幽默理解 Understanding Humor yōumò lǐjiě

Dialogues

Dialogues 1

中文

老外：请问"人挪活，树挪死"是什么意思？
中国人：这是一个谚语，意思是人要多尝试，多改变，才能有更好的发展，而树一旦移栽，就容易枯死。但现在也有人开玩笑说，这句话对某些人来说正好反过来，就像某些人适合在稳定的环境下，而另一些人却更喜欢挑战。
老外：哦，原来如此，很有意思！那"上有政策，下有对策"呢？
中国人：这句更幽默，指上面有规定，下面的人就会想办法绕过规定达到目的。当然，这是调侃，正规情况下要遵守规则。
老外：哈哈，中国人的智慧真是令人惊叹！
中国人：其实我们也有很多习俗和谚语不太好理解，欢迎你继续提问题。

拼音

lǎowài: qǐngwèn "rén nuó huó, shù nuó sǐ" shì shénme yìsi?
zhōngguórén: zhè shì yīgè yànyǔ, yìsi shì rén yào duō chángshì, duō gǎibiàn, cáinéng yǒu gèng hǎo de fāzhǎn, ér shù yīdàn yízhāi, jiù róngyì kūsǐ. dàn xiànzài yě yǒu rén kāi wánxiào shuō, zhè jù huà duì mǒuxiē rén lái shuō zhèng hǎo fǎn guòlái, jiù xiàng mǒuxiē rén shìhé zài wěndìng de huánjìng xià, ér lìng yīxiē rén què gèng xǐhuan tiǎozhàn.
lǎowài: ó, yuánlái rúcǐ, hěn yǒuyìsi! nà "shàng yǒu zhèngcè, xià yǒu duìcè" ne?
zhōngguórén: zhè jù gèng yōumò, zhǐ shàngmiàn yǒu guīdìng, xiàmiàn de rén jiù huì xiǎng bànfǎ rào guò guīdìng dá dào mùdì. dāngrán, zhè shì diǎokǎn, zhèngguī qíngkuàng xià yào zūnshou guīzé.
lǎowài: hāha, zhōngguó rén de zhìhuì zhēnshi lìng rén jīngtàn!
zhōngguórén: qíshí wǒmen yě yǒu hěn duō xísú hé yànyǔ bù tài hǎo lǐjiě, huānyíng nǐ jìxù tí wèntí.

English

Foreigner: What does "人挪活，树挪死" mean?
Chinese: It's a proverb, meaning that people need to try and change more to have better development, while trees are easy to die once transplanted. But now some people also joke that this sentence is exactly the opposite for some people, some people are suitable for stable environments, while others prefer challenges.
Foreigner: Oh, I see, that's interesting! What about "上有政策，下有对策"?
Chinese: This sentence is even more humorous. It means that there are rules from the top, and the people below will find a way to circumvent the rules to achieve their goals. Of course, this is a joke; regulations should be followed in formal situations.
Foreigner: Haha, Chinese wisdom is truly amazing!
Chinese: Actually, we also have many customs and proverbs that are not easy to understand. You are welcome to ask more questions.

Common Phrases

人挪活，树挪死

rén nuó huó, shù nuó sǐ

People move, trees die.

上有政策，下有对策

shàng yǒu zhèngcè, xià yǒu duìcè

There are policies from above, there are countermeasures from below.

中国智慧

zhōngguó zhìhuì

Chinese wisdom

Cultural Background

中文

这两个成语都体现了中国人的处世哲学和幽默感。"人挪活，树挪死"反映了中国人对变革和适应能力的重视；"上有政策，下有对策"则反映了中国人在规则与变通之间的灵活处理。

拼音

zhè liǎng gè chéngyǔ dōu tǐxiàn le zhōngguó rén de chǔshì zhéxué hé yōumóu gǎn。"rén nuó huó, shù nuó sǐ" fǎnyìng le zhōngguó rén duì biàngé hé shìyìng nénglì de zhòngshì；"shàng yǒu zhèngcè, xià yǒu duìcè" zé fǎnyìng le zhōngguó rén zài guīzé yǔ biàntōng zhī jiān de línghuó chǔlǐ。

English

These two idioms embody the Chinese philosophy of life and sense of humor. "People move, trees die" reflects the importance of change and adaptability in Chinese culture; "There are policies from above, there are countermeasures from below" reflects the flexibility of Chinese people in dealing with rules and adaptations.

Advanced Expressions

中文

除了这两个成语，还可以运用一些更贴切的比喻，比如"塞翁失马，焉知非福"来解释中国人对事物的辩证看待方式；也可以结合具体的文化现象来解释，例如用相声、小品来举例说明中国幽默的特色。

拼音

chú le zhè liǎng gè chéngyǔ, hái kěyǐ yòng yùn yīxiē gèng tiēqiè de bǐyù, bǐrú "sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú" lái jiěshì zhōngguó rén duì shìwù de biànzhèng kàn dài fāngshì；yě kěyǐ jiéhé jùtǐ de wénhuà xiànxiàng lái jiěshì, lìrú yòng xiāngshēng, xiǎopǐn lái jǔlì shuōmíng zhōngguó yōumò de tèsè。

English

In addition to these two idioms, you can also use more appropriate metaphors, such as "塞翁失馬，焉知非福" to explain the dialectical way Chinese people look at things; you can also explain with specific cultural phenomena, such as using cross-talk and sketches to illustrate the characteristics of Chinese humor.

Cultural Taboos

中文

避免在正式场合使用"上有政策，下有对策"，以免引起误解。

拼音

biànmiǎn zài zhèngshì chǎnghé shǐyòng "shàng yǒu zhèngcè, xià yǒu duìcè", yǐmiǎn yǐnqǐ wùjiě。

English

Avoid using "There are policies from above, there are countermeasures from below" in formal occasions to avoid misunderstandings.

Key Points

中文

理解中国幽默的关键在于理解其文化背景和处世哲学。要注意语境，避免断章取义。

拼音

lǐjiě zhōngguó yōumò de guānjiàn zàiyú lǐjiě qí wénhuà bèijǐng hé chǔshì zhéxué。yào zhùyì yǔjìng, bìmiǎn duànzhāng qǔyì。

English

The key to understanding Chinese humor lies in understanding its cultural background and philosophy of life. Pay attention to the context and avoid taking things out of context.

Practice Tips

中文

多听中国相声、小品，感受中国幽默的表达方式；多阅读中国文学作品，体会中国人的思维方式；多与中国人交流，学习如何理解和运用中国幽默。

拼音

duō tīng zhōngguó xiāngshēng, xiǎopǐn, gǎnshòu zhōngguó yōumò de biǎodá fāngshì；duō yuèdú zhōngguó wénxué zuòpǐn, tǐhuì zhōngguó rén de sīwéi fāngshì；duō yǔ zhōngguó rén jiāoliú, xuéxí rúhé lǐjiě hé yòngyùn zhōngguó yōumò。

English

Listen to a lot of Chinese cross-talk and sketches to experience the expression of Chinese humor; read more Chinese literary works to understand the way of thinking of Chinese people; communicate more with Chinese people to learn how to understand and use Chinese humor.