Post on 22-Apr-2023
Idioms of comparison 1
Running head: Idioms of comparison
Idioms of comparison in Vietnamese and English
A Contrastive Analysis
Trịnh Thị Phương Trang
University of Education
Contrastive Analysis
Mr Nguyễn Ngọc Vũ
December 30, 2010
Idioms of comparison 2
Abstract
Language is a system of communication of a nation.
Every nation has their own historical, civilized, cultural,
climatic characteristics, so every nation has their own language.
However, different nations have similarities and differences in
expressing their ideas. Studying similarities and differences
between idioms of comparison in English and Vietnamese is liable
to help the researcher to affirm that. Moreover, making some
comparisons is a good way to memorize English idioms of
comparison effectively and enjoyably. Hence, translation skill
can be improved thanks to more knowledge about idioms. In
addition, making comparisons between English and Vietnamese
idioms can help the researcher to understand more about cultures
of both of countries since similarities and differences in
culture reflect coincidences and dissimilarities in ways of
thinking and looking at the world of English and Vietnamese
people.
Idioms of comparison 3
Idioms of comparison in Vietnamese and English
A Contrastive Analysis
Introduction
Idioms of comparison are applied frequently in
literature and in daily life. It serves as a tool to make the
language more graphic. However, every language has differences in
ways of expressing the same idea using idioms of comparison.
The goal of the study is to discover some common types of
comparison used in English and Vietnamese idioms. In addition,
the study chiefly aims at finding out some similarities and
differences between comparison idioms in both English and
Vietnamese.
Because there are so many comparison idioms in both
languages, it is impossible to include all of them in the study.
The study can just explore comparison idiomatic expressions which
play an important part in the purpose of the study.
Idioms of comparison 4
Theoretical Framework
Theoretical background of idioms in English
Definition of idioms in English
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines
idioms as: “A group of words whose meaning is different from the
meanings of the individual words” (Hornby, 2006, p.740).
The viewpoint is supported in A Dictionary of
Linguistics & Phonetics. The author regards an idiom as “a term
used in grammar and lexicography to refer to a sequence of words
which us semantically and often syntactically restricted, so that
they function as a single unit” (Crystal, 1985, p.225).
According to A Dictionary of Linguistics, an idiom is
“any expression peculiar to a language, conveying a distinct
meaning, not necessarily explicable by, occasionally even
contrary to, the general accepted grammatical rules” (Pei &
Gaynor, 1954, p.95).
Feature of English idioms
When mentioning semantic features of idioms, we had
better focus on the figurative meaning of idioms. It is the most
important characteristic of idioms to know whether an expression
Idioms of comparison 5
is an idiom or not. According to Collins Cobuild English Language
Dictionary:
A idiom is a group of words which, when they are used
together in a particular combination, has a different
meaning from the one they would have if you took the meaning
of the individual words in the group. (Sinclair, 1987,
p.718)
Smiley & Goldtein (1998) also suggest that “idioms
are certainly more than the sums of their parts” (p.76). That
means the meaning of components of an idiom is different from the
meaning of the whole idiom. That we can guess the meaning of an
idiom or not depends on open or closed classes. As Yong and Peng
(2007) suggest:
In open class combinations, individual components are
freely recombination and are used in a common literal sense.
As co-occurrence of individual components is expected of
this class of combinations, both their meaning and
structures are predictable amenable to analysis. (p.178)
For instance, we can guess the meaning of the idiom
“turn over a new leaf”. “Turn over” means to “make something
Idioms of comparison 6
change position so that the other side is facing towards the
outside or the top” and “a new leaf” is a leaf which is more
beautiful, more perfect. Therefore, the meaning of the idioms can
be guessed as “to change your way of life to become a better,
more responsible person”.
However, in close class combinations, we cannot guess
the meaning of idioms. That is because “they are characterized by
semantic opaqueness, syntactic restrictions and structural
stability” (Yong & Peng, 2007, p.178). For example, the idioms
“spread oneself too thin” or “for the birds”.
Idioms have “a fixed form – that usually cannot be
changed” (Heacock, 2003, p.ix). However, Heacock (2003) also
claims:
Not all fixed phrases are idioms. For example, “close your
eyes” is a common fixed phrase, but not an idiom because
each word in it is used in its standard meaning. The phrase
“keep your skirt” is an idiom, however, because the phrase
does not mean “do not take off your skirt” – it means “stay
calm”. (p.ix)
Idioms of comparison 7
Idioms can be divided into six different forms or
structures:
+ Idioms located at noun entries such as “in addition
to’”, “for the birds”…
+ Idioms located at verb entries such as “look
forward to”, “take off”, “hear about”…
+ Idioms located at adjectival entries such as “in
short”, “hot under the collar”…
+ Idioms located at adverbial entries such as “once
again, “worse off” …
+ Idioms located at pronominal entries such as “give
it up”, “come to nothing”…
+ Idioms located at numeral entries such as “give a
hundred percent”, “one by one”…
It’s really important to know that modifying any
components and functional words can lose the idiomatic meaning
(Yong & Peng, 2007).
Theoretical background of idioms in Vietnamese
Definition of idioms in Vietnamese
According to Từ Điển Thành Ngữ và Tục Ngữ Việt Nam:
Idioms of comparison 8
Thành ngữ Tiếng Việt là những tổ hợp từ ngữ cố định có cấu
trúc từ hoặc câu nhưng hoàn toàn thuộc phạm trù cấp từ, được
mã hóa hầu hết đều có tính chất cách điệu nghệ thuật, và chỉ
làm một thành phần trong câu nói. (Nguyễn, 2010, p.5)
As Nguyễn (2007) has noted in his book, “thành ngữ là
tập hợp từ cố định đã quen dùng mà nghĩa của nó thường không thể
giải thích được một cách đơn giản bằng nghĩa của các từ tạo nên
nó” (p. 8).
Features of Vietnamese idioms
Idioms are characterized by figurative and
metaphorical meanings. Therefore, it’s too difficult to
comprehend although we know the meanings of all their components.
For example, “lấy thúng úp voi”, “gà để gà cục tác”, “đi guốc
trong bụng”… Especially idioms are originated from fairy tales,
folk tales…such as “ba que xỏ lá”, “thằng chết cãi thằng khiêng”,
“nợ như chúa Chổm”, “sư tử Hà Đông”… (Nguyễn, Nguyễn & Phan,
2009).
Idioms usually consist of more than 3 components
whose counterpoint, alliteration and rhyme are combined with each
other in many different ways. There are some idioms of comparison
Idioms of comparison 9
such as “nóng như lửa”, “khóc như mưa”, “nhanh như chớp”… Also,
there are some idioms which are created according to
counterpoint, alliteration such as “tai to mặt lớn”, “miệng hùm
gan sứa”, “cùng hội cùng thuyền”, “ong bướm lả lơi”… Besides,
some idioms are originally spoken words in everyday speech which
are usually used again and again for a long time and then develop
figurative meanings to become idioms, for instance “chở củi về
rừng”, “theo voi hít bã mía”, “nước chảy chỗ trũng”, “đi guốc
trong bụng”… (Nguyễn et al, 2009).
Theoretical background of English idioms of comparison
At first, we should find out the definition of
idioms of comparison which are also called similes. There are a
lot of definitions of simile. According to Oxford Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary, “simile is a word or phrase that compares
sth to sth else, using the words “like” or “as”, for example “a
face like a mask” or “as white as snow”; the use of such words
and phrases” (Hornby, 2006, p.1369).
An idiom of comparison is also defined as:
the comparison of two nouns with different meanings, using
the words like or as to make the connection. Friendship is
Idioms of comparison 10
like ice cream, fear moved like lighting, and leaves feel as
slippery as fish are examples of similes”. (Tucker, 2002,
p.41)
There is also a similar but shorter definition in The
Challenge of Effective Speaking: “A simile is a direct comparison
of dissimilar things using the word “like” or “as”” (Verderber,
Verderber & Sellnow, 2008, p.197).
The meanings of similes are figurative. Take the
simile “as tall as a tree” as an example. When you say: “Minh is
as stubborn as a mule”, you mean Minh is so stubborn, not Minh is
as stubborn as a mule. Therefore, the simile “as stubborn as a
mule” is considered figurative.
Learners can sometimes be confused between similes and
metaphors but they are really different:
A metaphor, like a simile, is a comparison between two
essentially unlike things. In contrast to a simile, however,
where an explicit comparison is made (The eye is like a lamp
for the body), the metaphor makes an implicit comparison
(The eye is lamp of the body). (Robert H. Stein 15)
Idioms of comparison 11
Huff (2004) asserts that “the only difference between
simile and metaphor is that metaphor does not use the words
“like” or “as” to make the comparison” (p.98). In other words,
two distinctly different things in a simile are connected by
“like” or “as” while a metaphor “is an implied but in many ways
even more direct than comparison because the reader is expected
to identify the comparison without the word “like” or “as””
(Osborne, 1997, p.124). However, “because similes merely join two
disparate ideas or images, they are generally less fertile than
metaphors, which can evoke additional and fresh shades of
meaning” (Ehrenhaft, 2008, p.145).
Theoretical background of Vietnamese idioms of comparison
In Vietnamese, there are 2 kinds of idioms of
comparison: one employs the word “như”, “tựa”, “tày”, “bằng”,
“tựa như” or “cũng như” and one doesn’t.
Based on similarities of characteristics of 2 things, 2
phenomena, 2 actions, the Vietnamese create a large number of
idioms which use A to name or to modify B.
Eg: Mặt trái xoan: oval-shaped face.
Idioms of comparison 12
Star: a famous and talented person (usually in
art, sport, culture).
(Nguyễn, 2010)
The other kind of idioms of comparison includes the
word “bằng”, “tày”, “tựa”, “sánh”, “như” or “cũng như” which
divides an idiom into 2 parts.
Both of parts can be a noun, verb, phrase or clause.
The second part whose function is predicating and complementing
the first part is counted from comparative word.
Eg: In the idiom “tội tày đình”, “tày đình” is the
complement of the noun “tội”.
In the idiom “chạy như bay”, “như bay” is the complement
of the verb chạy.
(Nguyễn, 2010)
Idioms of comparison 13
A contrastive analysis of comparison idioms in English and
Vietnamese
Quantity comparison
There are about 700 idioms of comparison in English,
for example, “as warm as sunbeam”, “to follow like a shadow”, “to
work like a Trojan”,… There are a similarity in the number of
idioms of comparison in English and Vietnamese. Some examples of
Vietnamese idioms of comparison are “lạnh như tiền”, “xanh như
tàu lá”…
Similarities of idioms of comparison in English and Vietnamese
Although the culture of two nations is different, ways
of thinking and looking at the world of English and Vietnamese is
somehow similar. Hence, both Vietnamese and English express ideas
and concepts in the same way. In fact, a large number of
Vietnamese idioms of comparison are similar with English idioms
of comparison in terms of both concept and image to express.
English idioms Vietnamese
idioms
As black as coal Đen như than
As black as crow Đen như quạ
Idioms of comparison 14
As black as ink Tối đen như mực
As sweet as sugar Ngọt như đường
As black as soot Đen như bồ hóng
As brief as a dream Ngắn như
một giấc mộng
As bright as day Sáng như ban
ngày
As brilliant as stars Sáng như
sao
As changeable as the weather Hay thay
đổi như thời tiết
As cold as ice Lạnh như
băng
As cheerful as a lark Vui như sáo
As cunning as a fox Xảo quyệt
như cáo
As dark as midnight Tối như
nửa đêm
As dumb as a an oyster Câm như
hến
Idioms of comparison 15
As fair as a rose Xinh như
hoa
As fast as a hare Nhanh như
thỏ
As fat as a pig Mập như
heo
As fierce as a tiger Dữ như cọp
As firm as rock Vững như đá
As fleet as the wind Nhanh như
gió
As fresh a rose Tươi như hoa
As gay as a lark Vui như sáo
As gruff as a bear Hỗn như
gấu
As good (valuable) as gold Quý như
vàng
As green as a leaf Xanh như
tàu lá
As heavy as an elephant Nặng như
voi
Idioms of comparison 16
As hard as a stone Cứng như
đá
As heavy as lead Nặng như chì
As hot as fire Nóng như
lửa
As keen as a razor Sắc như
dao cạo
As light as down Nhẹ tựa lông
hồng
As light as a feather Nhẹ tưa
lông hồng
As mum as an oyster Câm như
hến
As pretty as a picture Đẹp
như tranh
As quick as lightning Nhanh như
ánh sáng
As quick as a flash Nhanh như
chớp
As red as blood Đỏ như máu
Idioms of comparison 17
As red as a beetroot Đỏ như gấc
As sharp as a razor Sắc như
dao cạo
As silly as a calf Ngu như bò
As sour as vinegar Chua như
giấm
As stink as a polecat Hôi như
chồn
As swift as lightning Nhanh như
chớp
As smooth as velvet Mịn như
nhung
As slow as a snail Chậm như
sên
As swift as an arrow Nhanh như
tên bắn
As steady as rock Cứng như
đá
As timid as a rabbit/ hare Nhát như
thỏ đế
Idioms of comparison 18
As thick as ants Đông như kiến
As transparent as glass Trong suốt
như thủy tinh
As yellow as saffron Vàng như
nghệ
As wet as a drowned mouse Ướt như
chuột lột
As white as snow Trắng như tuyết
As white as a sheet Như tờ
giấy trắng
Like father like son Cha nào
con nấy
To fight like cat and dog Như chó
với mèo
To stick like a leech Bám dai
như đỉa
To stick like glue Dính như
keo
To cry like a baby Khóc như
đứa trẻ
Idioms of comparison 19
To follow like a shadow Theo như
hình với bóng
To swim like fish Bơi như cá
Differences of idioms of comparison in English and Vietnamese
The same content but different images to express
Images of idiomatic comparisons in twp nations are
different result from differences in culture. Vietnam has the
cultural tradition of the wet rice production. Therefore, animals
have a strong attachment to Vietnamese daily life. That’s why
Vietnamese idioms of comparison consist of images related to
buffaloes which are an animal familiar with rice production
agriculture. Buffaloes pull ploughs, work very hard everyday to
help farmers in their farming. As a result, wanting to mention
strength, people often refer to buffaloes. In fact, to talk about
someone very strong, the Vietnamese have the idiom “khỏe như
trâu” while the English have the idiom “as strong as a horse”.
That’s because English people prefer horses to buffaloes. Horses
can not only pull ploughs but also transport and entertain. They
are really energetic and strong enough to help people in life.
Idioms of comparison 20
In spite of that, it doesn’t mean that English people
don’t consider buffaloes strong animals or Vietnamese people
don’t regard horses as strong animals. That results just from the
difference in culture.
Also, dragons are a kind of animal which is very
close in fertile imagination of Vietnamese people. Because of
that, the image as a dragon appear in the Vietnamese idiom of
comparison “ăn như rồng cuốn” to talk about eating large
quantities of food while the image of a horse is used in the
idiom “to eat like a horse”.
Lamp, butter are so familiar with English life while
sweet potatoes, pig are familiar with Vietnamese life, as a
result there are differences in images to express their ideas of
gentleness and fatness:
English idioms Vietnamese
idioms
As gentle as a lamp Hiền như củ khoai
As fat as butter Béo như lợn
Idioms of comparison 21
Besides, the differences in the ways of thinking and
observing the world make differences in the images of idiomatic
comparisons. Take some following examples to illustrate that:
English idioms Vietnamese
idioms
As easy as ABC Dễ như trở bàn tay
As easy as pie Dễ như trở bàn tay
As easy as anything Dễ như trở bàn tay
As smooth as butter Mượt như nhung
As pale as a ghost Xanh như tàu lá
As lazy as a lizard Lười như hủi
As soft as wax Mềm như bún
As merry as a cricket Vui như tết
As cheerful as the birds Vui như tết
As glad as a fly Vui như tết
As happy as a child Vui như tết
As happy as a clam Vui như tết
As dark as midnight Tối như đêm ba mươi
As black as midnight Tối như đêm 30
As dark as midnight Tối như hũ nút
Idioms of comparison 22
As close as herrings Chặt như nêm
As soundly as a log (Ngủ) say như chết
As cold as marble Lạnh như tiền
As dry as a biscuit Khô như ngói
As red as lipstick Đỏ như gấc
As thin as finger Gầy như bộ xương khô
As weak as a kitten Yếu như sên
As weak as a baby Yếu như sên
As black as a stack of black cats Đen như
cột nhà cháy
As black as the ace of spades Đen như cú súng
As round as a barrel Tròn như quả bóng
As old as the hills Xưa như trái đất
As hot as mustard Cay như ớt
Like hot cake Đắt như tôm tươi
As silent as the dead Im lặng như tờ
As silent as the grave Im lặng như tờ
What is more, the differences in human make
differences between English and Vietnamese idioms. For example,
in Vietnam, there is the idiom “ghen như Hoạn Thư” to refer to a
Idioms of comparison 23
person who is dreadfully jealous. However, in English, the idiom
“as jealous as Othello” is used to talk about a one’s jealousy.
Another example is “sướng như tiên” and “as happy as a king”.
Indeed, Vietnamese people consider a fairy the happiest one while
English people consider a king the happiest one.
The same components but the dissimilar content
Every so often, some images of comparison can appear
in both Vietnamese and English idioms but the meaning of the two
whole idioms are quite different. That’s because the meaning of
components differs in culture.
Indeed, using the idiom “rõ như ban ngày”, the
Vietnamese want to indicate a event which has nothing fishy.
Meanwhile English people use the idiom “as bright as day” to
describe a light room. Besides, when the weather is fine and
sunny with good natural light, English people say: “It’s as
bright as day”.
Besides, wanting to compliment someone on his or her
beauty of eyes, Vietnamese people say: “Mắt cô sắc như dao cạo”.
Still, English people use the idiom “as sharp as a razor” to
refer to one’s brainpower.
Idioms of comparison 24
What is more, whilst Vietnamese people apply the
idiom “chắc như đinh đóng cột” to something steady, “as hard as
nails” in English idiom means a person who is quite strict.
Also, when Vietnamese people say: “Nó tốt như vàng”, they mean
it’s worth buying the object because of its good quality. In
contrast, “as good as gold” cannot be used to compliment an
object. In other words, English people never say: “It’s as good
as gold” but “The person is as good as gold”. The person can be
an assiduous and submissive child or a well-behaved adult.
Idioms of comparison 25
Pedagogical Implications for Teaching English Idioms of
comparison
Learning English idioms is one of steps so as to help
learners master English. English idioms of comparison are
frequently used in daily life. Therefore, teachers should help
their students learn idioms most effectively.
Firstly, it’s advisable for teachers to raise
students’ awareness of similarities and differences between
Vietnamese and English idioms of comparison. When teachers teach
their students a certain English idiom of comparison, they should
let them guess the Vietnamese idiom which is equivalent to that
idiom, making a comparison and explain why they are similar or
different. It’s really useful for them to have a long-term memory
about that idiom of comparison.
Secondly, idioms of comparison as well as other
idioms are taught and practiced in classroom but students rarely
apply them to their daily speech. That’s why teachers should
encourage students to use idioms of comparison in their daily
life as frequently as possible. Learners will memorize idioms
Idioms of comparison 26
better if idioms of comparison are put into communicative
contexts. Don’t make them learn by heart.
Thirdly, teachers should draw students’ attention to
idioms of comparison which are most useful and most frequent. As
there are so many idioms of comparison in English culture, about
700, students aren’t liable to memorize and apply all of them in
their daily life. Students should be taught to know what idioms
of comparison they should learn.
Idioms of comparison 27
Conclusion
There are both similarities and differences between
English and Vietnamese idioms of comparison. The same or
different image can bear resemblance in the meaning of English
and Vietnamese idioms of comparison. In addition, there are some
idioms of comparison which have the same components but the
meaning are quite different. Great as have the researcher made an
attempt to do the research, there are some restrictions on the
research out of the limited time and other unexpected factors.
The researcher hopes that the research will a useful material for
learners and teachers to learn or teach most effectively.
Idioms of comparison 28
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