1. Introduction

1.1 Research background

The color words are rich and colorful, and have close relationship with the social culture. Since there are lots of differences between English and Chinese, the same color expresses different cultural connotation. Color words become a error point in intercultural communication. This paper tries to start with the three colors of red white and yellow，analyzing the different language habits, life styles, historical background and Traditional customs between English and Chinese. Using the method of contrast to start the different meanings of color words in English and Chinese, and discuss the translation skills of color words.

1.2 Need for the study

Each language has many words to express its specific cultural concept. It is the most clear that what it refer to is only in a particular culture. Once it is out of its own cultural background, with entering into a difference cultural background, translation problems may appear. English and Chinese belong to two different languages, rooted in two different culture systems, which reflect the difference between English and Chinese national cultural psychology and aesthetic temperament and interest. Therefore, in the use of color words of English and Chinese languages and what they produce into the connection in the mind, there are a lot of differences in the color word meaning . This creates the cultural differences between English and Chinese color words That means that in a kind of language, some words in other languages cannot find the corresponding equivalent of word . Given the limitations of culture, this difference may make it difficult for our English learning and translation, literal-minded mistakes. This article is reflected from the the cultural differences between English and Chinese color words , analysing the cultural differences influence on color words in English and Chinese translation , and to explore the methods and skills of translation between English and Chinese color words.

Works Cited

Bao, Huinan, Bao Ang,[包惠南；包昂]，《中国文化与汉语翻译》. 北京：外文出版社，2004.