Abstract

Numbers occur frequently in Chinese and English idioms. According to the statistics, it can be found out that the numbers’ occurrence frequencies in Chinese idioms are higher than in English idioms. This paper will firstly give a general introduction to the actual employments of numbers in Chinese and English idioms. Then it focuses on the comparison between the different employments. And the reasons accounting for the differences have accordingly been suggested and analyzed.

Key Words: numeral idioms in Chinese and English, different employments, religious beliefs, cultural backgrounds, ethnological cultural psychologies

摘 要

数字在中英习语中出现的频率很高，经过一系列数据的对比，笔者发现相同数字在汉英习语中出现的频率有高有低，不尽相同。同时也发现数字在中文习语中出现的频率比在英文习语中出现的频率高很多。首先，本文概要介绍了数字在英汉习语中的使用情况。接着，着重介绍数字在英汉习语中的不同使用情况，并对造成相同数字在英汉习语中不同使用情况的原因进行分析研究。

关键词：中英数字习语;不同使用;宗教信仰;文化背;民族心理

1.    Introduction
Chinese and English are two highly developed languages with abundant well-known idioms. In Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English，an idiom is defined as a phrase that means the way of expression typical of a person or a group in their use of language which bears rich national traits. As it can be observed, numbers occur frequently in Chinese and English idioms which play an important role in Chinese and English idioms and strengthen the language’s ability of expression. The numeral idioms represent different national characteristics of East and West, which are closely related to historical backgrounds, customs and religious beliefs, etc. And they reflect the differences between eastern and western cultures.
With the intensive study of numeral idioms, people can have a better understanding of numeral idioms. Guan Zhenbin  has written that language is part of culture since material culture is manifested by man’s productions.In his mind, the most important function of numeral idioms is to reflect productions made by humankind and people’s outlooks on life. Chitra Fernando thinks that the numeral idioms deeply influenced by religion and cultural backgrounds are the heritage of history and products of cultural environment.In this paper, main efforts will be focused on the discussion about different employments of numbers in Chinese and English idioms and the corresponding reasons behind.