正文翻譯

Colours are here and there, everywhere. In Chinese culture, certain colours play a more prominent role than others, some colours more auspicious than others.

到處都是各種顏色。在中國文化中，有些顏色比其他顏色起著更突出的作用，有些顏色比其他顏色更吉祥。

Growing up, this sentiment was what my parents taught me – that some colours we should see more, and other colours we shouldn’t pay too much attention to.

在我成長的過程中，我的父母一直教導我，有些顏色應該多看看，而有些顏色我們不應該太關(guān)注。

Each colour has different meanings in each culture. Different cultures perceive different colours differently. Different colours speak differently to each community and individual over time, past and present.

每種顏色在每種文化中都有不同的含義。不同的文化對不同顏色的理解是不同的。隨著時間的推移，過去和現(xiàn)在，不同的顏色對每個社會和個人也都有不同的含義。

The Five Elements Theory historically underpinned colours and their symbolism in Chinese culture. Originating around 700-460 BC, the philosophy describes the relationships between elements and their corresponding colours: wood (green), fire (red), earth (yellow), metal (white), water (black). These traditional five colours tend to be the more popular and are seen as the luckier colours among Chinese people:

五行理論在歷史上為顏色及其在中國文化中的象征意義奠定了基礎。這種哲學起源于公元前700-460年，它描述了各種元素和它們對應的顏色之間的關(guān)系:木(綠色)、火(紅色)、土(黃色)、金(白色)、水(黑色)。這五種傳統(tǒng)顏色在中國人中更受歡迎，也被視為更吉利的顏色:

Red

紅色

Red has also long been associated with the notions of fight and victory in Chinese history. During the Zhou Dynasty, a red raven was symbolic of the dynasty; the Red Eyebrow Rebellion restored the Han dynasty, led by peasant rebels who painted their eyebrows red to distinguish their tribe.

在中國歷史上，紅色也一直與戰(zhàn)斗和勝利的概念聯(lián)系在一起。在周朝，紅烏鴉是那個王朝的象征；赤眉起義恢復了漢朝，他們是農(nóng)民起義軍，把眉毛涂成了紅色。

I’ve always been rather ambivalent about the colour red. It’s never a colour I like to wear or decorate my space with. As a kid, I thought a bright red shirt on me was hideous and screamed and I still do today.

我對紅色的看法一直比較矛盾。我從來都不喜歡用它來裝飾我的空間。小時候，我覺得穿亮紅色襯衫很難看，直到今天我還是這么想。

Yellow (and Gold)

黃色(金色)

Green

綠色

Green is commonly tied to nature’s surrounds among the Chinese community: growth, spring, harvest and health. In short, it’s symbolic of new beginnings and renewability.

在華人社會中，綠色通常與自然環(huán)境聯(lián)系在一起:成長、春天、收獲和健康。簡而言之，它象征著新的開始和可再生性。

Notably, the greenish coloured stone jade is highly popular among the Chinese, a stone often used to make jewellery and dragon sculptures, and used in exchange for 15 cities during the Warring States period. Confucius likened this stone to virtue and representing purity, loyalty and justice.

值得注意的是，綠色的玉石在中國人中非常受歡迎，這種玉石經(jīng)常被用來制作珠寶和龍形雕飾，在戰(zhàn)國時期一塊玉甚至可用于交換15個城市?？鬃影堰@種玉石比喻為美德，代表純潔、忠誠和正義。

Green is one of my favourite colours. Not only is it the colour of my star sign Taurus, it’s a colour along with blue that immediately pulls me in visually and emotionally, making me feel a sense of peace.

綠色是我最喜歡的顏色之一。它不僅是我的星座金牛座的顏色，而且這種顏色和藍色一起，能立刻吸引我的視覺和情感，讓我感到平靜。

White

白色

On one hand white symbolises purity and innocence in Chinese culture. In line with feng shui, white cranes are often thought to fly high over dusty Chinese towns. On the other hand it’s symbolic of mourning, death and the colour worn at funerals and associated with ghosts festivals.

一方面，白色在中國文化中象征純潔和清白。白鶴與風水相呼應，常被認為能在中國城鎮(zhèn)上空翱翔。而另一方面，它象征著哀悼、死亡，也是葬禮上的服裝的顏色，與鬼節(jié)有關(guān)。

Black

黑色

When I was a teenager, my fashion sense was ‘punk edgy’ (and it still is today). I wore black jeans and a black shirt and had choppy black layered hair. Not only did I think the colour was cool, it was a colour which I felt made me blend into the background. My mum disliked this, complaining I looked like I was ‘going to a funeral all the time’ and I ‘dressed like a dead person’ with my long black fringe sweeping across my face.

當我十幾歲的時候，我的時尚品味是“前衛(wèi)朋克風”(現(xiàn)在仍然是)。我穿著黑色牛仔褲和黑色襯衫，頭發(fā)蓬亂，但有層次感。我不僅覺得這個顏色很酷，而且我覺得這個顏色能讓我融入背景。我媽媽不喜歡這樣，抱怨我看起來就像“去參加葬禮”，而且“穿得像個死人”，長長的黑色劉海遮住了我的臉。

Blue

藍色

Like the colour black, blue has contrasting connotations among the Chinese. Blue symbolises immortality, healing and calmness. Blue represents heaven: the Temple of Heaven’s roof consists of blue-glazed tiles, a place of peace, symbolic of heaven in the sky.?

和黑色一樣，藍色在中國人心中有著截然不同的內(nèi)涵。藍色象征著不朽、治愈和平靜。藍色代表天堂:天壇的屋頂由藍色琉璃瓦組成，象征著在天空中的寧靜的天堂。

As for other colours: brown represents the ground, similar to the earthly connotations of yellow in Chinese culture. Purple is a mark of healing, romance and associated with Chinese astrology. Orange is symbolic of strength, change and continuity.

至于其他顏色:棕色代表地面，和中國文化中黃土的含義相似。紫色是治愈、浪漫的象征，與中國占卜術(shù)有關(guān)。橙色是力量、變化和連續(xù)性的象征。

The Yin and Yang philosophy – black and white Yin and Yang symbol – is steeped in Taoism and Chinese culture, dating back to around 3 BCE. According to the philosophy, everything in the universe consists of two opposing forces that complement each other, and life happens in cycles. For where there is yang, there is yin and vice-versa: just like how there is day and night and vice-versa.

陰陽黑白的哲學深深植根于道教和中國文化中，可以追溯到公元前3年左右。根據(jù)這一哲學，宇宙中的一切都由兩種對立的力量組成，它們相互補充，生命循環(huán)往復。因為哪里有陽，哪里就有陰，反之亦然:就像白天和黑夜，反之亦然一樣。

Consequently, some colour combinations are luckier than others. Red and yellow are side by side, staple colours of Chinese New Year decorations, doubling one’s wealth and prosperity in the metaphorical sense. In the five elements chart, red (fire) is directly opposite black (water) – in typical Chinese homes, it’s auspicious to have the colour red representing invigoration and also earthlier, neutral colours to represent stability – generating good fengshui.

因此，有些顏色組合會比其他的組合更吉祥。紅色和黃色并列是中國新年裝飾的主要顏色，在隱喻意義上倍增財富和興旺。

These days, blue is my favourite colour. Everywhere I go, I gravitate towards the colour blue and want to be surrounded by blue. At home, my bedsheets are blue. The clothes I usually wear to work and for running errands are blue top and blue jeans. I like taking notes on a blue coloured notebook at work. I like writing with a blue coloured pen.?

最近，藍色是我最喜歡的顏色。無論我走到哪里，我都被藍色所吸引，希望被藍色包圍。在家里，我的床單是藍色的。我工作和出差通常穿的衣服是藍色的上衣和牛仔褲。工作時，我喜歡在藍色的筆記本上做筆記。我喜歡用藍色的鋼筆寫字。

Maybe the colours I like and dislike says something about how I feel about Chinese culture. When I was a kid, around 3-5 years old, my mum was fond of dressing me up in a bright red jumper and matching bright red pants for pre-school. I hated this. While I think red is an ugly colour on me, it doesn’t feel ugly or out of place at all come Chinese New Year. There’s something very inviting about the colours red and yellow whenever I pass by a Chinese temple.?

也許我喜歡和不喜歡的顏色說明了我對中國文化的看法。當我還是個孩子，大約3-5歲的時候，我的媽媽喜歡給我穿上一件鮮紅色的套頭衫和搭配鮮紅色的褲子去上學前班。我討厭這個。雖然我認為紅色對我來說是難看的顏色，但它并不會讓我在慶祝春節(jié)時感到不舒服。每當我經(jīng)過中國寺廟時，紅色和黃色都是很吸引我的。

What is your favourite colour and why?

你最喜歡的顏色是什么?為什么?

評論翻譯

Lani
Never been a fan of red, myself, too. I used to be obsessed with blue, until I realized my wardobe was filled with blue and then I decided I needed some variety and change. So I decided green would be my favorite.
But when it comes to clothes, I no longer have a blue-dominated wardrobe or even a green one, it’s colorful. And my home is too.

我也從來不喜歡紅色。我曾經(jīng)癡迷于藍色，直到我意識到我的衣柜里充滿了藍色，然后我決定我需要一些變化和改變。所以我決定把綠色當作我的最愛。
但說到衣服，我的衣柜里不再以藍色為主，甚至也不再以綠色為主，而是色彩豐富的，我的家也是。

Mabel Kwong
I have never heard of this colour and wrist watch superstition at all. That said, I have never seen anyone in my family wear a wrist wach that has a black strap – it’s usually brown or some other color.?

我從來沒有聽說過。不過我家里從來沒有人戴過黑色的腕帶——通常是棕色或其他顏色的。

Mabel Kwong
It is interesting to hear your perception of colour and how you dress.’they just don’t fit in with my style’ Very honest right there. True that some colours go well with our skin, compared to other colours. It sounds like you know what works for you, and I suppose your closet changed some colours over the years. I also like wearing jeans. Generally I prefer dark blue jeans, or mid-blue. I find light blue jeans are harder to match with clothing.

聽聽你對顏色的看法和你的穿著風格是很有趣的?！八鼈儾环衔业娘L格”，非常坦誠。的確，與其他顏色相比，有些顏色與我們的皮膚很相配。聽起來你知道什么對你有用，而且我猜這些年你的衣櫥里變了一些顏色。我喜歡穿牛仔褲。我一般比較喜歡深藍色或中藍色的牛仔褲。我發(fā)現(xiàn)淺藍色牛仔褲很難和衣服搭配。

shreyans
I need to ask you that have you felt the different powers or you may say effects of these colours. And do they really leaves such an impact as you mentioned.shreyans

我需要問你，你感覺到了這些不同顏色的力量帶來的影響。它們真的像你所說的那樣產(chǎn)生了巨大的影響嗎？

Mabel Kwong
To answer your question, yes. The colour blue leaves a big impact on me and calms me in many ways each and every single day.

是的。藍色給我?guī)砹司薮蟮挠绊?，每天都在很多方面讓我平靜下來。

shreyans
blue is my fav colour too..i dont have any reasons.. i just like it..

藍色也是我最喜歡的顏色。沒有理由…我就是喜歡它…

Mabel Kwong
Me too. I just like blue all the time. It is a colour that speak to me. No words needed.

我也是。我一直都喜歡藍色。這是一種能打動我的顏色。不需要言語。

Aquileana
Some people might say that Feng shui is a fad… But I firmly believe in the power of colors when it comes to a space (wher you live: such as an office).
I have recently read that Blue is the best color for Instagram… It was a youtuber who said so… she basically recommended that to follow the trend you could just use a blue filter… in case you weren′t posting pics including blue…
I was surprised to learn from your post that Yellow symbolises royalty, power and wealth among the Chinese. I would nod in agreement as to “Gold” though… But, do you know what?. Yellow is associated here withh Envy… and the color which neutralizes it is… supposedly Red…That′s why among actors, rich people, celebrities sometimes wear a red ribbon in their wrists?
Thank you for sharing, linda…. sending love across the miles!?

有些人可能會說風水只是一種時尚……但我堅信色彩在空間(你生活的地方:比如在辦公室)中的力量。
我最近讀到藍色是Instagram上最受歡迎的顏色，是一個youtube用戶這么說的，她建議要緊跟潮流，你可以使用藍色濾鏡，以防你上傳的照片沒有帶藍色的。
我很驚訝地從你的帖子中得知，黃色在中國人中象征著皇權(quán)、權(quán)力和財富。我同意你關(guān)于“黃金”的說法……但是你知道嗎?黃色在這里與嫉妒聯(lián)系在一起，而能中和嫉妒的顏色是紅色....這也是為什么很多演員、富人和名人有時在手腕上戴紅絲帶

Somali K Chakrabart
Extremely interesting, Mabel. There is a marked similarity with the Indian perception of colours. Red is considered as auspicious. So brides wear read in Bengal (in the eastern part of India). In the one or two Chinese temples that I have been to, the decor was in red. Gold is again considered as auspicious all over India. Green is associated with harvest, prosperity, and blue with serenity. The blue glazed tiles in the Temple of Heaven look absolutely fabulous. Black is usually not worn during ceremonies or auspicious occasions. There is a debate on white. Since white is associated with purity (abstinence), widow women in many parts of India used to wear white. However in some parts of India, like in Kerela, brides wear white saree with a golden border. Interesting to know that blue happens to be the favourite colour in most parts of the world. It is a colour that one can wear on all occasions.

非常有趣,梅布爾。這與印度人對顏色的認知有明顯的相似之處。紅色被認為是吉祥的。所以孟加拉(印度東部)的新娘要穿紅色婚紗。在我去過的一兩座中國寺廟里，裝飾都是紅色的。在印度各地，金色被視為吉祥，綠色與豐收、繁榮聯(lián)系在一起，藍色與寧靜聯(lián)系在一起。天壇里的藍色琉璃瓦看起來美極了。黑色衣服通常不在正式或吉祥的場合穿。不過有一個關(guān)于白色的辯論。因為白色與純潔(禁欲)聯(lián)系在一起，印度許多地區(qū)的寡婦過去都穿白色。然而在印度的一些地區(qū)，比如喀拉拉，新娘穿帶有金色鑲邊的白色紗麗。有趣的是，藍色恰好是世界上大部分地區(qū)最受歡迎的顏色。它是一種可以在任何場合穿的顏色。

Mabel Kwong
So interesting to hear that colours in Indian culture have their similarities. Gold I did not know was also auspicious among Indians and it is a significant part of some of the architecture in India.
The significance of white is also interesting to hear and its connection with purity. In Chinese culture, it can be quite the ambivalent colour.

有趣的是，印度文化中的顏色也有相似之處。我不知道的金色對印度人來說也是吉祥的，它是印度一些建筑的重要組成部分。
白色的含義聽起來也很有趣，它與純潔有關(guān)。在中國文化中，它是相當矛盾的顏色。

Forestwoodfolkart
Interesting post as always, Mabel. I guess many people do not give much thought as to why they are drawn to a particular colour or the associated contexts with it. I think previous generations did do that much more than we do. It seems to come down to personal preference these days. My mother would never let me wear black when I was growing up – and it is funny but now people say I suit black!!! ( my hair is blonde so black on me makes a good contrast!) And black is in fashion for corporate wear – is that right? I am not always keeping up with fashion. I do like a dark red in decor – but tend to like more white and blue these days – but still have a lot of black in my wardrobe.

我猜很多人都沒有想過為什么他們會被一種特定的顏色所吸引，或者與之相關(guān)的背景。我認為前幾代人確實在這方面比我們考慮得更多。如今，這似乎取決于個人偏好。在我成長的過程中，我的母親從來不會讓我穿黑色的衣服——這很有趣，但現(xiàn)在人們說我適合穿黑色的衣服!!(我的頭發(fā)是金色的，所以黑色在我身上形成了很好的對比!)黑色是公司制服的流行款式，對嗎?我并不是總能跟上潮流。我確實喜歡暗紅色的裝飾，但這些天更喜歡白色和藍色，但我的衣柜里仍然有很多黑色的衣服。

Mabel Kwong
The idea of contrast is an interesting one. On one hand, you match two contrasting colours you’d think they’d come out garish. On the other hand, as you mentioned, black goes well with those with blonde hair, or Westerners. You are right in that black is the staple fashion for corporate wear. It is the norm at many places where I’ve worked, and no one bats an eyelid if you wear black all the time in the office.
Dark red is quite a common colour with many Chinese ornaments at home, and I’ve seen some Chinese houses with dark red patterned carpets too.?

對比這個概念很有趣。一方面，你把兩種對比色搭配在一起，你會認為它們看起來很花哨。另一方面，正如你提到的，黑色與金發(fā)或西方人很搭。你說得對，黑色是公司制服的主流顏色。在我工作過的許多地方，這是一種常態(tài)，如果你在辦公室里一直穿黑色衣服，沒人會感到驚訝。
暗紅色是家里許多中國裝飾品的普遍顏色，我見過一些中國房子里的地毯也是暗紅色的。