Introduction
As we all know, language is like a bridge over different people and different
cultures in the world. Idioms, as a special part of language, contain a large amount of information of histories, geography, culture and so on. They are the heritage of history and product of cultural evolvement. Chinese and English are two of the most influential languages in the world. China, as one of the civilized ancient countries, has a long history of more than five thousand years with a large population and an immense territory. The Great Britain, as the hometown of Industrial Revolution and an important country in Europe, also has a long history. We can learn about the culture after we study about the idioms and know more about the cultural background. Francis Bacon said, “Generous wit and spirit of a nation are discovered by their idioms” [1:35]. Comparing the different cultures on English and Chinese idioms will help us have a better understanding on differences and similarities of the two languages in the cross-cultural communication and translation.
I. The concept of idioms
1.1. Definition of idioms
Idioms are the essence of a language, which are always philosophical and eternal. According to Oxford Advantaged Learner?s English-Chinese Dictionary, an idiom is “a phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit”. “In the broad sense, idioms may include : set phrases; proverbs; sayings; epigrams; slang expressions; colloquialisms; quotations; two-part allegorical sayings, of which the first part ,always stated, is descriptive, while the second part , sometimes unstated, carries the message(chiefly in Chinese). [1:71] While in Chinese, idioms are called as ?熟语?,including:短语，成语
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(usually consisting of four words),俗语，谚语，格言，箴言，名言(quotation or recorded utterance ) ，警句，隽语，俚语，粗话，行话，歇后语(including pun),习语.”
1.2Cultural background of idioms
Both China and Britain have a long history, which fertilized their brilliant cultures. The common experiences and reciprocal interaction in various aspects through long-time communication between the two countries induce a lot of common points in culture.
In early British history, Britain was occupied by the Roman Empire for nearly four hundred years. The Romans left their deep marks on Britain culture. In 49 B.C. the Roman emperor Caesar sent the order of burning out boats after his army passed Lupigen River, showing the determination to take a all-out war. That is the origin of the English idiom 'burn one?s boat? [12:3]. Incidentally, in 208 B.C. General Xiangyu in China sent the similar order to smash all the boats after the army passed River Zhang in attempt to show its determination of winning the war, which made the birth of the Chinese idiom '破釜沉舟?[14：11]. The two idioms are stunningly the same in form and meaning, which reflect the same point in culture ------ the same concept to show inexorable determination or irrevocable decision.
English idioms and Chinese idioms are gems of the two languages as well as the crystallization of the two national cultures. Most of idioms are of vivid images which are appropriately used to compare to other things, consequently, they often contain distinctive national and local colors. Some idioms have quite clear meanings; some are implicit and profound, which could cause a great deal of association, while others may include several meanings, which depend on the context to define its real indication.
Both English and Chinese idioms have their national characteristics. They reflect different the value systems, the religion beliefs, the aesthetic customs, and the history and tradition.
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II. Different value systems in China and western countries 2.1. Individualism in western countries
Different people have different values. It is a desirable point of consideration and evaluation for different people. In western countries, the main line of value is individualism; they advocate the independence of the community. For example, “don?t put your finger in the pie(不要多管闲事)” it present the Life Philosophy of individualism in western countries. It tells people do not care about others; the best way is mind your own business.
Individualism in western countries is also reflected in people?s time system, they pursuit for efficiency and be optimistic. For example, “time is money(时间就是金钱)” like a Chinese idiom “一寸光阴一寸金”, it tells people that time is limited, we should use limited time to do unlimited things, create more useful things for others, this idiom is also full of economic color. “punctually is the politeness of kings(守时乃帝王之理)”and “punctually is the soul of business(恪守时刻，为立业之本)”also reflect punctuality has became advocated in western countries. Although in Chinese idiom we say “浪费时间等于谋财害命”, generally speaking, Chinese people?s punctuality is weaker than western countries?. To be affected by Individual-based values, people pay more attention to their own privacy, such as ages, incomes, religion believe and individual housing. As an English idiom says “an Englishman?s home is his castle(英国人的家是独立王国)”.
2.2. Collective values in China
Contrary to Individualism in western countries, Collective value has become advocated in China. Collective value is the main line in Chinese culture. To be affected by Collective value, human relation based has a special station in Chinese idiom; it reflects in the spirit of cooperation among people, it is the result of over twenty-five hundred history of China. For example, “一个篱笆三个桩，一个好汉三个帮”, “众人拾柴火焰高”and “独木不成林，单丝难成缕”, they all reflect a re
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preventative force of collective. This relation also reflect the close relation between affection and relationship, people usually tend to the return of affection and relationship and pay attention to the friendship and obligations from each others. “一日为师终生为师” tells the Chinese traditional relationship between teachers and students. “谁言寸草心” expresses the children?s kind heart to how much their parents owe to them. And “士为知己者死”tells us the personal loyalty and obligation between good friends. Human relation based reflects in the relation ship between the individual and the collective, Chinese claim “个人服从集体，小家服从大家”，so they have the lofty idea of collectivism “先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”. As a whole, collective value has a special station in Chinese culture.
III. Different religion beliefs
3.1Christianity in western countries
Religion plays an important role in the development of the language. Different religions produce different idioms. Different countries share different customs and beliefs. It is certainly much easier to learn about other cultures if one approaches them. For example, most English people believe that it is common to communicate with each other in euphemism, in order not to lead to awkwardness and embarrassment. Therefore, the following examples illustrate some kinds of “die”; most of examples are the same to our country.
To go to glory 升天了 To be gone or To expire 逝世
To depart or To pass away 去世，与世长辞 To close (end) one?s day 寿终 To breathe one?s last 咽气，断气 To go west 归西天
To pay the debt of nature 了结尘缘 To depart to the world of shadows 命归黄泉 To give up the ghost 见阎王
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To be no more 不在世 To kick the bucket 翘辫子 To join the majority 会见祖先
To kick up one?s heels 登腿，翘脚 [7：11]
In western countries especially in Britain and America， people believe in Christianity. The Bible has been regarded the classical Christian scripture, which establishes a foundation of western countries? culture, art and ideology, Idioms concerning the Bible can be found everywhere. For example, “doubting Thomas”（怀疑的托马斯）is an idiom from the Bible now stands for “不肯轻易相信别人的人(people who will not believe in others easily)”. And The idiom “cast pearls before swine”（把珍珠丢在猪的面前） is also from the Bible: New Testament, and now it stands for “not to give the precious things to people who cannot really appreciate it (不要把珍贵的东西送给不识货的人)”or “not to play the lute to a cow (不要对牛弹琴)”. “Go to hell（下地狱去）”is a curse. Others are like “ ?a lion in the way?, ?Nobody is born learned, even bishops are made of men.?, ?It?s better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.?, ?Bad priests bring the devil into the church? ?Judas kiss?, ?a dead dog?, ? the apple of one?s eye?(掌上明珠) , ?wash one?s hands of a thing?(洗手不干).” Besides, there are many proverbs in English based on the metaphors and themes of God and demon. For example: Man proposes, God disposes(谋事在人,成事在天); God helps those who help themselves. (自助者必有天助); Everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost(人不为己，天诛地灭).
3.2Confucianism in China
As China has a long history, Confucianism plays a special role in Chinese religion belief. Confucianism is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese culture. It is a complete ideological system created by Confucius, based on the traditional culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Confucianism has dominated a feudal society that in essence has lasted 2000 years and for that reason its influence over the history, social structure and the people of China cannot be overlooked.
Buddhism has been transmitted to China for more than one thousand years, which
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