A Comparative Study of Animal Idioms Between English and Chinese

鄔婉琦

Abstract：Idiom is not only the basic characteristics of language， but also a kind of way of thinking. In recent years， there are given more attention to the comparative study of English and Chinese idioms. Therefore， the study starts from the animal idioms， through the comparison of the two languages， revealing the meaning and features animal idioms and finding the similarities and differences on animal idioms between English and Chinese language. Then analyze the causes of the similarities and differences of animal idioms in different cultures. Thus to help the English learner better understanding English culture， and make achievements in language communication.

Key words：Animal Idioms； Comparative Study； Similarities； Differences

1. Introduction

Idioms are the unseparated important parts of languages. Correctly using idioms will help learners to have a cross-culture communicate. In English and Chinese， there are a lot of idioms about animals. Through the comparative study of English and Chinese animal idioms， it will guide to English learners understand and use idioms more accurately， and to achieve success in international communication.

2. Features of Idioms in English and Chinese

Idioms have rich and varied cultural connotations， masterly the essential features of English and Chinese idioms will have a better benefits：

For English idioms， it is easy to pronounce： English idioms can make use of alliteration and rhyme to enhance the sense of idioms and rhetorical effects of speech. And the various parts of idioms are fixed， they cannot open freely and change position.

For Chinese idioms， the means is overall significance， not the meaning of each word. We can't be understood literally. Because many meanings of idioms are often formed by the historical and other causes. People use them frequently due to they figure things or explain the truth vividly and expressively， and can give the essentials in simple language.

3. Similarities on Animal Idioms Between English and Chinese

3.1 Idioms related to Aves

In language， animals are often endowed with some characters of human， therefore， the cultural connotation（associative meaning）of some animal words in English and Chinese have similarity， especially when people take the cognition of animals and name after them according to the basic attributes of animals in themselves. It is always the same for animal words in English and Chinese proverbs. And with the Chinese similarity proverbs， of the cultural connotation of some animal words in English and the animal word in one proverb（English or Chinese）may be expressed through the animal word itself or through its association in both English and Chinese.

In the eyes of Chinese or English speakers， the images of bird is perceived in almost the same way. Such as： Kill two birds with one stone； Early birds； Each bird loves to hear himself sing.

The same idiom in Chinese：一箭雙雕；早起的鳥兒有蟲吃；同巢之鳥心兒齊.

In these idioms， bird significance is the same. in English， there are “Kill two birds with one stone”， in the Chinese same“一箭雙雕”。They all mean achieve two things at once. And they all use the bird to describe things.

And other kinds of birds：

3.2 Idioms related to Non-Aves

In both cultures， wolf is the symbol of rapaciousness and ferocity. There are idioms such as “to wolf down” Ravenous appetite is another feature of wolves. This idiom means to consume greedily which is coincident with Chinese idiom” 狼吞虎咽”. Moreover， “to throw someone to the wolves” It is from Aesop's Fables. When children are naughty， the teacher would threaten that they would be thrown to the wolves. The idiom is used to mean to abandon or dismiss somebody to a terrible fate.” a wolf in sheep's clothing” as same as狼心狗肺；狼子野心；狼狽為奸in Chinese.

Pigs are considered to be greedy， stupid， filthy and lazy in the western and eastern cultures. In English， swine（pig in old English），hog（male pig），sow（female pig）are all generally called pig now. Examples in both English and Chinese are illustrated as below： pig together； pig out. And Chinese idioms：豬狗不如；豬卑狗險(xiǎn).

As for which animals have the same image and the same meaning in English and Chinese， the author has discussed in the above sections. After making out the problem， English learners can clearly classify them and translate the animal idioms correctly accordingly.

4. Differences on Animal Idioms Between English and Chinese

4.1 Same Connotations with Different Animals

Some English animal idioms have no similar usage in Chinese， and even no animals can be used for the same expression， but in Chinese they can find the corresponding allusion or idiom. For examples： English Better be the head of an ass（dog）than the tail of a horse（lion）；Like a rat in a hole； An ass in lion's skin； The wolf has winning game when the shepherds quarrel； Love me， love my dog. Chinese：寧為雞頭，勿為牛后；翁中之瞥；狐假虎威；鷸蚌相爭，漁人得利；愛屋及烏.

4.2 Same Animals with Different Connotations

The most typical animals are “dragon”， “dog”. In Chinese， the dragon is a legend， it can rain， have unreal magic and boundless supernatural power. The dragon is the symbol of the emperor， Chinese are proud of "descendants of the dragon". There are also many idioms related to “龍”： 人中龍虎；潛龍伏虎；生龍活虎.

In Western legend， dragon is the symbol of evil， is a fire breathing， claws， and hideous monster. In the Bible， the dragon is the incarnation of Satan. Such as： To sow dragon's teeth； The old dragon； Like the old dragon.

Dogs have different treatment in Chinese culture. Chinese idioms with dog related mostly derogatory， such as狗血噴頭，狗膽包天，狼心狗肺.In western countries， westerners love the dogs， as a dog for pets and friends. English dog related phrases commendatory， can be used to refer to people. Such as： A lucky dog； a top dog； a lucky dog； to help a lamb dog over a stile.

5. Causes of Similarities And Differences on Animal Idioms Between English and Chinese

5.1 Causes of Similarities

People all around the world live together on the single earth， so some experiences and awareness are similar. Similarities in sources of English and Chinese animal idioms is in family life. It will be discussed in detail as follows. Plenty of idioms come from people's daily life， especially family life. These idioms are vivid and interesting， and make up an important part of the whole idioms. Both English and Chinese have lots of idioms from family life. Here are several English idioms： black sheep； a hen-pecked husband；小鹿亂撞；害群之馬.

5.2 Causes of Differences

5.2.1 The Factor of History

Due to the different history of individual countries， they have developed different historical features. They are different historical features including historical events or historical anecdotes， which provide a rich and colorful material for English and Chinese idioms. The historical development of the English speaking countries， especially Great Britain and the United States， undoubtedly had a significant impact on English language. For examples： Change horse in midstream； Talk Turkey； Fight like the cats of Kilkenny.

5.2.2 The Factor of Religions

Religion is not only a social phenomenon， but also a cultural phenomenon. Religion is an important part of human thought and culture. Different religions have a profound impact on the culture and life. China religious beliefs are different from those in the West. Therefore， Chinese and English with religion related animal idioms can reflect the religious influence on language. The relationship between Chinese culture and Buddhism is very close， which is reflected in the language， with the "Buddha" and "Buddha" of the art theory and have a lot of the basic teachings of idioms， like 牛頭馬面， 雞犬升天.The Christian doctrine of the Bible has exerted great influence on English， this is any other ancient book incomparable. In the Bible with many animal related allusions into idioms. Such as： lion in the way.

6. Conclusion

This paper takes animal idioms as case to studying the English and Chinese language features， which reveals the characteristics of animal idioms in English and Chinese. This paper also reveals the similarities and differences of animal idioms in English and Chinese. We can summarize the differences of animal idioms is greater than the similarity. The conclusion of this paper is that the different reasons have two aspects： languages and cultures. In summary， it is necessary for us to analyze the characteristics of animal idioms， the similarities and differences， and the reasons for the similarities and differences.

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