common idiomatic expressions; often metaphorical
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
fixed idiomatic expressions; common sayings with metaphorical meaning
A type of idiom that is colloquial, fixed in form, and often used figuratively. Contrasts with '成语' (chengyu), which is more formal and literary.
“
Kāi开
yè夜
chē车
”
shì是
yī一
gè个
xíng形
róng容
áo熬
yè夜
gōng工
zuò作
de的
guàn惯
yòng用
yǔ语
。
'Kai ye che' is a guanyongyu that describes working late into the night.
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
“
pāi拍
mǎ马
pì屁
”
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
lǎo老
bǎn板
hěn很
xǐ喜
huan欢
tā他
。
He always 'butters people up,' so the boss likes him a lot.
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Bié别
dān担
xīn心
，
tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
zài在
“
mài卖
guān关
zi子
”
，
yī一
huì会
er儿
jiù就
gào告
su诉
nǐ你
dá答
àn案
。
Don't worry, he's just 'keeping you in suspense'; he'll tell you the answer in a moment.
Xué学
xí习
guàn惯
yòng用
yǔ语
shì是
zhǎng掌
wò握
dì地
dào道
kǒu口
yǔ语
de的
hǎo好
fāng方
fǎ法
。
Learning guanyongyu is a great way to master colloquial language.