Abstract
Culture retires the evolution of the color words while the cultural meaning of these words reflect plentiful cultural connotation. As a result
Of different living circumstance, ideas, value orientation, custom,
Religious belief, aesthetic appeal, etc. The feeling, understanding, and expressing about color show clear national characteristic. Only if we understood the different cultural background knowledge and mastered the deep meaning of color words in the language, we would accurately grasp the symbolic meaning of color words and pragmatic meaning. So whether these words in Chinese or English, except for expressing the exact color, they more tend to embody the different cultural background that they represent. This thesis use the color words to compare and analyze the difference between the Orient and the Occident in the aspects of the values. the symbolic meaning, and language application. By the comparison of common color words such as red, yellow, blue. green, white and black. this thesis clearly expound the cultural difference of the color words between the Orient and Occident and the cause of this difference. So ,it can offer us typical case for English study and the understanding of cultural background between both sides. Then,we can improve our ability to communication in Chinese and English and improve the cultural communication and fusion.
Key words：Colors ,distinction, Chinese culture, Western Culture
Contents
Abstract…………………………………………………….……………….…I
Contents…………………………………………………….……………….…II
1.Introduction……………………………………………………….…….…1
2.Color words and culture…………………………………………………2
3. State the Chinese color words………………………………………2
3.1 “red” in Chinese culture …………………………………………2
3.2 “white”in Chinese culture…………………………………………3
3.3 “black”in Chinese culture…………………………………………4
4.Expound western color words …………………………………………4
4.1 “red”in western culture……………………………………………5
4.2 “white”in western culture…………………………………………5
4.3 “black”in western culture…………………………………………5
5.The difference between Chinese and western color words………6
5.1 The historical reasons………………………………………………6
5.3 The religious reasons…………………………………………………6
5.4 The living environment………………………………………………7
6. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………7
7. References…………………………………………………………………8
