高考英语中国文化读写专项：汉语成语

Lesson8Chineseidioms汉语习语ThereexistinbothspokenandwrittenChineseagreatnumberofidiomsalsocalledchengyu,literally“setlanguage”or“setexpressions”,whicharetranslatedinEnglishas“idiom”.ThesemaybegeneralinnatureortheymayreflectfamouseventsorstoriesfromChinesehistory,ortheymaybedirectquotationsfromfamousworksofChineseliterature.ThegreatmajorityofChineseidiomsarecomposedoffourcharacters,whichusually–thoughnotalways-canbeparsedingroupsoftwo.ChineseidiomsareusuallycomposedinClassicalChineseandthustypicallyhaveadifferentgrammaticalstructurefromthatofModernChinese.Intheirspeechandwriting,Chinesepeoplemakefrequentuseofidioms,sincetheseoftensumupbrieflyameaningwhichitwouldotherwisetakemanywordstoexpress.Contextuallyappropriateuseofidiomstendstoimpresshearersastotheeducationallevelandeloquenceofthespeaker.Sinceidiomsarefrequentlyusedinformalspeechandhigher-levelwrittenmaterials,suchasnewspapereditorialsandcommentaries,theyserveasausefulmediumforhelpinglearnersmoveupontheproficiencyladder.Familiaritywithidiomscanalsobehelpfulforthenon-nativeingainingcredibilityinChinesesociety.Indeed,almostnothingimpressesaChinesepersonmorethanaproperlyusedidiomcomingfromthemouthofaforeigner.ThereareagreatnumberofidiomsinChinese,withcertaindictionariesofidiomsincludingwellover20,000entries.AllChinesepeopleknowidioms,eventhoughthetotalnumberknownbyanyoneindividualwilldependonherorhiseducation,linguistictalent,generalintelligence,etc…IdiomsaresuchanimportantpartofChinesepopularculturethatthereevenexistsagamecalledchengyujielongthatinvolvessomeonecallingoutanidiom,withsomeoneelsethenbeingsupposedtothinkofanotheridiomtolinkupwiththefirstone,sothatthelastcharacterofthefirstidiomisthesameasthefirstcharacterofthesecondidiom,andsoforth.AccordingtotheChinesesearchengineBaidu,thelongestidiomchainevercreatedwasallof1,788idiomslong!ForthelearnerofChineseasasecond/foreignlanguage,idiomsarenotsoeasytounderstand,sincethefunctionalmeaningofidiomsisoftendifferentfromthesurfacemeaningandmay,toquoteanEnglishidiom,be“greaterthanthesumofitsparts”.ThisisbecauseChineseidiomsfrequentlyinvolveliteraryallusions,extendedmeanings,andmetaphors.Forexample,considerthefollowingidiom:雪中送炭xuězhōngsòngtànThiscouldbetranslatedliterallyas“inthesnowtodelivercharcoal”;however,theactualmeaningusuallyhasnothingatalltodowith“snow”or“charcoal”,butratherinvolvestherenderingofaidtosomeoneattimeofneed.IdiomshavealonghistoryinChinese,withsomehavingexistedforwellover2,000years.Indeed,thegrammaticalstructureofmostChineseidiomsisthatofClassicalChinese.

Therearethreecommonoriginsofidioms:ancientfablesandhistoricaltales;BuddhistandConfucianclassicsaswellasotherworksofancientChineseliterature;andhabitualcollocationsoftermsthatgraduallycametobestableandusedinacertainway,eventhoughtheirexactoriginisnotknowntoday.TouseaChineseidiom,wecouldsaythereareintheChineselanguageasmanyidioms“astherearehairsonanox”.（598words）◆Helper:quotation[kwəuˈteiʃən]引用，引证compose[kəmˈpəuz]组成，构成contextually[kən'tekstʃʊəl]文脉上的，前后关系的eloquence[ˈeləkwəns]口才，辩才proficiency[prəˈfiʃənsi]熟练，精通familiarity[fəˌmɪlɪ'ærətɪ]熟悉,通晓credibility[ˌkredəˈbɪləti]可靠性，可信性allusion[əˈlu:ʒn]影射,典故metaphor[ˈmetəfə(r)]隐喻，暗喻habitual[həˈbɪtʃu:əl]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个故事或者典故。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.WhatdoesitdependonwhetheryoucanuseChengyuproperlyornot?3.Whydoesthewritersayidiomsworkasausefulmediumforhelpinglearnersmoveupontheproficiencyladder?4.Whatischengyujielong?Giveanexampleplease.5.Listthreecommonoriginsofidioms.6.ExplainthefollowCehnyuinEnglish.衣食住行yīshízhùxíngII.Writtenwork1.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:深夜里偷窃邻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

boreIn

the

picture

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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。请根据下列要点，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、利用媒体资源等)；(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ChinesePoetryCompetitionDearChris,......Yours,LiJin◆Moreidioms:1.小菜一碟apieceofcake2.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.为虎作伥toactasguidetoatiger7.孤注一掷toputallone'segginonebasket8.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Learntowalkbeforeyourun.

12.以毒攻毒tosetathieftocatchathief13.以逸待劳Towaitateasetilltheenemyisexhausted.14.金科玉律thegoldrule15.雨后春笋likebambooshootsafteraspringshower16.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（Theleopardcannotchangehisspots;youcannotmakeacrabwalkstraight）21.眼见为实Toseeistobelieve.(Seeingisbelieving.)22.同甘共苦toshareone'sjoysandsorrows23.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'sbest27.拆东墙补西墙robPetertopayPaul28.好事不出门恶事传千里Goodnewsnevergoesbeyondthegate,whilebadnewsspreadfarandwide.29.活到老学到老Oneisnevertoooldtolearn.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gaininbothfameandwealth33.欲速则不达Hastedoesnotbringsuccess.34.巧妇难为无米之炊Ifyouhavenohandyoucan'tmakeafist.Onecan'tmakebrickswithoutstraw.35.瑞雪兆丰年Atimelysnowpromisesagoodharvest.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holdhighhopesforone'schild40.无风不起浪Therearenowaveswithoutwind.There'snosmokewithoutfire.41.心想事成Mayallyourwishcometrue42.先下手为强catchtheballbeforethebound43.一言既出，驷马难追Arealmannevergoesbackonhiswords.44.英雄所见略同Greatmindsthinkalike.45.左右为难betweenthedevilandthedeepbluesea46.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.兔子不吃窝边草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tosetathieftocatchathief57.忠言逆耳Honestadviceisunpleasanttotheear58.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)Oneswallowdoesnotmakeasummer.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)Youcannotburnthecandleatbothends.76.有得就有失(事难两全其美)Youcannothaveyourcakeandeatit.77.事实胜于雄辩Actionsspeaklouderthanwords.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Greatmindsthinkalike.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.众口铄金，积毁销骨Giveadogabadnameandhanghim.112.水滴石穿，绳锯木断Constantdrippingwearsawayastone.SUGGESTEDANSWERS8.ChineseidiomsI.Questions:6.Theliteralmeaningofthisidiomis“food,clothing,shelter,andtransportation”,thatis,“thebasicnecessitiesoflife”.II.Writtenwork1.Onceuponatimetherewasastupidmanwhowenttostealhisneighbor’sbigbellhungoutsidethedooronenight.Hetriedtogetthebelloff,butitrangthemomenthetouchedit.Hewasafraidthatsomeonewouldhearit,sohecoveredhisearsandgotthebelldown.Hearingthesoundofthebell,alotofpeoplecametothegateandcaughthim.Thestorytellsusthatwecanneverfoolourselvesbyignoringthefacts.2.Once

there

was

a

man

came

from

Zheng

State.

One

day,

he

wanted

to

buy

a

pair

of

shoes.

So

he

took

out

a

ruler

and

measured

the

size

of

his

shoes.

Then

he

went

to

the

market.

When

he

came

into

a

shoe

shop

and

wanted

to

buy

shoes,

he

suddenly

shouted,

“Oh,

I

forgot

to

take

my

ruler.

I

have

to

go

back

to

get

my

ruler.”Then

he

ran

away.

The

shopkeeper

shouted,

“Wait,

please!

You

can

try

them

on

yourself.”“No!”The

man

kept

on

running.

When

he

got

the

ruler

and

went

back

to

the

shoe

shop

again,

the

shop

was

already

closed.

3.In

the

picture,we

can

see

a

boy

in

worn

clothes,

sitting

at

a

shabby

wooden

table

with

a

pile

of

books

on

it.

A

weak

ray

of

light

came

in

through

a

small

hole

in

the

wall

and

he

was

absorbed

in

his

reading.

This

is

a

well-known

story

from

ancient

Chinese

idiom.

The

boy,

being

poor,

couldn’t

afford

even

a

candle,

so

he

bored

a

hole

in

the

wall

to

“steal”

light

from

his

neighbor’s

house

to

read

at

night.

The

moral

of

the

story

is

tospare

no

effort

to

acquire

knowledge

and

never

get

discouraged

easily

no

matter

how

difficult

the

situation

may

be.

Of

course,

things

are

totally

different

today.

It

is

not

the

story

itself

but

what

is

reflected

in

the

story

that

counts.

Hard

work

pays

off.

We

should

take

pains

to

improve

ourselves

through

learning

and

get

prepared

for

the

future.

4.Hi!Tom,

Nicetoreadyoure-mailtoday.Inoticeyou’vebeguntouseChineseidiomsandusedmostofthemcorrectly.

However,I’mafraidthereisonemistakeI’dliketopointout.Itis“无所不为”.Th