First of all, look at the cultural background of China and the West from the perspective of translation.
1. China is based on agriculture, so there are many agricultural proverbs.
Play the lute to a cow? to cast pearls before swine
Everyone gathers firewood and the flame is high? Many hands make light work.
Draw water with a sieve? draw water with a bamboo basket—achieve nothing
English people like sailing, although many proverbs are related to sailing.
Still water runs deep. ? Still water runs deep.
Everyone is a pilot in a calm sea.
The sea is calm and everyone can be a helmsman.
A small leak will sink a big ship.
? If you don't plug the small hole, you will sink the big ship.
Second, the differences in values.
1.？ China people advocate collectivism, values and collectivism, which are typical characteristics of China culture.
"A fence three piles, a hero three help. Everyone gathers firewood and the flames are high. Worry about the world first, and enjoy it later. A single tree does not make a forest, and a single filament does not make a wisp. "
China people also pay more attention to the return of deep affection and friendship.
"One day as a teacher, lifelong as a father. Who can say that a filial child like the weak can repay his mother's love like the sunshine in spring? A scholar dies for a confidant. "
2. Britain and America emphasize individualistic values and advocate independence.
"An Englishman's home is his castle." The English family is an independent kingdom. )
Influenced by individualism, people in Britain and America attach great importance to personal privacy.
Don't put your finger in the pie. Don't mind your own business. )
Third, differences in religious beliefs.
1. There are Buddhism and Taoism in China. As far as Chinese proverbs in China are concerned, many of them are related to religion, such as "Clothes make the man, and gold depends on the Buddha". Put down the butcher knife and become a Buddha. Don't burn incense on weekdays, cram for Buddha's feet temporarily. "People fight for a sigh of relief, and Buddha fights for a furnace of incense." These are all related to Buddhism.
2. Relatively speaking, Christianity is the main language in Britain and America, so some languages related to Christianity have appeared.
Christmas comes once a year. Christmas comes once a year.
Everyone has to bear his own cross.
God helps those who help themselves. )
Fourth, the differences in aesthetic habits.
Because of the different national personalities of different nationalities, their aesthetic tastes and emotions are also different. It is particularly obvious that in Chinese and English proverbs, animals are used as metaphors for different types of people, but people in different countries have different understandings of the same animal, sometimes even the opposite.
1. In Britain and America, people like to keep dogs, so they usually call themselves or each other dogs.
Every dog has its own day. Every dog has its own day. )
Dogs don't eat dogs. (the same kind don't kill each other)
You are so lucky. (You are the lucky one)
2. China dogs are reminiscent of disgusting things.
"Son of a bitch? Dog stuff, dog legs? Dogs can't change and eat shit? Dogs jump over the wall "and so on.
In a word, the differences between Chinese and western cultures are caused by many reasons, and English-Chinese translation can only be regarded as a glimpse of the whole leopard.