SimilarandDifferentConnotations

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intheChineseandWesternCultures

Animals

1WhatarethetwelveanimalsignsinChineseculture?RatOxTigerHareDragonSnakeMonkeySheepHorseCockDogBoar2RatChineseconnotations:1.disgusting/annoying老鼠過街，人人喊打。(S)Aratcrossingthestreetischasedbyall.2.timid膽小如鼠(D)astimidasahareWesternconnotations:1.Suspicious/troublesome/disgracefulSmellarat覺得非常可疑2.TreacherousTheyrattedonus.他們背叛了我們.“Rat”isonlyassociatedwithsomethingderogatoryinbothChineseandWesternCultures.3OxChineseconnotations:strong/well-built壯如牛(D)strongasahorseStubborn牛勁(D)stubbornasamuleDedicated/industrious牛吃的是草,擠出的是奶.Ignorant對牛彈琴Westernconnotations:Bigeyesanox-eyedmanMisfortunesTheblackoxhastrodonhisfoot.災禍已降臨到他的頭上。“Ox”isassociatedwithmorethingswithcommendatoryconnotationsinChinathanintheWest.4TigerChineseconnotations:Cute/lovely虎頭虎腦Brave/courageous/powerful猛虎下山/狐假虎威(D)likeadonkeyinalion'sskinEvil-doing為虎作倀Westernconnotations:1.Savage/fierceamanoftiger2.Dangerousridethetiger以危險的方式生活“Tiger”isgivenbothcommendatoryandderogatoryconnotationsinChinawhereasonlyderogatoryconnotationsintheWest.5Hare(Rabbit)Chineseconnotations:cunning/sly狡兔三窟Nimbleandfast動若脫兔Westernconnotations:Timidastimidasahare膽小如鼠SomethingirrelevantYoustartahareeverytimeatthemeeting.每次討論你都提出與題無關的問題。6DragonChineseconnotations:Supreme/majestic真龍天子Industriousandenterprising龍馬精神Dangerous/fierce龍潭虎穴/龍爭虎斗龍躍鳳鳴、龍驤虎步WearethedescendentsoftheChineseDragon.

我們是龍的傳人.亞洲四小龍theFourTigersinAsia(Dragons)XWesternconnotations:brutal/fiercetheOldDragon魔鬼7SnakeChineseconnotations:Cold/cruel蛇蝎心腸Rough/careless虎頭蛇尾Fearful/frightening杯弓蛇影Westernconnotations:cold-blooded/hypocriticalJohn’sbehaviorshowhimtobeasnake.約翰的行為表明他是一個冷酷陰險的人。Dangersasnakeinthegrass.潛伏的敵人或危險8HorseChineseconnotations:prosperous/lively人歡馬叫/萬馬奔騰/車水馬龍Experienced老馬識途Powerful兵強馬壯Trouble-maker害群之馬(D)There’sablacksheepineveryflock.Westernconnotations:Strong/healthystrongasahorseAnunexpectedwinneradarkhorse黑馬Hard-workingworklikeahorse勤奮工作9SheepChineseconnotations:obedient/docile溫順的小羊Goodluck/united&successful三羊開泰和三陽開泰(aChinesegreeting)Adangerouscondition羊腸小道Westernconnotations:1.bashful/timid/obedient/weakHethatmakeshimselfasheepshallbeeatenbythewolf.甘心做綿羊，早晚喂豹狼（人弱受人欺）Thesheepwhotalkspeacewithawolfwillsoonbemutton.切勿向敵人乞求和平10MonkeyChineseconnotations:1.naughty/clever猴里猴氣/猴兒精2.Timid殺雞給猴看Westernconnotations:1.NaughtyWhatareyoudoing,youyoungmonkey!你在干什么呀，小搗蛋鬼！2.trouble-makingStopmonkeyingaboutwiththeTVset!不要瞎弄電視機！3.Cheatmakeamonkeyofsb.愚弄11CockChineseconnotations:Diligent聞雞起舞Disturbing雞犬不寧Dispirited呆若木雞Weakarea雞肋Westernconnotations:Proudcockone’sheadHeisthecockofthewalk/school.支配別人的人12DogLovemelovemydog愛屋及烏Everydoghashisday凡人皆有得意日Gotothedogs墮落Thedogbeforeitsmaster暴風雨之前的風浪13與豬有關的詞組Inapig’swhisper轉眼之間低聲的說Pigsmightfly!奇跡可能發生羊還能上樹!14中西文化中關于顏色的不同說法colour15紅色red古埃及人認為他們自己為紅色民族，并將紅色來表示強調。古羅馬人在戰爭中用紅色旗幟作為戰斗的標志。法國革命時期紅色旗幟成為反抗舊制度的象征(asymbolofinsurrection)。在俄羅斯紅色意味著美麗。在印度紅色是軍人的象征。在中國紅色表示幸福。用于一切美好的事情，尤其是婚禮和生日慶典。而作為交通信號色紅色則表示停止。16以下是一些使用紅色（red）的句子：1.Whenhestartedcriticizingmywork,Ireallysawred.(beveryangry)2.WhenthePresidentvisitedBeijing,hewasgivenared–carpetwelcomebyagreatcrowd.(averygrandorimpressivewelcome)3.Ineedanewpassport,butbecauseoftheredtape,Iwon’tgetitintimeformyholidayabroad.(rigidapplicationofregulatingcausingdelayingettingbusinessdone)4.Itwasared-letterdayforuswhengrandfathercamebackfromthehospital.(averyhappyday)5.WhenIarrivedattherailwaystation,Iaskedaredcaptocarryoutbaggage.(aporter)17藍色blue藍色在宗教上象征著真理，并且與神力相聯系。因為它可以象征著天堂，所以被牧師用在墓地。在古羅馬侍從們穿著藍色的服裝，這就是今天警察制服的由來。對于以色列人藍色則象征著愛、忠誠和純潔。藍色讓人聯想到天空和大海，所以它被用來作為航空郵遞和海軍的標志。當今工廠還把藍色作為待修設備的標識18以下是一些使用藍色blue的句子：1.I’minbluetoday.(depressed)2.Thenewswasagreatshocktome.Itcameabsolutelyoutoftheblue.(suddenandunexpectedly)3.Athinglikethatonlyhappensonceinabluemoon.(veryseldom)4.Heputmetothebluebyhisfoolishbehaviorwhenwewereouttogether.(mademefeelshamed)19綠色（green）綠色象征著自然。在埃及寺廟的地面是綠色的。在希臘和摩爾人中綠色代表勝利。對于穆斯林來說綠色是神圣的，在前往圣地麥加朝圣之后他們手拿綠色的旗幟,頭戴綠色的（穆斯林的）頭巾。他們甚至把做禱辭用的小塊地毯也設計成綠色圖案。蘇格蘭高地人以身穿綠色來代表榮譽。綠色也是愛爾蘭的國色。綠色作為交通信號色則表示通行。在醫療急救設備上往往涂有綠色。在家庭中使用綠色可有益于消除身心疲憊。20以下是一些使用綠色green的句子：1.Heisstillgreeninhisjob.(inexperienced,immature)2.Sheisgreenwithenvywhenherbrotherboughtanewbike.(jealous)3.Mothergaveusthegreenlighttogoonthecampingtrip.(permitustogocamping)4.Greenwooddoesnotburnwell.(notdrywood)21

黑色（black）黑色幾乎被所有國家的人們用于葬禮。黑色也被認為表示恥辱與詭秘，常常讓人聯想到魔法和巫術。由于在各種顏色的組合中，黑色在黃色襯托下有最大的可視性，所以常常被用于交通標志和一些廣告牌的制作。22

以下是一些使用黑色black的句子：1.Thestrikersblackedtheship.(refusetoloadorunloadthecargofromtheship.)2.Georgeistheblacksheepofthefamily.(apersonconsidereddisreputablebyhisfamily)3.Heblackoutthewordshedidn’twant.(wipedout)4.Thingslookbl