Recently I read an article about colors. It is said that English people associate green with envy. I know that, in some Shakespear's work, a jealous person is expressed as a ``green-eyed monster." What is the origin of this color assotiation? In Japan, we usually associate green with nature, because leaves, which are green, are considered as a symbol of nature. In America, it is said that people often associate green with money, since the bills of dollars are green. Are there other interesting associations with colors? Please tell me interesting color associations in your country.
I'm a U.S. native. I only know the phrase "jealousy is the green-eyed monster" from Shakespeare. I've rarely heard it used in real life, and only as a literary allusion. I don't believe green is associated with envy or jealousy.
We use the word "green" to mean environmentally aware or friendly.
There are many Irish-Americans in my area of the country and "green" is definitely associated with Ireland, particulary on St. Patrick's day.
One of the stranger color associations in in the United States is the reversal of the political meaning of "red." Before perhaps 1970, "red" had always been associated with communism and the left.
During national elections TV networks had always shown maps with the states colored to show which states had voted Republican and which Democratic. Republicans are moderate-right. Democrats are moderate-left. Around 2000, for some reason related to color rendering on TV, one network standardized on a pastel red for Republicans and a pastel blue for Democrats.
Now it has become customary to speak of "red states" and "blue states"--with "red" now referring to the political right rather than the political left.
Red is associated with anger (we can say that has 'a red mist' has fallen if a person becomes extremely angry, such that their normal judgement is impaired.) Red is also associated with danger.
Yellow is sometimes associated with cowardice. If you watch older American movies, particularly cowboy movies you might hear people being called 'yellow' or 'yellow-bellied.' It means the person is a coward.
Black is associated with death. People generally wear black attire at funerals as a result.
As you say green is associated with envy (to be green with envy). Green is also associated with nature, as you say. Personally, I also associate green with Ireland. It is known in some quarters as the Emerald Isle because it has a lot of countryside (so the link with nature is clear) and their national sports teams normally play in green.
In a political sense, 'red' is associated with left-wing politics. The Labour party in the UK has traditionally been the main left-wing party and the colour associated with it is red. The Conservative party which is the traditional right-wing party, is associated with the colour blue.
We also have association with nature. And I know that green colour is the most comfortable colour for our eyes:) and I have never known before, that green could be about envy!:) my eyes are actually green, and I hope I'm not a " bad guy" from comics:D
all of color is beauty, but green color is specially attention i think is related with inside the people, Because that's all of Expression by other way. In my culure and my religin is give so attintion for green color.
mybe becouse is Expression the live Reverse yallow.
I liked the discussion! Because the colors some emoticons at skype are green. Now I know it means envy. Red I supposed to know is because angry, blue is when someone feels depressive.
