What is the second half of the xiehouyu "Sesame blossoms"?
Sesame, also known as zhima, huma, etc., is an annual upright herbaceous plant and a common food in daily life. So do you know the xiehouyu about sesame? In fact, common xiehouyu about sesame include "Sesame blossoms," "A watermelon hidden in a pile of sesame," "Planting watermelons in a sesame field," and more. Let's take a look below at what the xiehouyu "Sesame blossoms" is!
What is the xiehouyu "Sesame blossoms"?
Sesame blossoms——rising joint by joint. The flowers of sesame bloom higher section by section, used to describe people rising step by step and life getting better and better.
What xiehouyu about sesame are there?
Making cakes from sesame——plenty of ideas; A sesame seed falling into the eye of a needle——just right; A sesame-seed face——what a thick skin; Adding lice to sesame——meddling in messily; Using a sesame stalk as a door bar——cannot be relied on; A watermelon hidden in a pile of sesame——seeing the big in the small; Planting watermelons in a sesame field——some big, some small; A mouse in a sesame field——in favor; A rotten watermelon in a sesame field——you are the biggest of all.
Extension: What is a xiehouyu?
The xiehouyu is a special language form created by the Chinese working people in life practice since ancient times. It is a short, witty and vivid phrase. It is composed of two parts: the first part plays the role of an "introduction," like the face of a riddle, and the latter part plays the role of a "follow-up," like the answer to the riddle, very natural and apt. In a certain language environment, usually the first half is spoken, and with the latter half "rested" (omitted), one can understand and guess its true meaning, so it is called a xiehouyu.
1. Homophonic type: Homophonic xiehouyu use homophones or near-homophones to create resonance, extending from the original meaning to another needed meaning. When seeing this type of xiehouyu, one often has to go around a few turns before suddenly understanding, and therefore it is even more interesting. Some books classify it under "puns," which is also reasonable. For example: An empty coffin being buried——no one in sight (in the tomb).
2. Event-analogy type: Event-analogy xiehouyu use objective or imagined matters as comparisons. If one has some understanding of the characteristics and circumstances of the compared matter, one can naturally grasp the "answer" of the latter half. For example: Moving wood in an alley——straight in and straight out; Leavening dough with cold water——not much progress, etc.
3. Object-analogy type: Object-analogy xiehouyu use one or some objects or animals as comparisons. Understanding the nature of the compared object also allows one to grasp its meaning. For example: An ox's shoulder and hoof——not taking responsibility; A pawn on the chessboard——can only advance, not retreat.
4. Story type: Story-type xiehouyu generally quote common allusions, fables, myths and legends, etc. as comparisons. For the above two examples, as long as one knows the stories of Liu Bei and Lin Chong, one can naturally understand them. For example: Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou——only borrowing, never returning; Lin Chong beating Instructor Hong with a staff——specifically aiming at your weak spot.