中西方“老”字的不同含义

The Different Implication of “Old” in China and Western Countries

在语言交际过程中,两个不同国家、不同民族的人能否相互沟通,不仅取决于他们对语言本身的理解和掌握,而且取决于他们对语言所负载的文化意蕴的理解和掌握,因为文化会对词语、习语的含义造成一定的影响。汉语的“老”字与其相对应的英语单词“Old”表面词义一样,但在用法和含义上有着很大的不同。

Whether two people in different countries can understand each other in their communication is determined not only by their understanding and master of language itself but also by their understanding and master of the cultures which contain in the language,because different cultures must affect the meaning of words and idioms. For example,the implication of “old”is different between China and Western countries.