A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Connotation Words in English and Chinese

Abstract

Language reflects a nation’s culture and is profoundly influenced by it. Rooted in different cultural backgrounds, the English and Chinese languages inevitably exhibit significant cultural differences. This paper compares and analyzes cultural connotation words in English and Chinese from the perspectives of geographical environment, religious beliefs, value systems, customs and habits, literary works, and political systems. The aim is to enable language learners to appreciate the differences manifested at the lexical level and, ultimately, to cultivate and enhance their cross-cultural communicative competence.