ABSTRACT:Numerals are such a necessary part in any language in the long process of nation culture’s development, that they have been given a certain set of cultural connotations. Through ages of time, Chinese people have been treating numerals with their unique understanding. Numerals are not only regarded as a measure to count, but also a symbol of culture. Numerals are a crucial part in Chinese language culture and a milestone which witnesses the ignorance to civilization of human being. Numerals as well as their unique connotations and functions play a vital role in human’s communication and development. Through interpreting various numerals in Chinese, people will be able to find out the characters of all kinds of culture, the customs of different places, and psychological characteristics of diverse nations. 

   In order to understand and use numerals correctly, people need to comprehend their deep cultural connotations. This paper aims to do research on the rich cultural connotations of Chinese numerals. On the basis of summarizing the culture connotations of Chinese numerals, this paper will take numeral “Two”, “Eight” and “Nine” as examples, illuminating their culture deposits in society, discussing their different characters and manifestations in actual use, and further analyzing the causes. By means of probing into numerals’ deep connotations and functions in Chinese culture, this paper intends to benefit the English language learning, intercultural study and the numerals-related translation.

Key words: Culture   Numerals   Connotation    Chinese

摘要:数字是任何语言中都不可缺少的重要组成部分，在民族文化长期发展的过程中，数字被赋予了丰富的文化内涵。自古以来，中国人对数字始终有着神圣的理解和敬畏的心理，他们不只是把数字当作一种记数的符号。数词是人类从蒙昧走向文明的一个重要标志, 也是中国古代文化的一个重要组成部分。数词以其独特的内涵和功能,在人类文化交流与发展中起着重要的作用。通过解析不同的数词,我们可以发现其中所影射的各种文化的历史特点、不同地区的风俗习惯及不同民族的心理特点。

　　　正确理解和运用数词，必须清楚地了解其深刻的文化内涵。本文旨在研究汉语数字深刻的文化内涵，在总结汉语数词的文化内涵的基础上，以 “二”、“八”、“九”为例，分别阐释其在社会生活中的文化底蕴，探讨汉语数词在实际运用中体现出来的不同特点和表现形式并分析其形成的原因。通过探析数字在中国文化中的深刻含义和运用，解释这种语言现象产生的根源，以期对中西文化研究、语言学习及中英数字习语的翻译有所助益。

关键词：文化  数词  内涵  汉语