Abstract: Abstract: Euphemism is a common linguistic and cultural phenomenon in English and Chinese. Adaptation is both a feature and a function of language by which language users can flexibly choose expressions from different language items to meet the communicative needs. Some English and Chinese euphemisms share great similarities because they adapt the same physical world, social world and psychological world. While other English and Chinese euphemisms differ greatly from each other because they adapt different physical worlds, social worlds and language structures. Learning similarities and differences between English and Chinese euphemisms can help people correctly understand and properly use euphemism in crosscultural context, thus avoiding pragmatic failures and promoting crosscultural communications.

Key words: euphemism, context, adaptation, adaptation theory