諺 (yàn) - proverb & saying

諺Tone 4

yàn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

諺 · yàn

proverb;

saying;

maxim;

adage;

a traditional saying expressing common wisdom or truth.

proverbsayingmaxim

Usage highlights

proverbfolk sayingold proverbagricultural proverbweather proverbproverb collection

Synonyms

  • 語— language; saying
  • 謗— slander; criticism (in some contexts)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He quoted an old proverb (古諺).
  • This Chinese saying (諺語) conveys deep meaning.
  • There's a folk saying (民間諺語) about the weather.
  • She collected agricultural proverbs (農諺).

Collocations

  • proverb(諺語)
  • folk saying(民間諺語)
  • old proverb(古諺)
  • agricultural proverb(農諺)
  • weather proverb(天氣諺語)
  • proverb collection(諺集)

Idioms

  • Street talk and alley sayings(街談巷諺)
  • Proverbs and common sayings(俗諺俚語)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 諺 represents accumulated folk wisdom passed down through generations in Chinese culture.
  • Often used in classical texts to convey moral lessons or practical knowledge.
  • Agricultural proverbs (農諺) reflect traditional farming knowledge and weather observations.

FAQ