Standard Lemma guide

xiehouyu

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ʃjɛ.hoʊ.(j)u/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A kind of Chinese proverb consisting of two elements: the former segment presents a novel scenario while the latter provides the rationale thereof. One would often only state the first part, expecting the listener to know the second. Compare English "a stitch in time (saves nine)" or "a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)".

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 歇後語 /歇后语 (xiēhòuyǔ).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 歇後語 /歇后语 (hit3 hau6 jyu5) — certain kind of Chinese proverb
  • Chinese: 孽詰仔話 /孽诘仔话 (gia̍t-khiat-á-ōe) — certain kind of Chinese proverb
  • Chinese Mandarin: 歇後語 /歇后语 (xiēhòuyǔ) — certain kind of Chinese proverb
  • Russian: сехоую́й (sexoujúj) — certain kind of Chinese proverb
  • Russian: «недогово́рка» — certain kind of Chinese proverb