First, the characteristics of idioms:
(1) relatively rigid structure.
(2) the integrity of meaning.
③ Habituality of time and space.
④ Historicity of formation.
⑤ Nationality of content and form.
Source:
① Historical stories
② Fable story
(3) Myths or other legends
④ Classical literary works
Second, about the origin of idioms.
1, fable idioms: such as worrying about the sky and a fool moving mountains (mainly appearing in ancient China literature, such as Frog by the Well by Zhuangzi, Fool Moving Mountains by Liezi, Make Up the Numbers by Han Feizi, Contradictions, Waiting for the Rabbit, etc. )
2. Idioms in myths and legends: such as Kuafu chasing the sun, goddess mending the sky, Jingwei filling the sea, mirage, immaculate, cowherd and weaver girl, etc.
3. Historical story idioms. In Chinese idioms, a large part of them are anecdotes of celebrities from historical events. For example, Zuo Zhuan, Shi Ji and Han Shu have many idioms summarized from famous wars or historical events. For example, everything is in danger, and all the treasures belong to Zhao. Theoretically, we will burn our bridges and call a deer a horse.
4, famous sayings and idioms such as: self-improvement, do your best to die, learn from each other's strengths.
5. Idioms from religions:
(Buddha):
Become a Buddha on the spot, lend flowers to offer Buddha, crouch tiger, take the lead.
(Tao): chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, turning stone into gold,
A panacea, thoroughly remould oneself and live forever.
6. from the folk saying: to throw the mouse away, the lips are dead and the teeth are cold, the city gate is on fire, and the fish pond is damaged.
Third, from the analysis of word formation form and content characteristics:
1, the most common format is the method of pairing the upper and lower sections, such as:
Fly away, fall apart, condescending, thrilling.
2. Numeric idioms
The word "one" begins:
Split in half.
Be clear at a glance, meticulous and amiable.
At the beginning of the word "two"
Without saying anything, they United.
Two tigers fight, two dragons play with pearls, and two girls play with pearls.
At the beginning of the word "three"
In the middle of the night, in small groups.
Time and time again, half-hearted, half-hearted, few words.
At the beginning of the word "four"
Surround in all directions
Four bodies are not diligent, four seas are home, extending in all directions.
At the beginning of the word "five"
Various colors
The grain is abundant, colorful and delicious.
At the beginning of the word "six"
Righteousness is denied by six parents.
Six gods, six dynasties, gold powder, six towers and three strategies
The beginning of the word "seven"
be broken
Tearing his hair out, the cook will talk more.
At the beginning of the word "eight"
The Eight Immortals crossed the sea, extending in all directions.
Eight diseases and nine pains are played together.
The beginning of the word "nine"
It was a narrow escape.
Nine days on the month, nine years back to the three religions.
At the beginning of the word "ten"
Urgent and at ease.
Ten fingers connected, perfect, ten cold windows
At the beginning of the word "hundred"
Centennial persistence
Let a hundred flowers blossom, let a hundred flowers blossom, let a hundred flowers blossom, let a hundred flowers blossom, and a hundred are tempered into steel.
At the beginning of the word "thousand"
Do everything possible.
Thousands of families are ever-changing.
The beginning of the word "10 thousand"
It's simple, Ma Benteng.
Wanshui Qian Shan will last forever and everything will be fine
3. Overlapping idioms
(1)AABB type: most adjectives and verbs overlap;
Lush, trembling, hesitant
(2)ABAC mode: overlapping idiom 1, where three words overlap two or four words, with similar meanings or antonyms;
Start well and finish well, avoid arrogance and dryness, and talk to yourself.
(3)AABC type: the first word overlaps, modifying and limiting the following words:
Prosperity, prosperity, spewing, teetering.
(4)ABCC type: the last two sentences overlap, and the previous statement and explanation are as follows:
Gentle, proud, dignified and lively.
(5) Other overlaps: the number of idioms is small. (List only)
ABCB:
Take it orally, answer blows with blows, and rely on the old to sell the old, rarely.
ABBC: Let it go.
4. Synonyms and antonyms in idioms
Antonym:
Simply put, lean forward and lean back, and seek the distance from the near.
Forward and backward, forward and backward, much the same.
Synonym:
Sweet talk, think, think.
Race against time, climbing mountains, grotesque.
5. Rhetoric in idioms
(1) metaphor:
Like a duck to water, like glue,
As steady as Mount Tai, as fleeting as running water, as solid as gold.
(2) exaggeration:
Every day is like a year, anxious to return, a thousand miles a day,
There are many opportunities in a day, the cold wind blows hard and the sky is falling.
Flowers are seen in clouds and fog, and ice is clean.
(3) Metonymy: great contribution, women's needs.
(4) Three-character idioms:
Hongmen banquet, comfortable nest |, iron cock,
Sudden and groundless, master.
(5) five words:
Niu Lao pulled the broken car, and yue longmen the carp.
Shotgun for cannon, goose feather far away.
(6) six words:
Hang a sheep's head and sell dog meat, and after five passes, six generals will be killed.
Wash your dirty linen at home.
(7) seven words:
The more wit, the less courage. There is no money here.
Let's get this straight. Get to the bottom of it.
Let everyone skin their skunks.
(8) eight words:
A word spoken is past recalling.
Near Zhu Zhechi, near the ink is black ―― a person brings the color of his companion; People who keep company with wolves will learn to howl; He who sleeps with dogs will get up and flee; People who live with the lame learn to limp.
Thirty-six plans, walking is the best policy.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained-nothing ventured, nothing gained; If you want to find pearls, you must dive underwater.
6. Idioms that are easy to write wrong
Putting on a new (Huan) Bangladesh (Li) is full of tricks (deception)
Singing softly and dancing slowly (male) is fierce (small) and hard to avoid (encourage)
Weak, regardless of the wind (forbidden), sacrifice one's life for righteousness (life), regardless of life (body)
The famous grandson can't wait for the beautiful mountains and rivers.
Follow the sound (harmony), go forward bravely (courage), speak freely (persistence)
Words of wisdom (to) are scattered everywhere (chess) worthy of the name (vice)
Like tea (tea), noisy (yes) is a waste (way)
7. Zodiac idioms (animal idioms)
Short-sighted, small-scale, the rest of my life, the rabbit died of grief,
Dragon and phoenix dance, gild the lily, an old horse knows the way, better late than never,
Smell the chicken dancing, the dog fights the potential, January of the Year of the Monkey.
8. Human body knowledge in idioms:
To get what you want, there are three heads and six arms
9. Flowers and trees in idioms:
Pink, willow green, dark and bright willow
10, color in idioms:
Beauty is unlucky, debauchery, loyalty,
Indiscriminate, dreamy, flawless and colorful.
1 1, the knowledge of astronomy and meteorology in idioms
(astronomy) eternal and constantly changing,
Of course, the moon sets and the stars sink, striding towards the meteor.
(Meteorological storms, lightning, clouds, snow and ice)
Travel-stained, after a storm comes a calm, resolute, lightning and thunder.
12, advertising application in idioms (flexible use of idioms)
(1) penniless (a toothbrush advertisement)
(2) Wan Li Xiang (stinky tofu advertisement) is a famous fragrance.
(3) It is still as cold as frost after 24 hours of power failure (advertisement for a refrigerator in Shanghai)
(4) Idle wife and loving mother (advertisement of Hailong washing machine in Taiwan Province Province)
(5) Cancellation (changed advertisement)
(6) Thousands of troops are hard to reach a sum (Parker Golden Pen Advertisement)
(7) Silent dedication of "mosquito" (electric mosquito-repellent incense advertisement)
(8) Golden Lion Bicycle (Happy Riding)
13, the protagonist in the idiom ()
Embattled, inexperienced, shrewd, cooked beans,
Burn one's bridges, talk on paper, and make a final attempt, referring to a deer as a horse,
Encircling Wei to save Zhao, borrowing the arrow of the grass boat, he returned to Zhao unscathed and served hard labor.
Admit a humble apology, volunteer, smell chickens dancing, visit huts,
Looking at plums to quench thirst, put all your eggs in one basket.
14, idiom with "hand"
Describe extreme excitement: dancing.
Describe friendship as deep as brothers: brotherhood
Describe the skills of medicine: wonderful hand rejuvenation.
Describe alertness and agility: nimble eyes and quick hands.
Describe reconciliation: shake hands and make peace.
Describe a quick mind and exquisite craftsmanship: ingenuity.
Describe love: can't put it down.
Describe being skilled or doing things smoothly: grasp by hand.
15, blessing
Old people: long life, longevity is better than Nanshan, long life and wealth.
Progress: go one step further and go up a flight of stairs.
Business: I'm going to Heng Yue, and I've been happy ever since.
Encouragement: make persistent efforts and persevere.
Others: all your wishes come true, smooth sailing,
Bon voyage, all the best, all the best.
16, four-character idiom
As I said before, idioms are mostly composed of four words, and the few are less than four words or more than four words; Especially there are even fewer idioms with less than four words.
So there is the saying "four-character Chinese", some of which are also called "four-character idioms".
But some of the idioms they listed in Four-character Chinese and Four-character Idioms are not what we call idioms, because we don't have that kind of statement. Such as "from left to right", "orders from superiors", "hesitation in execution" and "question and answer".
For another example, they also regard "spring, summer, autumn and winter", "front, back, left and right" and "east, west, north and south" as "four-character idioms", and we disagree. "Spring, summer, autumn and winter" is a meteorological term, "front, back, left and right" is a common orientation term in daily life, and "east, west, north and south" is a common orientation term in geography.
However, it is undeniable that idioms have four obvious characteristics. For example, the following idioms are not four words in terms of their origin. In other words, these idioms are all four-character idioms refined from non-four-character idioms. Try to look at the relationship between the following idioms and their origins:
(1) Be observant: "Be observant, not pay." (The first part of Mencius Liang Shang)
(2) Seek fish by the edge of the wood: "Seek it by the line and seek fish by the edge of the wood." (The first part of Mencius Liang Shang)
(3) Get twice the result with half the effort: "At present, the benevolent government of Wancheng is enjoyed by the people. People with semi-ancient stories will do twice as much, but that's the truth. " ("Mencius Gongsun Chou" Part I) (4) Carving a boat for a sword: "The Chu people have people involved in the river, and their swords fell from the boat into the water. Carving a boat: it is the place where my sword fell. The ship stopped at the destination, and the Chu people jumped into the water from the marked place to find the sword. The boat did it, but the sword couldn't. Wouldn't you be puzzled if you asked about the sword? " ("Lv Chunqiu Cha Jin")
(5) Donkey skill is poor: Liu Zongyuan wrote a "Three Commandments" in the Tang Dynasty, and one of the subtitle is "Donkey of Money". "I'm at the end of my wit" is taken from the story described in this article.
(6) A broom is worth 1,000 yuan: (or "A broom cherishes yourself") "China people say that if you have a broom at home, you will enjoy 1,000 yuan, but you will never see it yourself." Cao Pi's Dian Lun Paper)
From the above, the four words of idioms are very obvious. Or we can reduce words with more than four words to four words, such as "seeing through autumn" and "seeking fish from the edge of trees", or merge two sentences into one sentence with only four words, such as "getting twice the result with half the effort" and "Our daughter is precious".
Or write a multi-word story into four words and become idioms, such as "carving a boat for a sword" and "the donkey is poor in skills"
Some words of the ancients could have been aphorisms and idioms. Just because it was more troublesome to change it to four words, I had to give it up and use it as a guide.
For example, Fan Zhongyan's "The Story of Yueyang Tower in Song Dynasty" has a good moral, which means "Worry about the world first, and then enjoy the world." However, due to the large number of words, idioms cannot be formed. We can only regard them as epigrams and sometimes introduce them into articles.
However, if "no pains come", it is easy to say and remember, so it can become an idiom. The phrase "all wastes flourish" in Yueyang Tower has become an idiom because it is four words.
Why are there so many four-character idioms? This is probably because four words are easier to grasp. For example, China's ancient poetry collection "The Book of Songs" consists of four sentences, and the ancient history "Shangshu" also has some four sentences.
Later, beginners read three-character classics, hundreds of surnames and thousands of words, the latter two of which are four sentences. The first, second and third episodes of Four-eyed Miscellaneous Son and Long Wen Whip Shadow are all four words. Although this is a sermon, it shows that these four words are loved and recited by people.
However, there are quite a few idioms that shorten four words to two words, such as:
to gild the lily
It works in the east.-it works.
Stick to the routine-stick to it
Worried about the sky.-worried about the sky.
Fireflies reflect snow-firefly snow
All of the above are examples of four-word idioms abbreviated to two words. On some occasions, there may be people who are suitable for using the word "two". For example, common idioms such as "contradiction" and "deliberation" all come from famous stories.
An analysis of the grammatical structure of four-character idioms.
The four-character idiom is a fixed phrase. Structurally, it is established, the word order cannot be changed at will, and the components in it cannot be replaced or increased or decreased. Studying the grammatical structure of idioms and analyzing their structural patterns are really conducive to correctly understanding and using idioms. The structure of idioms can be roughly divided into the following eight types:
Parallel type
1. name+name, such as: Zhang Si, emperors and generals;
Moving+moving, such as extortion and corruption;
3. Form+Form: modesty, prudence, hard work and simplicity;
4. Partial correction+partial correction
1 naming+naming, such as: all corners of the country, good teachers and good friends;
(2) Forming Movement+Forming Movement, such as farsightedness and foresight;
3 shape+shape, such as: colorful and perfect;
5. Verb-object+verb-object, such as: prepare for battle and make a long story short;
Subject-predicate+subject-predicate, such as upward behavior and downward effect, calmness.
Partial form
1. Decision+name: wisdom and help;
4.+move likes: do what you can and repent;
3. Shape+shape: suddenly enlightened and tireless.
(3) Emancipating the mind, shocking people and other leading styles.
(4) Supplementary type
1. move+complement: love is persistent;
Form+complement: heavier than Mount Tai, dark.
(5) Sentences such as: A mountain of Yugong shines on you.
(6) linkage type, such as: touching the scene, thinking about the source of drinking water.
(7) Bilingual mode, such as: lead a wolf into the room, lead a tiger back to the mountain.
(8) Willingness, such as: indelible, unable to escape customs.
For example:
(1) coordinate relation
Perseverance and sharpness: wearing armor and holding weapons. Describe armed to the teeth.
Anti-micro duration: micro: micro; Du: blocking; Gradual: refers to the beginning of things. Metaphor is to stop bad things and bad ideas from developing when they sprout.
Lost in the East, Harvest in Mulberry: East Corner: The origin of the oriental sun refers to the morning. Metaphor began to fail in this respect;
Sang Yu: It means sunset, and it also means sunset. Finally win on the other hand.
(2) Undertaking relationship
Change: change: change. See another thing and want to change your mind. Refers to the will is not firm, love is not single-minded.
Act before acting: It originally meant that the courtiers executed people first and then reported to the emperor. Metaphor means doing something without asking, causing a fait accompli, and then reporting it to the superior.
If the skin does not exist, the hair will attach: why: where; Attachment: attachment. The skin is gone, where is the hair attached? Metaphor means that things can't exist without a foundation on which to live.
(3) Purpose relationship
Do what you can: it is a metaphor for unreasonable accommodation or indifference to specific conditions. Fit: adapt; Footwear: shoes. Because the feet of the shoes are big, I cut off a part of them to make them bigger.
Waiting for a rabbit: sticking to the metaphor of narrow experience; Don't know how to change; Or get lucky and get something for nothing
Make an example: warning. Execute a person as an example.
Span: to span; Ji: an ancient ritual vessel; Dong: Chef. The priest crossed the sacrificial vessel to host the banquet instead of the chef. Metaphor goes beyond your own business scope to deal with other people's business.
(4) Causality
Drops of water penetrate the stone: water keeps dripping down, and it can drip through the stone after a long time. Metaphor as long as perseverance, subtle forces can do very difficult things. It is also a metaphor that as long as you have perseverance and keep working hard, things will be successful.
A drop in the ocean is a drop in the ocean. Millimeter and centimeter are two tiny units of length. A small mistake at the beginning will lead to a big mistake.
(5) Subject-predicate relationship
Self-recommendation: self-recommendation. This is a metaphor for volunteering and recommending work.
Worrying about heaven: Qi: the name of the Zhou Dynasty vassal, in Qixian County, Henan Province today. Metaphor is unnecessary or unfounded worry and anxiety.
Arrogance: superficial conceit or arrogant behavior, which is a metaphor for pride and ignorance
Ye Gong Long Hao: Metaphor seems to like something, but in fact, it doesn't really like it, which is derogatory.
(6) verb-object relationship
An unseen classic: a classic: a work that was regarded as a model by the ancients. It is not recorded in the classics. Later, it often means that people have no reputation or arguments are unfounded.
Wrong road to death: wrong road: fork in the road; Death: lost. Lost sheep, because there are too many forks in the road to go. Metaphor things are complex and changeable. Without the correct direction, they will go astray.
Suddenly: suddenly, suddenly; Open immediately: open immediately; I humbly declare that my knowledge is poor and my mind is blocked, as if my heart were blocked by thatch. . The metaphor is inspired, the thought suddenly begins to understand, and immediately understands a certain truth.
Such as mourning: mourning: death; Test: dead father; Cong: Damn mother. Sad as a dead parent (the word is derogatory)
(7) the relationship between verbs and complements
As light as a feather: a feather: the hair of a wild goose. Lighter than the hair of a wild goose. Metaphor is very slight or worthless.
Retreat from three houses: metaphor of concession, tolerance and avoidance to avoid conflict.
Indifference: indifference: heart. Move, move, touch. I didn't touch it at all, and I didn't care.
Absurd: incomparable: superior to its kind. They say absurd mistakes are unparalleled.
(8) Verb-object complement relation
Asking for directions: Ask the blind for directions. Metaphorically, asking people who don't know anything can't solve the problem.
Laugh generously: embarrassed: stay back; Make people laugh: make people laugh; Generosity: originally refers to people who know the avenue, and later refers to people who have knowledge or expertise. It is derogatory to make insiders laugh.
Keep people away: describe arrogance towards people.
Rush: Rush: Go; Emu: Wild duck. Run in droves like ducks. It is a metaphor for a group of people chasing improper things. Be derogatory.
(9) Linkage relationship
Draw a snake to add feet: when drawing a snake, add feet to the snake. This is a metaphor for doing something superfluous, but it is harmful and useless.
Carrying firewood to put out the fire: salary: firewood. Hold firewood to put out the fire. The metaphor is to eliminate the disaster in the wrong way, and the disaster will expand as a result.
Better late than never: because there is room in the sheepfold, it is not too late to mend the sheep after it is taken away by the wolf. Figuratively speaking, finding a way to remedy the problem can prevent further losses.
Find fault: find: find, find; Disadvantages: shortcomings, minor shortcomings. Blow the fur off the skin and find something wrong with it. Metaphor is deliberately picking on other people's faults and shortcomings and looking for mistakes.
(10) Moderate language relations
Please go to the urn: the metaphor deals with a man as he deals with you. It also means that someone punishes others and punishes himself. Exposed the cruelty of cruel officials and taught people to answer blows with blows; Meanwhile, people are warned not to commit suicide.
Awesome: it makes people afraid and timid. Fear: fear and timidity.
Lure the wolf into the room: a metaphor to attract bad guys or enemies. As a result, I brought myself unimaginable trouble.
Save the day: danger, difficulties and obstacles; Yi: Peace and security. Turning from danger to safety is a metaphor for turning from danger to safety.
(1 1) part is positively correlated.
The devil wears prada: clothing: dressing; Crown: Wear a hat. An animal in a coat and hat. Refers to a person with extremely bad moral character and despicable behavior like an animal.
Huge wave: A storm that rises sharply. Describe the rapid rise in status, reputation, value, etc.
Diligence: Diligence: Diligence and perseverance. Tireless: tireless. It means working hard or studying tirelessly. Describe studying very hard.
Birds of a feather: Birds of a feather. Metaphor is ugly, there is no difference.