Proverbial Sayings Chinese-German

In the Chinese language – written as spoken – there are fixed expressions, proverbs, literary quotes, and folk sayings in endless abundance. The proverbial expressions rooted in classical Chinese culture are often not easily understandable for German learners. The aim of this small lexicon, which includes a selection of 500 common expressions, is to bridge the language and thinking of the Chinese, creating a connection that links China's past with our shared present. The arrangement of the expressions (chengyu) follows the Latin alphabet. They are provided in both traditional characters and the simplified script of the People's Republic of China. In between, the pronunciation is indicated in Pinyin transcription. Following that, there is an approximate literal translation and an explanatory translation intended to give German-speaking readers a clear understanding of the statement. In some cases, a German proverb is included that closely matches the meaning and usage of the Chinese chengyu.