1. A method for automatically providing foreign language abbreviation translation in an instant messaging system, comprising: identifying at least one foreign language abbreviation translation database in response to a user indicated source culture, wherein said identified foreign abbreviation translation database stores a plurality of abbreviation translations retrievably associated with corresponding ones of a plurality of foreign language abbreviations, wherein said foreign language abbreviations are foreign language abbreviations frequently used by people from said user indicated source culture; locating a candidate term that is possibly a foreign language abbreviation in an instant message input from said user; comparing said candidate term said with said plurality of foreign language abbreviations stored in said identified foreign language abbreviation translation database; and in the event that said candidate term matches one of said plurality of foreign language abbreviations stored in said identified foreign language abbreviation translation database, retrieving and displaying one of said plurality of abbreviation translations corresponding to said matching one of said plurality of foreign language abbreviations.