make a conclusion based onthepoints mentioned above， that language is a social product that is influenced by the cultural backgroundsand language habits，so theymust becharacterized by the culture. Only to master the cultural backgroundsand language habitsof China and western countries，can we communicate freely.

4 References

[1] Dictionaryof Basic Words with Chinese Translation[M].南昌：南昌大出版社，1987.

[2] 李志榮.英漢顏色詞跨化透視[J].徐州師范大學報，1998，(4).

[3] 潘章仙.談漢英顏色詞的文化內涵[J].浙江師范大學報，1996，（5）.