管理学 点击: 2018-06-20
浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异
浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异
学生:罗玲 指导老师:谷一明
摘要:谚语是语言文化的瑰宝,它以其深刻、简练的语言浓缩了各民族的历史文化,反映了劳动人民的生活实践经验。透过谚语的窗口来窥探中西方文化中的风俗习惯、宗教文化及思维方式的差异,令人更深刻的感悟到谚语传递的文化蕴含。本文着重从谚语折射出的对生存环境、风俗习惯、宗教信仰和道德观念四方面来探讨中西方文化的差异。通过对中西方谚语的对比研究折射出的文化差异,展现了中西方文化差异带来的异域风情!
关键词:谚语;中西方;文化差异;
Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Proverbs
Abstract: Proverbs are a treasure of language culture, with its profound and concise language condensing history and culture of various nationalities. Most reflect the practical experience of working people's life. Through the proverbial window to spy the differences of Western and Chinese social customs and habits religion, and way of thinking, people come to perceive more profound cultural implication passed on by proverbs. This article focuses on the living environment, customs, religious beliefs and moral conception reflected by the proverbs, in these four aspects to explore differences between Western Chinese culture.Through the comparative study of Chinese and Western proverbs, this demonstrates the exotic differences between Chinese and Western culture.
Key words: proverbs;west and east; cultural differences;
Contents
Introduction
Part I The definition,classifications and features of proverbs
1.1 The definition of proverbs
1.2 The classifications of proverbs
1.3 The features of proverbs
1.3.1The particular syntactic structure
Part II The functions of proverbs
2.1 The phatic communication
2.2 Cultivation of mind and formation of behavior
2.3 Perception of the nature
2.3.1 Experience of observing weather
2.3.2 Awareness of creature’s survival and reproduction
2.4 Summarizing the experience of life
2.4.1 appropriate way of interpersonal relationship
2.4.2 experience obtained from work
Part III Cultural Difference between Western and Chinese proverbs
3.1 Different way of life
3.1.1 The majority of English proverbs concerning sailing,fishing
3.1.2 Chinese proverb associated more with agricultural production
3.1.3 Geography determines the way of life
3.2 Proverbs demonstrate the different customs
3.2.1 Different culture of pets
3.2.2 The valuation of etiquette
3.2.1.4 Chinese value friendship
3.2.1.5 Westerners are self-centered
3.3 Proverbs reflects the differences of religious belief
3.3.1 Most westerners believe in Christian
3.3.1.1 God is the supreme god
3.3.1.2 Advocation of equality{中西方文化谚语}.
3.3.2 Chinese largely believe in buddhism,taonism,confucianism
3.3.2.1 Atheism,believe in the power of abstraction
3.3.2.2 Hierarchical,class-oriented from person to person
3.4 Proverbs embodies the differences of the moral conception
3.4.1 The different value of the public reputation
3.4.3 Ongoing discrimination against chinese women
3.4.4 western women are of high status
Conclusion
Bibliography
西方的谚语文化
man proposes, god disposes.
这个说法最早见于14世纪,起初以 “if man proposes evil, god disposes of it.” 的形式出现, 意思是上帝会阻止想要为恶的人。这里的god, 既可以指上帝, 又可以指天意。 就像我们常说的“尽人事, 听天命”、“谋事在人,成事在天”一样, 尽力而为之后, 还要顺从自然的规律。 毕竟,人类是自然的一部分, 凡事皆不可强求, 与自然的和谐是人类的生存之本。
例如:
a: bob, how about tomorrow’s driving test?sure to pass,huh?
b: i don’t know. i’ve done enough, i’d say. anyway, man proposes, god disposes. i am praying for good luck.
it is a sin to steal a pin.
该句的字面意思是: 即使是偷一根针也是一种罪过。还记得那句古训吗?“勿以恶小而为之, 勿以善小而不为。”冀望之切,溢于言表。不要因为犯的是小错就可以听之任之。 例如:
honesty is the best policy. never covet what is not yours, for it is a sin to steal a pin.
if you play with fire, you get burnt.
正如西方谚语所说:fire is a good servant but a bad master.
火在人们的掌控之下时是人类股掌之上的可爱精灵:篝火给人温暖,烟花处处讨人欢心。可是一旦它的力量过大,就凌驾于人类之上,再不受人的掌握。权力亦是如此,当它逐渐膨胀
不可收拾时,就成为一个暴戾的君王,统治人们的言行。所谓“玩火者必自焚”,铤而走险的盲目举动会招致无穷祸患。
例如:
the abuse of power has sent many people into jail, which shows that playing with fire could get you burnt.
revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
很形象的一句谚语。所有的菜肴都必须趁热吃,唯独revenge是个例外。“君子报仇,十年未晚。”
例如:
he has done serious wrong to his friends. you just wait and see. they will not let him go scot-free. revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
there is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪,有水才行船。
任何事情的发生都是有前兆的,“流言”的兴起有时也不完全是无中生有。虽然说是“坐得船头稳,不怕浪来颠”(相似的西谚是“do right and fear no man。”),但风起于青萍之末,一只蝴蝶扇动翅膀就可能引起大洋彼岸的一场大风暴。做人、谋事,谨慎为佳。 例如:no smoke without fire, said the detective.
smoke signals can be misread, countered sloan.
every dog has its day.
这里的day,是指opportunities, 即成功的机会;而dog 则泛指那些地位低下、似乎没有出息的人。“士别三日,当刮目相看”,落魄的人若发奋图强,总会有出头之日。 (又作all dogs have their days。)
例如:
you must not look down upon him. though poor and gloomy. he could turn out to be outstanding one day. as the saying goes, every dog has its day. if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.
这是一句很经典的谚语,也就是我们中文里说的“近朱者赤,近墨者黑”。 在这条英文谚语中体现出来的只是“近墨者黑”的一面。虽然中文里还有成语“出污泥而不染”一说,但环境对于人的影响仍然不可小觑。
例如:
-just to a friend’s.
-to a friend’s? just for a glass of liquor, huh? you’re going to be drowned in liquor, i’d say! if you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up to find yourself with millions of fleas!
it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog.
人非圣贤,孰能无过。人们总会犯一些错误,也许做者无心但观者有意。有些小人,自己抱残守缺,不干实事,却挖空心思,找别人的缺点和麻烦。欲加之罪,何患无辞? 例如: -did you know that jeff’s been fired?
-no. what for?
-jeff sometimes had ideas different from our boss’s.
-yeah, but jeff hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?
-well, boss is boss。 it is always easy to find a stick to beat a dog. you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.
这句谚语说的是:人老了思想容易僵化,对新生事物很难接受。
例如:{中西方文化谚语}.
don’t forget wang is already 80. at his age, you can’t expect him to learn the tap dance. you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, you know.
从以上的几则谚语我们可以观察到中西文化的一个有趣的区别。西方人经常用狗来比喻人,如,lucky dog(幸运儿),因为他们并不歧视狗。而在汉语中,有不少涉及狗的谚语和成语都是贬义的,如“狗改不了吃屎”、“挂羊头卖狗肉”、“狗仗人势”、“狗嘴里吐不出象牙”等。当然,英文中dog一词有时也带有贬义,但往往含义与中文不尽相同,我们使用时切忌望文生义。如,it is a dog’s life chris is leading。 某位教授认为“a dog’s life”的意思是“悲惨的生活”,因而在一篇论及中英文化差别的文章中将其译成“过着牛马不如的生活”。其实“a dog’s life”指的是“争吵不休,过着不安宁的日子”。这类成语很多,如go to the dogs(每况愈下),dog-eat-dog(狗咬狗的,损人利己的),dog in the manger(占着茅坑不拉屎的人)。还有一些没有任何褒贬涵义的用法,如dog days(大热天),doggy bag(餐馆里的打包袋),据说,早先人们碍于面子,不愿明说要把剩菜带回家吃,佯称要带给狗吃,所以叫doggy bag.
上面四条西方谚语都可以在汉语中找到相似的表达,但下面两条却全然不同了。lightning never strikes the same place twice.
“闪电从不打同一个地方”,与我们说的“福无双至,祸不单行”恰恰相反,这也是差异的一个有趣的体现。
例如:
-how were your exams? all over?
one swallow does not make a summer.
swallow 是燕子。西谚说,一只燕子飞来不能代表夏天的来临。而中国成语却说, 一叶知秋。两种说法各有其智慧。“one swallow does not make a summer”强调的是要区别一般
性与特殊性的辩证哲理; 而“一叶知秋”体现的则是从细微的端倪窥见总体趋势的睿智。 例如:
-hey, look! the scores are already 2:1!liverpool is sure to win, i bet! -i don’t think so. one swallow does not make a summer. miracles always happen the last minute.篇二:浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异
浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异
学生:罗玲指导老师:谷一明
摘要:谚语是语言文化的瑰宝,它以其深刻、简练的语言浓缩了各民族的历史文化,反映了劳动人民的生活实践经验。透过谚语的窗口来窥探中西方文化中的风俗习惯、宗教文化及思维方式的差异,令人更深刻的感悟到谚语传递的文化蕴含。本文着重从谚语折射出的对生存环境、风俗习惯、宗教信仰和道德观念四方面来探讨中西方文化的差异。
西方文化谚语
Man proposes, God disposes.
这个说法最早见于14世纪,起初以 “If man proposes evil, God disposes of it.” 的形式出现, 意思是上帝会阻止想要为恶的人。这里的God, 既可以指上帝, 又可以指天意。 就像我们常说的“尽人事, 听天命”、“谋事在人,成事在天”一样, 尽力而为之后, 还要顺从自然的规律。 毕竟,人类是自然的一部分, 凡事皆不可强求, 与自然的和谐是人类的生存之本。
例如:
A: Bob, how about tomorrow’s driving test?Sure to pass,huh?
B: I don’t know. I’ve done enough, I’d say. Anyway, man proposes, God disposes. I am praying for good luck.
It is a sin to steal a pin.
该句的字面意思是: 即使是偷一根针也是一种罪过。还记得那句古训吗?“勿以恶小而为之, 勿以善小而不为。”冀望之切,溢于言表。不要因为犯的是小错就可以听之任之。 例如:
Honesty is the best policy. Never covet what is not yours, for it is a sin to steal a pin.
If you play with fire, you get burnt.
正如西方谚语所说:Fire is a good servant but a bad master.
火在人们的掌控之下时是人类股掌之上的可爱精灵:篝火给人温暖,烟花处处讨人欢心。可是一旦它的力量过大,就凌驾于人类之上,再不受人的掌握。权力亦是如此,当它逐渐膨胀
不可收拾时,就成为一个暴戾的君王,统治人们的言行。所谓“玩火者必自焚”,铤而走险的盲目举动会招致无穷祸患。
例如:
The abuse of power has sent many people into jail, which shows that playing with fire could get you burnt.
Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.
很形象的一句谚语。所有的菜肴都必须趁热吃,唯独revenge是个例外。“君子报仇,十年未晚。”
例如:
He has done serious wrong to his friends. You just wait and see. They will not let him go scot-free. Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold.{中西方文化谚语}.
There is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪,有水才行船。
任何事情的发生都是有前兆的,“流言”的兴起有时也不完全是无中生有。虽然说是“坐得船头稳,不怕浪来颠”(相似的西谚是“Do right and fear no man。”),但风起于青萍之末,一只蝴蝶扇动翅膀就可能引起大洋彼岸的一场大风暴。做人、谋事,谨慎为佳。 例如:"No smoke without fire," said the detective.
"Smoke signals can be misread," countered Sloan.
Every dog has its day.
这里的day,是指opportunities, 即成功的机会;而dog 则泛指那些地位低下、似乎没有出息的人。“士别三日,当刮目相看”,落魄的人若发奋图强,总会有出头之日。 (又作All dogs have their days。)
例如:
You must not look down upon him. Though poor and gloomy. he could turn out to be outstanding one day. As the saying goes, every dog has its day. If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.
这是一句很经典的谚语,也就是我们中文里说的“近朱者赤,近墨者黑”。 在这条英文谚语中体现出来的只是“近墨者黑”的一面。虽然中文里还有成语“出污泥而不染”一说,但环境对于人的影响仍然不可小觑。
例如:
-Harry! How come you’re back so late? Where’ve you been?
-Just to a friend’s.
-To a friend’s? Just for a glass of liquor, huh? You’re going to be drowned in liquor, I’d say! If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up to find yourself with millions of fleas!
It is easy to find a stick to beat a dog.
人非圣贤,孰能无过。人们总会犯一些错误,也许做者无心但观者有意。有些小人,自己抱残守缺,不干实事,却挖空心思,找别人的缺点和麻烦。欲加之罪,何患无辞? 例如:
-Did you know that Jeff’s been fired?
-No. What for?
-Jeff sometimes had ideas different from our boss’s.
-Yeah, but Jeff hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?
-Well, boss is boss。 It is always easy to find a stick to beat a dog. You can’t teach old dogs new tricks.
这句谚语说的是:人老了思想容易僵化,对新生事物很难接受。
例如:
Don’t forget Wang is already 80. At his age, you can’t expect him to learn the tap dance. You can’t teach old dogs new tricks, you know.
从以上的几则谚语我们可以观察到中西文化的一个有趣的区别。西方人经常用狗来比喻人,如,lucky dog(幸运儿),因为他们并不歧视狗。而在汉语中,有不少涉及狗的谚语和成语都是贬义的,如“狗改不了吃屎”、“挂羊头卖狗肉”、“狗仗人势”、“狗嘴里吐不出象牙”等。当然,英文中dog一词有时也带有贬义,但往往含义与中文不尽相同,我们使用时切忌望文生义。如,It is a dog’s life Chris is leading。 某位教授认为“a dog’s life”的意思是“悲惨的生活”,因而在一篇论及中英文化差别的文章中将其译成“过着牛马不如的生活”。其实“a dog’s life”指的是“争吵不休,过着不安宁的日子”。这类成语很多,如go to the dogs(每况愈下),dog-eat-dog(狗咬狗的,损人利己的),dog in the manger(占着茅坑不拉屎的人)。还有一些没有任何褒贬涵义的用法,如dog days(大热天),doggy bag(餐馆里的打包袋),据说,早先人们碍于面子,不愿明说要把剩菜带回家吃,佯称要带给狗吃,所以叫doggy bag.
上面四条西方谚语都可以在汉语中找到相似的表达,但下面两条却全然不同了。Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
“闪电从不打同一个地方”,与我们说的“福无双至,祸不单行”恰恰相反,这也是差异的一个有趣的体现。
例如:
-How were your exams? All over?
-I really don’t know. I did rather poorly last time. I hope I’ll do better this time. -Come on, don’t worry about it。 You are sure to pass。 As the saying goes, lightening never strikes the same place twice.
One swallow does not make a summer.
swallow 是燕子。西谚说,一只燕子飞来不能代表夏天的来临。而中国成语却说, 一叶知秋。两种说法各有其智慧。“One swallow does not make a summer”强调的是要区别一般性与特殊性的辩证哲理; 而“一叶知秋”体现的则是从细微的端倪窥见总体趋势的睿智。 例如:
-Hey, look! The scores are already 2:1!Liverpool is sure to win, I bet! -I don’t think so. One swallow does not make a summer. Miracles always happen the last minute.
中西谚语对照
中西谚语对照
来源:文国网 2007年09月30日 [ 词霸划词 已启用]
关键词: 我来评论 进入社区
Lit为直译
Fig为西班牙同意义或者类似意义的谚语
1. 开卷有益
Lit. Es siempre provechoso abrir cualquier libro.
Fig. Libro cerrado, no saca letrado.
2. 尺有所长,寸有所短。{中西方文化谚语}.
Lit. Un chi (medida de longitud china equivalente a un tercio de metro) puede resultar corto, y un cun (un décimo de chi), largo.
Fig. Toda persona o cosa tiene su mérito y demétiro.
3. 少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲。
Lit. El que de joven no es acucioso, llegado a viejo en vano se lamentará.
Fig. A mocedad ociosa, vejez trabajosa.
4. 一寸光阴,一寸金。
Lit. Una pulgada de tiempo es una pulgada de oro.
Fig. El tiempo es oro.
5. 一丘之貉
Lit. Lobos de la misma camada.
Fig. Tal para cual, Pascuala con Pascual.
6. 一失足成千古恨
Lit. Un paso en falso se hace deplorar toda la vida.{中西方文化谚语}.
Fig. Un error momentáneo llega a ser un remordimiento enterno.
7. 一叶障目,不见泰山
Lit. Una hoja ante los ojos impide ver la montaña Taishan.
Fig. No ver lo importante por tener la vista obstruida por lo trivial.
8. 一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳。
Lit. Quien un día fue picado por la vibora, siente temor a una soga enroscada durante diez años.
Fig. Gato escaldado, del agua fría huye.
9. 一年之计在于春。
Lit. El trabajo entero de un año depende de un buen comienzo en primavera.
La primavera es la temporada clave del año.
Fig. Abril y mayo, las llaves de todo el año.
10. 一贫如洗
Lit. Ser pobre como si hubiera sido lavado
Fig. Más pobre que las ratas; no tener dónde caerse muerto.
11. 一箭双雕。
Lit. Matar dos águilas con una sola flecha.
Fig. Matar dos pájaros de un tiro.
12. 一言既出,驷马难追。
Lit. Ni cuatro caballos galopando pueden recuperar la palabra empeñada.
Fig. La palabra y la piedra suelta no tienen vuelta.
13. 人不可貌相
Lit. A un hombre no se le puede juzgar por las apariencias.
Fig. Las apariencias engañan.
El hábito no hace al monje.
En chica casa, grande hombre cabe.
14. 麻雀虽小,五脏具全。
Lit. El gorrión, a pesar de su pequeñez, tiene todas las vísceras.
Fig. Pequeño pero completo
15. 留得青山在,不怕没柴烧。
Lit. Mientras haya montes verdes, no hay por qué inquietarse por la leña.
Fig. Mientras hay vida, hay esperanza.
16. 前事不忘,后事之师。
Lit. La experiencia del pasado, si no cae en el olvido, sirve de guía para el futuro.
Fig. La experiencia es la madre de la ciencia.
17. 前人栽树,后人乘凉。
Lit. La generación anterior planta árboles y la posterior se cobija a su sombra.
Fig. Trabajar en provecho de generaciones venideras.
18. 患难识知己。
Lit. Los verdaderos amigos se conocen en la adversidad.
Fig. En luego camino y en cama angosta se conocen los amigos..
19. 前车之履,后车之鉴。
Lit. El vuelco del carro delantero puede servir de aviso al que va detrás.
Fig. El cuerdo en cabeza ajena escarmienta
20. 山中无老虎,猴子称大王。
Lit. Sin tigres en el monte, el mono es rey.
Si no hubiera tigres en el monte, el mono sería el rey.
Fig. En tierra de ciegos, el tuerto es rey.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
21. 千里送鹅毛,礼轻情意重
Lit. Enviar desde la lejanía a mil li plumas de ganso, por liviano que sea el regalo, encierra afecto profundo.
西方谚语集萃
After a storm comes a calm.雨过天晴。
A good tale is none the worse for being told twice.好戏不厌百回看。
All good things come to an end.好花不常开,好景不常在。
A miss is as good as a mile.失之毫厘,差之千里。
As you sow, so shall you reap.种豆得豆,种瓜得瓜。
Beauty is but skin deep.人不可貌相。
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.情人眼里出西施。
Beggars must not be choosers.饥不择食。
Clothes do not make the man.人不可貌相。
Coming events cast their shadows before.山雨欲来风满楼。
Custom makes all things easy.习惯成自然
Dead men tell no tales.死无对证。
Diamond cut diamond.强中自有强中手。
Don’t cross a bridge till you come to it.船到桥头自然直。
Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.家丑不可外传。
Every flow must have its ebb.人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺。
Experience is the best teacher.不经一事,不长一智。
Extremes meet.物极必反。
Waste not, want not. 俭以防匮。
From saving comes having. 富有来自节俭。
Frugality is an estate alone. 节俭本身就是一宗财产。
Small gains bring great wealth. 积小利,成巨富。
Many a little makes a mickle. 积少便成多。
As the touchstone tries gold, so gold tries man. 试金之石可试金,正如黄金能试人。 Nothing is difficult to the man who will try. 世上无难事,只要人肯试。
The fire is the test of gold; adversity of strong man. 烈火试真金,困苦炼壮士。
Great hopes make great man.
远大的希望造就伟大的人物。
No way is impossible to courage. 勇士面前无险路。
He that falls today may be up again tomorrow. 今天跌倒的人也许明天就会站起。 Rome was not built in a day. 罗马并非一日可建成;坚持必成。
Success belongs to the persevering. 胜利属于坚忍不拔的人。
Step by step the ladder is ascended. 登梯需要逐级登。
Adversity leads to prosperity. 困苦通向昌盛。
Constant dropping wears the stone. 滴水不绝可穿石
Pardoning the bad is injuring the good. 隐恶败善;原谅坏人即是伤害好人。
The evil wound is cured but not the evil name. 重伤可治,恶名难去。
Evil communications corrupt good manners. 不良的交往败坏良好的举止。
No wrong without remedy. 有过皆可补。
No wisdom like silence. 聪明莫过沉默。
Least said, soonest mended. 少说为妙。
Second thoughts are best. 再思而后行。
Look before you leap. 慎思而后行。
Marry thy like. 跟你情投意合的人结婚。
Spare the rod and spoil the child. 省了棍子,惯坏了孩子。
Naughty boys sometimes make good men. 淘气的男孩有时会成为争气的孩子。
The child is father of the man. 三岁定到老。
Happy is he that is happy in childhood. 童年时快乐的人是幸福的。
Children and fools cannot lie. 孩子和愚人不会扯谎。
My son is my son till he hath got him a wife, but my daughter's my daughter all the days of her life. 儿子娶妻后就不是自己的儿子,可是女儿终身都是。
Love is blind. 爱情是盲目的。
Love is without reason. 爱情无理智。
Love at first sight. 一见倾心
New lords, new laws. 新君立新法。
Laws catch flies and let hornets go free. 法网只捕蝇,黄蜂由它去。
Where drums beat, laws are silent. 战鼓一响,法律无声。
An upright judge has more regard to justice than to men. 法官能公正,重法不重人。 That trial is not fair where affection is the judge. 法官动感情,审判难公正。
A good lawyer, an evil neighbour. 好律师不是好邻居。
Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚,人以群分。
The bird that can sing and won't sing must be made to sing. 生来能唱的鸟,不愿唱也得叫它唱。
The fowler's pipe sounds sweet until the bird is caught. 捕禽人笛声悠扬,直吹得鸟儿落网。 He that will take the bird must not scare it. 捕鸟休惊鸟。
The noisy fowler catches no bird. 捕禽人大肆声张,鸟儿就不会落网。
Old birds are not caught with new nests. 新网难捕老鸟。