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Abstract There are differences in the use of colors and color words between Chinese and English cultures. The different cultures bring different attitudes toward the same color because of different language habits, historical backgrounds, traditional customs and so on. Although the meanings of color words are restrained by cultures, they reveal wide connotation of cultures. We should pay attention to observing not only their basic meanings, but also the deep and broad symbolic meanings. The symbolic meanings of color words often have different features in different language cultures. And some of them even have become taboos and adornments since the meanings of the color words are extended and transferred. Meanwhile, the cultural exchanges and the color views have similar phenomenon and coincidence in the languages. This paper tries to illustrate the different symbolic meanings of color words in Chinese and English cultures by comparison and analysis of them. 摘　要因民族历史文化、政治、宗教、习俗和社会环境等因素的影响，中英文化语言中色彩词用法各异，颜色观也有所不同。中英文化在长期的历史沉淀中形成了各自独特的颜色观，折射出绚丽多姿的民族文化。文化制约了颜色词的意义演变，颜色词的文化意义又折射出了丰富的文化内涵。由于文化内容、文化传统和文化心理各异，很多英汉颜色词的文化内涵差异较大。我们不仅要注意观察它们本身的基本意义，更要留心它们含义深广的象征意义。象征意义在不同民族语言中往往有不同的特点，有些特点甚至构成了人们对经过引伸、转义以后颜色的崇尚和禁忌。同时，由于文化趋同性和文化的交流，语言所反映的颜色观有相似或叠合的现象。本文就中英文化以上方面进行对比分析，试图说明中英文化中颜色词的不同象征意义。 Introduction Color is a part of our life. Color words help us to understand the world around, like our sense of taste and smell. The basic color words in English such as red, yellow, white, black, not only express the colors of objective things, but also the obstruct things. The color words have specified semantic meanings in different cultures. Without understanding of them, we will probably run into obstacles or make a fun of ourselves in communication. Generally speaking, in Chinese culture, the symbolic meanings of color words are related to influences of feudal system, feudal superstition, primitive science, and poor Education. The colors have strong political symbolic meanings and mystical tendencies. In English culture, the symbolic meanings of color words are affected by the Western nationality openness, science, education degree. The colors are of a few mystery meanings. The symbolic meanings of color words have been formed in the development of society and historical precipitation. It is a permanent phenomenon. In cross-cultural communication, the symbolic meanings of color words embody lots of cultural values and connotations in languages which make the languages more lively, interesting, humorous, and warm. Therefore the most important things in using color words for us are to understand the cultural traditions, values, and customs. Learning and grasping the symbolic meanings of color words are also important. Color words transmit cultural information through cultural communication. Good understanding of the symbolic meanings of color words can promote and strengthen cultural exchanges among countries smoothly. I. Background A. Color Words and Their Historical Backgrounds Color words, in whatever languages, are used for describing different things. The statistics show that there are more than 7 million kinds of colors can be recognized in the nature. However, the color names are very limited in the languages because there are only dozens of colors expressed in single-morpheme word. A number of color words are expressed by adding modifiers, for instance, crimson, pale red, apple green, azure, coffee color etc. Color words reflect the differ