Abstract：This thesis conducts a contrastive analysis of the food idioms in Chinese and English from the perspective of folk culture. First, definitions of idiom and folk culture are given and by conducting a comparative study of Chinese and English food idioms, this thesis studies the similarities and differences between Chinese and English food idioms. Then in order to further explain the reasons for those differences between English and Chinese food idioms, this thesis studies the influence of folk culture on food idioms from the following four aspects: different eating concepts; different eating tools; eating different foods and different eating purpose. The meaning and conclusion of this thesis is made in the last part. In a word, the meaning of this thesis is that it can deepen the language learners’ understanding of the food idioms.

Key words: food idioms; folk culture; English; Chinese; comparative study

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

3. Similarities and Differences between English and Chinese Food Idioms-3

3.1 Similarities between English and Chinese food idioms-3

3.2 Differences between English and Chinese food idioms-4

3.2.1 Different foods with the same connotation-4

3.2.2 Same food with different connotations-6

3.2.3 Unique food with unique connotation-8

4. Folk Culture Influences on English and Chinese Food Idiom-9

4.1 Different eating concepts-9

4.2 Different eating tools-10

4.3 Eating different foods-11

4.4. Different eating purposes-11

5. Conclusion-12

Works Cited-14