A Little Dictionary of Idioms

Author: Gao Gedi, Gao Peng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Colloquialisms, idioms, proverbs, and punchy phrases all belong to the category of fixed expressions in Chinese. Colloquialisms are a very active, vivid, clever, and lively part of Chinese vocabulary. Moreover, with the progress of the times and society, colloquialisms are constantly developing through renewal. In our language practice, we often consciously or unconsciously use colloquialisms in spoken language or in writing. Due to their high frequency of use and wide range of application, many colloquialisms have become popular and widely used oral expressions. Regarding the definition and nature of Chinese colloquialisms, there is considerable disagreement in academia, but based on the views of most scholars, Chinese colloquialisms have the following characteristics: 1. In terms of structural form, just as the sentence structures of classical Chinese poetry are primarily five-character and seven-character lines, and the structures of Chinese idioms are predominantly four-character phrases, Chinese colloquialisms mainly take the form of three-character structures. 2. In terms of semantics, the meaning of Chinese colloquialisms has a dual-layer nature. 3. In terms of style, many colloquialisms are vivid, figurative, colloquial, and rich in oral color. 4. In terms of pragmatics, colloquialisms often have either strong or weak, explicit or implicit emotional connotations.