Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: The temporal metaphor is often appeared in English and Chinese culture. This thesis mainly analyses the similarities and differences of temporal metaphor in English and Chinese proverbs from the three aspects: TIME IS MONEY; TIME IS SPACE; TIME IS A MOVING SUBJECT. At the meantime, it explains that the reason of the differences is influenced on different cultures, different religion and different values. Through a comparative study, the thesis aims to analyze the similarities and differences of temporal metaphor in English and Chinese proverbs, hopes to help people know more about temporal metaphor in proverb, deepen a better communication between East and West.

Key words: metaphor; English temporal proverb; Chinese temporal proverb; comparative study

摘要：时间隐喻在中西方文化中经常出现。本篇文章从时间是金钱；时间是空间；时间是移动的物体三个方面来分析了英汉时间谚语中隐喻的异同点。同时阐释了英汉时间谚语中隐喻的不同是受不同的文化、不同的宗教、不同的价值观影响的。通过对中英时间谚语中的隐喻的对比研究，分析英汉时间谚语中的隐喻的异同之处，帮助人们更多的了解时间谚语中的隐喻，加深中西方人们更好的交流。

关键词：隐喻; 中国时间谚语; 西方时间谚语; 对比研究

1. Introduction
Proverbs are widely regarded as the expression of people's wisdom, which are easily remembered and contain profound philosophic meaning. Whatever languages they are in, they are greatly appreciated by the natives. Proverbs, both in English and Chinese, hold important positions in language use. However, the linguistic research on proverbs is not given enough attention. In recent decades, the metaphor, especially the temporal metaphor, has been studied by many professional scholars and educators at home and abroad. I. A. Richards once said that in one out of three sentences we utter probably contains metaphor.
Metaphor, a hot topic in recent years, is not only language, but also thought. In fact, the metaphor is so common in human life that some linguists, philosophers and psychologists believe all words begin with the metaphor. Time has always been the subject of study of natural science and philosophy. It is everywhere but abstract and can not be seen and touched, so the indication of time is metaphorical. Among various expressions of time, time proverbs are even more widely known by people of all over the world. Time proverbs are clear in structure, vivid in expression, obvious in meaning, sharp in contrast and beautiful in rhythm.