Meaning
谚语 refers to traditional sayings or proverbs that express common truths, practical wisdom, or cultural values passed down through generations. These are short, memorable expressions that encapsulate life lessons or observations about human nature and society.
Usage
谚语 is used in both spoken and written Chinese to reference traditional wisdom. It's commonly used in essays, speeches, and educational contexts. Native speakers often introduce proverbs with phrases like '有句谚语说' (there's a proverb that says) or '俗话说' (as the saying goes). Proverbs are considered part of cultural literacy.
Examples
- 01有句中国谚语说：'一寸光阴一寸金。': ' .'There's a Chinese proverb that says: 'An inch of time is an inch of gold.'
- 02老师在课堂上给我们讲解了几句关于学习的谚语。.The teacher explained several proverbs about learning to us in class.
Characters
Measure words
- 句一句谚语
- 条三条谚语
Common collocations
- 民间谚语folk proverb
- 中国谚语Chinese proverb
- 一句谚语a proverb
- 古老的谚语ancient proverb
Origin
The character 谚 (yàn) combines the speech radical 讑 with a phonetic component, specifically referring to folk sayings. Combined with 语 (yǔ, meaning 'language' or 'words'), it literally means 'proverb language' or 'sayings.'