2. Outline
Introduction
Kinds of Taboo
American & Chinese Taboo
Taboos in social life
Taboos in numbers
Taboos of animals
Taboos in colors
Conclusion
3. What is Taboo ??
A taboo is a strong social prohibition
(or ban) against
words, objects, actions, or discussions
that are considered undesirable or
offensive by a
group, culture, society, or community.
4. Taboo In Social Life
Time: Both Chinese and the American consider
time to be important, no matter for class or work or
for a date.
For American people , they like being on time
, instead of being early
5. Taboo In Social Life
Language: Chinese culture and American
culture share some similarities. For example, the
Americans do not want to say the word “die”
directly
They say’s : pass away or be no more
There is another typical example here. When we
are talking with friends, relatives and
colleagues, both Americans and Chinese people
use the expression. If you don’t use it they feel that
you are behaving Rude
7. Taboo In Number
Both Chinese and American have some taboos in
numbers, but they are different.
In China, we don’t like to mention the number
4, because the pronunciation of 4 is similar to the
death “si” in Chinese
8. Taboo In Number
In America, if they invite some friends for dinner
and it happened that there are 13 people sitting at
the table, the host will invite another friend for they
think 13 is unlucky
Americans don’t like the number 13, which is
considered to be unlucky.
9. Taboo In Animal
In China from the ancient time, people consider owl
to be sign of unlucky.
Americans like pins with an owl on it, saying that as
wise as an owl.
Americans don’t like bats. They say “as blind as a
bat”, “ crazy as a bat”, while Chinese people
consider it as a lucky symbol because the
pronunciation of bat in Chinese is similar to that of
happiness and Chinese people believe it can
believe them happiness and good luck..
11. Taboo In Colors
Chinese people like the color red , like the red face
of Guanyu, indicating trustworthy.
Americans, they think red indicates danger.
White, in China, people use it to express sorrow.
Americans think (White) it to be loyal and pure.
12. Conclusion
In short, Chinese culture and American culture
share some commons in taboo but also differ in
some aspects. China is a country with a long
history so it has many taboos which sometimes are
difficult for us to understand.
Taboo has a close connection with the
culture, religion, and psychology. It exists
everywhere in the world, from a big country to a
small tribe and differs in forms.
