(49) Many lords, many laws.
Gorky said that, “The true art is authorized to exaggerate.” Hyperbole is an exaggeration used to give emphasis and strike the readers deeply. E.g.:
(50) A thousand years cannot repair a moment’s loss of honor.
(51)谷子栽得稀，不够喂小鸡。
The exaggeration is not false. It comes from the true feelings and bases on reality.[8]
Apart from the above rhetorical devices, there are other devices. They are Antithesis, Synecdoche, Personification, etc.
The use of rhetorical devices makes proverbs fresh, humorous, implicit and full of wit.
Though English and Chinese proverbs enjoy the similar origins, they also have differences in their detailed contents. We will discuss their differences from the following aspects: different geography; different history customs; different religions and different value concepts.
3. Differences between English and Chinese proverbs
Language is strongly influenced and shaped by culture. Language is the mirror of culture. It can represent every aspect of culture.[9] Proverb is an important part of a national language and they reflect the relation between culture and language. Different nations have different culture. Generally speaking, the major differences lie in geography; history customs; religions and value concepts. As a result, English and Chinese proverbs are different in the detailed contents.
3.1 Reflecting different geography
A nation’s geographical environment is a framework in which a language and culture have been developing. The geographical features of a country are inevitably reflected in the national language in general and proverbs in particular.[10]
England is an island country and located in the western seaside of Europe. English people live by seaside and their life cannot do without sailing and fishing. So many English proverbs are related to sea and sailing. E.g.:
(52) The best fish smell when they are three days old.
(53) All at sea.
(54) Being on the sea, sail; being on the land, settle.
(55) Let another’s shipwreck be your navigation mark.
China is an agriculture country. Every feudal dynasty pays much attention to agriculture. Agriculture is the fundamental and crucial trade. So there are many farming proverbs about agriculture. Farming proverbs constitute a large part of Chinese proverbs. They are the crystal of agriculture experiences of Chinese people. It can be seen in the following examples:
(56)春雨贵如油。（Rain during spring time is precious as oil.）
(57)种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。（As a pan sows, so shall he reap.）
(58)人勤地不懒。(If man is diligent, soil is not idle.)
(59)瑞雪兆丰年。(A snow year, a rich year.)
(60)一粒下地, 万粒归仓。(From one grain sown into the earth, one thousand grains will spring.)
(61)前人种树, 后人乘凉。(Ancestors plant trees while descendants enjoy the cool under the tree shade—enjoying the fruits of labor of one’s ancestors.)
From above, we can see that English and Chinese proverbs reflect their different geographical conditions. England is an island country, so many English proverbs are about “sea”, “fish”, “ship” and so on. While many Chinese proverbs are about agriculture, such as “豆”，“雪”，“仓”，“地”,etc.
3.2 Reflecting different history customs
Each nation has its own history. Since proverbs are historical products, they may reflect some aspects of the national history.
English proverbs are related to the history of England. E.g.: (62)“It is as hard to please a knave as a knight.” A knight refers to a man given the rank of knighthood by the British monarch. There are many legends about the English knights (e.g.: King Arthur and his green knights) in the ancient times; and (63)“From whipping post to pillory.” A whipping post is a post to which a person was tied for a public whipping and a pillory is a wooden framework with three holes into which the head and hands of an offender were loked, exposing him to public abuse and ridicule.[11]
China has a long history. There is thousands of years’ feudal society in China. People were bonded by the rank of class. The rulers exploit and bully the people cruelty. There are many Chinese proverbs about feudal and gender discrimination. E.g.:
(64)只许州官放火,不许百姓点灯。(The magistrates are free to burn down houses, while the common people are forbidden even to light lamps. –The powerful can do what they want, the weak are not allowed to do anything.)
(65)朱门酒肉臭,路有冻死骨。(Behind the red doors meat and wine go to waste while out on the roads lie the bones of the frozen.)
(66)嫁鸡随鸡,嫁狗随狗。(Marry a cock and follow the cock, marry a dog and follow the dog. —Follow the man you marry, be he fowl or cur.)[12]
From above we can see that English and Chinese proverbs reflect the different history. English proverbs are related to king and knight while Chinese proverbs reflect the Chinese people’s grudge and resistance to rulers.
3.3 Reflecting different religions
Religion is a very important part of culture. Different religions reflect different cultural characters, different cultural backgrounds and different cultural traditions. Religion is a cultural phenomenon. Proverbs are closely related to the culture, so proverbs can reflect the different religious faith. [13]
English people believe in Christianity and it is the most influential religion in the west. Many English proverbs reflect English people’s religious faith and many of them are about “God”, “devil”, “heaven”, “church”, “cross” and “hell”. E.g.:
(67) As poor as the church mouse.
(68) God helps those who help themselves.
(69) The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
(70) Better go to heaven in rags than to hell in embroidering.
(71) The way to heaven is by Weeping Cross.
The proverbs above are apparently related to Christianity, because in them “God”, “devil”, “heaven”, “church”, “cross” and “hell” appear which are the embodiments of Christianity.
In contrast, Buddhism is the most popular religion in China. Many proverbs are about Buddhism such as:
(72)平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚。(Never burning incense when all is well, but clasping Buddha’s feet in an emergency.)
(73)跑得了和尚,跑不了庙。(The monk may run away, but the temple can’t run with him. —A fugitive must belong to some place that can provide clues.)
(74)泥菩萨过河,自身难保。(Like a clay idol fording a river --hardly able to save one.)
(75)放下屠刀,立地成佛。(The butcher who lays down his knife at once becomes a Buddha.)
These proverbs are about 佛，和尚，庙and 菩萨。The doctrines of Buddhist admonish people to do good deeds and so they can go to the heaven after their death. Taoism comes next to Buddhism in China. There are proverbs about Taoism such as
(76)一人得道，鸡犬升天。
(77)道高一尺，魔高一丈，etc.
English and Chinese people have different religious faith. Different religions lead to the differences between English and Chinese proverbs. Christianity is the main religion in English-speaking countries, so many English proverbs are related to “God”. While Chinese people believed in Buddhism and Taoism, so many Chinese proverbs are about“佛”and “道”。
3.4 Reflecting different value concepts
The differences between Chinese and western value concepts mainly lie in individualism and collective.
Westerners believe that everyman is equal. They aspire to freedom and equality. Many English proverbs show American’s advocating of freedom and individualism. E.g.:
(78) God helps those who help themselves.
(79) He helps little that helps not himself.
These two proverbs illustrate the individual role. The words “themselves” and “himself” show that independence plays an important role in their life.
(80) Everyman is the architect of his own fortune.
(81) If you want a thing well done, do it yourself.
These two proverbs attach importance to independence and self-reliance. Self-reliance impels people to create opportunities, seek competition and be ready for risks.
(82)“It is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.” gives prominence to the individualism.
(83)“Everyman after his fashion.” lays stress on individual differences.
On the contrary, Chinese people take modesty as virtue. They respect the old and take good care of the young. Their characteristics are “justice and humanity”, “modesty” and “love”. [14] Chinese people pay much attention to collectivism and think highly of the role of groups. They lay stress on help each other and reliance each other. They also pay attention to the harmonious human relationship and they try to save the other side’s face. Many Chinese proverbs reflect this trend.[15] E.g.:
(84)“孤树结成林不怕风吹，滴水集成海不怕日晒。”shows the strength of collective or union.
(85)“四海之内皆兄弟。”reflects the importance of mutual help and reliance.
(86)“相互协助事好办，各自揣私心事难成。”lays stress on the harmonious human relationship.
(87)“忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空。”suggests that people should save the other side’s face.
There are exceptions that are opposite to the mainstream. Some English proverbs also reflect the importance of collectivism. For example, (88) “make yourself necessary to someone.” Chinese traditional value concept has been greatly impacted with the input of individualism. (89)“一个和尚挑水吃；两个和尚抬水吃；三个和尚没水吃” is contrary to Chinese collective tendency. In spite of these exceptions, their mainstreams are not changed.
English and Chinese proverbs have many similarities and differences. With the communication of world culture, proverbs will break the boundary of states and nations, promote the cultural convergence and achieve interfusion. English and Chinese proverbs are permeating and interfusing each other constantly.
4. Permeation and interfusion
With the progress of science and technology, the development of society and dissemination of information, the communication and cooperation among countries are expanding. The contact among states and nations is more and more frequent. Different national cultures are permeating and interfusing. Language is the carrier of culture. Cultural convergence is directly reflected in the integration of language, at the same time the interfusion and changing of language reflect and record the evolution of cultural convergence. [16] Proverb is the crystal of language. It has no exception.
The communication between Chinese and Western culture is more and more frequent. These two cultures affect and permeate mutually. English absorb many Chinese words, and a great number of English words also enter in the Chinese culture. For example：
(90)“以眼还眼，以牙还牙”is from “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
(91)“谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好”is from “He who laughs last laughs best.”
(92)“吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸”is from “Sour grapes” and so on.
(93)“Distant water cannot quench a fire nearby” is from “远水解不了近火”
(94)“Don’t climb a tree to look for fish.” is from “勿缘木求鱼。”
(95)“Take away fuel, take away flame.” is from “扬汤止沸，不如釜底抽薪。”
(96)“The truth by incessant endeavors.” is from “愚者千虑，必有一得。”—《史记》（Records of the Historian）
(97)“Better return home and make a net than long for fish by the waterside.” is from “临渊而捕鱼，不如退而结网。”—《汉书》（History of the Han Dynasty）
From above proverbs we can see that many Chinese proverbs become English proverbs and Chinese people also accept a lot of English proverbs. English and Chinese proverbs are permeating and interfusing each other constantly.
5. Conclusion
Proverbs are the cream of a language. They are closely related to a nation’s culture and enjoy great cultural values. They reflect the relation between culture and language. Each nation has its own geography, history, religion and social attitude. Because of the cultural generalities and differences, English and Chinese proverbs have their similarities and differences. They are permeating and interfusing each other. So a comparative study of them can help us to learn a language well and understand the true meaning of other’s word in cross-culture communication.
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