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Comparison of Red in Chinese and English Yanping Bai Comparison of Red in Chinese and English Yanping Bai Abstract This paper attempts to compare the different semantic meanings of red in Chinese and English with the purpose of illustrat- ing on a very simple level the reason why Chinese and English speakers have difficulty understanding each other. The deno- tations of red in Chinese and English are listed in entries of Chinese, English, and bilingual dictionaries. Though the literal denotations are similar, the connotations of red in one language do not map exactly onto counterparts in the other language due to cultural and linguistic differences. In Chinese, red is regarded as a symbol of happiness and good luck, thereby occu- pying a substantial position in Chinese culture; while in English, it seems to have no similar meaning. Red has positive, nega- tive, and warning connotations in both languages, but each language has distinctively different expressions to indicate the same meanings. This paper elaborates the equivalence and nonequivalence of red in both languages. Introduction sashes or cloth as a sign of honor, Due to the differences in culture and history, festivity, etc.’); c. To symbolize Chinese and English can express the same something that is successful or goes meaning in different ways, and it is often that smoothly: 红运(hong yun: ‘good the same word carries quite different connota- luck’);d. To symbolize somebody tions. This paper takes the word red as an ex- that is the favorite of the leader or ample and illustrates its denotations and con- popular with the audience: 走红 (zou notations in the two languages. In Chinese hong: ‘become popular’) (Contemporary culture, the reason why Chinese people wor- Modern Chinese Dictionary, 2005, p. 563); ship red can date back to ancient times, when e. To symbolize high consciousness people worshiped the Sun God. An ancient in revolution and politics: 红色根据 emperor, 炎帝 (yan di) [Red Emperor], 地 ； claimed that he was the avatar of the Sun God. (hongse genjvdi: ‘red base’) f. To The Chinese were called the offspring of the denote bonus and dividend: 红利 Red Emperor. Therefore, red has been related (hong li: ‘bonus’); g. To refer to a sur- to glory and carried positive connotations (Ji- name: 红云(hong yun: ‘Hong, Yun’) ang, Liu, Sun, Zhu, Su, Chen, Yu, & Yuan, n. (New Chinese-English Dictionary, 2003, p. d.). In contrast, in western culture red is 567-568). mainly related to blood (Ammer, 1992, p. 137- For Chinese people, it is easy to infer the 138) and is usually loaded with negative con- connotations of red from its denotations. Chi- notations. nese people have paid special attention to the color red since the ancient times due to their The Denotations and Connotations of worship of the Sun God as mentioned earlier. Red in Chinese and English They thought red was the color of their ances- The Denotations and Connotations of Red in tors, and thus red is traditionally considered an Chinese auspicious color in Chinese culture and repre- The Chinese character for red is 红(hong). Ac- sents happiness and good luck, thereby play- cording to the Contemporary Modern Chinese Dic- ing a significant role in important celebrations, tionary (2005) and the New Chinese-English Dic- such as weddings and festivals, in common tionary (2003), it has the following meanings: expressions and other contexts (Jiang et al., a. The color that looks like blood: 红 n. d.). 枣 (hong zao: ‘red dates’); b. The red cloth to symbolize the happiness and celebration: 披红 (pi hong: ‘wear red _____________________ Bai, Y. (2010). Comparison of red in Chinese and English. Hawaii Pacific University TESOL Working Paper Series 8 (1, 2), 33-38. Publication’s website: http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?contentID=8064&siteID=1 The Denotations and Connotations of Red in tured in the act of committing a crime. In ad- English dition to these collocations, red is related to According to the Webster’s Third New Interna- passion, love, and beauty. Red roses are tional Dictionary (1993) and the Oxford Advanced commonly considered a symbol of love. Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary (2004), red Women wearing red clothes or lipstick are can be defined as follows: thought more attractive. a. Of the color red, lit by or as if by fire: red rose/hills; b. Dyed with red Comparing the Meaning of Red in or having red as a distinguishing Chinese and English color: the red hat, captain of the red In both languages, the core meaning of red team; c. Stained, full of or colored refers to a color. Red’s prototypical meaning as with blood: the red hands and sharp a warning comes from our biological make-up; knives of the fishermen; d. Heated to humans have similar physical mechanisms of redness: red slag from a blast furnace; the eye and brain to perceive information e. Characterized by wrath or violence: around us, and red is a color which may excite red rage; f. Inciting or endorsing anxiety in the brain. Other physiological ac- sweeping social or political reform tivities, such as menstruation, blushing, and esp. by the use of force: fighting the sex, result in another meaning of red. Al- red guerrillas; g. Failing to show a though red has many nonequivalent meanings profit: haven’t had a red month in the in Chinese and English, they still share certain past year (Webster’s Third New Interna- characteristics because of their shared proto- tional Dictionary,1993, p. 1990); h. (1) typicality (Celce-Murcia & Larsen-Freeman, (Of the eyes) bloodshot or sur- 1999, p. 43). The senses of red in Chinese cor- rounded by red or very pink: Her respond to many of the senses of red in Eng- eyes were red from crying; (2) (Of the lish. face) bright red or pink, especially be- cause you are angry, embarrassed or Positive Connotations of Red in Chinese ashamed: He stammered something and English and went very red in the face; (3) (Of At one level, red has positive connotations in hair or an animal’s fur) reddish- both Chinese and English. As explained ear- brown in color: red deer/squirrels; i. lier, because red is so important in Chinese (Informal) (sometimes disapproving, culture, it is associated with many positive politics) having very LEFT-WING meanings. When people celebrate the most political opinion. Besides this, there important festival in China -- the Spring Fes- are some meanings related to nouns - tival, they often stick red couplets (two pieces - for example, the color of blood or of red paper with good luck words written on fire; red cloth or clothing; a pigment them) on the two sides of the gate, hang red or dye that colors red; a person with lanterns outside and set off red firecrackers1 very LEFT-WING political opinion; to express a sense of celebration. Usually, red alert. (The Oxford Advanced grandparents and parents give children “lucky Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary, 2004, p. 1445) money” in red envelopes as New Year’s gifts. Some people even wear a red belt or red un- Red in the western culture does not seem derwear on lunar New Year’s Day for good so joyous compared to that in Chinese. It is luck. In addition to this festival, red items are mainly associated with heat, disapproval, loss widely used during other celebrations. For in- of money and anger. Red heat refers to high stance, on National Day, the Lantern Festival, temperature causing certain substances to and Labor Day, streets and town squares are glow red; red-faced refers to a face turning red usually decorated with red flags and different because of feeling of anger or embarrassment; kinds of red flowers to bring about a joyous red-haired is associated with deceitfulness. To environment (Jiang et al., n. d.). be caught red-handed is a term for being cap- 34 Another important occasion is the wed- cards and gifts of Valentine’s Day. A red- ding, a vital moment in one’s life. Chinese blooded American means a true and brave people often call it the “red wedding cere- American who is energetic. Red hot can be mony.” The bride always wears red clothes used to describe something that is extremely from top to bottom: a red cheongsam, (a tra- popular or full of enthusiasm and energy in ditional Chinese gown), red socks and red English. The pope’s hat and the cardinals’ shoes in order to get good luck. Before meet- vestments embody their authoritative position ing the bride, the groom wears a red tie and in the Catholic Church. decorates the wedding car with red roses. In- In both Chinese and English, a red ribbon side the groom’s pockets are red packets that is regarded as the symbol of solidarity show- are for children and guests to share their ing our care for affected AIDS patients, our pleasure and good luck. passion for life, and our desire for equality. Red is also widely used in Chinese expres- sions. When it comes to talking about some- Negative Connotations of Red in Chinese one with good luck, he is described as 红运高 and English 照 (hong yun gao zhao) [red fortune high shine]. Red Related to Warning A business, for example a restaurant which Although red has positive meanings, it also has a good start, is always said to 开门红 connotes warning in both English and Chi- (kai men hong) [open door red]. nese. This is because red is a distinctive color Some idiomatic expressions also convey “that stands out well in most everyday settings some positive meanings related to red. For ex- and consequently is admirably suited to warn- ample, Chinese use 红光满面 (hong guan man ing people of danger” (Bennett, 1988, p.
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