antithesis; parallel couplets
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to write antithetical phrases; to use antithesis
literaryA fundamental structural principle in traditional Chinese regulated verse (律诗) and parallel prose (骈文). It requires a rigorous correspondence in tone pattern (平仄), meaning (e.g., noun vs. noun, verb vs. verb), and sometimes even grammatical structure between two lines or clauses.
Zhè这
shǒu首
shī诗
de的
hàn颔
lián联
duì对
zhàng仗
fēi非
cháng常
gōng工
zhěng整
。
The second couplet of this poem employs a very neat and perfect antithesis.
Pián骈
wén文
jiǎng讲
jiu究
cí词
jù句
duì对
zhàng仗
，
shēng声
lǜ律
hé和
xié谐
。
Parallel prose emphasizes antithetical phrasing and harmonious rhythms.
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Xué学
xí习
gǔ古
diǎn典
shī诗
cí词
，
bì必
xū须
zhǎng掌
wò握
duì对
zhàng仗
de的
guī规
zé则
。
To study classical poetry, one must master the rules of antithesis.
Zhè这
fù副
chūn春
lián联
shàng上
xià下
lián联
zì字
shù数
xiāng相
děng等
，
píng平
zè仄
xiāng相
duì对
，
duì对
zhàng仗
qiǎo巧
miào妙
。
The two lines of this Spring Festival couplet have the same number of characters, opposite tones, and clever antithesis.