Metaphor in Vietnamese
In this post, Tiengviet24h will introduce to you: Metaphor in Vietnamese. Let’s start!
What is metaphor in Vietnamese?
– Metaphor is a way of calling one thing or phenomenon by the name of another similar thing or phenomenon. Metaphor is often used in literature, especially in poetry.
– Example:
+ “Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng”: “mực” is the metaphorical image of bad people or bad environments, while “đèn” is the metaphorical image of good people or good environments. Being close to “mực” (being close to bad people or bad environments) will infect us with bad habits. On the contrary, being close to “đèn” (being close to good people or good environments) will help us learn good habits.
+ “Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây”: “quả” refers to the result, “kẻ trồng cây” refers to people who created the result. This sentence tells us to be grateful to those who created the result for us to enjoy.
Classification
Ẩn dụ hình thức
– It’s the metaphor based on the similarity of form between things or phenomena.
– Example:
+ Mỗi cây phượng trong sân trường thắp lên một đốm lửa đỏ => the metaphorical image in this sentence is “đốm lửa đỏ”, it refers to the red color of phoenix flowers.
+ “Khuôn trăng đầy đặn, nét ngài nở nang” (Truyện Kiều, Nguyễn Du) => the metaphorical image in this verse is “khuôn trăng” (full moon), it refers to the round face.
Ẩn dụ cách thức
– It’s the metaphor based on the similarity of way of performing an action between things or phenomena.
– Example:
+ Let’s consider the example in the previous part: Mỗi cây phượng trong sân trường thắp lên một đốm lửa đỏ => In this sentence, the verb “thắp” means to bloom. The whole sentence means: Những cây phượng trong sân trường nở hoa đỏ rực (The phoenix trees in the school yard bloom).
+ “Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây” => “ăn” refers to enjoy, and “trồng cây” refers to create the result by working.
Ẩn dụ phẩm chất
– It’s the metaphor based on the similarity of quality between things or phenomena.
– Example:
+ “Thuyền về có nhớ bến chăng / Bến thì một dạ khăng khăng đợi thuyền”: “thuyền” refers to the man, and “bến” refers to the woman. The man often travels from here to there like “thuyền” (boat), and the woman often waits for the man to return at home like “bến” (dock).
Ẩn dụ chuyển đổi cảm giác
– The characteristic of one thing or phenomenon is perceived by this sense but is described by words used for another sense.
– Example:
+ “Giọng nói ngọt”: The voice is perceived by hearing, but “ngọt” is the word used for taste. “Giọng nói ngọt” refers to the smooth and easy-to-hear voice.
+ “Ngoài thềm rơi chiếc lá đa / Tiếng rơi rất mỏng như là rơi nghiêng” (Đêm Côn Sơn, Trần Đăng Khoa): “mỏng” is the word used for touch, but the poet uses “mỏng” for “tiếng rơi” (which is perceived by hearing). “Tiếng rơi rất mỏng” refers to the very soft sound of the banyan leaf.
See other similar posts in category: Vietnamese grammar
We on social : Facebook
