A Contrastive Study of Chinese and Thai Color Idioms

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to compare sources, meanings, and intention to use between Chinese and Thai idioms related to colors; and to investigate similarities and differences between the use and reflection of those Chinese and Thai idioms. 124 Chinese idioms and 92 Thai idioms were collected and analyzed in terms of sources, meanings, intention to use, and reflection on using those idioms. The data were analyzed mainly using Chinese Idioms Dictionary, Chinese-Thai Dictionary, and Thai Idioms. Moreover, the knowledge and experiences of the researcher and a native lecturer were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that there were six sources of the Chinese idioms and 12 sources of the Thai idioms related to colors. Most of the Chinese idioms were from ancient literatures, while many Thai idioms were from natural environment and religious beliefs. The Chinese and Thai idioms related to colors had both implicit and explicit meanings. There were four moods in Chinese idioms, including positive, negative, neutral, and positive- negative. Meanwhile, Thai idioms had only three moods, which are positive, negative, and neutral. The intentions to use the Chinese and Thai idioms related to colors were the same. There were five aspects of the intention, including to blame, to warn, to comment, to admire, and to be sarcastic. The reflection on using the idioms was divided into two main aspects as follows. The idioms reflected the overview of environment of the both countries. Both countries had different terrains and weathers as well as their environments. Another reflection was involved with the overview of cultures of the both countries in several aspects, such as lifestyles, occupations, attitudes and values, and human organs. China and Thai were agricultural societies. However, they lived in different places and environments, so their cultures had both similarities and differences.