Abstract:

In cross-cultural communication, people who come from different cultures will have different understandings when it comes to same phenomenon. Translation is an efficient way for people to communicate with each other. Idioms are the languages that form the unique and fixed expression in the course of communication. Idioms are influenced by cultural differences, while, cultural differences are reflected in English and Chinese idioms. This paper probes into cultural differences and their influences on the translation of English and Chinese idioms. It also explores appropriate translation principles for the translation of idioms according to the cultural differences. The influences of cultural differences on the translation of English and Chinese idioms may be expressed in six aspects——living environments，customs, historical allusions, religious beliefs, cultural values and thinking modes. Idioms influenced by these different aspects require different translation principles and methods respectively such as literal translation, free translation and the combination of free translation and literal translation.

Keywords: cultural differences；idiom translation；translation principles

摘  要：

在跨文化交际中，来自不同文化的人们,当涉及到相同的现象就会有不同的理解。翻译对人们互相交流来说是一种有效的方式。习语是一种语言在交流过程中形成的独特的固定的表达方式。文化差异影响着习语，而英汉习语也反映了文化差异。本论文探究文化差异且其对英汉习语翻译的影响，也探究根据文化差异，对习语翻译采用恰当的翻译原则。文化差异对英汉习语翻译的影响可能表现在六个方面——生存环境、风俗习惯、历史典故、文化价值观、宗教信仰和思维方式。影响着习语的这些不同方面分别需要不同的翻译原则和方法例如直译，意译和直译意译结合。

关键词：文化差异；习语翻译；翻译原则

1 Introduction
Idioms are crystallizations of human wisdom and gems of languages. Like mirrors, they reflect the national characteristics embodied in the culture. There are lots of idioms in the English culture and Chinese culture. Translation is difficult; the idiom translation is more difficult.
Because of the differences of culture, it is difficult to understand idioms properly. Cultural differences may be expressed in living environments，customs, historical allusions, religious beliefs, cultural values and thinking modes, which may impose influences on idiom translation. It is important to adapt appropriate translation principles for idiom translation. Idioms influenced by these different aspects require different translation principles and methods respectively such as literal translation, free translation and the combination of free translation and literal translation. Literal translation is suitable for those idioms embodied with differences in cultural values; free translation for those idioms embodied with differences in living environments, religious beliefs and thinking modes; combination of free translation and literal translation for those idioms embodied with differences in customs and historical allusions. Thus, it is better to communicate and understand with each other.