Cultural Differences in Chinese and English Euphemisms

Euphemism, a common linguistic phenomenon in different cultures, is defined on the lexical-level in this thesis. It refers to "the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend people or suggest something unpleasant". This thesis is to make a contrastive study of English euphemisms and Chinese euphemisms by means of the relevant linguistic theories, by which we conclude that euphemism is a linguistic, and particularly a cultural phenomenon. Its development is the outcome of various socio-psychological factors. The study of English euphemisms will surely shed light on English teaching in China.