On the Translation of English and Chinese Color Words from the Perspective of Culture

李深圳

【Abstract】English and Chinese color words have many different meanings under different cultural backgrounds，so it is very important to translate English and Chinese color words.With more and more communication between China and England，different translation of color words in commercial activities and daily communication，and that will lead to unnecessary misunderstandings，so it has the practical and theory significance to explore the translation of English and Chinese color words.We can grasp the principles and ways in translating color words better，and it also can help us to easily understand the differences between English and Chinese color words.

【Key words】Perspective of culture； English and Chinese； color words； translation

1.Introduction

1.1 The significance of this paper

Todays world is shrinking into a “global village”， changing cultures in a changing world lead people to many new communicative styles.So the meanings of color words are also undergoing changes.Because of different historical background，language habits，cultural details and traditional customs and so on，there are many differences in the use of color and color words as well as in understanding and mastering of the same color between Chinese and English.The language we use has close relationship with our culture，as language and culture intrinsically depend on each other，but all individuals are culture-bound，there exist the differences of habits，rules，outlooks，and values that are shaped，formed，and molded by their cultures，so the color words have original meaning，as well as have implied meaning.We can get a lot of benefit from understanding the implied meaning and translating of color words and knowing how to use them.

1.2 The purpose of this paper

Because of different historical background，language habits，cultural detail and traditional customs and so on，there are many differences in the use of color and color words as well as in understanding and mastering of the same color between Chinese and English.In order to avoid the misunderstandings，we can analyze the different meanings of color words，and research the different cultures and cultural backgrounds.We also can use the best way to translate color words.

2.The cultural differences of color words in English and Chinese

Many factors have influence on the different understandings of English and Chinese color words，and this paper lists three main factors are as follows：the difference of habits between Chinese and Westerners，the difference of religious belief and the difference of manner and custom.

2.1 The difference of habits between Chinese and Westerners

Different living habits will affect people to express the same meaning in different color words.With the same meaning of jealousy or envy，Chinese use the color red to express this meaning，such as “眼紅”or “紅眼病”，while westerners use “green-eyed，green with envy，green-eyed monsters” to express the same meaning.And another example also can indicate this difference，“紅茶” in China we use the color red，but westerners use the black tea to express this meaning.

2.2 The difference of manner and custom

Manners and custom include a kind of fixed habit which left over by history，because of their manners and custom，people rarely realize the different understanding of the same color.

The western countries usually hold their wedding at home or their garden，and according to religious rites the bride always wear white wedding dress in church，so we call it “white wedding”.But Chinas traditional family host wedding ceremony，the bride and groom must wear red clothes，and it will be think unlucky if one wore white clothes or shoes.At funeral and in the mourning period，its a taboo to wear red clothes or use the red artifacts in China.

With the times past by development and the history changes，many manners and custom are deep rooted in peoples mind，and decide peoples cognition.The differences of color words in English and Chinese will exist permanently，so we should clearly understand the cultural differences of the English and Chinese color.

3.Principles and Ways in Translating English and Chinese Color Words

While doing translation，the translator is guided by the principles for translation.One color word can express many different meanings.Generally，the meaning of color words can be divided into two aspects：primary meaning and cultural extended meaning.It is essential to correctly translate color words，so this paper puts forward some principles and ways in translating color words.

3.1 Literal translation

Literal translation，or direct translation，is the rendering of text from one language to another “word-for-word”rather than conveying the sense of the original.For example，White House：白宮；red figure：赤字；yellow pages：黃頁.And there are some sentences which include color words can use literal translation，for examples，

（1） American extend their welcome to the people who come back by using yellow ribbon.（美國人用黃絲帶表示歡迎歸來。）

（2） He is a tall，burly fellow with long hair and more white than black to his eyes.（他是一個高大身材，長頭發(fā)，眼球白多黑少的人。）

3.2 Free translation

Free translation is a translation that reproduces the general meaning of the original text.It may or may not closely follow the form or organization of the original.Using this way to translate color words，we should completely leave out the color in text.For example，love pea（紅豆），pink slip（解雇職工通知單），a green hand（新手），no use（白搭），all in vain（白費事）.

And we also can find this phenomenon in following sentences，

（1） She looks blue.（她看起來很沮喪。）

（2） He was born in the purple.（他生在帝王之家。）

3.3 Conversion

According to peoples habits，change texts color words into which people are more familiar with，that is known as conversion.For example，black tea：紅茶；black and blue：青一塊紫一塊.And there are some sentences use this way in translating，for example，（1）His complexion changed，and he grew phastly pale（他便變了臉，鐵一般的青。）；（2） All of a sudden，her face turned ashly pale，like a corpse.（她的臉色突然變成灰黃，死了似的。）

4.Translation of Color Words from the Perspective of Culture

4.1 Translation of black

Black is a common color in our daily life，and the meaning of black is the same in the culture of the Western and China.Black extends the meaning of sad，unfortunate and depressed.For example，in the black mood（情緒低落） or a black dog（憂傷或沮喪的人）.In China people often wear the black armband to mourn the dead，and the westerners also wear black in funeral.Black also extends the meaning of dirty，illegal and solemn.For example，black money（黑錢或不義之財） or black market（黑市或地下市場）.

4.2 Translation of white

To most Chinese and Westerners，the color word “white” has some similar meanings：purity，innocence，noble，sick，scared and so on.And the white also has the meaning of fool and usefulness.For example，白癡（idiot），white elephant（白象，比喻無用的東西）.But in China，it also has other different meanings.It not only means pure such as white cloud，but also means farewell in history.We can find “people wear white clothes to bid farewell at the coffin”in classic Chinese novel However，the white symbolize the happiness，joy and fair in the western culture.For example，a white Christmas（大雪紛飛、銀裝素裹的圣誕節(jié)），a white day（吉日） and a white lie（善意的謊言）.

4.3 Translation of red

The red has some same meanings according to the Chinese and the western culture.Red extends the meaning of happy and shy.For example，red-letter-day（喜慶日，紀念日），roll out the red carpet for someone.（鋪開紅地毯，隆重地歡迎某人）.It also extends the meaning of anger，danger and violence.For example，red battle（血戰(zhàn)），red activities（暴力活動）.

5.Conclusion

English and Chinese colors express many different meanings in other aspects，besides the above mentioned differences.Only by comparing them，are we able to discover their deep and rich cultural connotations and exactly understand and faithfully express them.And nowadays international exchanges happen frequently and constantly，so we should grasp and research different expressions and suitable translation ways between English and Chinese，which will promote international mutual understanding and improve our translation ability.