Abstract:

The words and expressions with Chinese characteristics refer to those that focus on Chinese-specific things and phenomenon, involving politics, economics, history, society, daily life, etc. In the past translation and researches, we can find many problems like vocabulary vacancy, the loss of original meaning and so on as a result of traditional and historical accumulation, regional culture differences and customs and habits differences. This paper discusses the causes of translation problems of words with Chinese characteristics with examples in China Daily and studies how to apply transliteration, literal translation and free translation. In addition, it points out the advantages and disadvantages of each method to give further inspiration on the translation of words and expressions with Chinese characteristics.

Key Words: words and expressions with Chinese characteristics; the cause of vocabulary vacancy; translation methods

摘要：

中国特色词汇是指那些集中体现中国特有事物和现象的词汇，涉及政治、经济、历史，社会，日常生活等方面。在过去的翻译表达与研究中，由于传统文化积淀、地区文化差异，风俗习惯差异等多方面的原因，易造成中译英过程的词汇缺失，翻译的原味尽失等问题。本文将以著名报刊CHINA DAILY为例, 探讨造成某些中国特色词汇缺失的原因，另外，研究如何音译、直译和意译中国特色词汇并指出各自优点和缺陷，在中国特色词汇中译英的方法上给出更深的启示。

关键词：中国特色词汇； 词汇缺失原因；翻译方法

1. Introduction
1.1    Development and Problems of Words with Chinese Characteristics
With the increasing development in our political and economic status, and intensified effort to publicity work, many researchers have become increasingly interested in translating China-context English vocabulary and expressions in various mediums without losing original intention. The words with Chinese characteristics refer to those that focus on Chinese specific things and phenomenon, involving politics, economics, history, society, daily life, etc.  Sometimes, they indicate distinct characteristics of era.Some documents consider these words “culture specific terms/items”, to explain “the words subject to specific culture of different country or nationality, such as custom, living way, cultural tradition, history and political events”.