• join the silent majority • 加入沉 home
• 回到永久的家
• go the way of all flesh • 走众生之路
• join one’s ancestors
• 加入祖先的行列
• return to dust
• 归之尘土
Appearance and Age
ugly–––plain; homely , not particularly good looking , ordinary
fat ––––chubby; stout; plump, out-size, over-weight
thin ---- delicate , slender, slim
old –getting on years; senior citizen; elderly, distinguished gentleman, golden age, venerable people, get on years, pass one’s prime, feel one’s age
mad/ feeble – minded--- not all there ,soft in head/ soft - headed ,of unsound mind/ unsound - minded
Negative euphemisms（否
定/负委婉语）
用于谈论敏感的话题 eg. die pass way
代替禁忌语 eg.小便常用 answer nature's call， wash one's hands等
对神的敬称 eg. heck 代替hell dee 代替God
Functions
• A. To Avoid Taboo • B. To Show Politeness • C. To Conceal Truth
Daily
Die(死）
• pass away去世，与世长辞 • fall asleep长眠 • go to sleep forever长眠
• run one’ s race 走完一生
• be no more 不在了
• be no longer with us • breathe one’s last • be at rest • fade
• 委婉来自Greek希腊语，eu 是good(好)的意 思,phemism 是speech （言语）的意思,整个 字面word of good omen 意思是（吉祥）或 好的说法。
• 一般认为，凡是表示禁忌或敏感事物的含 蓄、迂回或动听的言词，均在委婉语之列。
• 委婉语是一种修辞格，更是一种文化现象， 是人们在社交中为了谋求一种理想效果所 创造出来的一种适当的语言形式
Classification
从语言学 角度分类
Positive euphemisms（肯
定/正委婉语）
机关、行业的雅称 eg.madhouse婉称 mental hospital
职业美称 eg.cobber(补鞋匠) 称为 shoe rebuilder
政治委婉语 eg.strike(罢工)称为 industrial action
Definition Original Classification Function Daily
eu---well phemism---speech the substitution of a milder, indirect word or phrase for a blunter or harsher one.
defecate/urinate
• 要说不能登大雅之堂的词语，“厕所”算一个。 • 需要上厕所时，人们会说： • 1. go to the bank • 2.cash a check • 3. spend a penny • 4. see Johnny • 5.go to the bathroom • 6.do business • 7.answer nature’s call • 8.release oneself • 女士们更常说： • 9.consult Mrs. Jones • 10.I have to power my nose. • 因此厕所可称作： • power room, 还可为 bath room ,comfort station • halfway house, old soldier’s home, Miss White
• “水性扬花”degrades women’s sexual morality.
• “ 好男不跟女斗” implies women are inferior to men.
• “红颜祸水” • “妹喜”，“妲己”，“杨贵妃”
That's All Thanks
e.g. He has long ( terminal ) illness . / He has got the big C ---癌症
hard of hearing. 耳朵背 social disease :--AIDS lung trouble -- tuberculosis 肺结核 old man’s friend ---pneumonia 肺炎 a little confused – mad cripple––––physically handicapped
Diseases
Our fear of specific diseases has led us to coin a lexicon of euphemisms for insanity and retardation, epilepsy(癫痫) ,
venereal disease, cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Military Affairs
• invasion :involvement /military action
air operation
ground operation
Sexism in China
• “妇人之见”，“头发长，见识短”， “男子汉不和妇人一般见识”，to degrades women’s point of view .
pregnancy
• in the family way • eating for two • in a delicate condition • a mother to be • Cancel all her social engagement • in an interesting condition • knitting bootees • Be expecting
• go west • go to heaven • be called to God • safe in the arms of Jesus
• 咽气 • 安息 • 与我们永别了 • 凋零了 • 归西，西去 • 上天堂了 • 被上帝召唤去了 • 在耶稣怀里得到平安
• be gone to a better 1and • 到一个更好的地方去了