Cultural Connotation of Chinese Nation Reflected by Color Words: A Comparative Study of Cultural Connotation of Chinese and English Color Words "Green"

Abstract: The world we live in is inseparable from color, and green is the basic color of every nation. Because color words are largely based on human visual perception, therefore? Green? The visual perception and cognitive reflection of English and Chinese language nations have certain * * *. However, there are differences between Chinese and English cultures in life style, way of thinking, customs and habits, and the same color word will show colorful or even different meanings. This paper summarizes the cultural connotation and individuality of color words in Chinese and English by means of comparative analysis, which reflects the historical changes and development laws of language to a certain extent and is conducive to translation, teaching and cultural exchange between Chinese and English.

Keywords: Comparison of Green Cultural Connotation between Chinese and English

China Library ClassificationNo.: G7 1 Document ID: A DocumentNo.:1672-3791(2012) 06 (a)-0220-01.

1 ? Green? The Cultural Connotation of Chinese

( 1)? Youth and vitality? Meaning. We use Chinese? Green? 、? Green? These two words stand for green, such as? Grass by the Qingjiang River? Refers to the green grass along the river; ? Youth? Refers to a young period that is as green as spring.

(2)? From humble origins, down and out? Meaning. Since ancient times, green has meant meanness, poverty, disloyalty and bad reputation in Chinese. For example, the official uniforms with low grades in ancient times were all green; Green clothes and even professional clothes. Although wearing green clothes no longer has these special meanings in modern China culture, there are still some related words, such as? Green hat? Fingers? A man whose wife is unfaithful? , not a green hat; What else is there? Brothel? Refers to * * or brothels, not brothels.

3 represents? China People's Liberation Army? . We are called China People's Liberation Army? The Great Green Wall? Because military uniforms are green, some colors are related to the China People's Liberation Army, such as national defense green, military green and so on.

(4)? Security, commitment? Meaning. Like many other countries, green in China means security, hope and peace. The appearance of the mailbox and post office is green, and the uniform of the postman is also green; The green light at the traffic light indicates that it is safe to pass, resulting in? Green light? What does this word mean? Is it convenient to give recognition? ; ? Green channel? Refers to the barrier-free access for the convenience of disabled people.

(5) representative? Simple and inexperienced? People. In Chinese, green is often used to refer to people who lack training, experience and knowledge. Like what? Staring at the head? A person who is reckless and inexperienced.

(6)? Environmental protection and health? Meaning. With the aggravation of pollution, people are more and more aware of the importance of environmental protection, so green is often used to represent environmental protection. Like what? Green revolution? At first, it refers to the behavior of improving farming methods in order to increase crop yield, so in? Nature, agriculture? On the basis of this meaning, this meaning extends to? Environmental action? . Also, called healthy organic food? Green food? ; ? Greenpeace? Or? Green party? Refers to the parties or groups in favor of environmental protection; ? Green consumption? It also refers to an environmentally friendly consumption pattern.

2 ? Green? Cultural implication in English

( 1)? Youth and vitality? Meaning. In English, green also represents youth and vitality. Old and strong? ; Always being green means always being energetic and energetic.

(2)? Money, wealth? Meaning. Green is one of the most popular colors in English. Things decorated with green can be seen everywhere in our lives, even US dollar bills are green, so this color word is often related to money and wealth. For example, candidates who win elections in American politics are usually because there are? Green power (consortium) supported him, and also derived such as green back (US dollar bill), green power (consortium), green bill (government budget table) and green stamp (American relief subsidy ticket, named after green printing).

(3)? Jealous? Meaning. Green-eyed, green with envy and green-eyed monsters all mean jealousy. Shakespeare's famous tragedy Othello uses a green-eyed monster as a? Jealous? Synonym of.

(4)? Inexperienced Meaning. What if? What about you? You expect too much from him. He is not familiar with his work. ? What does that mean? You expect too much from him, and he has no experience in this job? . Green corner refers to people who are inexperienced and gullible; ? Do you see what green in my eyes means? You think I'm immature and it's not easy to cheat? .

(5) What else? Green plants? Related. Green can also symbolize fruits and vegetables in the garden or gardening skills. In British English, the green grocery store refers to the fruit and vegetable business. There is also a closed greenhouse like a greenhouse, which originally refers to the cultivation of plants; Green refers to people who are good at gardening and have outstanding gardening skills.

(6)? Approved? Meaning. ? Green light? In both English and Chinese, it can be used to refer to the approval or recognition of something or a project by the authorities. Obviously, the word comes from traffic lights.

In addition, there are some green words in English that have neither color nor cultural connotation. For example, the green room is the actor lounge; Green wounds refer to unhealed wounds; Green Christmas refers to Christmas with warm and sunny weather; Green Sunday refers to the second Sunday after Easter.

3 Chinese and English color words? Green? Comparison of similarities and differences in cultural meanings

Through the above analysis of the connotation of green in Chinese and English, we can draw the following conclusions.

(1) Green has many similar cultural connotations in Chinese and English. For example, it can be used to express agriculture, environment, peace, approval, life, immaturity, inexperience and so on. For example, green things in English, green parties, and Chinese? Green grass? 、? Green revolution? Are related to people's living space and things. Because plants are green compared with yellow, which makes them grow best, so they are given? Youth? 、? Hope? This cultural connotation, such as the lush years of English and Chinese? Youth? . And because the best time in life means no bloodshed and death, so? Green? The antonym of is. Red? . Meanwhile, green olives? The expression of peace has also become a symbol of the power to safeguard world peace.

(2) Whether in English or Chinese, green has many different cultural meanings due to different national conditions. In Chinese? Green hat? And then what? Brothel? They are all negative meanings left over from some historical changes. People in English-speaking countries have the most intuitive understanding of green, that is, those living things with green, thus achieving its cultural connotation.

(3) What color words are there in Chinese and English? Green? Both have positive and negative meanings. Positive meanings, such as life, hope, peace and security, are expressed in both Chinese and English. Negative meaning is different: green in English often means? Inexperienced and immature? ; There are also words that express jealousy, such as green eyes; Cheating green mail; Looks green, indicating illness, and so on. However, in Chinese, it doesn't mean that much. The most prominent negative meaning is that it means low status or that the wife is unfaithful to her husband? Green hat? .

Generally speaking, Chinese and western cultural languages have many identical understandings of green. However, due to the special historical development of China, the negative meaning represented by green in Chinese is extremely rare.

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