英汉习语的民族文化特点探源

Exploration on National Cultural Features between English and Chinese Idioms

习语作为一种特殊的语言形式,是人民大众口头上习用的定型词组或短句。它们是相沿已久、约定俗成、具有完整而独特意义的词语。英汉两个民族在长期的劳动中创作了大量的习语,但由于民族文化的不同,使用亦不同。通过比较英汉两个民族在地理环境、风俗习惯、宗教信仰、历史典故等几个方面的文化差异来探讨英汉习语之间的民族文化特点。

Idiom is a phrase which means something different from the meanings of the separate words. It is the way of expressing typical of a person or a people in their use of language. English and Chinese both have full of idioms. Because of the cultural differences, they indicate different meanings. This paper explores the origin of the cultural differences of English and Chinese idioms from the different living condition and geographical features, different customs, different beliefs of different religions and different historical allusions.