1. Traditional customs
Every nation has its own traditional culture, in which its own traditional customs, are different from others. These differences reflect the bright national feeling and characteristics. For example, people from different nations have different feelings to the same animal.
1.1 Bat
In China, bat stands for “happiness”. Because in Chinese, the pronunciation of “蝠 ” is the same as “福”(happiness), Chinese people think that bat is a lucky thing meaning happiness. On the contrary, bat stands for an unlucky thing in Britain, which we can see from many English proverbs. For example,“ As blind as a bat. 有眼无珠”.
1.2 Dog
In China, although some people feed dogs, most people abhor and despite this kind of animal psychologically. They often compare dogs with bad people or some disgusted things. On the contrary, Englishmen like dogs, because they think that dogs can hunt with them and look their homes. They regard dogs as their companions and pets. Therefore, in many English proverbs, British people often compare dogs with people. For example,
1. Beat the dog before the lion.
杀鸡给猴看。
2. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
宁为鸡头，勿为凤尾。
3. Love me, love my dog.
爱屋及乌
4. Every dog has its day.
凡人皆有得意时。
5. Let the sleeping dog lie.
别惹是生非。
6. Barking dogs do not bite.
吠犬不咬人
7. Dog does not eat dog.
同类不相残.
8. A good dog deserves a good bone.
有功者受赏.
1.3 Dragon
Dragon is an imaginary animal with wings and claws, able to breathe out fire. In China, dragon is regarded as an auspicious deity standing for emperor. So Chinese people adore it very much, and compare themselves with dragon, such as“炎黄子孙”,“龙的传人” and “望子成龙”. But in British mythology, dragon is a fierce and cruel animal with four feet, which is a synonym of evil. So dragon is a derogatory sense in Britain. For example, to sow dragon’s teeth，播下不和的种子；to chase the dragon. 服用鸦片／海洛因。 2. Religion
2.1 Christianity
We all know that Buddhism has great influence on Chinese culture. So there are many Chinese proverbs referring to Buddhism, for example, “借花献佛” “闲时不烧香，临是抱佛脚” . However, Britain is a nation which is influenced deeply by Christianity. There are many English proverbs referring to God, heaven, devil, hell, etc. For example,
1. Go through hell and high water.
赴汤蹈火。
2. God helps those who help themselves.
自助者，神助之。
3. Talk of the devil and he will appear.
说到魔鬼，魔鬼就到。
4. Man proposes, God disposes.
谋事在人,成事在天.
5. Mills of God grind slow but sure.
天网恢恢,疏而不漏. 2.2 Bible
We all know that Bible is a book referring to Christianity, and it is also an essential book in every English family. Even though in a small poor village, you will find that there is a Bible in every farmer’s austere house. Obviously, Bible has controlled English people’s spirit and every aspect of their life, which has been reflected in many English proverbs. For example, Forceful as Samson 像参孙一样力大无比, (朱艳，2017). Samson is one of the most famous giants in Bible. He was full of plentiful energy, which God Jehovah gave him. Samson once mangled a lion without any weapon as he ripped a little lamb. Moreover, he once used a jawbone of an ass to kill 1000 Philistines. Unfortunately, Philistines seized him, and they scratched his couple of eyes. With great angry, Samson pushed over Philistine’s house, which just smashed 3000 Philistines. At the same time, he was also smashed by the fallen house. Therefore, in Britain, Samson symbolizes person who is with great energy.
There are many English proverbs coming from Bible. For example,
1. Spare the rid and spoil the child.
舍不得棍子，宠坏了孩子。
2. Beard the lion in his den.
老虎嘴里拔牙，太岁头上动土。
3. There is nothing new under the sun.
天地之大，无奇不有。
4. Cast your pearls before swine.
对牛弹琴.
5. Judge not according to appearance.
勿以貌取人.
Bible has figured many people with vivid individuality. Now, we know that Bible plays an important part in British people’s life. If we do not know the literature illusions and proverbs from Bible, we cannot study English well. So, if you want to translate vividly and concisely, please read Bible！It will give you great help. 3. Historical stories and literary works
We all know that every nation has its own culture and history, so every nation has its own unique literature works. In China, Confucianism and Taoism influence people greatly. However, in Britain, people are influenced greatly by Greece fables, Aesop’s fables and some other literature works, such as Shakespeare’s works, and many proverbs are originated from them. Therefore, if we do not know these historical stories well, we cannot translate precisely. Take an English proverb originated from Aesop’s fables as an example, “Do not be a dog in the manger”站着茅坑不拉屎, (朱艳，2017). The story is like this, a dog grabs the battle’s manger without making good use of it, and it never eats the hay that the cattle wants to eat. So this proverb’s connotation is to satire a person who commandeers wealth, resource and position without making good use of them. Meanwhile, he impediments the other people to own them.
There are many proverbs of this kind. The following are as examples,
1. Do not change horse in the middle stream. 河中莫换马，临阵莫换将。
It is originated from a historical story in England.
2. He has burnt his bridges behind him. 破釜沉舟，背水一战。
It is originated from a historical story in Roman.
3. Grasp all, lose all. 欲尽得，必尽失。
It is originated from Aesop’s Fables
4. Happy is the man who learnt from the misfortunes of others. 前车之鉴，后人之福。
It is originated from Aesop’s Fables
5. When Greeks meet Greeks, then comes the tug of war. 两雄相争，其争必烈。
It is originated from Greece fables.
6. One falls into Scylla in seeking to avoid Charybdis. 才离狼窝，又入虎口。
It is originated from Greece fables.
7. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. 位高心不宁。
It is originated from Shakespeare’s famous play- Henry Ⅳ.
8. Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。
It is originated from English poet, Christopher Anstey. (安斯泰，1724-1805)
9. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 浅学误人。
It is originated from one of the most important poets in England, Pope. (薄柏，1688-1744)
10. Curiosity killed the cat.多一事不如少一事。
It is originated from Thomas Gray, a famous English poet in 18th century. (托马斯﹒格雷 1716- 1771) 1 |
