What is a proverb? The Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary defines it “short well-known saying that states a general truth or gives advice.” (2002:1192) and the Longman Modern English Dictionary gives this definition, “A proverb is a brief familiar maxim of folk wisdom, usually compressed in form, often involving a bold image and frequently a jingle that catches the memory.” (1998:1208)
From the above mentioned definitions, we can know proverbs are short sayings of folk wisdom expressed briefly and in a way that makes them easy to remember. These facts and truths often explain the profound truth from simple matters in our daily life. English proverbs sum up daily experience of people and tell people how to conduct themselves in society. Bearing some similarities to other nation’s proverbs, English proverbs are widely loved and used by people and regarded as the cream of the English and the gorgeous treasure of English. They deserve to be called the nation’s spiritual values and cultural heritage.
Generally speaking, English proverbs have a fixed form. Proverbs stem from people’s everyday experiences, and the linguistic form accords with the expression habits of the country. Most proverbs are well-structured with rhymes.
English proverbs are terse but expressive. The expressions of English proverbs are usually brief and simple, associated with vivid image and a short simple rhyme that catches the memory. Some proverbs are associated with tales, anecdotes and traditions. These words can convey a story, and the words are highly condensed. This makes proverbs more vivid, instructive and meaningful, but it will bring some difficulties for the translation