Characteristics of Color Words in Chinese and Hausa

Color perception is influenced by social life and economic culture, and has uniqueness. There are numerous color words in Chinese, with flexible construction methods that reflect identity and status. They have the characteristic of "using objects to represent colors", and basic color words often have metaphorical functions. The number of color words in Hausa language is relatively small, and the composition of compound color words is regular. Black, white, and red are frequently used and have symbolic meanings.

Comparative Analysis of Color Word Metaphors in Chinese and Hausa: A Case Study of White, Black, and Red

In depth exploration of the differences in metaphorical meanings of color words in Chinese and Hausa languages, using white, black, and red as examples, reveals the differences in metaphorical meanings of color words in different cultural backgrounds. In Chinese, "white" has multiple meanings, representing purity, brightness, and justice, as well as being associated with death and disaster. However, in Hausa language, "fari" mainly has a positive meaning, symbolizing purity and kindness. The word 'black' in Chinese has a polarized meaning at the metaphorical level, representing both seriousness and ugliness, while in Hausa language, 'black' (ba ƙ i) generally carries negative connotations and is associated with evil and unpopular things. As for "red", in Chinese it is usually associated with joy, smoothness, and revolution, while in Hausa language it has a more complex meaning, with both positive and negative aspects, and is not as prominent in metaphor as white and black. Through comparative analysis, the chapter points out the similarities and differences in the metaphorical use of color words between two languages, emphasizing the influence of historical and cultural background on the metaphorical meaning of color words.

3 Conclusion

Cultural factors lead to differences in color cognition among different ethnic groups. Although Chinese and Hausa language have similarities in color words, they also reflect the uniqueness of their respective ethnic cultures. Color words are enriched with living environment, historical evolution, and cultural development, and are a microcosm of national society, history, and culture. Studying the similarities and differences in color word metaphors between Chinese and Hausa languages can help discover cultural similarities and differences, which is of great significance for cross-cultural communication, international cooperation and exchange, and language learning.