The Study of English and Chinese Numerical Idioms and Their Translation

Abstract

Numerical idioms have rich cultural connotations and are closely connected with culture. Along with the development of China’s reform and opening up policy, intercultural communication tends to be wider. Contrastive studies of language-culture have become increasingly important. This article is mainly a probe into the English and Chinese numerical idioms from the perspectives of definition and cultural characteristics of English and Chinese idioms and meanwhile makes a detailed analysis of the translation of numerical idioms of both English and Chinese languages with practical and theoretical effect. It will help us with language teaching and learning, translation and intercultural communication if we have a proper understanding of the differences between both English and Chinese numerical idioms. Only by mastering the deep cultural meaning of numerical idioms can we make the translation more vivid and expressive, thus effectively improving the ability of intercultural communication.