The reasons for the different symbolic meanings of Chinese and western colors

In human language, the unique charm of color words is impressive. In Chinese and English, there are many words that represent different colors. We should not only observe their basic meaning, but also pay attention to their profound symbolic meaning, because the symbolic meaning of color often has different characteristics in different national languages, and some characteristics even constitute people's admiration and taboo for color after extension and escape. Because China is separated from most English-speaking countries by Wan Li, there are great differences in geographical location, natural phenomena, historical background and aesthetic psychology, and people's feelings and expressions of colors are also different. In this way, the symbolic meaning of color will naturally produce great differences between Chinese and western cultures. This paper intends to compare and discuss the colors and symbolic meanings in Chinese and western cultures in order to seek advice from peers and readers.

Scientifically speaking, color is a visual phenomenon caused by the emission, reflection or transmission of a certain light wave by an object, and it is the basic feature of human vision. In western culture, the symbolic meaning of color is often relatively direct. Generally, the specific colors of objective things are used to symbolize some abstract cultural meanings, which makes it easier to trace their semantic and logical motivations. The connotations and symbolic meanings of colors in China culture are also very rich, and the symbolic meanings of color words are varied. Let's describe the different symbolic meanings of colors in Chinese and western cultures:

1. Red

Red is the basic color of China culture, which embodies the spiritual and material pursuit of China people. It symbolizes auspiciousness and happiness. For example, people who advocate other people's beautiful marriages are called "matchmakers", and red lanterns, red couplets and red blessings are hung on festive days. When a man marries a woman, he puts the word "hi" in red, calling it "bustling" and "bustling"; Describe prosperity; It also symbolizes smoothness and success. If people are in a good situation, they are called "popular" and "very popular". In western culture, red is a derogatory term, which is the association of "fire" and "blood". It symbolizes cruelty and bloodshed, such as red revenge blood @ happiness @ autumn, it also symbolizes radicalism and violence @ Li Ge @ life, such as a red revolution @ red brother @ life, it also symbolizes freedom @ swing @ and lewdness.

2. White (last name)

In China culture, white is a basic taboo word relative to red, which reflects China people's rejection and aversion to material and spirit. In China's ancient Five-Party Theory, the west is the autumn when the fields are cultivated to kill the gods, and Xiao kills the gods, so white symbolizes death and bad omen. For example, since ancient times, after the death of relatives, family members have to go to Dai Xiao to do "white things", set up a white mourning hall, and put up white banners at funerals. It also symbolizes failure, stupidity and unprofitable. For example, the defeated party in the war always holds a "white flag" to express surrender, and also calls people with mental retardation "idiots". It also symbolizes evil spirits and sinister dangers, such as "bad COP" and "bad COP". The symbolic significance of white in western culture mainly focuses on its own color, such as the colors of newly fallen snow, fresh milk and lily. Westerners believe that white is elegant and pure, symbolizing innocence, such as (1) the pure heart of a white soul, (2) the wedding of a white wedding bride in a white dress; It also symbolizes integrity and honesty, such as (1) the integrity of a white spirit, and (2) the incorruptibility and honesty of white hands.

3. Black

In ancient times, black was mysterious. Originally, there was only a heavy sense of mystery in China culture. This is a solemn and serious tone, and its symbolic meaning is complicated by 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 faces of Zhang Fei and Li Kui jy in traditional Peking Opera. On the other hand, because of its darkness, it gives people an insidious, sinister and horrible feeling. It symbolizes evil and reaction. For example, sinister people are "black-hearted", the ugly inside story is "shady", and the members of reactionary groups are "gangsters" and "black hands". An inn that kills people, robs goods and engages in illegal activities is called a "black shop". Black is a basic taboo color in western culture, which embodies the spiritual rejection and disgust of westerners. It symbolizes death, bad omen and disaster, such as (1) requiem mass in Black Mass, (2) a black letter day; It symbolizes evil and crime, such as (1) black evil devil, (2) black guards villains and hooligans; It also symbolizes shame and dishonor, such as (1) a black sheep is a black sheep, (2) a black eye is a disgrace and a bad reputation.

4. Other colors

Yellow is the development and variation of red in China culture. For example, in the old days, people called the day suitable for doing great things "auspicious day", but it more represented power and majesty and symbolized the central government. Therefore, yellow is exclusive to feudal emperors of past dynasties, and ordinary people can't use it casually. For example, "yellow robe" is the emperor's "dragon robe" and "Huang Yue" is the emperor's etiquette. It is said that Le Monde in new york, USA, in order to win sales, printed low-level comics with yellow ink, so people called this unhealthy publication "yellow publication", so yellow has a bad symbolic meaning, indicating low-level interesting newspapers and books with no literary value.

Pink is a variant of red, which can be regarded as a coincidence or return of red. Cui Hu, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem "Peach blossoms set each other off in red". Compared with women, pink can symbolize women, calling the improper sexual relationship between men and women a "peach affair". In western culture, pink symbolizes essence and perfection, such as perfect pink.

The symbolic meaning of color words varies greatly in different national cultures. Fundamentally speaking, in China culture, the symbol of color is based on China's feudal rule, superstition and primitive and backward science and education, so the symbolic meaning of color has a strong tendency of politicization and mystification. The color symbols in western culture benefit more from the opening of western nations and the popularization of science and education, and their symbolic meanings are less mysterious and more rational. The symbolic meaning of color between different cultures is established in the development of society and the precipitation of history, which is a permanent cultural phenomenon. They can make the language more lively, interesting and humorous, so we should pay enough attention to them ~