Idioms of comparison
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
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Idioms of comparison
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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
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.
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Idioms of comparison
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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 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:
Idioms of comparison
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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 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 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”…
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+ 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:
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 such as “nóng như lửa”, “khóc như mưa”, “nhanh như chớp”… Also, there are
Idioms of comparison
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some idioms which are created according to counterpoint, alliteration such as “tai to m ặt 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 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:
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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)
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.
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.
Idioms of comparison
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)
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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
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
Idioms of comparison
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
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
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
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Idioms of comparison
As quick as lightning
Nhanh như ánh sáng
As quick as a flash
Nhanh như chớp
As red as blood
Đỏ như máu
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
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
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Idioms of comparison
To stick like glue
Dính như keo
To cry like a baby
Khóc như đứa trẻ
To follow like a shadow
Theo như hình với bóng
To swim like fish
Bơi như cá
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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.
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”.
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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
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
Idioms of comparison
As black as midnight
Tối như đêm 30
As dark as midnight
Tối như hũ nút
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
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What is more, the differences in human make differences between English and
Vietnamese idioms. For example, in Vietnam, there is the idiom “ghen như Ho ạn Thư” to refer
to a 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
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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.
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.
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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 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.
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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.
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