Abstract This thesis conducts a contrastive analysis of the food idioms in Chinese and English from the perspective of folk culture. First, definitions of idiom and folk culture are given and by conducting a comparative study of Chinese and English food idioms, this thesis studies the similarities and differences between Chinese and English food idioms. Then in order to further explain the reasons for those differences between English and Chinese food idioms, this thesis studies the influence of folk culture on food idioms from the following four aspects: different eating concepts; different eating tools; eating different foods and different eating purpose. The meaning and conclusion of this thesis is made in the last part. In a word, the meaning of this thesis is that it can deepen the language learners’ understanding of the food idioms.53639

Keywords: food idioms; folk culture; English; Chinese; comparative study

摘要本文从民俗文化角度对英汉食物习语进行对比分析。首先对习语和民俗文化的定义做简要的介绍，然后通过对比分析法具体对英语食物习语和汉语食物习语的相似点和不同点进行比较研究。再从不同的饮食观；不同的饮食工具；不同的饮食目的和食用不同的食物四个方面对不同的中西方民俗文化造就不同的英汉食物习语进行分析。最后对本文内容加以总结。总的来说，本文的主要意义是旨在加深语言学习者对食物习语的理解。

毕业论文关键词：食物习语；民俗文化；英语；汉语；对比分析

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

3. Similarities and Differences between English and Chinese Food Idioms 3

3.1 Similarities Between English and Chinese Food Idioms 3

3.2 Differences Between English and Chinese Food Idioms 4

3.2.1 Different Foods with the Same Connotation 4

3.2.2 Same Food with Different Connotations 6

3.2.3 Unique Food with Unique Connotation 8

4. Folk Culture Influences on English and Chinese Food Idiom 10

4.1 Different Eating Concepts 10

4.2 Different Eating Tools 11

4.3 Eating Different Foods 11

4.4. Different Eating Purposes 12

5. Conclusion 13

Works Cited 14 

1. Introduction 

     Food idiom is inseparable from culture. For one thing, food idiom is a part of culture and plays an important role in it. For another, as a mirror of culture, food idiom is strongly influenced and shaped by culture; meanwhile, it reflects culture. Because of different geographic environment, historical background, religious beliefs, cultural psychology between China and English-speaking countries, different folk cultures formed in these countries. Food idioms, as the living fossils of folk culture, record different folk cultures. Food idioms are the carrier of folk culture, and are strongly influenced and shaped by folk culture. Therefore, in order to understand idioms, especially the food idioms, one can not ignore the folk cultural meaning they contain.

     Food idiom, just as its name implies, is one type of idioms which is combined by food words, therefore it is essential to define idiom first. But because idioms has different definitions and features, we find it is very difficult to define what an idiom is. The following are definitions from various dictionaries.