Comic Student Idiom Dictionary

Author: Yang Nan, Xin Xing, et al. (editors), Yang Shicheng (illustrator)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-10-01
Features:
1. Entries The book includes over 1,300 commonly used Chinese idioms (chengyu) for students, with selections emphasizing positivity and a touch of humor. All characters in the entries use standard forms. The two parts of each idiom are separated by the symbol "——".
2. Definitions For words requiring explanation in the idiom, the definition is provided first, focusing on the pun: either the words are phonetically or semantically related. Then, the overall meaning of the idiom is explained, highlighting the semantic relationship between the two parts, often using terms like "originally refers to" or "metaphorically means." The emotional tone of the idiom (e.g., praise, satire, wit) is usually indicated by adjectives like "satirical" or "playfully refers to" in the definition.
3. References For idioms with origins or legends, the legend is presented before the definition, usually in concise language. If the source is a classic text, only the book title is noted (e.g., Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Analects), without specific chapters or sections.
4. Illustrations Most idioms with a story behind them are accompanied by illustrations, which are placed as close as possible to the corresponding entry or in nearby sections.
5. Alphabetical Order Entries are arranged in alphabetical order based on the Pinyin romanization of the Chinese characters.
Chinese idioms have a long history and are highly expressive. Due to their vivid imagery and humorous nature, they are frequently used not only in literary works but also in everyday life. The motivation behind compiling this Comic Chinese Idioms Dictionary for Students is to provide a practical and enjoyable tool for students. The compilers offer clear and insightful explanations for each idiom. For those with identifiable origins or legends, the stories are briefly described in a lively and realistic style. These engaging and meaningful tales help students understand the etymology, original meaning, and extended significance of the idioms. Many of the idioms with stories are illustrated with playful and child-friendly comic images. The book is rich in both text and visuals, making it highly readable and visually appealing. At the end, an index of entries by the first letter of their Pinyin romanization is provided for easy reference.
This is a uniquely designed dictionary of Chinese idioms that is particularly suitable for students. We hope readers will enjoy it.