中国文化读写专项：汉语成语- 2024年高考英语常考中国文化读写专练+素材积累

Lesson8Chineseidioms汉语习语

ThereexistinbothspokenandwrittenChineseagreatnumberofidiomsalsocalledchengyu,literally"set

language"or"setexpressions”,whicharetranslatedinEnglishas“idiom”.

ThesemaybegeneralinnatureortheymayreflectfamouseventsorstoriesfromChinesehistory,ortheymay

bedirectquotationsfromfamousworksofChineseliterature.ThegreatmajorityofChineseidiomsarecomposed

oitourcharacters,whichusually-thoughnotalways-canbeparsedingroupsottwo.

ChineseidiomsareusuallycomposedinClassicalChineseandthustypicallyhaveadifferentgrammatical

structurefromthatofModernChinese.Intheirspeechandwriting,Chinesepeoplemakefrequentuseofidioms,

sincetheseoftensumupbrieflyameaningwhichitwouldotherwisetakemanywordstoexpress.

Contextuallyappropriateuseofidiomstendstoimpresshearersasto

theeducationallevelandeloquenceofthespeaker.Sinceidiomsare

frequentlyusedinformalspeechandhigher-levelwrittenmaterials,suchas

newspaperedilorialsandcommentaries,theyserveasausefulmediumfor

helpinglearnersmoveupontheproficiencyladder.

Familiaritywithidiomscanalsobehelpfulfor(henon-nalivein

gainingcredibilityinChinesesociety.Indeed,almostnothingimpressesaChinesepersonmorethanaproperly

usedidiomcoiningfromthemouthofaforeigner.

ThereareagreatnumberofidiomsinChinese,withcertaindictionariesofidiomsincludingwellover20,000

entries.AllChinesepeopleknowidioms,eventhoughthetotalnuirberknownbyanyoneindividualwilldepend

onherorhiseducation,linguistictalent,generalintelligence,etc...

IdiomsaresuchanimportantpartofChinesepopularculturethat(hereevenexistsagamecalledchengyu

jielongthatinvolvessomeonecallingoutanidiom,withsomeoneelse(henbeingsupposedtothinkofanother

idiomtolinkupwiththefirstone,sothatthelastcharacterofthefirstidiomisthesameasthefirstcharacterofthe

secondidiom,andsoforth.

AccordingtotheChinesesearchengineBaidu,thelongestidiomchainevercreatedwasallof1,788idioms

long!

ForthelearnerofChineseasasecond/foreignlanguage,idiomsarenotsoeasytounderstand,sincethe

functionalmeaningofidiomsisoftendifferentfromthesurfacemeaningandmay,toquoteanEnglishidiom,be

“greaterthanthesumofitsparts''.

ThisisbecauseChineseidiomsfrequentlyinvolveliteraryallusions,extendedmeanings,andmetaphors.

Forexample,considerthefollowingidiom:雪中送炭xuezhongsongtan

Thiscouldbetranslatedliterallyas"inthesnowtodelivercharcoal”;however,theactualmeaningusuallyhas

nothingatalltodowith"snow"or"charcoal”,butratherinvolvestherenderingofaidtosomeoneattimeofneed.

IdiomshavealonghisloryinChinese,withsomehavingexistedforwellover2.000years.Indeed,the

grammaticalstructureofmostChineseidiomsis(hatofClassicalChinese.

Therearethreecommonoriginsofidioms:ancientfablesandhistoricaltales;BuddhistandConfucianclassics

aswellasotherworksofancientChineseliterature;andhabitualcollocationsoftermsthatgraduallycametobe

stableandusedinacertainway,eventhoughtheirexactoriginisnotknowntoday.TouseaChineseidiom,we

couldsaytherearcintheChineselanguageasmanyidioms“astherearchairsonanox”.(598words)

♦Helper:

quotation［kwau'teijan］引用,引证compose［kam*pauz］组成，构成contextually［kdn'tckstfUdi］文脉上的，前后关系的

eloquence('eldkwsns!口才，辩才proficiency［pro'fijansi］熟练，精通familiarity［fa,mlll'jeratl1熟悉，通晓

credibility［,kreda'blloti］可靠性,可信性allusion|a'lu：3n］影射,典故metaphor［'metafa(r)］隐喻，暗喻habitual

Iha-bitfu:ol］习惯的

♦ChineseBriefIntroduction:

成语(chengyu,idioms,setphrase)是我国汉字语言词汇中一部分定型的词组或短句。成语有固定的结

构形式和固定的说法，表示一定的意义，在语句中是作为一个整体来应用的。成语有很大一部分是从古代

相承沿用下来的，在用词方面往往不同于现代汉语它代表了一人故事或者典故。成语又是一种现成的话，

跟习用语、谚语相近，但是也略有区别。成语大多出自书面，属于文语性质的，意思精辟，往往隐含于字

面意义之中，不是其构成成分意义的简单相加，。其次在语言形式上，成语几乎都是约定俗成的四字结构，

字面不能随意更换；成语在语言表达中有生动简洁、形象鲜明的作用。

♦Exercise:

I.Questions:

1.WhatisthemaincharacterofChengyu?

2.WhatdocsitdependonwhetheryoucanuseChengyuproperlyornot?

3.Whydocsthewritersayidiomsworkasausefulmediumforhelpinglearnersmoveupontheproficiency

ladder?

4.Whatischengyujielon^Giveanexampleplease.

5.Listthreecommonoriginsofidioms.

6.ExplainthefollowCehnyuinEnglish.

衣食住行yishizhiixing

II.Writtenwork

1.假如你的美国朋友正在学习汉语，他写来电子邮件，向你了解中国成语“掩耳盗铃”的故事，请你根据以

下的写作内容，用英语写出这个故事。

写作内容：

（1）盗铃的念头:深夜里偷窃可居家挂在屋外的大铃铛；

（2）钟鸣，掩耳；（3）盗铃:被捉；（4）寓意.

写作要求：只能使用5个句子表达全部的内容.

2.根据图画和所给单词，将成语“郑人买履”译为英文小故事。词数在60—80之间。

3.（2015年福建卷）请阅读下面图画，按要求用英语写一篇120左右的短文。

内容要求：描述画面；概述其含义；谈谈个人感想。

注意：短文开头已给出，不计入总词数；

可适当发挥，使文章内容充实、行文连贯；文中不能出现考生的具体信息。

参考词汇：凿，钻bore

Inthepicture

4.（2009年湖北卷）假设你是华华，与英国网友汤姆约定用对方的母语通信，以提高各自的外语水平。最近

你收到汤姆的电子邮件（附后），发现有一个成语使用不当。请根据卜.列要点，用英文回一封电子邮件。

要点：

（1）不应使用“无所不为”，应使用“无所事事”：

（2）说明这两个成语的用法;

（3）给与鼓励。

注意：（1）词数为100左右；

（2）参考释义：

无所不为—doallkindsofbadthings

无所事事—havenothingtodo；

（3）除以上两个成语外，邮件中不得使用其它汉字或拼音；

（4）电子邮件的开头和结尾已为你写好（不计入你所写词数）。

附（汤姆的邮件）：

华华，你好！

近几天在忙什么事？有什么有意思的事吗？我们的学校放假了，所以这几天在家无所不为，饱食终日，

只好上网发伊妹儿。没意思。我决定找份工作，做个自食其力的人。祝好！

汤姆

HiTom,

Nicetoreadyoure-mailtoday.Inoticeyou'vebeguntouseChineseidiomsandusedmostofthemcorrectly.

Hopeyou'llfindajobsoon.

Huahua

5.（2017年3月天津卷）假设你是晨光中学的学生李津。你的美国笔友Chris正在学习汉语，他得知“中国诗

词大会”在CCTV播出，非常感兴趣，便写信给你，希望你介绍相关情况及更多了解中国文化的途径。请根

据以下提示给他写一封回信。

（1）简单介绍“中国诗词大会”引起的反响；

（2）介绍了解中国文化的途径（如阅读相关书籍、利用媒体发源等）；

（3）表达对Chris学习中国文化的祝愿。

注意：

（1）词数不少于100；

（2）可适当加入细节，使内容充实、行文连贯；

（3）开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

参考词汇:

中国诗词大会ChinesePoetryCompetition

DearChris,

Yours,

LiJin

♦Moreidioms:

1.小菜一碟apieceofcake

2.见异思迁Grassisalwaysgreenerontheothersideofthefence.

3.适者生存survivalofthefittest

4.物以类聚Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.

5.英雄所见略同Greatmindsthinkalike.

6.为虎作帐toactasguidetoatiger

7.孤注一掷toputallone'segginonebasket

8.勇者不惧Abravemanwillnotshrinkfromdangers.

9.洗心革面toturnoveranewleaf

10.活到老学到老It'snevertoolatetolearn./Liveandlearn.

11.按部就班Leamtowalkbeforeyourun.

12.以毒攻毒tosetathieftocatchathief

13.以逸待劳Towaitateasetilltheenemyisexhausted.

14.金科玉律thegoldrule

15.雨后春笋likebambooshootsafteraspringshower

16.事实胜于雄辩Factsaremostconvincing.

17.有志者事竟成Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.

18.有钱能使鬼推磨Moneymakestheworldgoaround./Moneytalks.

19.有其父必有其子Likefather,likeson.

20.江山易改本性难移afoxmaygrowgray,butnevergood(Theleopardcannotchangehisspcts;youcannot

makeacrabwalkstraight)

21.眼见为实Toseeistobelieve.(Seeingisbelieving.)

22.同甘共苦toshareone'sjoysandsorrows

23.未雨绸缪Keepsomethingforarainyday.

24.本末倒置Don'tputthecartbeforethehorse.

25.爱屋及乌Loveme,lovemydog.

26.不遗余力sparenoeffort;goallout;doone'sbest

27.拆东墙补西墙robPetertopayPaul

28.好事不出门恶事传千里Goodnewsnevergoesbeyondthegate,whilebadnewsspreadfarandwide.

29.活到老学到老Oneisnevertoooldtoleani.

30.金无足赤人无完人Goldcan'tbepureandmancan'tbeperfect.

31.留得青山在不怕没柴烧Wherethereislife,thereishope.

32.名利双收gaininbothfameandwealth

33.欲速则不达Hastedocsnotbringsuccess.

34.巧妇难为无米之炊Ifyouhavenohandyoucan'tmakeafist.Onecan'tmakebrickswithoutstraw.

35.瑞雪兆年年Atimelysnowpremisesagoodharvest.

36.世上无难事只要肯攀登Wherethereisawill,thereisaway.

37.说曹操，曹操到Talkofthedevilandhecomes.

38.物以类聚，人以群分Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.

39.望子成龙holdhighhopesforondschild

40.无风不起浪Therearenowaveswithoutwind.There'snosmokewithoutfire.

41.心想事成Mayallyourwishcometrue

42.先下手为强catchtheballbeforethebound

43.一言既出，驷马难追Arealmannevergoesbackonhiswords.

44.英雄所见略同Greatmindsthinkalike.

45.左右为难betweenthedevilandthedeepbluesea

46.同舟共济Acommondangercausescommonaction.

47.知足常乐Acontentedmindisacontinual/perpetualfeast..

48.吃一堑，长一智Afallintothepit,againinyourwit.

49.客随主便Aguestshouldsuittheconvenienceofthehost.

50.家书抵万金Aletterfromhomeisapricelesstreasure.

51.殊途同归Allriversrunintothesea.

32.机不可失,时不再来Alltimeisnotimewhenitispast..

53.兔了,不吃窝边草Thefoxpreysfarthestfromhishole.

54.若要人不知除非己莫为Ifyouwouldnotbeknowntodoanything,neverdoit.

55.前事不忘后事之师Rememberthepastanditwillguideyourfuture.

56.以毒攻毒tosetathieftocatcha（hief

57.忠言逆耳Honestadviceisunpleasanttotheear

58.塞翁失马,安知非福Badluckoftenbringsgoodluck.

59.班门弄斧teachfishtoswim.»

60.亡羊补牢,犹未为晚Itisnevertoolatetomend.

61.未雨绸缪Keepsomethingforarainyday.

62.将计就计Meetplotwithplot.

63.切莫以貌取人Neverjudgeabookbyitscover.

64.不要落井下石Neverhitamanwhenheisdown.

65.无风不起浪Nofirewithoutsmoke.

66.教养胜过天性Nurturepassesnature.

67.活到老,学到老Oneisnevertoooldtolearn.

68.一燕不成夏（一花独放不是春）0neswallowdocsnotmakeasummer.

69.曾经沧海难为水Onewhohasseentheoceanthinksnothingofmererivers.

70.眼不见，心不烦Outofsight,outofmind.

71.熟能生巧Practicemakesperfect.

72.老马识途Sensecomeswithage.

73.趁热打铁Strikewhiletheironishot.

74.人老智多（姜还是老的辣）Theolderthewiser.

75.蜡烛不可两头燃（鱼和熊掌不可兼得）Youcannotbumthecandleatbothends.

76.有得就有失（事难两全其美）Youcannothaveyourcakeandcatit.

77.事实胜于雄辩ActionsspeakIcudcrthanwords.

78.三思而后行Lookbeforeyouleap.Firstthink,thenact.

79.时间就是金钱Timeismoney.

80.患难见真交Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.

81.前车之鉴Itisgoodtolearnatanotherman'scost.

82.岁月不等人Timeandtidewaitsfornoman.

83.良药苦口，忠言逆耳Agoodmedicinetastesbitter.

84.精诚所至,金石为开Faithwillmovemountain.

85.良好的开端是成功的一半Agoodbeginningishalfdone.

86.善始者善终Agoodbeginningmakesagoodending.

87.不做亏心事，不怕鬼叫门Agoodconscienceisasoftpillow.

88.小心驶得万年船Cautionistheparentofsafety.

89.水滴石穿，绳锯木断Constantdrippingwearsawayastone.

90.知足者常乐Contentisbetterthanriches.

91.强中自有强中手Diamondcutsdiamond.

92.入乡随俗DoastheRomansdo.

93.孤芳自赏Eachbirdlovetohearhimselfsing.

94说得容易，做得难Easiersaidthandone.

95.来也匆匆，去也匆匆Easycome,easygo.

96.金无足赤，人无完人Everymanhashisfaults.

97.萝卜青菜，各有所爱Everymanhashishobbyhorse.

98.王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸Everypotterpraiseshitpot.

99.事实胜于雄辩Factspeaklouderthanwords.

100.失败是成功之母Failureisthemotherofsuccess.

101.明枪易躲，暗箭难防Falsefriendsareworsethanbitterenemies.

102.英雄所见略同Greatminds（h:nkalike.

103.蜡烛不可两头燃（鱼和熊掌不可兼得）Youcannotburnthecandleatbothends.

104.自助者天助Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.

105.风水轮流转Theworselucknow,thebetteranothertime.

106.不入虎穴，焉得虎子Ifyouventurenothing,youwillhavenothing.

107.杀鸡取卵Ifyousellthecow,yousellhermilktoo.

108.宁为玉碎,不为瓦全Itisbettertodiewhenlifeisadisgrace.

109.事后诸葛亮好当Itiseasytobewiseaftertheevent.

110.良药苦口利于病Goodmedicineforhealthtastesbittertothemouth.

111.众口银金，积毁销骨Giveadogabadnameandhanghim.

112.水滴石穿，绳锯木断Constantdrippingwearsawayastone.

SUGGESTEDANSWERS

8.Chineseidioms

I.Questions:

6.Theliteralmeaningofthisidiomis"fbod,clothing,shelter,andtransportation^,thatis,“thebasicnecessitiesof

life".

II.Writtenwork

1.Onceuponatimetherewasastupidmanwhowenttostealhisneighbor'sbigbellhungoutsidethedoor

onenight.Hetriedtogetthebelloff,butitrangthemomenthetouchedil.Hewasafraid(hatsomeonewouldhear

it,sohecoveredhisearsandgot(hebelldown.Hearingthesoundofthebell,alotofpeoplecametothegaleand

caughthim.Thestorytellsusthatwecanneverfoolourselvesbyignoringthefacts.

2.OncetherewasamancamefromZhengState.Oneday,he

wantedtobuyapairofshoes.Sohetookoutarulerandmeasuredthesizeofhisshoes.Thenhewenttothemarket

.Wlienhecameintoa

shoeshopandwantedtobuyshoes,hesuddenlyshouted,uOh,Iforgotto(akemyruler.Ihavetogobacktogetmy

rukr”

Thenheranaway.Theshopkeepershouted,uWait,please!You

can(rythemonyourself.”

“No!”Thcmankeptonrunning.Whenhegottherulerandwent

backtotheshoeshopagain,theshopwasalreadyclosed.

3.Inthepicture,wccanseeaboyinwornclothes,sittingatashabby

woodentablewithapileofbooksonit.Aweakrayoflightcamein

throughasmallholeinthewallandhewasabsorbedinhisreading.

Thisisawell-knownstoryfromancientChineseidiom.Theboy,beingpoor,couldn'taffordevenacandle,so

heboredaholeinthe

wallto“steal”lightfromhisneighbor'shousetoreadatnight.The

moralofthestoryistosparenoefforttoacquireknowledgeand

nevergetdiscouragedeasilynomatlerhowdifficultthesituationmaybe.

Ofcourse,thingsaretotallydiiTerenttoday.Itisnot(hestory

itselfbutwhatisreflectedinthestorythatcounts.Hardworkpaysoff.Weshouldtakepainstoimproveourselvest

hroughlearningandget

preparedforthefuture.

4.Hi!Tom,

Nicetoreadyoure-mailtoday」noticeyou'vebeguntouseChineseidiomsandusedmostofthemcorrectly.

However,TmafraidthereiscnemistakeI'dliketopointoutItis"无所不为Thisidiommeans"doall

kindsofbadthings”.Areyoudongallkindsofbadthingsathome?Iguesswhatyouwerereallytryingtosayis

thatyou'vegotnothingtodothesedays.Inthatcase,youshoulduse“无所事事”.Weusuallyuse“无所事事”to

expresstheideathatpeopledaretodoanythingbad,and“无所事事"iodescri