chengyu
English
Etymology
From Mandarin 成語/成语 (chéngyǔ).
Pronunciation
Noun
chengyu (plural chengyu)
- (linguistics) A certain kind of Chinese set phrase originating in Classical Chinese, typically four characters in length, and often with a story behind it.
For example:
- 自相矛盾 (zìxiāngmáodùn): means ‘to contradict yourself’. "Translated as ‘to contradict yourself’ the first two characters, 自相 (zìxiāng), mean ‘self’ whilst 矛盾 (máodùn) literally mean ‘spear’ and ‘shield’ respectively. This Chinese expression comes from an old Chinese story where a man selling swords and shields at a market claimed first that his spears were so sharp that they could pierce through any armor. He then claimed that his shields were so strong they could resist any blow, thus contradicting himself. From that story ‘spear and shield’ has become synonymous for contradiction"[1].
- ^ https://blog.hutong-school.com/10-wise-chengyu-make-you-sound-confucius/ From Blog Hutong School
Translations
certain kind of Chinese set phrase
|
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from Mandarin
- English terms derived from Mandarin
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English indeclinable nouns
- English nouns with irregular plurals
- en:Linguistics
- Hakka terms with non-redundant manual script codes
- Min Nan terms with non-redundant manual script codes