Red---Passion
Yellow---Wealth
Blue---Calm
Gold---Nobility
Green---peace
White---purity
On the symbolic meaning of color words in Chinese and Western cultures
Abstract: Chinese The English language is rich in words for various colors or tints. We must not only pay attention to their basic meanings, but also pay attention to their far-reaching symbolic meanings, because their symbolic meanings often have different characteristics in different national languages, and some characteristics even constitute people’s understanding of the meaning after extension and translation. Color worship and taboos. This difference in the symbolic meaning of colors between different cultures is caused by the differences in the cultural and historical backgrounds and aesthetic psychology of their respective nations. It is a convention established in the development of society and the precipitation of history, and is a permanent cultural phenomenon. This article attempts to analyze and explore the impact of the cultural development of various ethnic groups on the symbolic meaning of color words from the perspective of contrasting Chinese and Western cultures.
In human language, the unique charm of color words is impressive. In the Chinese and English languages, there are many words that express various colors or colors. We must not only pay attention to their basic meanings, but also pay attention to their far-reaching symbolic meanings, because the symbolic meanings of colors often have different characteristics in different national languages. Color worship and taboos. Because our country is thousands of miles apart from most English-speaking countries, and the geographical location, natural phenomena, historical background, aesthetic psychology, etc. are very different, people's feelings and expressions of colors are different. In this way, the symbolic meaning of colors will naturally be very different between Chinese and Western cultures. This article intends to make some comparisons and discussions on the colors and symbolic meanings of words in Chinese and Western cultures, so as to seek advice from colleagues and readers.
From a scientific definition, color is a visual phenomenon caused by an object emitting, reflecting or transmitting certain light waves. It is a basic feature of human vision. This definition of color generation is relatively easy to accept for the West, which has experienced feudal society for a relatively short period of time, and where education and science have been popularized and developed rapidly in modern times. From the beginning of civilization, the West has paid more attention to scientific and rational education and the discovery of scientific methods, and has adopted a realistic scientific attitude towards the objective world and objective understanding. Therefore, the symbolic meaning of colors in Western culture is often relatively direct. Generally, the specific colors of objective things are used to symbolize certain abstract cultural meanings, so it is easier to trace the semantic and logical justifications. For example: red in Western culture mainly refers to the color of blood, and blood in the minds of Westerners is the "liquid of life" flowing in the human body. Once the blood flows down, the flower of life will wither. Therefore, red reminds Westerners of "violence" and "danger" and creates a color taboo. American scholar Asheim said in his "Color Theory": "Color can powerfully express emotions. ... Red is considered exciting because it reminds us of the meaning of fire, blood and revolution." When the famous sinologist Hawkes translated "A Dream of Red Mansions", he realized that red might remind modern English readers of "violence" and "bloodshed", so he adopted the original title of the novel "The Story of the Stone" and translated it as "The Story". of the stone. However, because China has experienced thousands of years of feudal society and relatively backward education and technology, the generation of color has a strong mystery in Chinese culture, and its development is greatly affected by the development of Chinese society and culture. In the pre-Qin Dynasty, color words were already linked to the worldview and philosophical thoughts of the ancients, and later to politics. Therefore, the color connotations and symbolic meanings in Chinese culture are very rich, and the symbolic meanings of color words are diverse. For example, from the perspective of cultural anthropology, the color red in Chinese culture comes from the sun, because the sun is like fire and its color is red.
Our first ancestors had an instinctive attachment and worship to the sun during the process of praying for witchcraft and dancing, and the festive and auspicious meaning of red naturally emerged. The ancients also believed that "all things come into being when the sun comes" ("Huainanzi Tianwen Xun"). They felt that everything under the sun was luxuriant, full of vitality and exciting, so they had a particularly affectionate feeling for the red color that represents the sun. Taking white as an example again, in the initial stage of humankind, our ancestors were weak and unable to resist the attacks of ferocious beasts. They were exposed in broad daylight and were in danger of being pounced on by predatory beasts at any time, so they had a certain affinity for white. In addition, our first ancestors also observed that "the moon is extremely bright during the Mid-Autumn Festival", so they believed that the bright moon was connected with the Xiaosha autumn, and the color representing autumn was white (silver-white Mid-Autumn Festival) month). In this way, white has become a taboo color in Chinese culture. It can be seen that the symbolic meaning of colors has been established by convention in the long historical process and reflects a certain psychological function. Below we will provide a detailed description of the different symbolic meanings of colors in Chinese and Western cultures.
1. Red
Red is the basic color advocated in Chinese culture. It embodies the spiritual and material pursuits of the Chinese people. It symbolizes auspiciousness and joy. For example, the person who promotes a good marriage is called a "matchmaker". On festive days, red lanterns are hung, red couplets are pasted, and red blessing characters are pasted; when a man marries a woman, a red "happiness" character is pasted to add to the liveliness and excitement. Prosperity is called "red fire"; describing a prosperous and lively place is called "red dust"; it also symbolizes revolution and progress. For example, the original regime of the Communist Party of China was called the "red regime" and the earliest armed forces were called the "Red Army". People who are progressive and work hard in business are called "popular and professional"; it also symbolizes smoothness and success. For example, people who are in a good situation are called "popular" or "smash-breaking", and those who are favored by their boss are called "red". People", sharing the profits of a partnership is called "dividends", giving bonuses to people is called "red envelopes", etc. It also symbolizes beauty and beauty, such as referring to a woman wearing makeup as "red makeup" or "red dress", and calling a woman wearing colorful makeup "red makeup" or "red dress". It is "red sleeve", which refers to a woman's beautiful appearance as "red face" and so on.
Red in Western culture is a very derogatory word, associated with "fire" and "blood". It symbolizes brutality and bloodshed, such as (1) The red rules oftooth and claw killing and violent rule, (2) red revenge bloody revenge, (3) ared battle bloody battle; it also symbolizes radical and violent revolution, such as (1) red hotpolitical campaign intense political movement, (2) a red revolution red Revolution, (3) red activities, left-wing radical activities; it also symbolizes danger and tension, such as (1) red alert air raid alarm, (2) a red adventure story, (3) a red flag danger signal flag; it also symbolizes debauchery and obscenity, such as (1) a red waste of his youth, (2) ared light district, Huajieliuxiang (red light district), (3) Is she really sored as she is painted? Is it possible that she is really as slutty as people portray her to be?
As for the complimentary meaning of red, such as red-letter day, the festive day, the red carpet's grand reception, etc., they benefit from the exchange and integration of different cultures. According to research, the praise of red spread from the Far East to the West via Persia.
2. White
In Chinese culture, white is the opposite of red and is a basic taboo word, reflecting the material and spiritual rejection and disgust of the Chinese people. In the theory of the Five Directions in ancient China, the west is the white tiger, and the west is the god of punishment and death. It governs the autumn of Xiaoxiao. In ancient times, it was often used to conquer unjust people and execute criminals in autumn. Therefore, white is the expression of being exhausted, bloodless, and lifeless, symbolizing death and bad omen.
For example, since ancient times, after the death of a loved one, family members have to wear linen and mourning (wear white mourning clothes) to perform "white affairs", set up a white mourning hall, and carry white flags during funerals; in the old days, white tigers were also regarded as evil spirits, so now they are called women who bring bad luck to men. For "White Tiger Star". In the process of its development, the psychological function of white is affected by the political function, and it also symbolizes decay, reaction, and backwardness, such as being regarded as the "white road"; it also symbolizes failure, stupidity, and no gain, such as failure in a war. The party always flies a "white flag" to express surrender, calls people with low intelligence "idiots", and calls efforts without benefit or effect "in vain", "in vain", "in vain", etc. It also symbolizes Evil and insidious, such as "singing a white face" and "white face" as a traitor; finally, it also symbolizes shallow knowledge and lack of fame, such as calling ordinary people "white men", "white clothes" and "white bodies" to describe the lack of training and experience. Literati who are not very knowledgeable are called "white-faced scholars" and so on.
The symbolic meaning of white in Western culture mainly focuses on its own color, such as the color of newly fallen snow, fresh milk and lilies. Westerners believe that white is elegant and pure, so it is the most respected color in Western culture. It symbolizes innocence, such as (1) a white soul, (2) wh ite wedding, a wedding in which the bride wears a white dress; it also symbolizes integrity and honesty, such as (1) a white spirit, (2) a white spirit. ) white m en a noble and educated person, (3) white hand is clean and honest; it also symbolizes luck and auspiciousness, such as (1) one of the white days o f sb's life one of the auspicious days in someone's life, (2) Whitemagic has the spell of angelic help; it also means legal and non-malicious, such as (1) whitemarket legal market, (2) white list approved legal order, (3) awhite lie harmless lie
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3. Black
In ancient times, black was Tianxuan. It turned out that in Chinese culture, it only had a heavy sense of mystery. It was a solemn and serious tone. Its symbolic meaning became more complicated due to the influence of Western culture. On the one hand, it symbolizes seriousness and justice, such as the "black face" Bao Gong in folklore, and the black masks of Zhang Fei, Li Kui and others in traditional Peking opera; on the other hand, it gives people a sinister, sinister and dull look due to its own darkness. A sinister and terrifying feeling. It symbolizes evil and reaction. For example, it refers to insidious and vicious people as "black-hearted", ulterior secrets as "shady", and members of reactionary groups as "gangsters" and "black hands". The list of dissidents is called the "blacklist", which also means crime and illegality. For example, banditry is called "underworld", and inns that commit murder, robbery and illegal activities are called "blacklist", which is prohibited. The trading of goods is called "black goods" and "black market", and the money obtained through illegal means such as corruption and bribery is called "black money".
Black is a basic taboo color in Western culture, reflecting the spiritual rejection and disgust of Westerners.
It symbolizes death, bad omen, and disaster, such as (1) Black Mass, (2) to wear black for hcr father to wear mourning for her father, (3) black words, (4) a black letter day; it It symbolizes evil and crime, such as (1) Black Man evil devil, (2) a black de ed extremely bad behavior, (3) black guard villain, gangster, (4) blackmail extortion and extortion; it also symbolizes shame, Disgraceful, such as (1) a black mark, (2) black sheep, (3) a black eye, disgrace and bad reputation. It also symbolizes frustration and anger, such as (1) black dog, depression, (2) The future looks black, (3) He gave me a black look. He looked at me angrily.
4. Other colors
Yellow is a development variation of red in Chinese culture. For example, in the old days, people called days suitable for doing big things "auspicious days of the zodiac", but it It also represents power and majesty. This is because among the five directions, five elements and five colors in ancient times, the center is earthy yellow. Yellow symbolizes the central government and the meaning of the land, so yellow has been exclusive to feudal emperors of all dynasties. Ordinary people cannot use "yellow" casually. For example, "yellow robe" is the "dragon robe" of the emperor, and "yellow Yue" is the emperor's "dragon robe". The "yellow mantle" is the imperial edict of the emperor, and the "yellow mantle" is the official uniform given to important civil and military officials by the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. As for the popular concept of "yellow" related to "sex", there is a saying that it is a phenomenon of the exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures. It is said that the "World" in New York, USA, uses yellow ink to print low-interest cartoons to gain sales. People call this type of unhealthy publications "pornographic publications", and the "New York News" uses exaggerated and exaggerated methods to report pornography, News about vendettas, crimes, etc. are also called "yellow news". In fact, yellow in ancient China has been related to "sex". There was a "Yellow Book" during the Yellow Turban Uprising at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Although the book is now lost, we know that the book focuses on "the art of the house"; Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty also wrote about "The Benefits of the House" in his "Qian Jin Yao Prescription" There is a saying of "red sun and yellow moon". Based on this, Zhang Qingchang pointed out in his book "Chinese Color Words": "The word 'yellow' in ancient China is related to 'nature'. This is true, but it has been discontinued for more than a thousand years and people have long forgotten it." Yellow in Western culture reminds people of the color of the clothes worn by the Judas who betrayed Jesus, so yellow has a bad symbolic meaning. In addition to representing newspapers with low taste and books with no literary value ( Such as yellow press (yellow press, yellow journalism, yellow newspaper style, y ellow back (cheap sensational novel)), it mainly means despicable and cowardly, such as (1) yellow dog, (2) yellow str eak, (3) yellow str eak cowardly, )yellow-livered timid.
In traditional Chinese culture, green has a dual nature. In addition to representing righteousness, it also represents wild evil. This is because in the initial era of human beings and in the long life process thereafter, human beings relied on green to protect themselves and survive; but at the same time, green also protected human beings’ natural enemies and other ferocious man-eating animals. In this way, the narrow meaning is justice, for example, people generally refer to those who gather in the mountains and forests, rob the rich and give to the poor as "green forest heroes"; evil means evil, so in the old days, the "green forest" also refers to those who occupy mountains and become kings, block roads and rob, and harass the people. Green also symbolizes low status. For example, servants in the Han Dynasty wore green turbans. After the Yuan Dynasty, all prostitutes wore green turbans to show their low status. Because the wife had an affair, the husband's face was shameful and inferior, so he was called "husband". Wearing a "cuckold". The symbolic meaning of green in Western culture is closely related to the color of green vegetation, which is the life color of plants.
Asheim said: "Green evokes the refreshing thoughts of nature." It not only symbolizes youth and vitality, such as (1) in the green wood in the era of youthful exuberance, (2) in the green vigorous, (3) a green old age is old and strong; it also means fresh, such as (1) green recollection, (2) keep the memory, green never forget, (3) a green wound; but it also means childish and inexperienced, such as ( 1) a green hand, (2) as green as grass, (3) a green horn, an easy fool; it also symbolizes jealousy, such as (1) the green-eyed monster, (2) green with envy Full of jealousy, (3) agreen eye jealous eyes.
In Chinese folklore, the Emperor of Heaven resides in the "Ziwei Palace" (constellation) in the sky. Therefore, the human emperor (the Son of Heaven) who has the Emperor of Heaven as his father and Taoism who regards the Emperor of Heaven as his bad faith all regard purple as auspicious. . As a symbol of auspiciousness and nobility, purple is more commonly used by feudal emperors and Taoists. For example, the auspicious spirit is called "purple air" and "purple electricity", and the imperial palace is called "the Forbidden Palace" and "the Forbidden City". In order to win over people, emperors of the past dynasties often gave "purple robes" to ministers with low grades, and "wearing purple" became the honor and wealth pursued by feudal literati; people also called Taoist books "purple books" and the residences of gods as "purple books". "Purple Terrace". Coincidentally, the symbolic meaning of purple in English is also related to emperors, generals and religion. This is an interesting cultural coincidence, such as (1) t he purple means throne and royal power, (2) be born in the purple means prince. A noble family, (3) marry in the purple to a noble family, (4) be raised to the pruple and be promoted to a cardinal.
Blue has almost no symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. Relatively speaking, it has slightly more symbolic meaning in Western culture. When Assheim commented on blue, he said: "Blue is as cool as water." It is a "negative or negative color." It can symbolize nobility, loftiness, depth and severity, such as (1) blue blood, a famous family, (2) blue ribbon, the symbol of the highest honor, (3) blue nose, a defender who strictly abides by the canon; (4) blue laws, strict regulations; It also symbolizes melancholy and depression, such as (1) feel blue and (2) a blue outlook pessimistic outlook on life. (3) Things look blue. Things are not going your way, (4) Blue Monday is an unhappy Monday, it also symbolizes obscenity and indecentness, such as (1) bluemovie pornographic movies, (2) blue revolution "sexual liberation", (3) blue talk obscene remarks; it also It means suddenly and quickly, such as (1) out of the blue, (2) have the blue, (3) blue streak, something fleeting
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Pink is a variation of red , which can be regarded as a response or return of red. In Chinese culture, pink is also called peach blossom color.
Cui Hu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote the poem "Peach Blossoms on Human Faces Reflect the Redness of Each Other", comparing peach blossoms to women. The root cause is that women use pink rouge to decorate themselves. Their faces are white and rosy, which can be compared with the beautiful peach blossoms. For the sake of comparison. Pink (peach color) can symbolize women. For example, Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Regret" says: "Looking back and smiling, you will be full of charm, the sixth palace is colorless." Young men call their beloved women their "confidence". Improper sexual relations between men and women are called "peach sex incidents". In Western culture, pink symbolizes the essence, the ultimate, such as (1) the pink of perfection, (2) the pink of politeness; it also symbolizes the upper class, such as (1) pink lady High-style cocktails, (2) pink tea high-class social activities, (3) apink-collar worker high-level female secretary.
The symbolic meanings of color words vary greatly in different national cultures. Fundamentally speaking, in Chinese culture, the symbolism of colors is based on China’s past feudal rule, feudal superstition, and its primitive and backward science and education conditions. Therefore, the symbolic meaning of colors is quite strongly politicized and mysterious. tendency. The color symbolism in Western culture benefits more from the openness of Western nations and the popularity of science and education. Its symbolic meaning is less mysterious and more rational, making its semantics and word meanings easier to track. The symbolic meanings of colors among different cultures are all established by social development and historical precipitation, and are a permanent cultural phenomenon. They can make language more vivid, interesting, humorous and friendly, so we should pay enough attention to it.