A Study of Chinese Idioms Containing the Word "Yellow"(huáng) : Functions, Meanings and Usage

Abstract

The research on Chinese idioms containing the word yellow (huáng): Functions, meanings and usage patterns aims to study the function and meaning of the word (huáng) in Chinese idioms, as well as to examine the patterns of its usage. The researcher has compiled a list of 147 idioms containing the word (huáng) from three databases: 1) Xiandai Hanyu Cidian, 2) Chengyu Da Cidian, and 3) the website www.cidianwang.com. The study reveals that the word (huáng) functions most frequently as an attribute, followed by its roles as an object, predicate, and subject, respectively. The function of (huáng) in Chinese idioms significantly affects its meaning. When (huáng) functions as an attribute, it describes the color tone of people, animals, objects, and nature, often carrying additional connotations such as decay, age, or being outdated. When used as an object or subject, (huáng) can represent things that are not color-related, such as dogs, horses, gold, names of Chinese herbs, minerals, virtues, and noble classes. As a predicate, (huáng) expresses changes in time or seasons. The meanings associated with (huáng) can be grouped into nine categories: 1) age, decay, or poverty; 2) time, period, or season; 3) family name; 4) the Yellow River; 5) goodness, virtue; 6) components of specific names with yellow; 7) gold; 8) elderly people or children; and 9) meanings related to emperors or the imperial court. The study also finds that idioms containing the word (huáng) are most commonly used neutrally, followed by negative, and then positive usage.