Abstract: This paper puts an emphasis on the color white, analyzes the similar as well as different connotations in Chinese and English cultures, discusses various reasons for these differences, and touches upon their influences on the cross-cultural communication. Along with the development of human culture, the vocabulary that expresses color have accordingly been enriched, and these color words have been given many other new significances other than its original express of color. However, due to the various natural environments, historical backgrounds, political backgrounds, religious belief, living habits, and other factors, same color may carry different connotative meanings in different cultures. And therefore an analysis of the same color in different cultures is of great importance in cross-cultural communication.

Key words: White; Connotation; Contrastive; Chinese and English

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

  1.1 Classification of Color Terms 

1.2 Function of Color Terms

2. Literature Review ..2

3. The Similarities of Expressing the Color White 

in Chinese and English Culture..3

  3.1 Purity and Innocence

  3.2 Ineffectiveness and No Value

4. The Differences of Expressing the Color White

in Chinese and English Culture.4

4.1 The Connotation of the Color White in Chinese Culture

4.1.1 Death and Ill Omen

4.1.2 Treacherousness and Insidiousness

4.1.3 Decay and Reaction

  4.2 The Connotation of the Color White in English Culture

4.2.1 Authority and Prestige

4.2.2 Festivity and Good Fortune

4.2.3 Honesty and Integrity

5. The Factors Causing Different Cultural Connotations of the Color White in Chinese and English Culture.7

5.1 Natural Environments and Historical Backgrounds

5.2 Political Backgrounds and Religious Belief

5.3 Living Habits

6. Conclusion.8

Bibliography.10

Acknowledgements..11