European International Journal of Philological Sciences
39
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
39-42
DOI
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
20 February 2025
ACCEPTED
19 March 2025
PUBLISHED
21 April 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue 04 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
The use of Xiehoyu in
Chinese
Xasanova Shaxzoda
Teacher of Oriental University, Uzbekistan
Abstract
: This article provides information about
xiehouyu, one of the unique expressions of the Chinese
language. Xiehouyu is an expression consisting of two
parts, the first part of which is often descriptive, while
the second reveals its hidden meaning. The article
discusses the structure of xiehouyu, the context of use,
cultural significance and its role in everyday life. The
content of these expressions is illustrated through
examples and their importance in language learning is
shown.
Keywords:
Xiehouyu, Chinese language, idiom, oral
speech,
culture, metaphor,
humor,
folk
art,
phraseology.
Introduction:
Among the idiomatic expressions in the
Chinese language, xiehouyu (
歇后
语
) occupies a special
place. These expressions are widely used from ordinary
speech to literary works. Xiehouyu is a type of idiom
consisting of two parts, metaphorical and often
humorous or wise. These expressions reflect the
wisdom, humor, and language skills of the Chinese
people. The study of phraseological units in Chinese
linguistics began in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and
during this period many studies on idioms appeared.
Chinese phraseologisms are of particular importance for
both the Chinese people and scholars of the country,
since their basis is based on the national-cultural
component, which has been formed over thousands of
years. Phraseological units in the Chinese language are
understood as fixed and stereotyped phrases or
expressions that cannot be changed. This concept is
expressed by the term "shu yu (
熟
)". There are various
typologies of the Chinese language, but two typologies
are distinguished, presented by Doctor of Philology A. L.
Semenas and Chinese linguist Ma Guofan[1].
Xiehouyu is usually structured as follows:
1. The first part is an event, situation or image: this is a
metaphorical image based on the context;
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European International Journal of Philological Sciences
2. The second part is a hidden or humorous meaning:
here lies an allegory or irony.
•
老虎
头上拍草蠁
——
找
错了地方
Killing a fly on a
tiger's head - choosing the wrong place Meaning: doing
something inconvenient or wrong.
•
井
风的青蛙
——
目光短浅
The following frog is
narrow-minded Meaning: a person with a limited
worldview.
•
剪刀環到布
——
疼
电接网
Scissors touch the cloth
—
it is useless Meaning: the action is fruitless.
•
八仙
过海
——
各
显神通
Eight gods cross the sea
—
each shows his abilities. Meaning: everyone works in
his own way or solves the problem.
In Chinese, there is a special class of phraseological
units
—
xiehouyu (
歇后
语
), which literally means “cut
words”
[2, 7]. In Russian literature, these units are
interpreted as “allegory and explanation”. Xiehouyu
has a two-part structure, and when the first part is said,
the interlocutor is expected to know and say the
second part. This second part expresses the main
meaning of the proverb.
For example, let's take the following expression:
多此
一
举
(yǎo kuàizi hē shuǐ –
duō cǐ yī jǔ) –
literally: “taking
a stick to drink water
–
excessive effort”. This
expression is used to express unreasonable and
unnecessary actions, when a person exerts too much
effort in something. Here, the first part
–
“taking a stick
to drink water” –
piyù (
設
喻
), that is, “allegory”,
performs the function of “excessive effort” –
jiědá (
解
达
), that is, “revealing the content”.
As one of the leading researchers of xiehouyu, M.G.
Pryadkhin, noted, these units have a two-part
structure, and their meaning is fully revealed in the
context. For example:
壶里煮饺子
–
有嘴倒不出来
(hú li zhǔ jiǎozi –
yǒu zuǐ dào bù chūlái) –
“cooking
dumplings in a kettle
–
there is a mouth, but the
contents do not spill out”. T
his expression expresses a
state of wanting to say something, but not being able
to say it: “the tongue is on the tip of the tongue, but I
cannot say it”. B. I. Pankratov studied xiehouyu as
stable expressions characteristic of the Beijing dialect
and analyzed the mechanism of their formation.
According to his observations, the speaker seeks to
express it in a humorous or figurative form instead of a
simple expression. For this purpose, he first cites the
first artistic-allegorical part and adds a second part that
gives an explanation to it. For example:
泥菩
萨过河
–
自由
难保
(ní púsà guò hé
–
zìshēn nán bǎo) –
“The
Bodhisattva made of clay is crossing the river
–
it is
difficult for him to survive himself”. This expression is
used in the Russian sense of “I myself am not surviving”
or “it is difficult for me”.
Yu. L. Krol, in his article “Experience in classifying and
describing the structure of Beijing xiehouyu”, relying on
the ideas of B. I. Pankratov, emphasizes that the first
part is connected to the second part as a predicative
subject. The second part, as a rule, is a phraseological
unit, which gives a specific meaning to the situation in
speech and evokes a figurative image. However, Krol
notes that the second part can also take other forms
–
a
trope, a colloquial term, a curse word or chengyu, even
a negative form or a complex number expression.
According to him, these units act as a “semantic word”
with an indivisible semantic value in speech.
According to M. G. Pryadokhin, the phenomenon of
xiehouyu is very unique and is characteristic only of the
Chinese language. Such a phenomenon is not found in
Indo-European languages or other Eastern languages,
even in Sino-Tibetan languages, which are typologically
close to Chinese [3, 6-7].
Cultural significance
Xiehouyu reflect the thinking, lifestyle, social relations
and values of the people. They are often characteristic
of a certain social class, historical period or geographical
region. Therefore, the study of xiehouyu serves not only
to understand the language, but also to understand the
culture in depth.
The concept of Xiehóuyǔ and its linguistic features
In Chinese linguistics, the term “xiehóuyǔ” (
歇后
语
) is
used to denote expressions consisting of two parts and
having a figurative meaning. They are usually
constructed in the following form: the first part is a
metaphor (a figurative image), and the second part is a
comment that interprets or explains this metaphor. For
example:
猪八戒照
镜子
——
里外不像人个
Zhū Bājiè
zhào jìngzi
–
lǐ wài bù xiàng gè rén “Zhu Batze looks in
the mirror - he does not look like a person either inside
or out”
- this expression means that a person cannot be
found good in any way, that is, he is bad in every way.
Xiehóuyǔ expressions can be used both in full form (i.e.
with two parts) and only with the first - figurative part.
Although the second part is omitted in oral speech, its
meaning is understood by the listener based on the
context. Thus, even in an abbreviated form, these
expressions retain their semantic load.
In expressions of this type, the metaphor - that is, the
first part - performs the main semantic and expressive
function. The second part often consists of a
phraseological unit, which can also exist separately.
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European International Journal of Philological Sciences
Also, this interpretation often acquires a new meaning,
different from its meaning in its usual context.
Therefore, xiehóuyǔ often gives the speech a rich
imagery through hypocrisy, irony or humor.
Xiehóuyǔ about the sky
The image of the sky is often used in Chinese xiehóuyǔ.
Such expressions often serve to figuratively express
real-life situations through light irony or humor. The
following examples are a vivid proof of this.
1. bàntiānyúnlǐdiàokǒudài ——
zhuāngfēng Bàntiān
yún lǐ diào kǒudài ——
zhuāng fēng "Hanging a bag in
the middle of the sky - gathering wind"
—
This
expression means that someone is playing the role of a
naive or ignorant person, deliberately trying to appear
simple, that is, "playing the role of a fool", "pretending
to be ignorant."
2.
半
悬空正刷海子
——
胡云
Bàn xuán kōng zhōng
shuā jiàngzi ——
hú yún «Applying paste in the middle
of the sky
–
gluing clouds»
—
Meaning: "stupid talk,
meaningless, illogical talk", that is, "speaking
nonsense", "expressing opinions that have nothing to
do with the situation".
3.
当天一道裂
——
日月
难过
Dàngtiān yīdào liè ——
rì
yuè nánguò «A crack that cuts through the sky
–
it is
difficult for the sun and the moon to pass through»
—
This expression figuratively expresses difficult periods
in life, trying times. It refers to hardship, trials, and
depression. Its poetic content is often expressed in a
romantic or philosophical tone: "life is beautiful, only
the sky is a little cracked".
These xiehóuyǔ express ordinary everyday situations in
a poetic and ironic way through their imagery and
unique images. They are a vivid example of folk oral
creativity, emdiving the worldview and cultural and
aesthetic views of the Chinese people.
Xiehóuyù are folk proverbs that are widely used and
used on various topics. They enrich ordinary situations
in life and make them easier to understand. The
following expressions are vivid examples of this type of
xiehóuyù.
1.
藘子
过街
——
人人喊打
Hàozǐ guò jiē ——
rén rén
hǎn dǎ “When a cat crosses the street, everyone starts
beating it” —
This expression is used when “everyone
criticizes and opposes someone or something.” Thus,
this express
ion means “when people unite in
disagreement.”
2.
藘子
啃书
——
咬文嚼字
Hàozǐ kěn shū ——
yǎo
wén jiáo zì «Cat bites the book
–
biting and swallowing
the words»
—
This expression means "overanalyzing
words or paying attention to each word without
making any sense at all." This Chinese expression
sometimes refers to incorrect analysis or writing letter
by letter.
3.
藘子碰見猫儿
——
难逃
Hàozǐ pèngjiàn māo ér ——
nán táo «Cat meets cat
–
difficult to escape»
—
This
expression means "being caught in a difficult situation
and having difficulty getting out of it." Sometimes used
to describe "the impossibility of following the right
path."
4.
藘子舓猫鼻梁骨
——
贪色不顾命
Hàozǐ tiǎn māo
bīliánggǔ ——
tān sè bù gù mìng «A cat that licks a cat's
nose is putting its life at risk»
—
This expression means
"forgetting about its own danger and doing high-risk
things for personal gain." Similarly, in such a situation, a
person loses himself and even does not consider the risk
of death.
5.
藘子舓猫鼻子
——
找死
Hàozǐ tiǎn māo bǐzi ——
zhǎo sǐ «A cat that licks a cat's nose is seeking death» —
This expression is used about "a person who is close to
his death or who has put himself in danger". In Chinese,
this expression is often used to express a person's
wrong, dangerous actions.
Xiehóuyù are a form of folk art that often helps to
describe common truths and various life situations.
These expressions play an important role in social
networks or daily conversations, as well as in
introducing interesting and meaningful interpretations
to natural events.
CONCLUSION
Xiehouyu is one of the unique linguistic units that
expresses the diversity of the Chinese language.
Through them, the wisdom, imaginative thinking ability
and culture of the Chinese people are revealed. Learning
and correctly using these expressions will bring great
benefits to language learners. Xiehouyu can also be an
important resource for cross-cultural research by
comparing them with expressions from other
languages.
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