Abstract:

Language is a tool with which people communicate with each other, which reflects nation’s culture culture. Idioms are the core of a language as they are formed through people’s life experience, background and the wisdom of working people. By showing numerous examples, this article first discusses the origins of the idioms, and then analyzes cultural differences between Britain and China from four aspects: geographical environment, religious believes, traditions and customs, history allusions, aims to help the readers to have a better understanding of Chinese idioms and English idioms so that they can achieve success in cross-cultural communication.

Key words: idioms; culture differences; cross-culture communication

摘要:

语言是人们交流的工具，是一个民族独特文化表现形式。习语是语言的精华，是人们最美好的生活经验，以及智慧的结晶。本文通过大量的实例，首先讨论成语的起源和典故，接着从地理环境，宗教信仰，风俗习惯，历史文化者四个方面讨论中英习语的差异，以帮助读者了解各自深刻的文化内涵，从而了解中英两国文化差异，旨在帮助读者更好地理解和使用英汉习语，消除文化带来的隔阂，成功地进行文化交际。

关键词：成语; 文化差异; 跨文化交际

1. Introduction
Language, as a tool of human communication, is the carrier of the unique culture of a nation. Idiom is a form of language with a long history. Language would become dull and dry without idioms. As a mirror of culture, idiom is strongly influenced by its culture. It is the crystallization of human wit and wisdom. Both English and Chinese have idioms which is an important part of their language. Idioms enjoy some characteristics of vividness, image and concision. Idiom is usually highly specialized in meaning and closely tied to distinctive cultural features and cultural attitudes. In this sense, we regard English idiom as a way to learn the British and American cultures.