Cultural Differences between English and Chinese on Idioms Origins 从习语来源看中英文化差异.doc

Cultural Differences between English and Chinese on Idioms Origins 从习语来源看中英文化差异 [Abstract] Different people from different cultures may have different understandings of the same sentence because they know little about the target cultures. While the ultimate aim of English teaching as a foreign language is to cultivate students competence to apply English correctly, fluently, and appropriately in cross-cultural communication. However, due to lack of knowledge of cultural differences, many college students fail to achieve this purpose during the actual communicating activities. It is necessary for us to study the cultural differences in some fields between China and Western countries. Language is the most principal means for inter-cultural communication. Idioms, a part of language, are the essence of culture in every country. Using language in such communication, we often come across some idioms with distinctive cultural characteristics, so it is a very important and complicated thing for us to understand and use these idioms correctly. Therefore, in this paper, we will discuss the idioms reflecting the differences of Chinese and Western cultures in various levels with many lively, important, and interesting examples of idioms. [Key Words] idioms; origins; cultural differences between English and Chinese 【摘 要】 同一句话，不同文化背景的人的反应有时是不同的，甚至会截然相反。究其原因，是说话双方没有真正掌握对方的文化。大学英语教学的目的，是使学生在跨文化交流中可以正确、流利与恰当的运用英语。而大学生在实际交流活动中，往往不能达到这一目的，这是因为他们对中两方文化差异不够了解。因此，完全有必要对中西文化差异进行详细的研究。语言是跨文化交际中最主要的手段。在运用语言进行跨文化交际时,由于民族文化差异,难免会遇到具有鲜明文化特色的成语和习语,而对此确切地理解并正确地加以运用,则是一个十分重要而又复杂的问题。习语是各国文化的精髓，反映各国的风俗习惯。因此，本文从最能体现中西文化差异的习语着手，论述习语在文化的各个层次上所反映的中西文化差异，并采纳大量生动有趣的例子作为论据进行适当的分析。【关键词】 习语;来源;英语;汉语;文化差异 IntroductionLanguage is inseparable from culture. For one thing, language is a part of culture and plays an important role in it. For another, as a mirror of culture, language is strongly influenced and shaped by culture; meanwhile, it reflects culture. Idioms include metaphorical phrases, slang,