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1. Introduction
Idioms are a special phenomenon both in English and Chinese. And even the most prominent part in these languages. Hong Shucong said that the translation of idioms is not easy and often requires painstaking effort, our mother tongue--the Chinese language--is particularly rich in idioms as well as English.（钟述孔，1983）In a broad sense, idioms include set phrases, proverbs, Enigmatic folk similes, slings, sayings, colloquialisms, allusions. Idioms are extracted by people over a long period of time. Our daily lives are closely connected with idioms. We use it frequently. But when we translate idioms or need to use them, owing to the cultural gaps between these two languages,本英语毕业论文由英语论文网 www.51lunwen.org整理提供 we are often confused. Nowadays, people in growing number gradually recognize that the communication with those people who come from different cultural backgrounds not only faced with the problems of languages, but also cultural factors. "English is very pervasive in China, comparing with other countries, the learning English people are more than anyone else except the large population of English-speaking country.” said Wang Fuxiang （汪福祥，优力，2002）The translation of idioms is an activity between different cultures and languages. Idiom translation is of importance to the transmission of cultures of Britain and China. We should try every efforts to get many cultural information before translation. The form of idioms is simple but has strong expressional power. Idioms contain many cultural traits. All those characteristics of idioms described above popularized this kind of language form. The purpose of the paper is to find some cultural backgrounds behind idioms and discuss some efficient ways to translate idioms. in the paper, the main concern is given to English and Chinese.
2. Cultural backgrounds
2.1 Geographical Features
The formation of cultures is influenced by the physical geography. Luo Shiping said that different geographical environments form different cultures brought up their own expressional ways. People who lived by the sea created “the culture of seas”. English people who lived in moutain areas create “the culture of moutains”. （骆世平，2005) Great Britain is surrounded by seas and at least 3000 miles away from European mainland. English people who live in the early years, to a large extent, depending on seas. In the process they struggle with the seas, they create “the cultures of seas” that is fully reflected in idioms. For example, they often compare fish to human beings. They use “queer fish or cool-fish” as “怪人”. They use “shy fish” to express a “含羞的人”; “cold fish” as “冷漠的人”; “poor fish” as “可怜虫”; “drink like a fish” as “someone likes drinking”. They often use “feel like “a fish out of water” instead of “someone fed uncomfortable”, “swim like a fish” as “someone is good at swimming.” They also use “a big fish in a little pond” to express “the important person in small town”. When someone is crossed in love, Chinese people may say “天涯何处无芳草” to soothe him. But English often use “there are plenty more fish in the sea” to comfort their friends. This kind of idioms is formed as a result of long observation to fish. But it is seldom in the expression of Han people who live in Mainland. China is a continental and an agricultural country which has a long history. Thus there are many idioms connected with agriculture. Such as “种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆”. In short, geographical environments, to a certain extent, form many idioms of