bǐyù: 比喻 - Metaphor, Simile, Analogy

• Keywords: bǐyù, 比喻, Chinese metaphor, Chinese simile, Chinese analogy, figure of speech in Chinese, how to use bǐyù, bǐyù meaning, bǐyù examples, rhetoric in Mandarin, Chinese literary devices, 打比喻
• Summary: A comprehensive guide to the Chinese term 比喻 (bǐyù), the fundamental concept for figurative language like metaphors, similes, and analogies. Learn the character breakdown, cultural significance, and practical usage of bǐyù. This page provides numerous example sentences and clarifies common nuances, helping you understand how to make your Mandarin more vivid and expressive by comparing one thing to another.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǐyù
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A figure of speech that compares two different things to create a more vivid description or explanation.
• In a Nutshell: 比喻 (bǐyù) is the umbrella term for when you describe something by saying it's *like* or *is* something else. It's the essential tool in Chinese for painting a picture with words. Think of classic English examples like “he has a heart of stone” or “she is as busy as a bee.” 比喻 is the Chinese equivalent of this concept, used to make language more colorful, emotional, and easier to understand.

• 比 (bǐ): To compare, to contrast; like. The character is a pictogram of two people standing side-by-side, visually representing the act of comparison.
• 喻 (yù): To explain, to make known, analogy. This character is composed of the “mouth” radical (口) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. The mouth radical signifies speech, explanation, or telling.
• Together, 比喻 (bǐyù) literally means “to explain by comparison,” perfectly capturing its function as a rhetorical device.

In Chinese culture, language is often seen as an art form, and 比喻 (bǐyù) is one of the most important brushes in a writer's or speaker's toolkit. Its use is deeply embedded in thousands of years of literature, from classical poetry like the Shijing (《诗经》) to modern novels. A key cultural aspect is the use of 比喻 for subtlety and indirectness. Instead of stating a harsh truth directly, one might use a carefully chosen analogy to soften the message or convey a complex emotion without being blunt. This aligns with cultural values that often prioritize harmony and avoiding direct confrontation. Comparison with Western Culture: While both Chinese and Western cultures use metaphors and similes extensively, the pool of common imagery differs. In English, we might draw from Greek mythology (“Achilles' heel”) or Shakespeare. In Chinese, common 比喻 often draw from nature, history, and philosophy with specific cultural connotations:

• Bamboo (竹子, zhúzi): A common 比喻 for a person of integrity and resilience, as bamboo bends but doesn't break.
• The Moon (月亮, yuèliang): Often used in 比喻 related to family reunion, homesickness, or feminine beauty.
• Dragons (龙, lóng): A 比喻 for power, success, and imperial authority, completely opposite to the Western depiction of a malevolent beast.

Understanding these culturally specific analogies is key to unlocking a deeper level of meaning in Chinese communication.

比喻 is an active and essential part of modern Mandarin in various contexts.

• As a Noun: You can talk about a 比喻 itself.
  • “这是一个很好的比喻。” (Zhè shì yī gè hěn hǎo de bǐyù.) - “This is a very good metaphor/analogy.”
• As a Verb: You can use it to mean “to compare (figuratively)”.
  • “他把人生比喻成一次旅行。” (Tā bǎ rénshēng bǐyù chéng yī cì lǚxíng.) - “He compared life to a journey.”
• In Education: Teachers frequently use the colloquial phrase “打个比喻” (dǎ ge bǐyù) or “打个比方” (dǎ ge bǐfang), which means “to make an analogy,” to explain difficult concepts to students.
• In Conversation: People use simple similes (a type of 比喻) to make their descriptions more vivid. For example, “忙得像狗一样” (máng de xiàng gǒu yīyàng) - “busy as a dog” (a common, if slightly crude, expression).
• In Business and Speeches: A well-crafted 比喻 can make a presentation more persuasive and memorable, simplifying complex business strategies or market trends for the audience.

• Example 1:
  • 老师用了一个生动的比喻来解释科学原理。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī yòngle yī gè shēngdòng de bǐyù lái jiěshì kēxué yuánlǐ.
  • English: The teacher used a vivid analogy to explain the scientific principle.
  • Analysis: Here, 比喻 is used as a noun, referring to the specific figure of speech the teacher employed.
• Example 2:
  • 他把人生比喻成一场马拉松。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ rénshēng bǐyù chéng yī chǎng mǎlāsōng.
  • English: He compared life to a marathon.
  • Analysis: Here, 比喻 is used as a verb in the pattern “把 A 比喻成 B” (bǎ A bǐyù chéng B), meaning “to compare A to B”.
• Example 3:
  • 他的脸红得像一个苹果。这是一个很常见的比喻。
  • Pinyin: Tā de liǎn hóng de xiàng yī gè píngguǒ. Zhè shì yī gè hěn chángjiàn de bǐyù.
  • English: His face was as red as an apple. This is a very common simile.
  • Analysis: This example shows a simile (using 像, xiàng) and then uses the word 比喻 to label that type of sentence.
• Example 4:
  • 时间就是金钱，这个比喻强调了时间的重要性。
  • Pinyin: Shíjiān jiùshì jīnqián, zhè ge bǐyù qiángdiàole shíjiān de zhòngyàoxìng.
  • English: Time is money; this metaphor emphasizes the importance of time.
  • Analysis: This shows a classic metaphor (A 是 B) and identifies it as a 比喻.
• Example 5:
  • 让我打个比喻，我们的公司就像一艘在大海中航行的船。
  • Pinyin: Ràng wǒ dǎ ge bǐyù, wǒmen de gōngsī jiù xiàng yī sōu zài dàhǎi zhōng hángxíng de chuán.
  • English: Let me make an analogy: our company is like a ship sailing on the ocean.
  • Analysis: “打个比喻” (dǎ ge bǐyù) is a very common colloquial phrase meaning “to make a metaphor/analogy” or “to put it another way”.
• Example 6:
  • 在这首诗里，诗人把月亮比喻为故乡的眼睛。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè shǒu shī lǐ, shīrén bǎ yuèliang bǐyù wèi gùxiāng de yǎnjing.
  • English: In this poem, the poet likens the moon to the eyes of his hometown.
  • Analysis: Similar to example 2, but uses the more formal “比喻为” (bǐyù wèi) instead of “比喻成” (bǐyù chéng). Both are correct.
• Example 7:
  • 这个比喻不太恰当，可能会引起误会。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge bǐyù bù tài qiàdàng, kěnéng huì yǐnqǐ wùhuì.
  • English: This analogy isn't very appropriate; it might cause a misunderstanding.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how one can comment on the quality or suitability of a 比喻.
• Example 8:
  • 孩子们的心灵如同一张白纸，这个比喻说明了教育的重要性。
  • Pinyin: Háizi men de xīnlíng rútóng yī zhāng báizhǐ, zhè ge bǐyù shuōmíngle jiàoyù de zhòngyàoxìng.
  • English: Children's minds are like a blank sheet of paper; this analogy illustrates the importance of education.
  • Analysis: Shows a more literary simile using “如同” (rútóng - just like) and identifies it as a 比喻.
• Example 9:
  • 你不能简单地把这两个复杂的情况用同一个比喻来概括。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bù néng jiǎndān de bǎ zhè liǎng ge fùzá de qíngkuàng yòng tóng yī ge bǐyù lái gàikuò.
  • English: You can't simply summarize these two complex situations with the same analogy.
  • Analysis: Highlights that a 比喻 is a tool for summary and explanation.
• Example 10:
  • 他说话总喜欢用比喻，让内容听起来更有趣。
  • Pinyin: Tā shuōhuà zǒng xǐhuān yòng bǐyù, ràng nèiróng tīng qǐlái gèng yǒu qù.
  • English: He always likes to use metaphors when he speaks, making the content sound more interesting.
  • Analysis: Shows the general use of 比喻 (as a noun) to describe a person's speaking style.

The most important nuance for a learner is that 比喻 is a broad category, like the English term “figurative language.” It includes more specific types.

• 比喻 (bǐyù) - The general term for metaphor, simile, analogy.
  • 明喻 (míngyù) - Simile. An explicit comparison, always using words like 像 (xiàng), 好像 (hǎoxiàng), 如 (rú), or 如同 (rútóng). (e.g., 月亮像圆盘 - The moon is like a plate.)
  • 隐喻 (yǐnyù) or 暗喻 (ànyù) - Metaphor. An implicit comparison, often using judgment verbs like 是 (shì) or by simply placing the two ideas together. (e.g., 时间是金钱 - Time is money.)

Common Mistake for Learners: A common pitfall is overthinking which specific term to use. In everyday conversation, when you refer to a metaphor or simile someone just used, you almost always use the general term 比喻.

• Correct: “你这个比喻用得很好！” (Nǐ zhè ge bǐyù yòng de hěn hǎo!) - “You used that metaphor/simile very well!”
• Awkward/Incorrect: “你这个明喻用得很好！” (Nǐ zhè ge míngyù yòng de hěn hǎo!) - This is too academic and sounds unnatural in normal speech, like saying “Your use of a simile was excellent!” instead of “That was a great comparison!”

Think of 比喻 as your go-to word when talking *about* this figure of speech. Use 明喻 and 隐喻 when you are specifically analyzing literature or language.

• 明喻 (míngyù) - Simile; a specific type of 比喻 that makes an explicit comparison using words like 像 (xiàng).
• 隐喻 (yǐnyù) - Metaphor; a specific type of 比喻 that makes an implicit or direct comparison, often using 是 (shì).
• 打比方 (dǎ bǐfang) - A very common and slightly more colloquial verb phrase meaning “to make an analogy.” Functionally similar to “打个比喻”.
• 修辞 (xiūcí) - Rhetoric; the art of effective speaking or writing. 比喻 is a key type of 修辞手法 (rhetorical device).
• 拟人 (nǐrén) - Personification; giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals.
• 夸张 (kuāzhāng) - Hyperbole; exaggeration for rhetorical effect.
• 象征 (xiàngzhēng) - Symbolism; to symbolize. While a metaphor compares two things, a symbol is something that stands for a larger abstract idea (e.g., a dove symbolizes peace).
• 类比 (lèibǐ) - Analogy, to analogize. This term is more formal and analytical than 比喻, often used in logical arguments or scientific explanations.
• 好像 (hǎoxiàng) - “To seem like,” “as if.” A very common word used to create similes (明喻).
• 如同 (rútóng) - “Just like,” “as.” A more formal and literary word than 像 for creating similes.