Chapter Six Numbers and Culture 数字与文化

Chapter Six Numbers and CultureNumbers and CultureNumbers are used by the whole humanity so that culture of numbers has come into being.As far as Chinese culture is concerned, it bears the similarity to the world culture. There are numerous Chinese idioms and proverbs with “numbers”.Numbers and Culture 一日不见如隔三秋；三十六计走为上计；三日搬家如遭一次火灾；三天打鱼，两天晒网；三句话不离本行；三人行必有我师；十五个吊桶打水，七上八下；十年树木，百年树人。

Numbers and CultureAnd in English culture, there exists culture of numbers everywhere, which deals with many fields, showing that culture of numbers should be paid attention to, too.Now let’s come to idioms and idiomatic usages with numbers which reflect a certain kind of cultural connotation, especially their extended meanings.1. Idioms with “One”Chinese People worship “一” since ancient times. They hold the belief that all things on earth comes from “一”, because “一” has the similar meaning with “元”, “始”, “初”, meaning “the source”.The Taoist believes that “One makes two, and two make three, and three make everything on earth.”1. Idioms with “One”The following are some Chinese idioms and idiomatic usages with “一”:An inch of time is an inch of gold.一寸光阴一寸金。

Not spoiled by a speck of dust一尘不染Not be the least negligent一丝不苟It is all Greek to me.一窍不通2. Idioms with “One”One man needs the help of others to succeed in something.一个篱笆三个桩，一个好汉三个帮。

Green the first time, experienced the second. 一回生，二回熟。

One day apart seems three autumns.一日不见如隔三秋。

Put all one’s eggs in one basket孤注一掷Once bit, twice shy.一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳。

2. Idioms with “One”Let’s read some English idioms and idiomatic usages with “one”:(1) He looks as if he has had one over eight.“Have one over eight” can be translated into “微醉，多喝了一杯”. Here “eight” refers to 8 pints, namely one gallon and people take it for granted that it’s enough for one to drink eight pints ofbeer, one more pint and he will look drunk.1. Idioms with “One”(2）They began to leave the auditorium by ones and twos.他们开始三三两两地离开了大礼堂。

(3) His attitude towards the unemployed is very one-sided.他对失业者的态度很不公正。

1. Idioms with “One”(4) One man’s meat is another man’s poison. 萝卜青菜，各有所爱。

(5) A stitch in time saves nine.及时一针胜过事后九针。

(6) A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.吃一堑，长一智。

(7) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 一鸟在手胜过二鸟在林。

(8) One single slip brings eternal regret.一失足成千古恨。

2. Idioms with “Two”“二” is the beginning of all “even numbers”(双数), because other even numbers are all its multiples.Influenced by religion and the Taoism, Chinese people believe that even numbers are lucky numbers. In poems, for example, stress is always laid on “对偶” (antithesis) and “对仗” (a matching of both sound and sense in two lines, sentences, etc.).2. Idioms with “Two”In traditional Chinese folk art like embroidery, paper-cut, sculpture, etc., people are particular about the pairs, which mean “成双成对”.Another popular expression is “双喜临门” (Double blessing has descended upon the house.).So collocations with “二”, “两”, “双” always carry positive sense.2. Idioms with “Two”English people also have some idiomatic usage with “two”.For example:This is a two-way street.这条街是双行街道。

Be careful. Otherwise, you will fall between two stools.小心！不然的话，你会两头落空的。

Two heads are better than one.三个臭皮匠，赛过诸葛亮。

Kill two birds with one stone.一箭双雕。

3. Idioms with “Three”“三” is a mysterious odd number. Ancient Chinese worship “三” probably because of their belief that “three make all things on earth”.Others believe that the universe is “三维” (a three-dimensional space) made up with “the Heaven, the Earth, and the Human”, or “三辰”(the Sun, the Moon and the Star).3. Idioms with “Three”People are particular about “三” because they believe “三” is always with them no matter what happens.In Taoism, “福” (fortune), “禄” (wealth), “寿” (longevity) are the three stars often worshipped.So “三星高照” (The three stars are in the ascendant.) becomes an auspicious saying to people.3. Idioms with “Three”Take “time” for example. It is divided into three parts: morning, afternoon, evening, or the past, the present, the future;the “space” is also divided into upper, middle, lower parts, or the front, the middle or back parts;as for weather, it is always “sunny, cloudy and rainy”;and the age, it is in the period of young, prime and old.3. Idioms with “Three”Many things in history are titled “三” because people think it is a lucky odd number. For example, “鼎” (symbol of a country) is three-legged; the earliest dynasty in China is “三代” which are “夏”, “商”, and “周”.“The three obediences and four virtues” (三从四德) are the old moral standards imposed upon women in feudal society.3. Idioms with “Three”The traditional ideal of a woman is that she is dependant being whose behavior is governed by “三从” (three obediences: to father before marriage, to husband after marriage, and to son in widowhood( 未嫁从父，既嫁从夫，夫死从子。