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English and Chinese people have different religious faith. Different religions lead to the differences between English and Chinese proverbs. Christianity is the main religion in English-speaking countries, so many English proverbs are related to “God”. While Chinese people believed in Buddhism and Taoism, so many Chinese proverbs are about“佛”and “道”。
3.4 Reflecting different value concepts
The differences between Chinese and western value concepts mainly lie in individualism and collective.
Westerners believe that everyman is equal. They aspire to freedom and equality. Many English proverbs show American’s advocating of freedom and individualism. E.g.:
(78) God helps those who help themselves.
(79) He helps little that helps not himself.
These two proverbs illustrate the individual role. The words “themselves” and “himself” show that independence plays an important role in their life.
(80) Everyman is the architect of his own fortune.
(81) If you want a thing well done, do it yourself.
These two proverbs attach importance to independence and self-reliance. Self-reliance impels people to create opportunities, seek competition and be ready for risks.
(82)“It is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.” gives prominence to the individualism.
(83)“Everyman after his fashion.” lays stress on individual differences.
On the contrary, Chinese people take modesty as virtue. They respect the old and take good care of the young. Their characteristics are “justice and humanity”, “modesty” and “love”. [14] Chinese people pay much attention to collectivism and think highly of the role of groups. They lay stress on help each other and reliance each other. They also pay attention to the harmonious human relationship and they try to save the other side’s face. Many Chinese proverbs reflect this trend.[15] E.g.: （科教作文网http://zw.ΝsΕAc.Com编辑整理）
(84)“孤树结成林不怕风吹，滴水集成海不怕日晒。”shows the strength of collective or union.
(85)“四海之内皆兄弟。”reflects the importance of mutual help and reliance.
(86)“相互协助事好办，各自揣私心事难成。”lays stress on the harmonious human relationship.
(87)“忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空。”suggests that people should save the other side’s face.
There are exceptions that are opposite to the mainstream. Some English proverbs also reflect the importance of collectivism. For example, (88) “make yourself necessary to someone.” Chinese traditional value concept has been greatly impacted with the input of individualism. (89)“一个和尚挑水吃；两个和尚抬水吃；三个和尚没水吃” is contrary to Chinese collective tendency. In spite of these exceptions, their mainstreams are not changed.
English and Chinese proverbs have many similarities and differences. With the communication of world culture, proverbs will break the boundary of states and nations, promote the cultural convergence and achieve interfusion. English and Chinese proverbs are permeating and interfusing each other constantly.
4. Permeation and interfusion
With the progress of science and technology, the development of society and dissemination of information, the communication and cooperation among countries are expanding. The contact among states and nations is more and more frequent. Different national cultures are permeating and interfusing. Language is the carrier of culture. Cultural convergence is directly reflected in the integration of language, at the same time the interfusion and changing of language reflect and record the evolution of cultural convergence. [16] Proverb is the crystal of language. It has no exception.
The communication between Chinese and Western culture is more and more frequent. These two cultures affect and permeate mutually. English absorb many Chinese words, and a great number of English words also enter in the Chinese culture. For example：
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