The symbolic meaning of the color word of between China and western countries
Summary: Show in the Chinese-English language the words of different colors or color is very abundant. We not merely should pay attention to observing themselves' basic meaning, should paying attention to the deep and broad symbolic meaning of their meaning even more, because their symbolic meaning often has different characteristics in different national languages, some characteristics even form people to the advocating and taboo of the color after guiding stretching , transferred meaning. The difference of symbolic meanings of the color between such different culture is because of each national difference and producing of historical background , aesthetic psychology of culture, sanctified by usage in the sediment of development , history in the society, it is a kind of permanent culture phenomenon. The angle that this text attempts to compare from Chinese and Western culture with analysis, probe into various nationalities' culture to develop the impact on symbolic meaning of the color word.
The human language is extensive and profound, different countries, the unique glamour that different and national color words demonstrate, make people regard with special esteem. In Great Britain's Chinese-English language, all very abundant to displaying different colors or the word of the color. We not merely want to understand their each one's own basic meaning, should pay attention to the deep and broad symbolic meaning of their meaning even more. Because often there are different characteristics in different national languages in symbolic meanings of the color, some characteristics have not represented the meaning of its word itself yet, but guide stretching, transferred meaning to it.
First , midwest square color word because of our country and hopeless the greater part English country ten thousand li apart objective cause , symbolic meaning of difference, in the geographical position , scene that history aches , very great difference exists aesthetically psychologically, so the feeling of seeking the color word will not be the same. The symbolic meaning that a color word shows will be various naturally . This text will do some brief contrasts and discussions on the color of the word and symbolic meaning difference in Chinese and Western culture. By the look of definition of the color, color through eyes brain and people a kind of vision effect to the light experience of life produce, it is a vision phenomenon launched , reflecting or causing through certain light wave by the object, it is a kind of basic domestic animal of the human eye vision . About the definition of, it is relatively short to going through the time of the feudal society, and in nearly modern science is popularized and the west of development says at full speed, it is easier they accepted. The west relatively pays attention to the analysis things with rational science from the beginning, display it to the objective world and realistic scientific attitude known objectively. So, the symbolic meaning of the color is often more direct in western culture, generally symbolize some abstract cultural meaning with the concrete color of objective things For example: Western culture " getting red " to point color of " blood " but blood surge forward life liquid of the human body among the mind in westerner mainly, once the blood trickles, the life stops , so, the red make people associate it with the violence , dangerous, thus produced to the red taboo. Western Sinologist translate " Dream of the Red Chamber " may because of the fact that consider " red " make them is it bleed to associate it with, so adopted title " the stone is written " that the novel had used originally, English meant story of the stone to compare with the western civilization, Chinese culture is of long standing and well established, the feudal society that China goes through several thousand years, education and science lag behind relatively, so, in Chinese culture, the thought that the color expresses has strong mystery flavor, the development of the objective reality receives China's social development relatively largely.
Color intension and symbolic meaning are very abundant in Chinese culture, and the symbolic meaning of the color word is plural. For example, the red in Chinese culture comes from the sun. Our ancestor has a kind of instinctive attachment and worships to the sunshine, the red joyous and lucky production naturally of purpose. With getting white as example and then, in mankind initial stage, our ancestor is small and weak and unable, make them completely exposed in broad daylight, an attack of the irresistible fiendish beast of prey, therefore the dialogue color has a kind of instinctive frightened sense, so the white becomes a kind of color and prohibits avoiding as taboo in Chinese culture. It is obvious; the symbolic meaning of the color demonstrates the human psychological characteristics at the same time.
Second, concrete description of different symbolic meanings of the color in Chinese and Western culture. ,
the red advocates the color basically in our country's culture. It is lucky , joyous that it symbolizes; For example facilitate others bright marriage name " matchmaker ", joyous day will be it register for bright red lantern to want, stick to and form uniting red, the red good fortune word: The man sticks the bright red " liking " word while marrying the daughter and is married, one is lively | The prosperity is named " flourishing "; It symbolizes the revolution and progress again, for instance, Communist Party of China's initial regime is named " red regime ", the initial arms are called " the Red Army "; It is it smoothly , succeed to symbolize too, such as to very kind to known as " becoming much more popular " circumstances have people; Trusted unduly and called " the favourite follower " by the superior ; Assign to and manage profits and shout and " share out bonus", load the end with the beautiful woman to call " the beauty " ,etc..
The red is one to demote symbol that the word with quite strong purpose is " fire , blood " in western culture, representatives are cruel and ferocious and bleeding. If (1), is it massacre with violence is it claim for The red rules of tooth and claw (2 ) bloody to revenge for red revenge to ruling to describe; It symbolizes the radical violent revolution again, such as (1)It is a red revolution to describe the red revolution (2)Radical political movement represent for red hot political campaign (3 ) the Left radical activity commendatory as for a getting red one for red activities, for instance joyous day the red carpet of red days, grand reception ,etc., benefit from different culture and exchange and merge.
2, White and red and opposite, it is a basic taboo word; reflect Chinese are in the material and spiritual abandoning and disgust. The white does not have blood color, dead behavior; symbolize the death, ill omen. If the relative has wanted to wrap rough Dai Xiao after dying since ancient times, worn the white mourning dress, is called the funeral, set up the white mourning hall , should hit the white long narrow flag while carrying a coffin to the cemetery . Getting white word is it reach political influence is it fail, be unwise, is it take to have no profit to signify also to like in the course of its development, such as party that fail play " white flag " say that surrenders always among war; Call person with low intelligence " eat free ", exert oneself but make the advantage or come to naught and is named " busy oneself to no purpose " | " waste strength ". Finally, it signifies there is little knowledge, there is not fame and gain, such as calling rank and file “the commoner ", temper being scarce, scholar not deep calls “the pale-faced scholar ",etc. the experience.
Western culture getting white symbolic meaning focus on one's own color their mainly, snow such as being new, fresh milk and color of the lily. Westerners think it white and graceful and pure, so it is the advocating color in the western culture. It is evil that it signifies that too pure to have, such as (1) a white souls, pure white wedding bride's wedding in white full dress of soul (2 ); It is honest , honest that it symbolizes again, such as (1) a white spirit honest soul (2)A white men is noble, an educated person. (3)White hand is honest; It is honest , honest that it symbolizes again, such as (1) a white spirit honest soul (2)A white men is noble, an educated person. (3)White hand is honest; It symbolize lucky too, if (1) somebody, life of one of the white days o f sib’s, it have legal and having hostile meaning lucky day of the life, such as (1) white market legal market,
3, the black has heavy mysterious senses in Chinese culture, it is a kind of serious and serious tone, and its symbolic meaning seems comparatively complicated because of affecting by western culture. On one hand it symbolizes serious , justice, black face Boa Zhen in the popular legend , black type of facial make up of Zhang Fey , Li Chui in traditional Beijing opera ,etc.; It again because a one's own one their dark to give somebody sinisterly , sinister and terrific feeling while being unglazed on the other hand. It symbolizes evilly, reactionary, such as meaning the sinisterly vicious person is a black heart, hidden repulsive inside information is " shady deal ", members of the reactionary group are the reactionary gang, evil backstage manipulator, call the ruler for the list of the dissident that draws up blacklist, (2) legal bright form that white list is sanctioned, (3) a white lie harmless lie. It show crime , break the law, such as is it do bandit conduct shout " walk the underworld " , is it kill robbery of goods , do illegal inn of business name the gangster inn to claim to claim, the violated goods trade calls the black market, is named the dirty money and waited with the money that the illegal means is obtained
It is the basic taboo color in the western culture to be black (black), have reflected westerner's spiritual abandoning and disgust. It symbolizes the death , ill omen , disaster, if (1) Black Mass fits fairy Mass, (2) to wear black for her father is her father Dai Xiao, (3)black words unlucky words, (4) the fierce day of a black letter day; It symbolizes the evilness , crime, such as (1) the evil devil of Black Man, (2) a black de ed extremely abominable black guard ruffian , hooligan of behavior (3 ); It symbolizes shame, inglorious too, if a black eye disgraced , bad reputation of a black mark stain (2 ) of (1 ); Depressed , angry that it still symbolizes, such as (1) black dog depressed mood, (2) The future looks black prospects are dim, (3)He gave me a black look. He is looking at me in a great rage.
4,In a word there is a very great difference in different national culture in the symbolic meaning of the color word. Fundamentally, among Chinese culture, symbol of color based on China in the past ruling of feudalism, feudalistic superstition and primitive, backward science, educational state take shape, so the symbolic meaning of the color has quite strong inclination of politicizing and mystifying. The color in western culture signifies that benefits from the popularization degree of the national opening in the west and science , education more, symbolic meaning its little and mysterious, getting many some reason, make sometime , motivation easy to track the meaning of a word its. Symbolic meanings of the color between different cultures are all sanctified by usage in the sediment of development, history in the society; it is a kind of permanent culture phenomenon. , interesting, humor, cordial that they can make the language more vivid!
List of references:
1, “modern Chinese dictionary ", Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing House. June of 1998
2, Zhang Devin, " informal discussion of Chinese and foreign languages ", the publishing house of university of Henna is 1999.
3, Li Yantis, <>, the 2nd Foreign Language Inst. of Beijing, 1998
4, Jig Mingling, " the social cultural meaning of English color word is analyzed ", the journal of Zhen Zhou University, 1997. 3
5, " 300 Tang poetries ", Jillian People's Press, 1999.
漢英語言中表示各種不同顏色或色彩的詞語都很豐富。我們不僅要註意觀察它們本身的基本意義，更要留心它們含義深廣的象征意義，因為它們的象征意義在不同民族語言中往往有不同的特點，有些特點甚至構成了人們對經過引伸、轉義以後顏色的崇尚和禁忌。這種不同文化之間顏色象征意義的差異是由於各自民族的文化歷史背景、審美心理的不同而產生的，是在社會的發展、歷史的沈澱中約定俗成的，是壹種永久性的文化現象。本文試圖從中西文化對比的角度，去分析、探究各民族文化發展對顏色詞的象征意義的影響。
在人類語言中，顏色詞語表現出的獨特魅力，令人刮目相看。在漢英語言中，表示各種不同顏色或色彩的詞都很豐富。我們不僅要註意觀察它們本身的基本意義，更要留心它們含義深廣的象征意義，因為顏色的象征意義在不同民族語言中往往有不同的特點，有些特點甚至構成了人們對經過引伸、轉義以後顏色的崇尚和禁忌。由於我國與絕大部分英語國家相隔萬裏，地理位置、自然現象、歷史背景、審美心理等千差萬別，人們對於顏色的感受和表達不盡相同。這樣，顏色的象征意義在中西文化之間自然又會產生很大的差異。本文擬就中西文化中詞語的顏色、詞語的象征意義作壹些對比和探討，以求教於同行和讀者。
從科學的定義來說，顏色是由物體發射、反射或透過壹定光波所引起的視覺現象，是人眼視覺的壹種基本特征。顏色生成的這種定義，對經歷封建社會時間相對短，且在近代和現代教育和科學得到普及和飛速發展的西方來說，是比較易於為他們所接受的。西方從文明壹開始，就比較註重科學理性的教育和科學方法的發現，對客觀世界和客觀認識采取現實的科學態度。因此，西方文化中顏色的象征意義往往比較直接，壹般是用客觀事物的具體顏色來象征某些抽象的文化含義，所以更易追溯其語義理據和邏輯理據。例如：西方文化中的紅色（red）主要指鮮血（blood）顏色，而blood在西方人心目中是奔騰在人體內的"生命之液"。壹旦鮮血流淌下來，生命之花也就雕謝。所以red使西方人聯想到"暴力"和"危險"產生了壹種顏色禁忌。美國學者阿思海姆在他的《色彩論》中說："色彩能有力的表達情感。……紅色被認為是令人激動的，因為它能使我們想到火、血和革命的含義。"著名漢學家霍克斯在翻譯"紅樓夢"時，由於意識到red可能使現代英語讀者聯想到“暴力"、"流血"，所以采用小說原來曾使用的書名《石頭記》，譯為The story of the stone。但是由於中國經歷了幾千年的封建社會以及教育和科技的相對落後，在中國文化中，顏色的生成具有強烈的神秘色彩，它的發展受到中國社會文化發展的較大影響。在先秦，顏色詞就已經與古人的世界觀、哲學思想聯系在壹起，後來又與政治掛鉤。所以中國文化中的顏色內涵和象征意義十分豐富，而且顏色詞的象征意義是多元 的。例如，從文化人類學角度來講，中國文化中的紅色源於太陽，因為烈日如火，其色赤紅。我們的初祖在祭祈巫舞的過程中，對陽光有壹種本能的依戀和崇拜，紅色的喜慶和吉祥之意自然而然地產生了。古人還認為"日至而萬物生" （《淮南子?天文訓》）感到陽光下萬物繁茂，生機勃勃，令人振奮，因而對代表太陽的紅色產生了特別親切的感情。再以白色為例，在人類初始階段，我們的祖先弱小而無力，無法抗拒兇惡猛獸的攻擊、光天化日的白晝使他們暴露無遺，有壹種隨時都有被食肉猛獸撲食的危險，因而對白色有壹種本能的恐懼感；另外，我們的初祖還觀察到"月到中秋分外明"，因而認為明月與蕭煞的秋季連在壹起，而代表秋天的顏色也就是白色了（銀白色的中秋之月）。這樣白色在中國文化裏就成了壹種顏色禁諱。可見顏色的象征意義在漫長的歷史進程中的約定俗成的，體現出某種心理功能。下面我們就中西文化中顏色的不同象征意義進行具 體描述。
1、紅色
紅色是我國文化中的基本崇尚色，它體現了中國人在精神和物質上的追求。它象征著吉祥、喜慶，如把促 成他人美好婚姻的人叫"紅娘"，喜慶日子要掛大紅燈籠、貼紅對聯、紅福字；男娶女嫁時貼大紅"喜"字，把熱鬧、興旺叫做"紅火"；形容繁華、熱鬧的地方叫"紅塵"；它又象征革命和進步，如中***最初的政權叫“紅色政權”，最早的武裝叫“紅軍”，把政治上要求進步、業務上刻苦鉆研的人稱為“又紅又專”等；它也象征順利、成功，如人的境遇很好被稱為"走紅"、"紅極壹時"，得到上司寵信的叫"紅人"，分到合夥經營利潤叫"分紅"，給人發獎金叫"送紅包"等；它還象征美麗、漂亮，如指女子盛妝為"紅妝"或"紅裝" ，把艷妝女子稱為"紅袖"，指女子美艷的容顏為"紅顏"等。
西方文化中的紅色（red）則是壹個貶意相當強的詞，是"火"、"血"的聯想，它象征著殘暴、流血，如（1）The red rules oftooth and claw殘殺 和暴力統治，（2）red revenge血腥復仇，（3）ared battle血戰 ；它又象征激進、暴力革命，如（1）red hotpolitical campaign激烈的政治運動，（2）a red revolution 赤色革命，（3）red activities左派激進活動；它也象征危險、緊張，如（1）red alert空襲報警，（2）a red adventure story壹個令人緊張的冒險故事，（3）a red flag危險信號旗；它還象征著放蕩、淫穢，如（ 1）a red waste of his youth他那因放蕩而浪費的青春，（2）ared light district花街柳巷（紅燈區），（ 3）Is she really sored as she is painted？難到她真的象人們所描繪的那樣放蕩嗎？
至於紅色的褒義，如red—letter day喜慶的日子，the red carpet隆重的接待等，則得益於不同文化之間 的交流和融合。據考證，red的褒義是從遠東經波斯傳到西方的。
2、白色
在中國文化中，白色與紅色相反，是壹個基本禁忌詞，體現了中國人在物質和精神上的擯棄和厭惡。在中國古代的五方說中，西方為白虎，西方是刑天殺神，主蕭殺之秋，古代常在秋季征伐不義、處死犯人。所以白色是枯竭而無血色、無生命的表現，象征死亡、兇兆。如自古以來親人死後家屬要披麻戴孝（穿白色孝服）辦"白事"，要設白色靈堂，出殯時要打白幡；舊時還把白虎視為兇神，所以現在稱帶給男人厄運的女人為"白虎星"。白色的心理功能在其發展過程中由於受到政治功能的影響，又象征腐朽、反動、落後，如視為"白專道路"；它也象征失敗、愚蠢、無利可得，如在戰爭中失敗的壹方總是打著“白旗”表示投降，稱智力低下的人為"白癡"，把出力而得不到好處或沒有效果叫做"白忙"、"白費力"、"白幹"等，它還象征奸邪、陰險，如"唱白臉"、"白臉"奸雄；最後，它還象征知識淺薄、沒有功名，如稱平民百姓為"白丁"、"白衣"、"白身"，把缺乏鍛煉、閱歷不深的文人稱作"白面書生"等。
西方文化中的白色象征意義主要著眼於其本身色彩，如新下的雪、新鮮牛奶及百合花的顏色。西方人認為白色高雅純潔，所以它是西方文化中的崇尚色。它象征純真無邪，如（1）awhitesoul純潔的心靈，（2）whitewedding新娘穿白禮服的婚禮；它又象征正直、誠實，如（1）awhitespirit正直的精神，（2）whitemen高尚、有教養的人，（3）whitehand廉潔、誠實；它也象征幸運、吉利，如（1）oneofthewhitedaysofsb'slife某人生活中的吉日之壹，（2）whitemagic有天使相助的法術；它還有合法、無惡意的意思，如（1）whitemarket合法市場，（2）whitelist經過批準的合法明單，（3）awhitelie無害的謊言。
3、黑色
古代黑色為天玄，原來在中國文化裏只有沈重的神秘之感，是壹種莊重而嚴肅的色調，它的象征意義由於受西方文化的影響而顯得較為復雜。壹方面它象征嚴肅、正義，如民間傳說中的"黑臉"包公，傳統京劇中的張飛、李逵等人的黑色臉譜；另壹方面它又由於其本身的黑暗無光給人以陰險、毒辣和恐怖的感覺。它象征邪惡、反動，如指陰險狠毒的人是"黑心腸"，不可告人的醜惡內情是"黑幕"，反動集團的成員是"黑幫"、"黑手"，把統治者為進行政治迫害而開列的持不同政見者的名單稱為"黑名單"，它又表示犯罪、違法，如稱幹盜匪行徑叫"走黑道"，稱殺人劫貨、幹不法勾當的客店叫做"黑店"，違禁的貨物交易叫"黑貨"、"黑市"，用貪贓受賄等非法手段得來的錢叫"黑錢"等。
黑色（black）是西方文化中的基本禁忌色，體現了西方人精神上的擯棄和厭惡。它象征死亡、兇兆、災難，如（1）BlackMass安靈彌撒，（2）towearblackforhcrfather為她父親戴孝，（3）blackwords不吉利的話，（4）ablackletterday兇日；它象征邪惡、犯罪，如（1）BlackMan邪惡的惡魔，（2）ablackdeed極其惡劣的行為，（3）blackguard惡棍、流氓，（4）blackmail敲榨、勒索；它也象征恥辱、不光彩，如（1）ablackmark汙點，（2）blacksheep敗家子，（3）ablackeye丟臉、壞名聲，它還象征沮喪、憤怒，如（1）blackdog沮喪情緒，（2）Thefuturelooksblack前途暗淡，（3）Hegavemeablacklook。他怒氣沖沖地看著我。
4、其他顏色
黃色在中國文化中是紅色的壹種發展變異，如舊時人們把宜於辦大事的日子稱為“黃道吉日”，但是它更代表權勢、威嚴，這是因為在古代的五方、五行、五色中，中央為土黃色。黃色象征中央政權、國土之義，所以黃色便為歷代封建帝王所專有，普通人是不能隨便使用"黃色"的，如"黃袍"是天子的"龍袍"，"黃鉞"是天子的儀仗，"黃榜"是天子的詔書，"黃馬褂"是清朝皇帝欽賜文武重臣的官服。至於現在流行的與"性"有關的"黃色"觀念，有壹種說法是中西文化交流融合的壹種現象。據說美國紐約的《世界報》用黃色油墨印刷低級趣味的漫畫以爭取銷路，人們便稱這壹類不健康的刊物為“黃色刊物”.