xiehouyu

See also: xiēhòuyǔ

English

Etymology

From Chinese Mandarin 歇後語／歇后语 (xiēhòuyǔ).

Noun

xiehouyu (plural xiehouyu)

1. (linguistics) A kind of Chinese proverb consisting of two elements: the former segment presents a novel scenario while the latter provides the rationale thereof. One would often only state the first part, expecting the listener to know the second. Compare English "a stitch in time (saves nine)" or "a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)".

Translations

certain kind of Chinese proverb

• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 歇後語／歇后语, 歇后语 (hit³ hau⁶ jyu⁵)

  Mandarin: 歇後語／歇后语 (zh) (xiēhòuyǔ), 歇后语 (zh) (xiēhòuyǔ)

  Min Nan: 孽詰仔話／孽诘仔话, 孽诘仔话 (gia̍t-khiat-á-ōe)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: сехоую́й m (sexoujúj), «недогово́рка» (ru) f («nedogovórka»)

References

• “xiehouyu”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.