Collins Chinese Language and Culture by Collins

Author:Collins [Collins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780007502424
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-04-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chéngyǔ

Chéngyǔ form probably the most well-known category of Chinese saying – and the most dauntingly large. Chéngyǔ , which in Chinese literally means ‘set phrases’, are fixed usage idioms, mostly four syllables in length. It’s said that over 90 per cent of Chinese chéngyǔ are composed of four characters. This is because the Chinese language can be said to naturally form words and phrases in twos, and as a result chéngyǔ are sometimes mistakenly labelled ‘four character idioms’. This is a little misleading, as longer chéngyǔ do exist, although they are in the definite minority. Chéngyǔ are a simple way of expressing a certain meaning that can describe a person or state of affairs, or offer up a snapshot of worldly wisdom. The majority of chéngyǔ idioms have been passed down from ancient times, and as such their wording is naturally different to that of modern Mandarin.

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