Metonymy in Vietnamese
In this post, Tiengviet24h will introduce to you: Metonymy in Vietnamese. Let’s start!
What is metonymy in Vietnamese?
– Metonymy is a way of calling one thing or phenomenon by the name of another thing or phenomenon that has a close relationship with the first one.
– Example:
+ Ông ấy đã từng là một tay trống cự phách (He is used to be a great drummer) => the word “tay” refers to a person.
+ Áo trắng em đến trường => the word “áo trắng” refers to schoolgirl.
+ Cả phòng bỗng im bặt (The whole room was suddenly quiet) => the word “cả phòng” refers to those who are in the room.
Classification
Lấy một bộ phận để gọi toàn thể (Refer to the whole by mentioning a part)
– Example:
+ Nhà tôi có 4 miệng ăn (My family has 4 people) => “miệng” is a part of the body, in this sentence, the speaker used “miệng” to refer to a person.
+ Cậu ấy là chân sút vàng của đội bóng (He is “the golden foot” of the football team) => “chân” is also a part of the body and in this sentence, it is also used to refer to a person.
Lấy vật chứa đựng để gọi vật bị chứa đựng (Refer to the contained object by mentioning the container)
– Example:
+ Cả khán đài reo hò sau cú sút của cậu ấy (The whole stand cheered after his shooting) => “cả khán đài” (container) refers to those who are sitting on the stand (contained object).
+ Cả phòng náo loạn chỉ vì một con chuột (The whole room was chaotic because of a mouse) => “cả phòng” (container) refers to those who are in the room (contained object).
Lấy dấu hiệu của sự vật để gọi sự vật (Refer to something by mentioning its sign)
– Example:
+ Này, áo đỏ! Mau lại đây! (Hey, red shirt! Come here!) => “áo đỏ” refers to the person who is wearing a red shirt.
Lấy cái cụ thể để gọi cái trừu tượng (Refer to the abstract by mentioning the concrete)
– Example:
+ “Một cây làm chẳng nên non / Ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao”: “một” and “ba” is the specific quantity, they are used to refer to small and large numbers of people.
Compare metaphor and metonymy
Metaphor | Metonymy | |
Same | Calling one thing or phenomenon by the name of another thing or phenomenon. | |
Different | Based on the similarity of the following criteria between things or phenomena: + Form + Way of performing an action + Quality + Sense | Based on the close relationship between things or phenomena, in particular: + The part – The whole + The container – The contained object + Signs of things – Things + The concrete – The abstract |
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