Table of ContentsⅠIntroduction……………………………………………………………………….. ⅡSocial attributes of Color……………………………………………………………2.1 Color and history……………………………………………………………….2.1.1 Clothing color symbolizes the throne………………………………………2.1.2 Construction and Clothing color reflects ranks……………………………2.1.3 Clothing colors reflect the professional……………………………………2.2 Color and ritual practices………………………………………………………2.3 Color and politics………………………………………………………………2.4 Color and the economy…………………………………………………………ⅢDifference Implications of Colors3.1 Red…………………………............................................................................3.2 White………………………………………………………………………….3.3 Black………………………………………………………………………….3.4 Y ellow………………………………………………………………………..3.5 Green…………………………………………………………………………3.6 Blue…………………………………………………………………………. ⅣEnglish translation of basic color words4.1 Direct translation of color words……………………………………………4.2 Changing color words………………………………………………………4.3 Abandoning color words……………………………………………………4.4 Adding color words…………………………………………………………ⅤConclusion………………………………………………………………………AbstractWord which is to express the color with each national language in the world is different and also has different classification. The classification about basic color words in Chinese-english nation is basically alike as using seven divided method which means red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet. Translating those words related to the amount of basic color in English and Chinese language correctly, the key is to grasp these color words cultural connotation. This article discusses the general rules of the color words translation and generalizes the four basic translations by comparing the chinese and english basic color words in cultural conotation.Key words Basic color words; Connotative meaning; cultural connotation; translationCultural differences between China and the west as revealedin color words and their translationⅠIntroductionThe boundless universe is full of all the colors of the rainbow. Sunrise of the east, the bright moonlight, cerulean sea, green fields, the golden waves of the wheat,the place to thrive and grow and the foundation of the development of civilization is provided by the flowery and profuse human nature.There are abundant color words in English and Chinese languages. The color words form a special word group which is a subsystem in their vocabulary system.English and Chinese color words can be divided into two categories, namely basic color words and real color words. The basic color words are those specifically used for showing the colors of the objects, such as black, white, red, yellow, green, blue, purple in English.汉语中的黑、白、红、黄、绿、蓝、紫。

Real color words at first are just some name of the objects. But for these objects have some outstanding color, they have derived some new meanings, which is not only showing these things, but also having the prominent color on the objects. Such as gold, silver, violet, orange and coffee in English and the Chinese words like golden, silvery white, pink, orange, cream-colored, etc. 汉语中的金黄、银白、桃红、橙色、米色等.The vocabulary of the color is becoming plentiful in correspondence with the continuous development of the human civilization.the meaning which is alleged "connotative meaning" also derived from a certain color which showed simply before.Translation is a kind of special language exchange activity, A famous translator Eugene Nida summarized it into four basic process:(1)the original analysis;(2)translate the source language into the target language;(3)redress the translation;(4)invite a representative reader to check the translation.Among them, the original analysis is disposing carefully the signified and connotation associative meaning of words andresearching syntax and text structure in translation, most of the mistakes are not good because of this process.If the translator really understand the meaning of the original text, and can control the source language with facility, translation will be a natural process with ease.Therefore to translate the expression of the color in both English and Chinese language, a pivotal link is to grasp the connotative meaning which showed by those words in the two social context of the culture. That is "cultural connotation" of the color word.ⅡSocial attributes of ColorColor words are "cultural qualifiers”, with strong national culture characteristics and each nation has its own color conception.In different cultures, the same color expresses different cultural psychologies, causes different associations and has different cultural connotations.2.1 Color and history2.1.1 Clothing color symbolizes the throne"Yellow" and "Purple" are two common colors, but they have different symbolic meanings in the history of different nations. In the traditional conception of the ancient Chinese Han nationality, 〝Yellow〞 represents the kingship.In western countries people advocate "Purple" more. In ancient Greece and ancient Roman, emperor, archons, lawman and Gen. wearied purple robe. "Purple" is the emblem of grandee, dignity or kingship. Someone who gets a purple robe means he is promoted to a prominent position. So in English there are idioms like "to rise to the purple”, “to be born in the purple”, “to marry into the purple" and so on.2.1.2 Construction and Clothing color reflects ranksIn the Ming and Qing Dynasty, it was required by the government that only the palace of the royal family, the tomb of the royal family and temples for granted of the king were permitted to use yellow glazed tiles. Prince and other high-ranking aristocrats can only use green to build their roof. Blue, purple, cyan and other colors were used in the houses of other officers and eunuchs.In ancient Tang Dynasty, robes for officers had different colors according to their rank: Rank six-Dark green; Rank seven-Light green; Rank eight-Dark cyan; Rank nine-Light cyan.A poem "琵琶行(Pi pa Xing)"(斜体，首字母大写)by Bai Juyi said "座中泣下谁最多?江州司马青衫湿"."青衫" in the poem means green robe, Bai Juyi was a sesame small officer in that time.2.1.3 Clothing colors reflect the professionalIt is popular in western countries to represent the types of employment by clothing color. The most obvious examples such as: white-collar workers(Those who have received specialized education or technical training);blue-collar workers(Ordinary manual workers);grey-collar workers(Service industry workers);pink-collar workers(Career woman groups);golden-collar personnel(Complex talents which have professional skills and also understand management)2.2 Color and ritual practicesRed, symbol of "auspiciousness and celebration" is a traditional Chinese wedding color. The bride wears red clothes, covered with red headscarf. Windows, doors and the wall must affix the red Chinese character "囍".So the wedding is also called "red wedding”. But at the funeral, as the influence of Buddhist salvation to Chinese people, they regard the demise of old people as "white funeral”. So the funeral family members must be dressed in white, we are a white hat, tie white belt or white flowers to mourn. Chinese people have handed down the folklore for thousands of years.In the western weddings, the bride always wears a white dress-symbol of purity precious love, giving a beauty of holy and elegant. But at the funeral, people are dressed in black robes to express condolences to the decedent. Therefore, because of the difference conception between wedding and funeral in China and Western Countries, Chinese "red weddings and white funerals" must not be translated according to its literal meaning, but only to be translated interpretatively-"weddings and funerals". 2.3 Color and politicsIn our country, the colors tend to have strong and distinctive political overtones. The most typical is the "red" color; it symbolizes the revolution, the proletariat and the socialist. And "white" means the counter-revolutionary, bourgeoisie and capitalism. “Black" symbolizes death, decay and decline of the things.There are a variety of political parties and factions in the world, and some political parties and factions, the army and organizations are named after the color words. Such as:Black Hand(Secret organization of an Italian immigrant in the United States to engage in criminal activities);Green Panther(A radical environment protectors group);Gray Panther(An American radical elderly party);Red Army(The former Soviet army).2.4 Color and the economyColor words are frequently used and extremely active in economic terms. Such as: red ink(Deficit);in the red(At a loss);in the black(Profit);black market; green field project(New launched project or emerging enterprises in need of funding);gray area(Serious unemployment areas).Since the reform and opening up in our country, with the incensement of economic and the establishment of market economy, a number of economic terms with color words also appeared. Such as: black goods (Smuggled goods); grey incomes (Incomes obtained through improper ways); red profit (Dividends) and so on.ⅢDifference Implications of ColorsThanks to the effect of the general character in human culture and mutual penetration in culture which tend to be identical, different nation usually endow a certain color with a same signified meaning. Red is enthusiasm and shows joyous and courageous. Green is a color of life and demonstrates youthful energy and vigorous vitality. White symbolizes pure and simple and contains the immaculate and simple natural meaning. Blue is quiet and gives people with a profound and relaxed feeling.3.1 RedNo matter in China or western countries, "red" has something relevant to joy and happy. In china for example, to celebrate the new year, Chinese people stick "红对联" to both sides of their doors and hang"红灯笼"outside .When young people have a traditional wedding ceremony, the bride is going to put on red clothes and stick red "喜" word to the wall.In western countries, people get Christmas and other holidays to be called red-letter days, showing a meaning of "joy and memorial". When people meet the head of state at the airport, they always spreads the red carpet as the highest treatment.In ancient China, people commonly used "红颜" or "红粉" to allege a beautiful face of woman, and used“红闺”or“红楼”to indicate a daughter's attic in rich house.Words of color red in English don't have a extended meaning with "woman", so when translate the above words into English, we can't do a literal translation and we can avoid the "red" and translate into figurative meaning. Translate“红颜”into“a beautiful girl”or“a pretty face”，Translate“红粉”into“a gaily dressed girl”.Moreover, Translate “红闺”or“红楼”into“a lady’s room”or“a boudoir”.3.2 WhiteAssociation caused by white is n is more similar in the English and Chinese language. Both refer to 纯洁(purity)or清(innocence).But word "white" in some phrases in English does not like "白" in Chinese. Like “a white lie”does not mean“白色的谎言”but“无害而善意的谎言”;And like "the white coffee", not“白咖啡”, but“牛奶咖啡”.There are many words containing "white" in Chinese don't mean color. It has nothing to do with "white" when translating into English. It makes up a phrase with other words together.“白菜” (Chinese cabbage)、“白熊” (polar bear)、“白蚁” (termite)、“白卷” (unanswered examination paper)、“白痴” (idiot)等。