A Contrastive Analysis of English and Chinese Proverbs

Abstract

This paper will analyze the similarities and differences between English and Chinese proverbs, which have the same origin and linguistic characteristics, both of which come from civil life, myths and legends, literature and foreign languages, with conciseness and vivid image of their characters. But, due to their performances in different geographical, historical, religious and cultural values, they have their own characteristics. However, as the world’s cultural exchanges, the boundaries of countries and nationalities gradually break, English and Chinese proverbs have mutual penetrated and melted with each other. It is based on the full understanding of the importance of proverbs that the paper makes the contrastive analysis of English and Chinese proverbs, through which we can not only understand them better but also get to know them deeper of their differences and similarities.