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3. Similarities and Differences Between English and Chinese Food Idioms源'自:751]'论-文'网"]www.751com.cn
3.1 Similarities Between English and Chinese Food Idioms
Despite the fact that people in the west and those in the east live in different environment circumstances and have different historical backgrounds, the objective world they live in share some similarities, thus they share some similar living experiences. As a result, there are some similar food idioms in their languages. Such as:
(1) Rub salt in a wound
There is its Chinese counterpart “往伤口上撒盐”. The two English and Chinese proverbs express totally the same meaning because people in the east and in the west share the same association with rubbing salt in a wound.
There are some more examples that similar food idioms in Chinese and in English express the totally same meaning.
(2) Fish in trouble water
We can find its Chinese counterpart “浑水摸鱼”. The two English and Chinese proverbs express exactly the same meaning because Chinese and westerners share the same experience in fishing.
(3) Pour oil on the flame
The meaning of the idiom is making things or situation much worse than before. Its Chinese counterpart is “火上浇油”. Because of similar living experiences, Chinese and westerners choose the same food “oil” to express the same meaning.
(4) Good wine needs no bush
Bush is a tree branch hung as a sign before a vintner’s shop. For good wine, the reputation of it is well accepted by people, so no need of such bush. It is a metaphor for that good things do not need to advertise themselves. We can find the Chinese idiom using the same food “wine” to express the same meaning. It is “好酒不怕巷子深”.
From the above analysis, we find an amazing fact that people in the west and in the east have similar understanding and association about certain food, so they choose similar words about food to describe their feelings and thoughts in their daily life.
3.2 Differences Between English and Chinese Food Idioms
3.2.1 Different Foods with the Same Connotation
Many food idioms in English and in Chinese have the same meaning, but because of different folk culture, people in the east and in the west choose different words about food to express the same meaning. The author will analyze this phenomenon with specific examples in the following part.
Bread is one of the staple food in most native English-speaking countries, so a lot of bread idioms appear in English. For instance,
(5) bread and cheese （while refers to a common meal and can be translated into “家常便饭” in Chinese.）
(6) bread and water (while refers to a simple diet and can be translated into “粗茶淡饭” in Chinese.）
(7) bread and butter (while refers to someone’s main source of income and can be translated into “饭碗” in Chinese.）
(8) Bread is the staff of life. (while means Bread is the support of one’s life and can be translated into “人是铁，饭是钢”” in Chinese.）