寓言/故事

Story / Parable

Chinese 

Idioms & Proverbs

Chinese 3 and 4

寓言/故事

Story /  Parable

 

                        Introduction:

Idioms and proverbs are the essence of language. Chinese, like any other language in the world, contains myriad of colorful and profound idioms.

Similar to English idiom, 成语 (Chéngyǔ) are also word groups and phrases which are established through usage and are accepted through practice. Unlike English idiom, a 成语 (Chéngyǔ) is often made of a fixed number of Chinese characters which pronunciations tend to rhyme. The most common word length of a 成语 (Chéngyǔ) is four. There are also some 成语 (Chéngyǔ) which are of 3, 6, 7, 8, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, etc., characters.

Chinese idioms and proverbs ( 成语 Chéngyǔ) are a unique and fun part of the Chinese language and culture. Many of them are derived from classical stories and have meanings, which are not readily apparent. Proper usage of these idioms in speech and writing can add much to the perceived level of your Chinese learning, and their mastery is an essential step in becoming a fluent speaker.

Objectives:

Via the Tablet project, you will be able to learn the way to say the 成语 (Chéngyǔ), the story behind it if it has one, the equivalent or similar idioms or expression in English or your own first language, the moral of the story or ( 成语 Chéngyǔ), and the real life situation you can use it.

Requirements: Choose (2) idioms/proverbs --present on one PowerPoint

  • Design your presentation with PowerPoint and Tablet.
  • Find the pinyin for each Chéngyŭ and define it in English or in Chinese.
  • Tell the Story: two or three slides with images on each slide. The images can be either your own drawing or from other resources.
  • Write the moral of the story or the Chinese idiom.
  • Write the idiom in your own handwriting, the definition and the typing form with pinyin.
  • Find an idiom in English that is comparable.
  • Apply this idiom in a real life situation.

Timeline:

Due day: April 21, 2006

Presentation day: Start from April 24, 2006

Evaluation:

Grading of this project will be based on 100 Total Points:

  • Design your presentation with PowerPoint and Tablet. 40%
  • Color, context, animation, resources and action -- 5 points
  • Images or drawings and sound -- 10 points
  • Chinese characters (handwriting) -- 10 points
  • material and notes (Bibliography) -- 5 points
  • fluency, clarity -- 5 points
  • Chinese language -- 5 points
  • Presentation content: 60%
  • Find the pinyin for each Chéngyǔ and define it in English or in Chinese. -- 10 points
  • Tell the Story: two or three slides with images on each slide. The images can be either your own drawing or from other resources. -- 10 points
  • Write the moral of the story or the Chinese idiom. -- 10 points
  • Write the idiom in your own handwriting, the definition and the typing form with pinyin. -- 10 points
  • Find an idiom in English or your first language that is comparable. -- 10 points
  • Apply this idiom in a real life situation. -- 10 points

References:

IdiomsChinese Idioms Chinese Idioms Guess the Meanings of Chinese Idioms Lessons from Chinese Idioms
Index of Proverbs Stories From Chinese Classical Literatures
Chinese Proverbs

 
 
An Introduction to Chinese Proverbs and their Origins
Chinese Proverb Collection
Chinese Fable Stories
Chinese Legends, Tales, Stories
Ancient Chinese Fables
Confucius Quotations
(551 B.C. - 479 B.C.)

汉语成语学生作品

饮鸠止渴       虎头蛇尾

亡羊补牢     强扭的瓜不甜

井底之蛙      一箭双雕

盲人摸象    熟能生巧

守株待兔      刻舟求剑

对牛弹琴        鹬蚌相争

此起比     快马加鞭

 三人成虎       涸辙之鲋

守口如瓶      以牙还牙

心心相印      盲人摸象

苯鸟先飞       打草惊蛇

餐风宿露      常备不懈

不辨菽麦     承上启下

此起彼伏     百听不厌

如虎添翼     黔驴之技

悲喜交集     大发雷霆

 指鹿为马       画龙点睛

八仙过海      各显神通

一帆风顺      米珠新桂 千里之堤      溃于蚁穴  得鱼忘筌      谨毛失貌
塞翁失马       掩耳盗铃 班门弄斧       南辕北辙 马不停蹄       盲人摸象
涸辙之鲋       多多益善 食指大动      推己及人 沉鱼落雁      按图索骥
磨株成针      一山不容二虎 亡羊补牢      翁中捉鳖 失败是成功之母
天马行空     捷足先登 五十步笑百步      自相矛盾 曲突徙薪      杞人忧天

狡兔三窟       安步当车

出奇志胜     多多益善

 溃于蚁穴      滴水穿石
只许洲官放火   不许百姓点灯 不当家不知柴米贵   不养儿不知父母恩
Click here to view library resources for idioms and proverbs.
last updated May 9, 2006