A SURVEY OF EUPHEMISMS IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE

THEME

A euphemism is the substitution of a mild or vague expression for a harsh or blunt one. It is applied to achieve polishness and politeness to lessen the degree of unpleasantness and offensiveness.

Orinated and developed from different cultural backgrounds, English and Chinese have tremendous differences in word-formation, etymologies. Moreover, they have distinctive features respectively.

Due to the differences between English euphemisms and Chinese ones , barriers emerge when people from English-speaking countries and China communicate. The causes may be classified into 3 categories.
We may adopt the following measures to avoid such barriers caused by euphemisms.
1. Pay attention to some sensitive areas.
2. Master the veiled meaning of euphemisms.
3. Identify the difference between euphemisms and their direct expressions.

The successful mastery of euphemisms may serve as a lubrication in communication. To achieve it, we should learn and accumulate restlessly.