Identical animal word has different significance inChinese and English

As a part of human culture , the language has the national characteristics. Influenced by traditional culture , value idea, esthetic value orientation, religious belief and so on ,different nation will entrusts with the identical word different significance . Taking the animal words in English and Chinese as an example . As a result of national culture's difference, the identical animal word often will be entrusted with different significance in English and Chinese.

In Chinese culture , “dog” usually refers to rascal , evil person and so on .namely , “dog” represents the despicable hateful moral character in Chinese culture .The idiom of Chinese which contains the word of “dog” often has the derogatory sense . For example :

/laŋ35ɕin55kou214fei51/

(laŋ35:wolf,ɕin55:heart,kou214:dog, fei51:lung)
Mearns: Heartless and cruel.

/hu35peŋ35kou214jou214/

(hu35:fox, peŋ35:friend, kou214:dog, jou214:friend)

Mearns:Pack of scoundrels.

/kou214tʂaŋ51ʐen214ʂi51/

(kou214:dog, tʂaŋ51:rely, ʐen214:person, ʂi51:power)
Mearns:Relying on the power of the master.

/kou214tan214pao55tʰian55/

(kou214:dog,tan214:courage,pao55:contain,tʰian55:sky)
Mearns:Beastly audacity.

But in the English culture , “dog” often represents the commendatory character . It often uses to refer to the person who is worth trust or sympathy . For example:

Help a dog over a still
A lucky dog
An old dog
Lover me lover my dog
As faithful as a dog
……and so an …………

In Chinese culture ,“bear” usually relates to the characteristic of hopeless stupid or good-for-nothing .But in English , “bear” often uses to refer to the person who has the genius .For example: “She is a bear at arte” means she is a artistic talent .

In Chinese, “sheep” often refers to the temperate disposition and has the commendatory significance .But in English culture , “sheep” often refers to the person who is shy or cowardly . For example : “There is a black sheep in every flock” , “He makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by a wolf”

We can see from the examples above ,the “dog”, “bear”and “sheep” have entrusted with different significance in both Chinese and English . This is reflecting the difference of culture between Chinese and English .