Abstract

We are living in a colorful world, color words are essential for us. Those words used to describe different colors also make us dazzling. Whether in English or in Chinese, there are so many color words. With the communication between the Chinese and western culture, the translation and understanding of color words becomes a problem which needs to be solved rightly. This paper focuses on several color words, such as red, white, black, yellow, blue and green, using the method of comparative study analyses those differences between Chinese and English color words. According to this, we can explore the differences in cultural connotation between the Chinese and English basic color words, and put forward some feasible suggestions to deal with those differences.   

Key words: color words，comparative study，connotation，differences

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction  1

2. Connotation Contrast of Color Words .. 1

2.1 Red ..1

 2.1.1 In China.. 1 

   2.1.2 In western countries .2 

  2.2 Yellow. 2 

 2.2.1 In China .2

 2.2.2 In western countries .3

  2.3 White 3

   2.3.1 In China .3

   2.3.2 In western countries ..4

2.4 Black .4

   2.4.1 In China .4

   2.4.2 In western countries .. 5

2.5 Blue5

 2.5.1 In China ..5

 2.5.2 In western countries 6

  2.6 Green6

   2.6.1 In China.6

   2.6.2 In western countries..7

3. Reasons for the Differences Between Chinese and English Color Words..7

  3.1 Differences in living environment..7

 3.1.1 In China..7

 3.1.2 In western countries9

  3.2 Differences in historical development..9

 3.2.1 In China..9

 3.2.2 In western countries..10

  3.3 Differences in thinking mode10

 3.3.1 In China.10

 3.3.2 In western countries..10

4.Conclusion .11

References .12