從習(xí)語(yǔ)來(lái)源看中英文化差異

CulturalDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseonIdiomsOrigins從習(xí)語(yǔ)來(lái)源看中英文化差異[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從習(xí)語(yǔ)來(lái)源看中英文化差異【摘要】同一句話，不同文化背景的人的反應(yīng)有時(shí)是不同的，甚至?xí)厝幌喾?。究其原因，是說(shuō)話雙方?jīng)]有真正掌握對(duì)方的文化。大學(xué)英語(yǔ)教學(xué)的目的，是使學(xué)生在跨文化交流中可以正確、流利與恰當(dāng)?shù)倪\(yùn)用英語(yǔ)。而大學(xué)生在實(shí)際交流活動(dòng)中，往往不能達(dá)到這一目的，這是因?yàn)樗麄儗?duì)中兩方文化差異不夠了解。因此，完全有必要對(duì)中西文化差異進(jìn)行詳細(xì)的研究。語(yǔ)言是跨文化交際中最主要的手段。在運(yùn)用語(yǔ)言進(jìn)行跨文化交際時(shí),由于民族文化差異,難免會(huì)遇到具有鮮明文化特色的成語(yǔ)和習(xí)語(yǔ),而對(duì)此確切地理解并正確地加以運(yùn)用,則是一個(gè)十分重要而又復(fù)雜的問(wèn)題。習(xí)語(yǔ)是各國(guó)文化的精髓，反映各國(guó)的風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣。因此，本文從最能體現(xiàn)中西文化差異的習(xí)語(yǔ)著手，論述習(xí)語(yǔ)在文化的各個(gè)層次上所反映的中西文化差異，并采納大量生動(dòng)有趣的例子作為論據(jù)進(jìn)行適當(dāng)?shù)姆治觥?/p>

【關(guān)鍵詞】習(xí)語(yǔ);來(lái)源;英語(yǔ);漢語(yǔ);文化差異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揮金如土，butweshouldrenderitintoEnglishas"spendmoneylikewater".TherearealotofEnglishidiomsaboutship,waterandfish:"ascloseasanoyster"(守口如瓶)，"castananchortowindward"(未雨綢繆),"atsea"(茫然)，"tokeepone'sheadabovewater"(奮力圖存)，"totakethewindoutofsomebody'ssail"(先發(fā)制人)，"towerone'ssail"(甘拜下風(fēng))，"infullsail"(全力以赴)，"sailunderfalsecolors"(欺世盜名)，"halfseaover"(酒喝得太多),"fishbeginstostinkatthehead"(上梁不正下梁歪)，"neveroffertoteachfishtoswim"(不要班門(mén)弄斧)，"dullfish"(枯燥無(wú)味的人);"plainsailing"(一帆風(fēng)順)，"totrimone'ssailtothewind"(見(jiàn)風(fēng)使舵),"tobeinthesameboat"(同舟共濟(jì))，"toburnone'sboat"(破釜沉舟),"abigfishinalittlepond"(山中無(wú)老虎，猴子稱(chēng)霸王).[2]P110

Ontheotherhand,theHanPeopleliveonland,theybelongtoanagrariansocietythatplacesagriculturalproductionatthetopofthenationalagenda,regardingindustryandcommerceasthenon-essentials.Duringthelonghistoryoffarming,theChineselanguagehasaccumulatedlargenumbersoffarmers'idioms,like二人同心，黃土變金(Whentwopeopleareofthesamemind,evenclaymaybechangedintogold)，上無(wú)片瓦，下無(wú)寸土(aspoorasachurchmouse)，人不虧地，地不虧人(Themaster'sfootstepsfattenthesoil)，瓜熟蒂落(Thingswillbeeasilysettledwhenconditionsareripe)，瑞雪兆豐年(atimelysnowpromisesagoodharvest)，五谷豐登(abundantharvestofallfoodcrops),種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆(asamansows,soshallhereap)，四體不勤，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"(趁熱打鐵),"rainyday"（窮困時(shí)期）,"torainorshine"（無(wú)論如何）,"toraincatsanddogs"（傾盆大雨）,"asrightasrain"（非常正確）,etc.Britainusedtobeknownasacountryoffogpartlyduetothedampnessandwarmnessoftheweatherconditionandpartlytotheairpollutionassideproductoftheindustrialrevolution.Therefore,inEnglishtherearesomeidiomaticexpressionsconcerningfog,suchas"inafog"（云里霧里），and"tohavenotthefoggiestidea"."Springuplikemushrooms"(雨后春筍)maybecomeincomprehensibletoChineselearnerifheisunawarethatthisidiomimpliestherichnessofmushroomgrowinginthewetareainBritainjustas"bamboo"inChinesespecialty,and"asplentifulasblackberries"(黑莓遍地)alsoindicatestheecologicalenvironmentinBritain,forblackberriesareeasilyavailableinEngland.

InChineseculture,"eastwind"is"thewindofspring";springiswarmandcolorful,anditisregardedasthebeginningofalllives.TherearemanyidiomsinChina,whichrefertospring：春暖花開(kāi)(inwarmspring,alltheblossomsareinfullbloom.),春意盎然(springisverymuchintheair),一年之計(jì)在于春(thewholeyear’sworkconsistsinagoodstartinspring)，萬(wàn)紫千紅總是春(itisspringwhenthegayestcoloursabound).Springhastheimageofgoodthings,soChinese“春”isusedinsomeidiomstoexpressthis:滿面春風(fēng)(one’sfaceradiateshappiness),春風(fēng)化雨(thelife-givingspringbreezeandrain---salutaryinfluenceofeducation).Summerisalwaysconnectedwithextremelyhotortheintenseheat,so赤日炎炎似火燒(theblazingsunscorcheslikefire)、驕陽(yáng)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:風(fēng)聲鶴唳,草木皆兵(beinanextremelynervousstateinwhichoneisfrightenedbytheslightestsound)isfromthedefeatofFuJian’s(苻堅(jiān))armyatFeishuiRiverduringtheEastJinDynasty;臥薪嘗膽(tosleeponbrushwoodandtastegall---toundergoself-imposedhardshipssoastostrengthenone'sresolvetowipeoutanationalhumiliation)comesfromTheHistoricalRecords?Yue’sStateEmperorGouJian’sNobleFamily(《史記·越王勾踐世家》):"WhenYue’sStateEmperorGouJianreturnedtohisstate,hehadmuchphysicalsufferingandwasmentallyworried.Heplacedabittergallinfrontofhisseat,andhehadalookatitwhenhesatorsleptandtasteditwhenhehadmeals.";沉魚(yú)落雁之容，閉月羞花之貌concernsgreatbeautiesinancienttimes.ThisidiomcomesfromDaiShanfu’sAcademicianTaoWritesGoodLandscapeWhenDrunken(戴善夫《陶學(xué)士醉寫(xiě)風(fēng)光好》):"Tomymind,thiswomanissobeautifulthatshewillmakethefishsinkandthebirdsalight,orshewillputtheflowerstoshameandoutshinethemoon.";[5]P126,537,57三個(gè)臭皮匠，頂個(gè)諸葛亮expressesthewisdomofthemassesexceedsthatofthewisestindividual,for諸葛亮isregardedasthemastermindduringthelastyearsoftheEast-HanDynasty.

EnglandhasahistoryofmorethanonethousandyearsandhasmuchlessimportanthistoricaleventsthanChina.SotheEnglishlanguagehasmuchlessidiomsfromhistoricaleventsthantheChineselanguage,buttherearestillsome,forexample,"tomeetone'sWaterloo"(一敗涂地)isfromthedefeatofNapoleonatWaterlooin1815,whichmeanstobecompletelydefeated;Theidiom"Dunkirkevacuation"(敦刻爾克撤退)comesfromtheSecondWorldWarandoriginallymeanttheretreatoftheEnglish-FrenchtroopsforcedbytheGerman.Nowtheexpressionmeanstoretreatindisorder."WhenGreekmeetGreek,thencomesthetugofwar"means"afiercebattle".Astoryistoldthat,in1936,EmilioMolaheadedfourcolumnstoattackthecapital---Madrid,beforeattacking,hedeliveredaspeechthatthefourcolumnshadsurroundedMadrid,whilethefifthcolumnwasinthecity.Thatishowtheidiom"thefifthcolumn"(第五縱隊(duì))cameintobeing.[6]P209Similarexamplesare"Columbus'segg"(哥倫布豎雞蛋)(InthefamousstoryofColumbus'segg,theexplorer,irritatedatbeingtoldthathisexploitswereeasy,challengedtheguestsatabanquettobalanceaneggonitsend.Whenallhadfailed,hesucceededbyflatteningoneendbytappingitagainstthetable,atrickthatanywouldthenhavebeenabletorepeat.Repetitioniseasierthaninnovation.)[7]and"toeatcrow"(吃下烏鴉)whichmeanstobeforcedtochangehatonehassaid;admitthatoneiswrong."Theoriginof‘toeatcrow’isthattowardstheendofthewar1812,aBritishofficerencounteredanAmericanhunterneartheBritishline,gainedcontrolofhismusketandtherebyforcedhimtoeatthecrowhehadjustshot.TheAmericancomplied,butwhenhismusketwasreturned,heforcedtheBritishofficertodothesame.[8]RomeandDenmarkonceoccupiedEnglandforalongtime,sotheconquestinfluencedtheEnglishtoacertainextent:"sixofoneandhalfadozenoftheother"(半斤八兩)comesfromDenmark,whereas"returntoone'smuttons"(言歸正傳)and"doinRomeastheRomansdo"(入鄉(xiāng)隨俗)arefromFranceandRomerespectively.

Thehistoryofmankindisalmostthehistoryofwar,whichisthesourceofnumerousidioms,asismirroredinthefollowingEnglishandChineseidioms:"WhatmillionsdiedthatCaesarmightbegreat"(一將功成萬(wàn)骨枯)，"tostealamarchon"(先發(fā)制人)，"toputupthesword"(講和).TheChinesenationhasalonghistoryofwarformorethantwothousandyears,andthereforetheChineselanguageisrichinsuchidioms,whichoftenappearinthefollowinghistoricalbookssuchas《左傳》，《史記》，《三國(guó)志》，《三國(guó)演義》，《水滸傳》.Theyare兵不厭詐(Therecanneverbetoomuchdeceptioninwar)，兵荒馬亂(amidsttheravagesandturmoilofwar),短兵相接(cutandthrust)，趕盡殺絕(cutdownthegrassanddiguptheroots)，知己知彼，百戰(zhàn)不殆(Knowtheenemyandknowyourself,andyoucanfightahundredbattleswithnodangerofdefeat),臨陣磨槍(tosharpone'sspearonlybeforegoingintobattle).

2.2.Fablesandmythologies

Idiomsareusuallycloselyrelatedtodistinctiveculturalfablesandmythologies.GreekandRomancivilizationshaveagreatinfluenceontheEnglishlanguage,sotheGreekandtheRomanmythologieshavegreatlyenrichedtheEnglishidioms.MostEnglishallusionscomefromtheBibleandtheGreekRomanMyth.Let'stakeaglanceatthefollowingidioms:"Achilles'heel"(致命弱點(diǎn))whichisfromtheGreekmythologyhasthemeaning"theoneweakspotinaman'scircumstancesorcharacter"."APandora'sbox"(潘多拉之盒)whichmeanstheoriginofallevilsisalsofromGreekmythology;[9]P360,10and"Penelope'sweb"(鉑涅羅鉑的織物,指永遠(yuǎn)做不完的工作),Greekmythology,referstoworkneverends;"crocodile'stears"(鱷魚(yú)眼淚)isfromTheVoiageandTravaileofSirJohnMandevillewrittenbySirJohnMandeville,[10]P504,147(itisjustliketheChineseidiom“貓哭老鼠假慈悲”)etc."DavidandJonathan"meansapairofdevotedfriends.ThestoryisfromtheBible:JonathanisDavid’sfriend,andhealwaysprotectshimfromdanger.(likeChinese“管鮑之交”);"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"(以假當(dāng)真，捕風(fēng)捉影),"sourgrapes"(聊以自慰),"nurseaviperinone'sbosom"(姑息養(yǎng)奸)，"thelion'sshare"(最大或最好的份額),"tocuttheGordianknot"(快刀斬亂麻).

MostofthefollowingChineseidiomsarefromChinesehistoricalworksandancientfablesandfairytales.Theyarevividwithprofoundmeanings.Forexample:拔苗助長(zhǎng):trytohelpseedinggrowbypullingthem---spoilthingsbyunduehaste;囫圇吞棗:swallowadatewhollywithoutchewingortastingit---uncriticalacceptancewithoutrealcomprehensionofwhatonereadsorstudies;畫(huà)龍點(diǎn)睛:drawtheeyeswhenpaintingadragon---acrucialtouchwhichdriveshomeapointotherwisedifficulttoexplain;邯鄲學(xué)步:learnthewaysofwalking---imitateothersonlytoloseone’soriginality;夜郎自大:itreferstoblindedbyone’spresumptuousself-conceit.Suchallusionsnotonlymakethelanguagericher,butalsomakecommunicationmuchmorevividandofteneasier.

2.3.Literaryworks

Idiomsfromliteraryworksarealsooneofthemainsourcesfromwhichidiomsarederived.InEnglishliterature,Shakespeareplaysaveryimportantrole;hisdramasarethemajorsourceofthiskind:"applaudonetotheecho"(掌聲雷動(dòng)),"dieinharness"(因公殉職),"makeassurancedoublysure"(加倍小心)and"atonefellswoop"(一下子，一舉)comefromMacbeth;"haveanoldheadonyoungshoulders"(年輕卻有頭腦)and"toclaimone'spoundofflesh"(割某人的一磅肉)arefromTheMerchantofVenice;"hoistwithone'sownpetard"(搬起石頭砸自己的腳)and"outofjoint"(雜亂無(wú)章)arefromHamlet.Besides,thewoksofotherfamouswritersalsostoreagreatmanyidioms:"anine-daywonder"(曇花一現(xiàn))appearsinTroilusandCressidwrittenbyGeoffreyChaucer;"aflyonthewheel"(妄自尊大)derivedfromAesop'sFable,canrefertoassumingaself-importantair;"mindone'seye"(當(dāng)心你的眼睛)---CharlesDickensBarnabyRudge;“Readingmakesafullman,conferenceareadyman,writinganexactman”------BaconOfStudies,Catch22(第22條軍規(guī))---JosephHeller'sCatch22;"theuglyduckling"(丑小鴨)isfromHanAnderson'stales.[11]P23

Chineseidiomslike精衛(wèi)填海(themythicalbirdtryingtofilluptheseawithpebbles,apersonwithstrongwill)and機(jī)關(guān)算盡太聰明，反算了卿卿性命(toomuchcunninginplottingandschemingisthecauseofherownundoing"arefrom《山海經(jīng)》and《紅樓夢(mèng)》respectively;項(xiàng)莊舞劍，意在沛公(toactwithahiddenmotive)，天網(wǎng)恢恢，疏而不漏(God'smillgrindsslowbutsure)，山高水低(unfortunateaccidentsorhappenings)，棄暗投明(quitthereactionariesandsidewiththepeople)areallfromancientChineseliterature《史記·項(xiàng)羽本紀(jì)》《老子》《金瓶梅詞話》《三國(guó)演義》Andtherearemanyotherexamples:畢恭畢敬(extremelydeferential)and風(fēng)雨飄搖(swayinginthestorm)------《詩(shī)經(jīng)》;文質(zhì)彬彬(gentleandpolite)and小不忍則亂大謀(Ifyouaretootender-heartedoversmallmatters,you'lljeopardizeaffairsofgreatmoment)------《論語(yǔ)》;東施效顰(nowitmeansimitatingsomebodystupidly)------《莊子·天運(yùn)》;兵臨城下(withtroopclosinginonthecity)and心滿意足(toone'sheart'scontent)------《水滸傳》;欲窮千里目，更上一層樓(Youcanenjoyagrandersightbyclimbingtoagreaterheight)------王之渙《登鸛鵲樓》;物換星移(Thingschangewiththepassingofyears)------《藤王閣序》;誰(shuí)言寸草心，報(bào)德三春暉(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現(xiàn)身說(shuō)法(tomakeapersonalexampleasaneffectivemeansofconvincingothers),半路出家(switchtoanewtradewithoutsolidfoundation)，放下屠刀，立地成佛(AbutcherbecomesaBuddhathemomenthedropshiscleaver---awrongdoerachievessalvationassoonashegivesupevil)，救人一命勝造七級(jí)浮屠(tosaveahumanlifeisbetterthanbuildingaseven-storeyedpagoda)，一塵不染(remainedspotless)，做一天和尚，撞一天鐘(takeapassiveattitudetowardone'swork),借花獻(xiàn)佛(topresentBuddhawithborrowedflowers---toborrowsomethingtomakeagiftofit)，五體投地(tothrowoneselfdownatsomebody'sfeetinadmiration)，平時(shí)不燒香，臨時(shí)抱佛腳(Neglecttoburnone'sjossstickbeforeanidolintimesofpeace,thenembracetheBuddha'sfeetinacrisis).Herethewordswithemphasizedsymbolssuchas“身”,“法”,“出家”,“成佛”etc.arewordsderivedfromtheactivitiesofBuddhisminChina.[13]P52

Besides,totheordinaryChinese,Heavenisthesupremeruleroftheworld.AllhappeningsontheeartharebelievedtobecontrolledandarrangedbyHeaven,henceitgivesrisetothefollowingidioms:謀事在人，成事在天(Manproposes,Heavendisposes)，生死由命，富貴在天(Lifeanddeatharedecreedbyfate,rankandrichesdeterminedbyHeaven)，民以食為天(Foodisthenecessityofthepeople)，天理不容(Heavenwillnottolerateinjustice)，天生我才必有用(TheremustbesomeuseforthetalentHeavengrantedme)，一人得道，雞犬升天(Whenonebecomesahighofficial,evenhisfowlsanddogswillgetpromoted).

IncontrasttotheChinese,mostofthewesternersareChristians,whobelievethattheworldwascreatedbyGod,andthateverythingintheworldisarrangedanddisposedofaccordingtoGod'swill.TheteachingsandbeliefsconcerningChristianityarerecordedintheBible,whichhascontributedagreatdealtoEnglishidioms,formanyEnglishpeoplewhobelieveinChristianityallreadtheBible.Therefore,numerousidiomshavecomeintopeople'scolloquialspeech,andhavebecomemottoes:"Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves"(自助者天助),"fallonstonyground"(沒(méi)有結(jié)果),"fallbythewayside"(半途而廢),"askforbreadandbegivenastone"(得非所求),"sowthewindandreapthewhirlwind"(惡有惡報(bào)),"oldAdam"(本性的罪惡),"adoubtingThomas"(不肯輕易相信別人的人),"allthingstoallmen"(八面玲瓏),"beardthelion"(敢在太歲頭上動(dòng)土)and"aneyeforaneye"(以牙還牙)

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"(過(guò)舒適的生活)isusedtomean"toobtainancomfortableliving".Itiscertainlyabadluckifsomeonehastoeathardcheese,so"hardcheese"(倒霉)gotitsmeaning"badluck."

InChina,mostoftheareasespeciallythesouthgrowrice,somanyidiomshavetodowithrice:巧婦難為無(wú)米之炊(Eventhecleveresthousewifecan'tcookamealwithoutrice)，茶余飯后(overacupofteaorafterdinner---atone'sleisure),不當(dāng)家不知柴米貴(Hewhotakeschargeknowstheresponsibility)，看菜吃飯，量體裁衣(toadaptoneselftocircumstances).ChinahasalonghistoryofcookingandtheChineseareknownasthemostcriticalandatthesametimethemostcausaleaters,fortheyattachgreaterimportancetofoodthananyotherpeople,asisreflectedinthesayingslike:家常便飯(dailyfoodpreparation)，粗茶淡飯(coarseteaandbrownrice)，大魚(yú)大肉(abundantfishandmeat---richfood),添油加醋(toexaggerateembellishmentto),畫(huà)餅充饑(todrawcakestoallayhunger)，雞毛蒜皮(aninchbreaksnosquare),生米煮成熟飯(What'sdonecannotbeundone).SuchexpressionsarequiteabundantintheChineselanguage.Inourdailylife,theChineseusuallygreeteachotherwith"Haveyoueatenyourmeal?",whichhasbeenahottopicforculturallinguists.Theidiom吃人的嘴軟(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:狗血噴頭(atorrentofabuse),狗頭軍師(wickedcounselor),狗眼看人低(bedamnedsnobbish),狼心狗肺(rapaciousasawolfandsavageasacur),狗急跳墻(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望子成龍,龍飛鳳舞,龍子龍孫,龍鳳呈祥expressChinesepeople’sappreciationandlovetodragon.

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