xiàlián: 下联 - Second Line of a Couplet, Downward-linking line

• Keywords: 下联, xialian, Chinese couplet, second line, matching line, antithetical couplet, duilian, duizhang, shanglian, Chinese New Year couplet, Spring Festival couplet, how to write a Chinese couplet
• Summary: The term 下联 (xiàlián) refers to the second, or responding, line of a traditional Chinese antithetical couplet (对联 duìlián). It is a fundamental concept in Chinese literature and culture, especially visible during the Chinese New Year. A proper 下联 is not just a reply; it is a masterful reflection of the first line (上联 shànglián), required to match it in length, tone, rhythm, and grammatical structure while complementing or contrasting its meaning. Understanding the 下联 is key to appreciating the artistry and intellectual wordplay inherent in this beloved cultural practice.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiàlián
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The second or responding line of a Chinese antithetical couplet.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a poetic challenge. Someone gives you the first line, the “上联 (shànglián)”. Your job is to create the second line, the 下联 (xiàlián). This isn't just any line; it's a creative response that must perfectly mirror the first line's structure, rhythm, and parts of speech, while offering a complementary or contrasting idea. It's the second half of a single, balanced, and artistic whole.

• 下 (xià): This character originally depicted something below a horizontal line, meaning “down,” “below,” “under,” or “next/second.” In this context, it signifies the second part of the pair.
• 联 (lián): This character shows an ear (耳) and a string or connection, originally meaning to connect or join things together. It's used in words like “connect” (联系 liánxì).
• Together, 下联 (xiàlián) literally means the “lower/second linked line.” It is the line that follows and connects to the first line (上联 shànglián, “upper/first linked line”) to complete the couplet.

The 下联 is inseparable from the concept of 对联 (duìlián), or antithetical couplets. This art form is a cornerstone of Chinese literary tradition and is deeply embedded in everyday life, most notably during Chinese New Year, when red banners of couplets (春联 chūnlián) are pasted on doorways to bring good fortune. The creation of a 下联 is an intellectual game governed by strict rules, a test of wit and literary skill. The key principles are: 1. Equal Length: The 下联 must have the same number of characters as the 上联. 2. Lexical Parallelism (对仗 duìzhàng): Each character in the 下联 must correspond to the character in the same position in the 上联. A noun must match a noun, a verb must match a verb, etc. 3. Tonal Antithesis (平仄 píngzè): The tonal pattern of the 下联 must be the inverse of the 上联. Where the first line has a “level” tone (平), the second should have an “oblique” tone (仄), and vice-versa. This creates a pleasing rhythm. 4. Thematic Relevance: The meaning of the 下联 must relate to, complement, or contrast with the 上联. A Western comparison might be the “call and response” structure in music or a rhyming couplet in poetry. However, the Chinese form is far more rigid and complex. It's less like “roses are red, violets are blue” and more like a logic puzzle expressed through poetry. For example, if the 上联 is “Green mountain, white cloud,” a good 下联 might be “Clear river, bright moon,” where mountain-river, cloud-moon, and green-clear, white-bright all form perfect parallel pairs. This emphasis on balance, symmetry, and intellectual wordplay reflects deep-seated Chinese philosophical values of harmony and duality (like Yin and Yang).

While the term itself isn't used in everyday chatter, the concept is universally understood.

• Festivals: Its most common appearance is during the Spring Festival. People buy or write couplets, and discussing whether a 下联 is a clever match for the 上联 is a common activity.
• Literary Contests: Creating a 下联 for a given 上联 is a classic intellectual game, sometimes featured on TV shows, in magazines, or online forums. It's a way for people to show off their literary prowess.
• Education: Students of Chinese literature study the rules of couplets and practice creating their own, learning about classical poetic forms and language structure.
• Architecture: Couplets are often carved into pillars at temples, historical sites, and traditional gardens. The 下联 is typically on the left pillar (from the viewer's perspective), and the 上联 is on the right.

• Example 1:
  • 我想出了一个上联，谁能帮我对个下联？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng chū le yí ge shànglián, shéi néng bāng wǒ duì ge xiàlián?
  • English: I've come up with a first line, can anyone help me write a matching second line?
  • Analysis: This is a very common way the term is used, posing a creative challenge to friends or online communities.
• Example 2:
  • 这个下联对得真好，意境和上联完全匹配。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xiàlián duì de zhēn hǎo, yìjìng hé shànglián wánquán pǐpèi.
  • English: This second line is really well-written; its artistic conception perfectly matches the first line.
  • Analysis: Here, `对 (duì)` is used as a verb meaning “to match” or “to compose a matching line.” This sentence expresses appreciation for a skillful couplet.
• Example 3:
  • 老师让我们为“书山有路勤为径”写一个下联。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen wèi “shū shān yǒu lù qín wéi jìng” xiě yí ge xiàlián.
  • English: The teacher asked us to write a second line for the first line: “The mountain of books has a path, and diligence is its trail.”
  • Analysis: This shows a typical educational context. The famous matching 下联 is “学海无涯苦作舟” (xué hǎi wú yá kǔ zuò zhōu) - “The sea of learning has no shore, and hard work is its boat.”
• Example 4:
  • 贴春联的时候，你要分清楚哪个是上联，哪个是下联。
  • Pinyin: Tiē chūnlián de shíhou, nǐ yào fēn qīngchu nǎge shì shànglián, nǎge shì xiàlián.
  • English: When you're putting up Spring Festival couplets, you have to distinguish clearly which is the first line and which is the second line.
  • Analysis: A practical piece of advice. Traditionally, the 上联 goes on the right side of the door and the 下联 on the left, as viewed from the outside.
• Example 5:
  • 他苦思冥想了半天，终于写出了令人叫绝的下联。
  • Pinyin: Tā kǔsīmíngxiǎng le bàntiān, zhōngyú xiě chū le lìng rén jiàojué de xiàlián.
  • English: He pondered deeply for a long time and finally wrote an amazing second line that everyone praised.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the intellectual effort and creativity required to produce a high-quality 下联.
• Example 6:
  • 一个好的下联不仅要对仗工整，还要有新意。
  • Pinyin: Yí ge hǎo de xiàlián bùjǐn yào duìzhàng gōngzhěng, hái yào yǒu xīnyì.
  • English: A good second line must not only have neat parallelism but also have originality.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the criteria for judging the quality of a 下联. `对仗工整 (duìzhàng gōngzhěng)` means the parallel structure is perfect.
• Example 7:
  • 上联是“风吹杨柳千门绿”，他的下联是“雨润桃花万树红”。
  • Pinyin: Shànglián shì “fēng chuī yángliǔ qiān mén lǜ”, tā de xiàlián shì “yǔ rùn táohuā wàn shù hóng”.
  • English: The first line is “Wind blows the willows, a thousand doors green,” and his second line is “Rain moistens the peach blossoms, ten thousand trees red.”
  • Analysis: This provides a concrete example of a classic, well-matched couplet, showcasing the parallelism (wind-rain, blow-moisten, willow-peach blossom, thousand-ten thousand, green-red).
• Example 8:
  • 如果下联的最后一个字是平声，那通常是贴在左边的。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ xiàlián de zuìhòu yí ge zì shì píngshēng, nà tōngcháng shì tiē zài zuǒbiān de.
  • English: If the last character of the second line has a level tone, then it's usually pasted on the left side.
  • Analysis: This points out a technical rule used to distinguish the two lines. The first line (上联) usually ends on an oblique tone (仄声), and the 下联 on a level tone (平声).
• Example 9:
  • 这副对联的下联似乎有点牵强。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fù duìlián de xiàlián sìhū yǒudiǎn qiānqiǎng.
  • English: The second line of this couplet seems a bit forced.
  • Analysis: A critical comment, suggesting that the match isn't natural or clever. `牵强 (qiānqiǎng)` means “far-fetched” or “strained.”
• Example 10:
  • 他对的那个下联语法不通，不算合格。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì de nà ge xiàlián yǔfǎ bù tōng, bú suàn hégé.
  • English: The second line he came up with is grammatically incorrect, so it doesn't count as a pass.
  • Analysis: This highlights that beyond artistry, basic grammatical and structural rules must be followed for a 下联 to be considered valid.

• Not Just Any “Second Line”: A common mistake for learners is to think 下联 means the second line of any poem or text. It exclusively refers to the second part of a `对联 (duìlián)`. You would not use it to describe the second line of a Tang poem, for instance.
• The Response is Not an “Answer”: While it is a response to the 上联, it is not an answer to a question. It is an artistic parallel. The two lines should create a single, complete image or idea together, not a Q&A.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: 老师问了一个问题，我的下联是“我不知道”。 (Lǎoshī wèn le yí ge wèntí, wǒ de xiàlián shì “wǒ bù zhīdào”.)
  • Why it's wrong: This incorrectly uses 下联 to mean “answer” or “response” in a general conversational context. The correct word here would be `回答 (huídá)`. A 下联 is a specific literary form.

• 上联 (shànglián) - The first line of a couplet, to which the 下联 must respond. It is the “upper” or “initiating” line.
• 对联 (duìlián) - The complete antithetical couplet, consisting of an 上联 and a 下联.
• 春联 (chūnlián) - Spring Festival couplets, a specific type of 对联 written on red paper for the Chinese New Year.
• 横批 (héngpī) - A shorter, horizontal inscription placed above the two vertical lines of a 对联, which usually summarizes the central theme.
• 对仗 (duìzhàng) - The literary principle of parallelism and antithesis that is the core rule for creating couplets.
• 平仄 (píngzè) - The system of level (平) and oblique (仄) tones from classical Chinese phonology, which governs the tonal rhythm of a couplet.
• 书法 (shūfǎ) - Calligraphy. Couplets are a prominent medium for displaying masterful calligraphy.
• 楹联 (yínglián) - A synonym for 对联, specifically referring to couplets inscribed on the pillars (楹) of a building.