Xiehouyu (Two-Part Allegorical Sayings)

Overview

Xiehouyu (歇后语), literally "歇后" meaning "resting the latter," is a special linguistic form created by the working people of the Han Chinese in their daily lives [2]. It generally divides a statement into two parts to express a particular meaning: the first part is a metaphor or analogy, while the second part provides the explanation of the meaning. In certain linguistic contexts, only the first part is spoken, with the second part being "rested" or omitted, allowing the listener to comprehend and infer the intended meaning, hence the name "xiehouyu."

Xiehouyu is also known as qiaohuahua (俏皮话), which can be considered a form of Chinese wordplay. It belongs to the category of shuyu (熟语), which includes idioms (chengyu), proverbs (yanyu), common phrases (guanyongyu), and xiehouyu.

Created by working people in their daily lives, xiehouyu possesses distinct national characteristics and rich cultural flavor. It is humorous, thought-provoking, and widely popular among the people.

History

The term "xiehou" first appeared during the Tang Dynasty. The Old Tang Book in the biography of Zheng Qian already mentioned what was called "Zheng Wu Xiehou Ti" (郑五歇后体), a form of "xiehou" style poetry. However, as a linguistic form and phenomenon, it existed long before the Tang Dynasty, dating back to as early as the pre-Qin period. For example, in the Strategies of the Warring States, Chu Strategy 4, there is the phrase: "亡羊补牢，未为迟也" (If a sheep is lost, mend the pen; it is not too late). This is essentially an early form of xiehouyu.

The earliest xiehouyu differed in form from modern xiehouyu, representing an abbreviation of commonly used idioms and complete sentences. Chen Wangdao, in his Rhetoric Fundamentals, called this form "cici" (藏词), meaning "hidden words." For example, "yifu" (倚伏) was used instead of "huofu" (祸福), taken from the Tao Te Ching: "Huxi, fu suo yi; fuxi, hu suo fu" (祸兮福所倚，福兮祸所伏). This type of xiehouyu required some knowledge of classical Chinese and thus had limited usage.

Later xiehouyu evolved into a "metaphor-explanation" style of playful language. Users would typically only state the metaphorical part, leaving the explanatory part for the listener to understand.

Key Information

Classification

Xiehouyu can be classified into several types. Considering that many xiehouyu possess multiple characteristics, a completely scientific classification is difficult. For ease of reference, we categorize xiehouyu with homophones into one class and divide the rest into three categories based on the nature of the metaphorical part, making a total of four categories: [1]

First, homophonic class. For example:
- 空棺材出葬——目(墓)中无人 (Empty coffin at funeral——no one in sight)
- 孔夫子搬家——净是输(书) (Confucius moving house——all books/losses)

This type uses homophones or near-homophones to extend from the original meaning to another required meaning. Understanding these often requires mental gymnastics, making them particularly interesting. Some scholars classify them as "pun sayings," which is reasonable.

Second, event metaphor class. For example:
- 弄堂里搬木头——直来直去 (Carrying wood in an alley——straightforward)
- 冷水发面——没多大长进 (Cold water proofing dough——not much progress)

These xiehouyu use objective or imagined events as metaphors. If one understands the characteristics of the event being referenced, the "answer" to the metaphor becomes clear.

Third, object metaphor class. For example:
- 黄牛肩脚——不负责任 (Ox's shoulder——irresponsible)
- 老鼠上街——人人喊打 (Rat on the street——everyone shouts "kill it")
- 棋盘里的卒子——只能进不能退 (Pawn on a chessboard——can only advance, not retreat)

These xiehouyu use certain objects or animals as metaphors. Understanding the nature of the referenced object allows one to grasp the intended meaning.

Fourth, story class. For example:
- 刘备借荆州——只借不还 (Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou——only borrows, never returns)
- 林冲棒打洪教头——专看你的破绽下手 (Lin Chong beating Hong Jiaotou——looks for weaknesses to attack)

These xiehouyu generally reference common allusions, fables, myths, and legends. The two examples above would be immediately clear to those familiar with the stories of Liu Bei and Lin Chong.

Xiehouyu that combine multiple types are classified into the category with more prominent characteristics. For example:
- 纸糊的琵琶——谈(弹)不得 (Paper-made pipa——cannot be played/talked about)

This xiehouyu combines object metaphor and homophone, and is classified under the homophonic class.

Cultural Significance

Xiehouyu reflects the wisdom, humor, and life experiences of the working people. They often contain profound philosophical insights while maintaining a light, humorous tone. Many xiehouyu have been passed down through generations, becoming an integral part of Chinese oral tradition and cultural heritage.

The creation and use of xiehouyu demonstrate the Chinese people's love for wordplay and linguistic creativity. They require both knowledge of cultural references and quick thinking to understand, making them a unique form of intellectual entertainment.

Modern Status

While modern Chinese has many new forms of expression, xiehouyu remains an important part of the language. They continue to be used in daily conversation, literature, and media. In recent years, there has been increased academic interest in studying xiehouyu as a linguistic and cultural phenomenon.

Contemporary scholars have collected and cataloged thousands of xiehouyu, preserving this important cultural heritage. Some xiehouyu have evolved to reflect modern life, while traditional ones continue to be passed down through oral tradition.

References

1. Chen, Wangdao. (1932). Rhetoric Fundamentals (修辞学发凡). Shanghai: Commercial Press.

2. Li, Qingxi. (2004). Dictionary of Chinese Folk Sayings (中国谚语大词典). Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House.

3. Yu, Guoyao. (2010). A Study of Chinese Xiehouyu (中国歇后语研究). Beijing: China Social Sciences Press.

4. The Editorial Committee of The Great Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Characters. (2008). The Great Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Characters (中国语言文字大百科全书). Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House.