Lesson8Chineseidioms漢語習語ThereexistinbothspokenandwrittenChineseagreatnumberofidiomsalsocalledchengyu,literally“setlanguage”or“setexpressions”,whicharetranslatedinEnglishas“idiom”.ThesemaybegeneralinnatureortheymayreflectfamouseventsorstoriesfromChinesehistory,ortheymaybedirectquotationsfromfamousworksofChineseliterature.ThegreatmajorityofChineseidiomsarecomposedoffourcharacters,whichusually–thoughnotalways-canbeparsedingroupsoftwo.ChineseidiomsareusuallycomposedinClassicalChineseandthustypicallyhaveadifferentgrammaticalstructurefromthatofModernChinese.Intheirspeechandwriting,Chinesepeoplemakefrequentuseofidioms,sincetheseoftensumupbrieflyameaningwhichitwouldotherwisetakemanywordstoexpress.Contextuallyappropriateuseofidiomstendstoimpresshearersastotheeducationallevelandeloquenceofthespeaker.Sinceidiomsarefrequentlyusedinformalspeechandhigher-levelwrittenmaterials,suchasnewspapereditorialsandcommentaries,theyserveasausefulmediumforhelpinglearnersmoveupontheproficiencyladder.Familiaritywithidiomscanalsobehelpfulforthenon-nativeingainingcredibilityinChinesesociety.Indeed,almostnothingimpressesaChinesepersonmorethanaproperlyusedidiomcomingfromthemouthofaforeigner.ThereareagreatnumberofidiomsinChinese,withcertaindictionariesofidiomsincludingwellover20,000entries.AllChinesepeopleknowidioms,eventhoughthetotalnumberknownbyanyoneindividualwilldependonherorhiseducation,linguistictalent,generalintelligence,etc…IdiomsaresuchanimportantpartofChinesepopularculturethatthereevenexistsagamecalledchengyujielongthatinvolvessomeonecallingoutanidiom,withsomeoneelsethenbeingsupposedtothinkofanotheridiomtolinkupwiththefirstone,sothatthelastcharacterofthefirstidiomisthesameasthefirstcharacterofthesecondidiom,andsoforth.AccordingtotheChinesesearchengineBaidu,thelongestidiomchainevercreatedwasallof1,788idiomslong!ForthelearnerofChineseasasecond/foreignlanguage,idiomsarenotsoeasytounderstand,sincethefunctionalmeaningofidiomsisoftendifferentfromthesurfacemeaningandmay,toquoteanEnglishidiom,be“greaterthanthesumofitsparts”.ThisisbecauseChineseidiomsfrequentlyinvolveliteraryallusions,extendedmeanings,andmetaphors.Forexample,considerthefollowingidiom:雪中送炭xuězhōngsòngtànThiscouldbetranslatedliterallyas“inthesnowtodelivercharcoal”;however,theactualmeaningusuallyhasnothingatalltodowith“snow”or“charcoal”,butratherinvolvestherenderingofaidtosomeoneattimeofneed.IdiomshavealonghistoryinChinese,withsomehavingexistedforwellover2,000years.Indeed,thegrammaticalstructureofmostChineseidiomsisthatofClassicalChinese.

Therearethreecommonoriginsofidioms:ancientfablesandhistoricaltales;BuddhistandConfucianclassicsaswellasotherworksofancientChineseliterature;andhabitualcollocationsoftermsthatgraduallycametobestableandusedinacertainway,eventhoughtheirexactoriginisnotknowntoday.TouseaChineseidiom,wecouldsaythereareintheChineselanguageasmanyidioms“astherearehairsonanox”.（598words）◆Helper:quotation[kw?u?tei??n]引用，引證compose[k?m?p?uz]組成，構成contextually[k?n'tekst???l]文脈上的，前后關系的eloquence[?el?kw?ns]口才，辯才proficiency[pr??fi??nsi]熟練，精通familiarity[f??m?l?'?r?t?]熟悉,通曉credibility[?kred??b?l?ti]可靠性，可信性allusion[??lu:?n]影射,典故metaphor[?met?f?(r)]隱喻，暗喻habitual[h??b?t?u:?l]習慣的◆ChineseBriefIntroduction:成語（chengyu,idioms,setphrase）是我國漢字語言詞匯中一部分定型的詞組或短句。成語有固定的結構形式和固定的說法，表示一定的意義，在語句中是作為一個整體來應用的。成語有很大一部分是從古代相承沿用下來的，在用詞方面往往不同于現(xiàn)代漢語它代表了一個故事或者典故。成語又是一種現(xiàn)成的話，跟習用語、諺語相近，但是也略有區(qū)別。成語大多出自書面，屬于文語性質的，意思精辟，往往隱含于字面意義之中，不是其構成成分意義的簡單相加，。其次在語言形式上，成語幾乎都是約定俗成的四字結構，字面不能隨意更換；成語在語言表達中有生動簡潔、形象鮮明的作用。◆Exercise:I.Questions:1.WhatisthemaincharacterofChengyu?2.WhatdoesitdependonwhetheryoucanuseChengyuproperlyornot?3.Whydoesthewritersayidiomsworkasausefulmediumforhelpinglearnersmoveupontheproficiencyladder?4.Whatischengyujielong?Giveanexampleplease.5.Listthreecommonoriginsofidioms.6.ExplainthefollowCehnyuinEnglish.衣食住行yīshízhùxíngII.Writtenwork1.假如你的美國朋友正在學習漢語,他寫來電子郵件,向你了解中國成語"掩耳盜鈴"的故事,請你根據以下的寫作內容,用英語寫出這個故事。寫作內容：(1)盜鈴的念頭:深夜里偷竊鄰居家掛在屋外的大鈴鐺;（2）鐘鳴,掩耳;（3）盜鈴:被捉;（4）寓意.寫作要求：只能使用5個句子表達全部的內容.2.根據圖畫和所給單詞，將成語“鄭人買履”譯為英文小故事。詞數(shù)在60—80之間。3.（2015年福建卷）

請閱讀下面圖畫，按要求用英語寫一篇120左右的短文。內容要求：

描述畫面；

概述其含義；

談談個人感想。

注意：

短文開頭已給出，不計入總詞數(shù)；

可適當發(fā)揮，使文章內容充實、行文連貫；

文中不能出現(xiàn)考生的具體信息。

參考詞匯：鑿，鉆

boreIn

the

picture

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4.(2009年湖北卷)假設你是華華，與英國網友湯姆約定用對方的母語通信，以提高各自的外語水平。最近你收到湯姆的電子郵件(附后)，發(fā)現(xiàn)有一個成語使用不當。請根據下列要點，用英文回一封電子郵件。

要點：

（1）不應使用“無所不為”，應使用“無所事事”；

（2）說明這兩個成語的用法；

（3）給與鼓勵。

注意：（1）詞數(shù)為100左右；

（2）參考釋義：無所不為

—

doallkindsofbadthings

無所事事

—

havenothingtodo；

（3）除以上兩個成語外，郵件中不得使用其它漢字或拼音；

（4）電子郵件的開頭和結尾已為你寫好(不計入你所寫詞數(shù))。附(湯姆的郵件)：華華，你好！

近幾天在忙什么事？有什么有意思的事嗎？我們的學校放假了，所以這幾天在家無所不為，飽食終日，只好上網發(fā)伊妹兒。沒意思。我決定找份工作，做個自食其力的人。祝好！湯姆HiTom,

Nicetoreadyoure-mailtoday.Inoticeyou’vebeguntouseChineseidiomsandusedmostofthemcorrectly.

…

Hopeyou’llfindajobsoon.

Huahua

5.(2017年3月天津卷)假設你是晨光中學的學生李津。你的美國筆友Chris正在學習漢語，他得知“中國詩詞大會”在CCTV播出，非常感興趣，便寫信給你，希望你介紹相關情況及更多了解中國文化的途徑。請根據以下提示給他寫一封回信。(1)

簡單介紹“中國詩詞大會”引起的反響；(2)

介紹了解中國文化的途徑

(如閱讀相關書籍、利用媒體資源等)；(3)

表達對Chris學習中國文化的祝愿。注意：(1)

詞數(shù)不少于100；(2)

可適當加入細節(jié)，使內容充實、行文連貫；(3)

開頭和結尾已給出，不計入總詞數(shù)。參考詞匯：中國詩詞大會ChinesePoetryCompetitionDearChris,......Yours,LiJin◆Moreidioms:1.小菜一碟apieceofcake2.見異思遷Grassisalwaysgreenerontheothersideofthefence.3.適者生存survivalofthefittest

4.物以類聚Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.

5.英雄所見略同Greatmindsthinkalike.6.為虎作倀toactasguidetoatiger7.孤注一擲toputallone'segginonebasket8.勇者不懼Abravemanwillnotshrinkfromdangers.9.洗心革面toturnoveranewleaf

10.活到老學到老It'snevertoolatetolearn./Liveandlearn.11.按部就班Learntowalkbeforeyourun.

12.以毒攻毒tosetathieftocatchathief13.以逸待勞Towaitateasetilltheenemyisexhausted.14.金科玉律thegoldrule15.雨后春筍likebambooshootsafteraspringshower16.事實勝于雄辯Factsaremostconvincing.

17.有志者事竟成Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.18.有錢能使鬼推磨Moneymakestheworldgoaround./Moneytalks.19.有其父必有其子Likefather,likeson.20.江山易改本性難移afoxmaygrowgray,butnevergood（Theleopardcannotchangehisspots;youcannotmakeacrabwalkstraight）21.眼見為實Toseeistobelieve.(Seeingisbelieving.)22.同甘共苦toshareone'sjoysandsorrows23.未雨綢繆Keepsomethingforarainyday.24.本末倒置Don'tputthecartbeforethehorse.25.愛屋及烏Loveme,lovemydog.26.不遺余力sparenoeffort;goallout;doone'sbest27.拆東墻補西墻robPetertopayPaul28.好事不出門惡事傳千里Goodnewsnevergoesbeyondthegate,whilebadnewsspreadfarandwide.29.活到老學到老Oneisnevertoooldtolearn.30.金無足赤人無完人Goldcan'tbepureandmancan'tbeperfect.31.留得青山在不怕沒柴燒Wherethereislife,thereishope.32.名利雙收gaininbothfameandwealth33.欲速則不達Hastedoesnotbringsuccess.34.巧婦難為無米之炊Ifyouhavenohandyoucan'tmakeafist.Onecan'tmakebrickswithoutstraw.35.瑞雪兆豐年Atimelysnowpromisesagoodharvest.36.世上無難事只要肯攀登Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.37.說曹操,曹操到Talkofthedevilandhecomes.38.物以類聚，人以群分Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.39.望子成龍holdhighhopesforone'schild40.無風不起浪Therearenowaveswithoutwind.There'snosmokewithoutfire.41.心想事成Mayallyourwishcometrue42.先下手為強catchtheballbeforethebound43.一言既出，駟馬難追Arealmannevergoesbackonhiswords.44.英雄所見略同Greatmindsthinkalike.45.左右為難betweenthedevilandthedeepbluesea46.同舟共濟Acommondangercausescommonaction.47.知足常樂Acontentedmindisacontinual/perpetualfeast..48.吃一塹，長一智Afallintothepit,againinyourwit.49.客隨主便Aguestshouldsuittheconvenienceofthehost.50.家書抵萬金Aletterfromhomeisapricelesstreasure.51.殊途同歸Allriversrunintothesea.32.機不可失，時不再來Alltimeisnotimewhenitispast..53.兔子不吃窩邊草Thefoxpreysfarthestfromhishole.54.若要人不知除非己莫為Ifyouwouldnotbeknowntodoanything,neverdoit.55.前事不忘后事之師Rememberthepastanditwillguideyourfuture.56.以毒攻毒tosetathieftocatchathief57.忠言逆耳Honestadviceisunpleasanttotheear58.塞翁失馬，安知非福Badluckoftenbringsgoodluck.59.班門弄斧teachfishtoswim.。60.亡羊補牢，猶未為晚Itisnevertoolatetomend.61.未雨綢繆Keepsomethingforarainyday.62.將計就計Meetplotwithplot.63.切莫以貌取人Neverjudgeabookbyitscover.64.不要落井下石Neverhitamanwhenheisdown.65.無風不起浪Nofirewithoutsmoke.66.教養(yǎng)勝過天性Nurturepassesnature.67.活到老，學到老Oneisnevertoooldtolearn.68.一燕不成夏(一花獨放不是春)Oneswallowdoesnotmakeasummer.69.曾經滄海難為水Onewhohasseentheoceanthinksnothingofmererivers.70.眼不見，心不煩Outofsight,outofmind.71.熟能生巧Practicemakesperfect.72.老馬識途Sensecomeswithage.73.趁熱打鐵Strikewhiletheironishot.74.人老智多(姜還是老的辣)Theolderthewiser.75.蠟燭不可兩頭燃(魚和熊掌不可兼得)Youcannotburnthecandleatbothends.76.有得就有失(事難兩全其美)Youcannothaveyourcakeandeatit.77.事實勝于雄辯Actionsspeaklouderthanwords.78.三思而后行Lookbeforeyouleap.Firstthink,thenact.79.時間就是金錢Timeismoney.80.患難見真交Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.81.前車之鑒Itisgoodtolearnatanotherman‘scost.82.歲月不等人Timeandtidewaitsfornoman.83.良藥苦口，忠言逆耳Agoodmedicinetastesbitter.84.精誠所至，金石為開Faithwillmovemountain.85.良好的開端是成功的一半Agoodbeginningishalfdone.86.善始者善終Agoodbeginningmakesagoodending.87.不做虧心事，不怕鬼叫門Agoodconscienceisasoftpillow.88.小心駛得萬年船Cautionistheparentofsafety.89.水滴石穿，繩鋸木斷Constantdrippingwearsawayastone.90.知足者常樂Contentisbetterthanriches.91.強中自有強中手Diamondcutsdiamond.92.入鄉(xiāng)隨俗DoastheRomansdo.93.孤芳自賞Eachbirdlovetohearhimselfsing.94說得容易，做得難Easiersaidthandone.95.來也匆匆，去也匆匆Easycome,easygo.96.金無足赤，人無完人Everymanhashisfaults.97.蘿卜青菜，各有所愛Everymanhashishobbyhorse.98.王婆賣瓜，自賣自夸Everypotterpraiseshitpot.99.事實勝于雄辯Factspeaklouderthanwords.100.失敗是成功之母Failureisthemotherofsuccess.101.明槍易躲，暗箭難防Falsefriendsareworsethanbitterenemies.102.英雄所見略同Greatmindsthinkalike.103.蠟燭不可兩頭燃(魚和熊掌不可兼得)Youcannotburnthecandleatbothends.104.自助者天助Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.105.風水輪流轉Theworselucknow,thebetteranothertime.106.不入虎穴，焉得虎子Ifyouventurenothing,youwillhavenothing.107.殺雞取卵Ifyousellthecow,yousellhermilktoo.108.寧為玉碎，不為瓦全Itisbettertodiewhenlifeisadisgrace.109.事后諸葛亮好當Itiseasytobewiseaftertheevent.110.良藥苦口利于病Goodmedicineforhealthtastesbittertothemouth.111.眾口鑠金，積毀銷骨Giveadogabadnameandhanghim.112.水滴石穿，繩鋸木斷Constantdrippingwearsawayastone.SUGGESTEDANSWERS8.ChineseidiomsI.Questions:6.Theliteralmeaningofthisidiomis“food,clothing,shelter,andtransportation”,thatis,“thebasicnecessitiesoflife”.II.Writtenwork1.Onceuponatimetherewasastupidmanwhowenttostealhisneighbor’sbigbellhungoutsidethedooronenight.Hetriedtogetthebelloff,butitrangthemomenthetouchedit.Hewasafraidthatsomeonewouldhearit,sohecoveredhisearsandgotthebelldown.Hearingthesoundofthebell,alotofpeoplecametothegateandcaughthim.Thestorytellsusthatwecanneverfoolourselvesbyignoringthefacts.2.Once

there

was

a

man

came

from

Zheng

State.

One

day,

he

wanted

to

buy

a

pair

of

shoes.

So

he

took

out

a

ruler

and

measured

the

size

of

his

shoes.

Then

he

went

to

the

market.

When

he

came

into

a

shoe

shop

and

wanted

to

buy

shoes,

he

suddenly

shouted,

“Oh,

I

forgot

to

take

my

ruler.

I

have

to

go

back

to

get

my

ruler.”Then

he

ran

away.

The

shopkeeper

shouted,

“Wait,

please!

You

can

try

them

on

yourself.”“No!”The

man

kept

on

running.

When

he

got

the

ruler

and

went

back

to

the

shoe

shop

again,

the

shop

was

already

closed.

3.In

the

picture,we

can

see

a

boy

in

worn

clothes,

sitting

at

a

shabby

wooden

table

with

a

pile

of

books

on

it.

A

weak

ray

of

light

came

in

through

a

small

hole

in

the

wall

and

he

was

absorbed

in

his

reading.

This

is

a

well-known

story

from

ancient

Chinese

idiom.

The

boy,

being

poor,

couldn’t

afford

even

a

candle,

so

he

bored

a

hole

in

the

wall

to

“steal”

light

from

his

neighbor’s

house

to

read

at

night.

The

moral

of

the

story

is

tospare

no

effort

to

acquire

knowledge

and

never

get

discouraged

easily

no

matter

how

difficult

the

situation

may

be.

Of

course,

things

are

totally

different

today.

It

is

not

the

story

itself

but

what

is

reflected

in

the

story

that

counts.

Hard

work

pays

off.

We

should

take

pains

to

improve

ourselves

through

learning

and

get

prepared

for

the

future.

4.Hi!Tom,

Nicetoreadyoure-mailtoday.Inoticeyou’vebeguntouseChineseidiomsandusedmostofthemcorrectly.

However,I’mafraidthereisonemistakeI’dliketopointout.Itis“無所不為”.Th