Abstract: Euphemisms are applied in various fields in a wide range. Different euphemisms reflect different customs and social psychology in different countries. According to The Dictionary of English Euphemisms, euphemism is “a kind of decoration methods using harmless or sweet words to replace those abrupt words, and to cover up the truth with white words”. Euphemisms help avoid hurting others’ feeling by speaking indirectly. It oils the human relationship in communication and helps to save the face of communicators. Scholars have studied euphemisms for a long time in order to give a better understanding of cross-cultural communication. This thesis tries to make a comparative study of English and Chinese euphemisms with an aim to helping people further understand different ways of thinking, social and moral values, and cultural customs between China and English-speaking countries, so as to promote cross-cultural communication.
Key Words: Euphemism; Comparative study; Cultural Phenomenon; Cross-Cultural Communication
 
摘 要：委婉语在各个领域都有广泛的应用。不同的委婉语反射出不同国家的风俗和社会心理。根据《英语委婉语详解词典》的定义，委婉语是一种用无害的或悦耳的词语替代那些较直接的、唐突的言词，用善意的话语把不愉快的事实掩盖起来的修饰手段。通过委婉语，可以避免语言过于直露而给对方造成伤害。它是语言使用中人们用来协调人际关系的有效润滑剂，是保全交际各方面子的重要手段。学者们已对委婉语做了较长时间的研究旨在让人们对跨文化交际有一个更好的理解。本文尝试对中英委婉语作对比研究，旨在帮助人们更深入地了解中国与英语国家的人们在思维方式、社会价值观、道德观以及文化风俗等方面的异同，促进跨文化交际。
关键词：委婉语；对比研究；文化现象；跨文化交际
 
   As a tool for human communication, euphemism is a kind of language phenomenon very common all over the world. However, different countries have different cultures, languages and life styles. There is no doubt that euphemisms differ considerably in different languages.
    Euphemism plays a vital role in the process of our history. There is no doubt that language is the carrier of culture. Since different societies, different histories and cultures produce different euphemisms, so to speak, euphemisms reflect history, culture and customs of a nation, and are the linguistic reflection of social psychology and a product of social and cultural environment deeply rooted in social life. Thus euphemism literally means to speak with good words or in a pleasant manner.