Abstract：With the globalization of the world economy and development in communication technology, intercultural communication is becoming increasingly important. Whereas, the diversity of English and Chinese cultures has led to the great differences in taboo words between them. Taboo is a cultural phenomenon in human society. When people with different cultural backgrounds communicate, they may encounter diverse problems, and consequently misunderstandings and conflicts may arise. Language reflects culture and is greatly shaped by culture. It is the differences between Chinese culture and Western culture that makes taboo different. Without the understanding of social-cultural context, we can not understand the meaning of language. It is necessary to analyze Chinese and Western social customs and cultural content to make people in the actual communication in handy, to avoid unnecessary clashes. Knowing the differences between Chinese taboo and Western taboo helps to avoid misunderstandings and promote intercultural communications. This paper tries to compare the Chinese and English taboo words from the aspects of gender, religion, diseases or death, numbers, names and colors, and then explores the hidden causes behind them, such as cultural elements and psychological elements. It’s hoped that this paper could increase people’s awareness and competence in intercultural communication.
Key Words: intercultural communication；taboo words；cultural differences

摘要：随着世界经济的全球化和交流技术的发展，跨文化交际越来越重要。然而，汉英之间文化的多样性导致了它们之间禁忌语的巨大差异。禁忌语是人类社会的一种文化现象。当来自不同文化的人们进行交流时，会产生各种问题，还可能因此造成误解或冲突。语言反映文化并由文化构建。正是由于汉英之间文化的不同才造成了禁忌语的差异。不了解社会文化背景，我们很难了解语言的真正含义。分析中西方的社会习俗和文化内涵是很有必要的，可以使人们在实际交流中更加方便，避免不必要的冲突。了解汉英禁忌语的差异可以帮助我们避免误解，促进跨文化交际。本论文试图从性别、宗教、疾病或死亡、数字、隐私、称谓和颜色这些方面，比较汉语和英语的禁忌语，并探索造成这些差异的内在原因，例如文化原因和心理原因。希望本论文可以帮助人们提高跨文化交际的意识和能力。
关键字: 跨文化交际；禁忌语；文化差异