Tianjin dialect proverb
天津方言歇后语
Proverbs are vivid, lively, humorous, and interesting idioms created by people from all walks of life over the ages. They generally consist of two parts: the first part, "yu," is metaphorical, akin to the face of a riddle, often full of humor and vivid imagery. The second part, "jie," is the explanation of a phenomenon, a life principle, or even a philosophy, similar to the answer to a riddle, conveying the intended meaning of the proverb. They are often concise, precise, and colloquially witty. There is a pause between the two parts, leaving space for contemplation.
Proverbs are cherished as "witty remarks" for their lively and clever nature, succinctly encapsulating profound wisdom and philosophy within brief sentences. They are persuasive due to their straightforwardness and substance, and their humorous tone often carries a sense of moral judgment, making them greatly beloved by the general public. They are aptly referred to as "witty remarks" for their ability to blend humor with insightful reasoning.
Proverbs need to be placed within specific cultural and historical contexts to fully understand their meanings, showcasing traits of historical culture, regional culture, and local customs. For example, "海张五修炮台——小事一段" refers to Zhang Jinwen, a prominent figure in late Qing dynasty Tianjin. He was well-known throughout Tianjin for his salt industry success, becoming very wealthy. His belief was that with money, anything could be achieved, and "小事一段" (literally "a small matter, a paragraph") was his favorite saying.
During the invasion of Tianjin by the Anglo-French forces, the Governor of Zhili, Tan Tingxiang, invited Zhang Jinwen to inspect the fortifications at Dagukou. At the time, many aspects of the fortifications were incomplete and required substantial funding. Zhang Jinwen famously responded with "小事一段," contributing a significant amount towards the construction costs.
For instance, "南门脸的地方(官)代管八里台子----管得可倒宽" and "城隍庙的后殿----卧像" are examples of Tianjin dialect idioms. The first one describes a situation where the jurisdiction of Nanmenli overlaps with Balitai, suggesting crossing boundaries. Nanmenli administrates Balitai, implying an overreach beyond its usual limits.
Similarly, "城隍庙的后殿----卧像" refers to the back hall of the Chenghuang Temple where there was a reclining statue ("卧像" or "lying down statue"). In modern terms, "卧像" means lying flat. To Tianjin locals, the ability to lie flat symbolizes fundamental principles of conduct. Originally, the main hall of Tianjin's Chenghuang Temple housed a seated statue of the City God, while the rear hall housed a reclining statue of the City God, known as the "卧像". This saying implies that people should not adopt the relaxed posture of the reclining statue in the rear hall. Despite Chenghuang Temple having long been converted into a school on Fushu Street and the reclining statue now gone, this idiom remains deeply rooted in Tianjin dialect.
Tianjin dialect idioms are down-to-earth, reflecting the daily lives of Tianjin residents—events that unfold in alleyways, neighboring households, and the everyday affairs of Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Li.
1.Idioms related to characters or people:
One category involves characters from novels, history, and xiangsheng (crosstalk):
The second category consists of characters from everyday life (some fictional, others perhaps real):
The third category includes fictitious characters with specific connotations, such as "Er Xiao." In Tianjin dialect, "Er Xiao" is often metaphorically referred to as a silly lad who doesn't quite grasp things, often the subject of jokes or anecdotes.
2.Idioms related to folk customs:
3.Idioms related to Tianjin's geography and history：
4.Idioms related to daily life：
5.Idioms related to animals:
歇后语是历代民众创造的一种的生动活泼、诙谐有趣的术语。一般是两个部分组成，前一个部分是“喻”----比喻，像谜语中的谜面部分，通常是充满诙谐幽默、形象生动的;后一个部分是“解”----要说明的一个现象，一个生活道理甚至哲理，类似谜底，是歇后语所要表达的意义，往往简练意赅，表述准确且俗中带俏。两个部分之间有个间歇停顿，给人一个猜想的空间。
歇后语因为俏皮生动，“辩而不华，质而不俚”，在不长的句子里，浓缩了深刻的内容，又智慧哲理，具有说服力，同时，嘲讽诙谐中以“善”的情感晓之以理，十分为普通民众所喜爱，被称作为“俏皮话”。
歇后语要置放到具体的文化历史语境下才能理解其中的涵义，所以，歇后语最能体现历史文化、地域文化、民俗民情的特质。比如“海张五修炮台----小事一段”，海张五是清末天津名人张锦文，在天津无人不知，他做盐业生意发家，富甲一方，他认为只要有钱什么事儿都能办成，“小事一段”是他的口头禅。英法联军攻陷天津时，直隶总督谭廷襄约他去大沽看炮台，当时炮台还有很多工程没有完成，需要投入相当一笔资金，张锦文说“小事一段”，捐助了一笔工程款。
又比如，“南门脸的地方(官)代管八里台子----管得可倒宽”，南门和八里台子在天津属不同区域管辖，南门脸代管八里台子，可不是“捞过河”越界了么。
还有，“城隍庙的后殿----卧像”，“卧像”按现在的话来说就是“躺平”，人不能躺平这在天津人看来是做人做事的根本，“城隍庙的后殿”和“躺平”有啥关系呢?原来，天津城隍庙的大殿供着坐像城隍爷，后殿供着侧卧的城隍爷，称为“卧像”。这句歇后语是说人不能像后殿的城隍爷“卧像”。尽管如今的城隍庙已经早就改为府署街中学，卧像也不知所终，但是这句歇后语在天津话里扎了根。
天津话的歇后语并不高大上，可以感受到天津人生活日常，都是发生在巷子里弄间，隔壁邻舍家，张大爷李大娘身上的那些个小事儿。
与人物有关的歇后语：
一类是小说、历史上、相声里的人物：
武大郎放风筝----出手不高
猪八戒嚼砂锅----只顾自己脆崩，不管人家听着牙碜
王德成与丁文元----纠缠不休(相声人物)
第二类是生活中的人物(部分是虚构人物，部分也许是真实人物)：
“刘二爷剥蒜----两耽误” 这是天津非常著名的一句俏皮话。所的是光棍刘二爷住在大杂院，因为光棍未婚，邻里邻居的经常关照他，谁家包个饺子蒸个馍的会叫上他一起吃。这天，他听见隔壁剁肉剁菜包饺子，他就剥了很多蒜，等着上邻家吃饺子，赶巧邻家儿子上他这里玩儿，看到了这剥好的一碗蒜。邻家儿子回家后，妈妈问他刘二爷家今天吃什么，儿子说看见他剥了蒜，邻家妈妈说：“哟!重样儿了，原来刘二爷今儿个也包饺子了，算了，咱今儿就别送了”。这样，刘二爷就左等右等等不来饺子了，可不是“两耽误”了!
第三类是虚构的特定涵义的人物，比如“二小”，天津话里“二小”常被比喻为傻不愣登傻小子,什么调侃的事儿都以他来说事儿，如：
二小踩高跷----瞧这几步走
二小出烩饼----不叫(觉)焖(焖)(注：烩大饼工序一焖一烩)
二小穿大褂----规规矩矩
二小穿缎儿鞋----不掸你(注：不用掸子掸，即不搭理你)
二小放鸽子----又回来了
二小拉胡琴----吱咕吱(自顾自)
二小嗑瓜子----专咬心上仁(人)
二小买画----一样一张
二小买香瓜----弹弹(谈谈)
与民俗有关的歇后语：
大年午夜的鞭炮----一阵接一阵
腊月二十三的灶王爷----要上天了 天津民俗在腊月二十三这一天，会上天去汇报各家一年的情况，这一天祭灶要供奉糖，让灶神嘴甜，能替自己说点好话。
灶王爷横批----一家之主(天津人过年祭灶王，当做一家之主供奉)
属灶王爷的----谁家锅台都上
灶王爷贴在腿肚子上 ----人走家搬
灶王爷伸手----稳拿糖瓜
灶王爷折跟头----离板了
与天津地理历史有关的歇后语：
大老俄卖面包(或者卖胰子)----没法子 这也是常听见的歇后语，与天津历史有关，解放前的租界里，贫穷的白俄人为了讨生活，也上街做一些买卖，比如卖面包卖胰子(肥皂)，但是又觉得难为情，时常用生硬的汉语说“没法子”----日子不好过，无可奈何。
绕城转----白牌儿(注：《天津地理买卖杂字》：四马路，安电线，白牌电车围城转，绕城转由此和“白牌儿”意义关联。白牌儿也指政治面貌非党团员)
拜佛进了玉皇阁----找错门儿了
海光寺当家的----横宽(注：旧时讽女子脚大)
大老俄卖毯子----扔脖子后头(注：旧时租界里穷困的俄罗斯人在卖毯子时，将毯子搭在肩头。扔脖子后头，指把答应的事儿置之脑后，忘了)
近视眼念天益斋----大盖齐(“大盖齐”谐音“大概其”：差不离)
娘娘宫的小玩意儿----耍货儿(注：天后宫旧时有小摊儿专卖儿童玩具，“耍货儿”，专指工作不扎实，办事耍乎的年轻人)
先施公司的牙刷----拔毛包换(注：上海先施公司的牙刷在天津销路很好，牙刷把上印着“拔毛包换”，讽刺一毛不拔、生性吝啬的人)
宫北大街的帽铺----德兴(性)(注：娘娘宫的宫北大街有一家专门卖帽子的商店，店名叫德兴帽铺，谐音“德性”)
4. 与生活有关的歇后语
海边盖房子---浪到家
窝头拿大顶----现大眼了
坟头上插拐棍----缺德带拐弯了
戴着草帽亲嘴----差远了
煎饼果子翻车----乱套了
老太太擤鼻子----手拿把攥
漂洋过海的木鱼----老梆子
光屁股拉磨----转着圈的显眼
5.与动物有关的歇后语
属对虾的----栓一块儿了
属狗的----翻脸不认人
属蛤蟆的----没眼眉
属耗子的----撂爪儿就忘
猴儿吃麻花----满拧
猴儿穿马褂----人了
猴儿拉车----说翻就翻
