Xiehouyu


Xiehouyu are a type of Chinese proverb consisting of a former segment that presents a novel scenario, and a latter provides the rationale thereof. One would often only state the first part, expecting the listener to know the second. Xiehouyu are examples of anapodota, a class of rhetorical device found across different languages. Compare English an apple a day and speak of the devil .
The Chinese word may be literally translated as 'truncated witticism'. Puns are often involved in. In this case, the second part is derived from the first through one meaning, but then another possible meaning of the second part is taken as the true meaning. Some analogous examples in English might sound like "get hospitalized" to mean "be patient", or "small transactions only" to mean "no big deal". Thus, a xiehouyu in one dialect can be unintelligible to a listener speaking another. Valuable linguistic data can sometimes be gleaned from ancient xiehouyu.

Origin

Xiehouyu have been coined since ancient times as short, funny and figurative sentences consisting of two parts. The leading part acts like a riddle, and the latter part completes the phrase.

Examples

  • * gloss: as usual, as before
  • * Note: 舅 and 舊/旧 are homophones, and 照 means "according to" as well as "to illuminate"
  • * gloss: someone or something that is always wanted
  • * gloss: speaking hesitantly
  • * Note: 吞吞吐吐 is used describe someone speaking hesitantly
  • * gloss: A very large amount.
  • * Note: There are numerous stone lions on Lu Gou Bridge.
  • * gloss: unable to say something
  • * Note: 口 can mean both "opening" and "mouth".
  • * gloss: Insisting on getting to the bottom of a question or problem
  • * Note: 璺 and 问/問 have the same pronunciation
  • * gloss: Being cocky
  • * Note: 掸子 and 胆子 have the same pronunciation
  • * gloss: To describe someone being stubborn
  • * Note: 又臭又硬 literally means "smelly and hard", but is also used to say someone is stubborn
  • * gloss: Unable to make a decision
  • * Note: 摇摆/搖擺不定 literally means "swinging back and forth", but is also used to express a situation where a decision is tough to be made
  • * Note: 愤/憤 and 粪/糞 have the same pronunciation