I Introduction
Proverb, a short well-known saying that states a general truth or gives advice, is an indispensable part of a country's culture. In particular, Chinese Proverb is characterized by conciseness and principle. Its most brief language and form express most vivid and richest idea. Therefore more and more translators are engaged in the translation of Chinese Proverb. However, the profound philosophical background and cultural tradition of Chinese and English result in the difference in the mode of thought which lead to many obstacles in the process of translating.
In order to improve the accuracy of translation of Chinese Proverb, this paper tries to gasp the internal regulations and relations between Chinese and English and get rid of the influence caused by way of thinking as well as custom, which is on the basis of different philosophical background and cultural tradition this paper mainly includes two parts: the first part shows the differences between Chinese and English in cultural background; the second part tells the different ways of thinking between Chinese and English. Finally it concludes that we should be clear about the difference in the translation of Chinese Proverb.
II The Difference Between Chinese and English
1.The Difference Between Chinese and English in Cultural Background
A. Chinese in lunar calendar; English in solar calendar
The long history of China has gone with extensive and profound culture. In Chinese-English translation, if you want to use proverbs, it is necessary to let the foreigners know the real Chinese customs and something which they did not know, so translators must keep the Chinese traditions and features: There are fifty-six nations in China; the diversity of sayings of course can’t be counted. Some Chinese who are in different areas even do not know the meaning of other peoples, let alone foreigners know it well, the purpose of a good translator is to make his works known to all. But it is unwise to lose the real style of the composition, and the connotation, background, customs must be concluded in it. China is an agriculture country, there is no doubt that most of them live on agriculture, and plan and do every thing according to the different seasons in lunar calendar, such as vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, grain full. Definitely the people living on agriculture prefer to lunar calendar, their faiths belong to what lunar calendar refers to, so most important things including festivals are arranged on lunar calendar: Qingming festival (3rd March), Duanwu festival (5thMay),Zhongqiu festival (15th August) and so on, and people pay more attention their own traditional festivals. For example, they are ceremonious on Spring festival Eve which comes on the last day of a lunar year. Usually the whole family should unite and gather at home. It is said that a beggar must have a den on New Year, The day (lunar calendar) on 13 July is called Yue Ban, t is Ghost's Day. They must send money made by special paper to the people who have been dead, expecting their forefathers to bless senders happily and safely. In addition, different peoples have different festivals, such as Miao people's lu sheng Festival, Yi people's porch festival, Dai people's water-pouring festival, and Shui people's water-pouring festival is more ceremonious than the other festival. And compared with the festivals in the foreign countries, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and other foreign festivals, in China there are also some traditional festivals similar to those abroad. For example, it is Chinese Valentine’s Day on July (lunar calendar),that must be distinguished from Valentine’s Day abroad (happy love between young men) and the romantic but sorrowing love story from Niunang and Zhinu should be added in your translation to make the readers know what you state. The explanation is al
