Animal Idioms动物习语.ppt

Animal Idioms Comparison Between Chinese And English Introduction Idiom is a fixed group of words or a single word, or even a sentence with a special meaning that cannot be guessed from the literal meaning of its components. “Language is the carrier container of culture, and is strongly influenced and shaped by culture. Animal Idioms are very common in our daily life . They enrich our English verbal communications . So now , let us introduce them for you. Similarities of connotations English as sly as a fox as fat as a pig as slow as snail as cruel as a wolf Chinese 像狐狸一样狡猾 肥得像猪 像蜗牛一样慢 像狼一样残忍 Differences of connotations Chinese 噤若寒蝉（cricket) 热锅上的蚂蚁(ant) 吹牛(cattle) 落汤鸡(chick) 瓮中之鳖(turtle) 鸡皮疙瘩(chicken) English as mute as fish like a cat on hot bricks talk horse goose flesh a rat in a hole wet as a drowned rat Reasons causing cultural connotation differences 1.Different geography 2.Different customs 3.Influence of historical allusion 4.Influence of religion Different Thoughts Between Chinese and English “Dragon” is a divine totem in the Chinese culture, and is greatly admired by the Chinese people and they consider themselves as the descendants of the dragon. Dragon is the symbol of all auspicious animals. In English the word “dragon” symbolizes evil. Such as: “the old dragon”, “dragon’s teeth”. Chinese people take “owl” as a symbol of bad luck. But in the UK, there is “as wise as an owl”. “owl” in English stands for wisdom. Similar Attitudes Towards The Same Animal Both English and Chinese have the same attitude towards animals. They both compare “parrot ”to “imitate”, compare “pig” to “greedy” or “dirty”, compare “peacock” to “proud” , compare “ass” to “foolish” ,compare“wolf” to “cruel” ,“lamb ”to“innocent”,“bird” to“ free”. 1.Bird (1) Kill two birds with one stone. 一箭双雕；一举两得。 (2) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。 (3) Birds of a