The Hidden Meanings of Colors: Expressing Emotions through Color Words in English and Chinese

Colors play an important role in our daily lives. They not only reflect our tastes, preferences, and personalities, but also convey our feelings, attitudes, and values. The use of color words in English and Chinese is not only a matter of describing objects or scenes, but also a way of expressing emotions and ideas through emotional metaphors, symbols, and associations. In this article, we will explore the hidden meanings of colors in English and Chinese and how they reveal our inner worlds.

Red 红色

Red is one of the most powerful and intense colors in both English and Chinese cultures. It is often associated with passion, love, ambition, and energy. In English, we have expressions such as "seeing red" (being angry), "painting the town red" (having a wild party), "red-letter day" (a memorable or significant day), "in the red" (having financial problems), and "red tape" (bureaucratic obstacles). In Chinese, red has even richer cultural connotations, as it is the color of luck, happiness, and prosperity in many celebrations and rituals, such as weddings, Lunar New Year, and birthdays. Red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo) filled with money are often given as gifts to children and elders during these occasions. Red can also symbolize danger, revolution, and socialism, as in the Communist Party of China's flag, which features a large red star.

Black 黑色

Black is a color of mystery, elegance, and drama in both English and Chinese. It can denote power, sophistication, evil, mourning, and emptiness. In English, we have expressions such as "black sheep" (a person who is disapproved of by the rest of the family or group), "black tie" (formal wear), "black comedy" (a type of humor that often deals with taboo or painful subjects), "black market" (illegal trade), and "blackout" (loss of power or consciousness). In Chinese, black can be associated with yin (阴 yīn), the opposite of yang (阳 yáng), and thus signify feminine, passive, and gentle qualities. Black can also be used in contrast to red, as in the phrase "红男绿女" (hóng nán lǜ nǚ), which means "red men and green women" and refers to the traditional gender roles of dominant men and submissive women.

Yellow 黄色

Yellow is a color of joy, intellect, caution, and envy in both English and Chinese. It can convey warmth, optimism, cowardice, sickness, and jealousy. In English, we have expressions such as "yellow journalism" (sensational or irresponsible reporting), "yellow fever" (an attraction or fetishization of Asian culture or people), "yellow card" (a warning in sports), "yellow-bellied" (cowardly), and "mellow yellow" (a peaceful or happy state). In Chinese, yellow is the color of the emperor's robes and thus represents royalty, respect, and dignity. However, yellow can also be a taboo color, as it sounds like the word for "death" (死 sǐ) in Chinese and is associated with bad luck and sorrow. Therefore, yellow is often avoided in weddings, funerals, and hospitals. Interestingly, the same phonetic pun does not exist in English, where yellow is more commonly used in positive contexts.

Blue 蓝色

Blue is a color of serenity, loyalty, trust, and sadness in both English and Chinese. It can evoke feelings of tranquility, trustworthiness, optimism, and depression. In English, we have expressions such as "feeling blue" (being sad), "the blues" (a genre of music characterized by melancholy and soulfulness), "blue-collar" (relating to manual labor or low-income workers), "blue blood" (aristocratic or royal lineage), and "out of the blue" (unexpectedly). In Chinese, blue can be associated with the sky, sea, and nature, and thus symbolize freedom, immensity, and harmony. Blue is also a popular color for boys' clothing and merchandise, as it conveys masculinity and adventure.

Green 绿色

Green is a color of growth, prosperity, envy, and healing in both English and Chinese. It can signify renewal, hope, jealousy, money, and health. In English, we have expressions such as "going green" (adopting environmentally friendly practices), "green thumb" (a talent for gardening), "green with envy" (being jealous), "green light" (permission or approval), and "greenback" (US dollar bill). In Chinese, green is the color of the Goddess of Mercy (观音 Guānyīn) and thus represents compassion, kindness, and salvation. Green can also symbolize illness, as in the phrase "绿色瘟疫" (lǜsè wēnyì), which means "green plague" and refers to the side effects of radiation exposure.

Conclusion

As we can see, color words in English and Chinese are not just descriptive terms, but also emotional metaphors and symbols that can reveal our feelings, attitudes, and values. By understanding the hidden meanings of colors, we can better appreciate the cultural diversity and complexity of the world around us. Color is not just what we see, but also what we feel and express.