“T” refers to a female, the translation is“我没有做母亲的经历” If"T" refers to amale, and the child is adopted by"T", the translation is"“我没有做养父的经历 If"T" refers to a female, and the child is adopted by"T", the translation is“我没有做养母的经历 Similar examples are such as cock VS #E 3: black VS: spring VSE, and so on. Theirdenotative meanings are identical but associative meanings are partly similar. 3. English semantic meaning differentfrom Chinese Denotative meanings are identical but associative meanings are quitedifferent On some occasions, some things and phenomena can arouse differentmoods among the English and the Chinese. In other words, the English andChinese have different association towards some same thing and phenomena. Thatis, some associative meanings in English are different from their counterpartsin Chinese 1Take“red”vs“红” for example Both“red"and“红”mean“ the color of blood or fire”,( This refers to denotativemeaning which is given in the dictionary) The associative or sy mbolicmeanings of“red”and“红 are quite different because of the different social customs andpolitical factors. @The associative meanings of"red"in English: (A)"Red"isassociated with"danger"and"anger". In cvery daylife, "waving a red flag"mcans"doing something that can cause quick anger inother people."(B)“Red” is also associated with" blood”and" violent”. Hencethe famous British scholar, Hawkes translated Chinese《红楼梦》ino" "the Story of not Into“ A Dream of the red mansions"( the latter is Chinese scholar, Yang Xiarmyi's version;怡红公子into“ Green Boy”,怡红院into" "the House of Green delights" because he avoided using the word"red 2 Thedifferent associative meanings of"T"in Chinese: Red arouses the feelings of enthusiasm, excitement andaffection among the Chinese, so the Chinese like red very much(A)“红” is associated with thesymbol of“ celebration, happy event, wedding, good luck and success." For instance,“开门红" refers to" begin well".“满堂红” means" success or having a good luck”.(B)“红” is associated with“ revolution”and“rops”. For example,“红旗” symbolizes" revolution andvictory”,“红军”, thered army refers to revolutionary 2.Take“ dragon"vs“龙" for example Both“ dragon”and“龙”mean“ an imaginary fire- breathing animal in myth". But theirassociative meanings are opposite ① The associative meanings of dragon" in English:(A)“ Dragon connotes" terrible monster”or" " giant thateats men”(B)“ Dragon” is also associated with“ a fierce old woman (The opposite associativemeanings of"ze"in Chinese:(A)"Ae"isthe symbol of the "Chinese people". The Chinese people call themselvesthe descendants of dragon proudly such as 龙的传人”and“龙子龙孙”.(B)“龙” is associated with" emperor”and" nobility”. Emperors always namethemselves“真龙天子”,(C)“龙” isassociated with" good luck and success.For ample,“龙凤呈祥” means“ good luc amples are such as“dog"vS“狗”,“fish"s“鱼”," candle”ⅤS“蜡烛"”, and so on. Theirdenotative meanings are identical but associative meanings are quite differentor even opposite. Denotative meanings are identical but associative meanings merelyexist in English or Chinese Because of the different social custom and culture backgroundsbetween the English and the Chinese society, some things and phenomenon can arousecertain feelings either in English or Chinese. This results some words aboutthe same things and phenomenon only contain some associative meanings only inEnglish or Chinese. Now let's contrast some of them Take" bread VS“面包” for example. There are rich associative meanings in English words"bread", whereas there aren't any associative meanings in Chinese character"E". Let's discuss the richassociative meanings of word"bread". [A]"Bread"is associated with"necessitiesfor life"or"money". For example, "I'm only doing it for the bread. "The phrase"earn one's bread"refers to"make enough to live on".[B] The associativemeanings of"bread "and"butter"also refer to"basic","daily,"common","practical". For example, "They discussed some"bread-and-butter cal question onyesterday's meeting "All these are the associative meanings of"bread"whereas there aren't any associative meanings in Chinese character"aE". Similar examples are such as" ghost"vs“鬼”,“eat”Ⅴs“吃”(饭),“fod"Ⅴs“食”;" *sail and“帆 B Causes ofsemantic differences nd that the main causes of semantic differences are theculture factors. English and Chinese to coastal commercial culture while Chinese belongs to the continental agricultural culture. Those differentcultures have at least influenced English and Chinese semantic meanings in suchaspects as environments, social customs, world outlooks and so on C. Thesignificance of the study he study is significant both in theory and in practice. (I )Intheory, it helps us understand the richness and complexity of English and Chinese semantic meaning and their relations. (2) In practice, it can help usmaster semantic meaning in English and Chinese, avoid pragmatic errors and makelanguage teaching, translation and intercultural communication more effectiveand more tactful In all, when translating, one should make sure the semantic meaningsof the words in source language and choose the suitable counterparts in targetlanguage. L. Translate the following passage into Chinese Why are so many people so anxious to get away from thesmall town or village where they were brought up, and to make for the bigcities? They usually describe their home town as boring”or“dead,"or- the harshest criticism of al—as“ provincial. If we examine the question from a distance, as if wewere viewing the whole country from a long way off, we start to get a clueabout what it is that lures us into the big cities. Th ain point to noticeabout big cities is that they are big: there are a lot of people, and there area lot of things going on. If you look down on a city, literally from a greatdistance, from an airplane at night, you will be struck by the incrediblebrightness of a city there are so many lights that you cannot help feelingthat all the bright things of life are down there waiting for you, But afeeling of disappointment will set in shortly after you land, because you willdiscover as you drive into the city center from the airport that the lights arejust that: lights, mile and miles of street lights and neon signs. They arenot in themselves sources of joy and happiness: city lights are not friendly, hey are merely lights. In fact, the effect will probably be Il. Translate the following passage into Chinese This uncertainty about the weather has had a definite effect uponthe Englishmans character, it tends to make him cautious, for example. Theforeigner may laugh when he sees th Englishman setting forth on a brilliantlysunny morning wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, but he may wellregret his laughter later in the dayl The English weather has also helped tomake the Englishman adaptable. It has been said that one of the reasons why the English colonized so much of the world was that, whatever the weatherconditions they met abroad, they had already experienced something like them athome And, of course, the weather's variety provides a constant topic ofconversation. Even the most taciturn f'taesita: n ]of Englishman is always prepared to discuss the weather, And, though hesometimes complains bitterly of it, he would not, even if he could, exchange itfor the more predictable climate of other lands.If “I” refers to a female, the translation is“我没有做母亲的经历”. If “I” refers to amale, and the child is adopted by “I”, the translation is“我没有做养父的经历”. If “I” refers to a female, and the child is adopted by“I”, the translation is “我没有做养母的经历”. Similar examples are such as cock VS 雄鸡；black VS黑；spring VS春, and so on. Theirdenotative meanings are identical but associative meanings are partly similar. 3. English semantic meaning differentfrom Chinese Denotative meanings are identical but associative meanings are quitedifferent. On some occasions, some things and phenomena can arouse differentmoods among the English and the Chinese. In other words, the English andChinese have different association towards some same thing and phenomena. Thatis, some associative meanings in English are different from their counterpartsin Chinese. 1.Take “red” vs “红” for example. Both “red” and “红” mean “the color of blood or fire”. (This refers to denotativemeaning which is given in the dictionary) The associative or symbolicmeanings of “red” and “红” are quite different because of the different social customs andpolitical factors. ①The associative meanings of “red” in English: (A) “Red” isassociated with “danger” and “anger”. In every daylife, “waving a red flag” means “doing something that can cause quick anger inother people.” (B) “Red” is also associated with “blood” and “violent”. Hencethe famous British scholar, Hawkes translated Chinese 《红楼梦》into “the Story of theStone”, not into “A Dream of the red Mansions” (the latter is Chinese scholar,Yang Xianyi’s version); 怡红公子into “Green Boy”; 怡红院into “the House of Green Delights” because he avoided using the word“red”. ② Thedifferent associative meanings of “红” in Chinese: Red arouses the feelings of enthusiasm, excitement andaffection among the Chinese, so the Chinese like red very much. (A) “红” is associated with thesymbol of “celebration, happy event, wedding, good luck and success.” For instance, “开门红” refers to “begin well”. “满堂红” means” success or having a good luck”. (B) “红” is associated with“revolution” and “troops”. For example, “红旗”symbolizes “revolution andvictory”; “红军”, thered army refers to revolutionary troops. 2. Take “dragon” vs “龙” for example Both “dragon” and “龙” mean “an imaginary fire-breathing animal in myth”. But theirassociative meanings are opposite. ①The associative meanings of“dragon” in English: (A) “Dragon” connotes “terrible monster” or “giant thateats men” (B) “Dragon” is also associated with “a fierce old woman, especially onewho allows too little freedom to a young girl in her charge”. For example, “Hermother is a real dragon.” ②The opposite associativemeanings of “龙” inChinese: (A) “龙” isthe symbol of the “Chinese people”. The Chinese people call themselvesthe descendants of dragon proudly such as “龙的传人”and “龙子龙孙”. (B) “龙” is associated with “emperor” and “nobility”. Emperors always namethemselves “真龙天子”.(C) “龙” isassociated with “good luck and success”. For example, “龙凤呈祥” means “good luck.” Similar examples are such as, “dog” VS “狗”, “fish” VS “鱼”, “candle” VS “蜡烛”, and so on. Theirdenotative meanings are identical but associative meanings are quite differentor even opposite. 4.Semantic meaning only in Englishor in Chinese______ Non- equivalence Denotative meanings are identical but associative meanings merelyexist in English or Chinese. Because of the different social custom and culture backgroundsbetween the English and the Chinese society, some things and phenomenon can arousecertain feelings either in English or Chinese. This results some words aboutthe same things and phenomenon only contain some associative meanings only inEnglish or Chinese. Now let’s contrast some of them. Take “bread” VS “面包”for example. There are rich associative meanings in English words “bread” ,whereas there aren’t any associative meanings in Chinese character “面包”. Let’s discuss the richassociative meanings of English word “bread”. [A] “Bread” is associated with “necessitiesfor life” or “money”. For example, “I’m only doing it for the bread.” The phrase“earn one’s bread” refers to “make enough money to live on”. [B] The associativemeanings of “bread” and “butter” also refer to “basic”, “daily”, “common”, “practical”.For example, “They discussed some “bread-and- butter political question onyesterday’s meeting.” All these are the associative meanings of “bread ”whereas there aren’t any associative meanings in Chinese character “面包”. Similar examples are such as “ghost” VS “鬼”, “eat” VS “吃”（饭）, “food” VS “食”; “sail” and “帆”. B. Causes ofsemantic differences We also found that the main causes of semantic differences are theculture factors. English and Chinese respectively belong to two differentcultures. English belongs to the typical coastal commercial culture whileChinese belongs to the continental agricultural culture. Those differentcultures have at least influenced English and Chinese semantic meanings in suchaspects as environments, social customs, world outlooks and so on. C. Thesignificance of the study The study is significant both in theory and in practice. (1)Intheory, it helps us understand the richness and complexity of English andChinese semantic meaning and their relations. (2) In practice, it can help usmaster semantic meaning in English and Chinese, avoid pragmatic errors and makelanguage teaching, translation and intercultural communication more effectiveand more tactful. In all, when translating, one should make sure the semantic meaningsof the words in source language and choose the suitable counterparts in targetlanguage. Exercises I. Translate the following passage into Chinese Why are so many people so anxious to get away from thesmall town or village where they were brought up, and to make for the bigcities? They usually describe their home town as “boring” or “dead,” or ____ the harshest criticism of all ____ as “provincial.” If we examine the question from a distance, as if wewere viewing the whole country from a long way off, we start to get a clueabout what it is that lures us into the big cities. The main point to noticeabout big cities is that they are big: there are a lot of people, and there area lot of things going on. If you look down on a city, literally from a greatdistance, from an airplane at night, you will be struck by the incrediblebrightness of a city: there are so many lights that you cannot help feelingthat all the bright things of life are down there waiting for you. But afeeling of disappointment will set in shortly after you land, because you willdiscover as you drive into the city center from the airport that the lights arejust that: lights, miles and miles of street lights and neon signs. They arenot in themselves sources of joy and happiness: city lights are not friendly,they are merely lights. In fact, the effect will probably be to make you feel lonelyand isolated. Ⅱ.Translate the following passage into Chinese This uncertainty about the weather has had a definite effect uponthe Englishman’s character; it tends to make him cautious, for example. Theforeigner may laugh when he sees the Englishman setting forth on a brilliantlysunny morning wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, but he may wellregret his laughter later in the day! The English weather has also helped tomake the Englishman adaptable. It has been said that one of the reasons why theEnglish colonized so much of the world was that, whatever the weatherconditions they met abroad, they had already experienced something like them athome! And, of course, the weather’s variety provides a constant topic ofconversation. Even the most taciturn ['tæsitə:n]of Englishman is always prepared to discuss the weather. And, though hesometimes complains bitterly of it, he would not, even if he could, exchange itfor the more predictable climate of other lands