What is the difference between a couplet that is only one word apart and a contrast?

Speaking of "couplet", as a Chinese, I am no stranger to it at all, after all, every year during the New Year, every household will post on the door. However, we should note that the names used in couplets are different in different scenes, for example, the ones posted during the Chinese New Year are called "Spring Festival couplets", and the ones posted during the funeral are called "elegiac couplets"; In ancient times, it was called "couplet" hanging on the pillars of the hall hall.

In addition, couplets have multiple names, such as duals, door pairs, pairs, peach symbols, etc. Moreover, couplets are not only written on paper, but also on cloth, or carved on bamboo, wood, or pillars。It is characterized by conciseness, neatness, the same number of words, consistent structure and peaceful coordination.

For thousands of years, the content of couplets has also taken a variety of forms, the most typical of which is the use of polyphonic characters. For example, Xu Wei, a famous writer, calligrapher, painter, opera, and military strategist in the Ming Dynasty, once made a couplet with polyphonic characters

"Good reading is not good reading; "Good reading is not good reading; ”

When you see this couplet, you may feel wondering, how can the upper and lower couplets be exactly the same? Can this be called a couplet? In fact, if we take a closer look, we will find that this is indeed a wonderful couplet.

It is said that when this couplet was written, his descendants and guests felt that it was a fog after reading it, and it was difficult to understand the deep meaning. Xu Wei only smiled slightly when he saw this, and later after his prompting, everyone realized the truth, and they all applauded.

And the beauty of this couplet,It's just above the word "good".The two "good" characters in Shanglian are pronounced as the third tone, that is, "hǎo". The two "good" characters in the lower link are read as the fourth sound "hào", which is the "good" of preference.

The two "good" characters in the upper and lower couplets are pronounced in opposite directions, and as long as you understand this word, you can also understand the meaning of the couplet.

Shanglian means that when you are young, you are deaf and clear-sighted, energetic, and have a strong memory, and it is a good time to read and study, so you should study hard. But it's a pity that people at this time don't know the importance of reading, and often don't "read well" and don't like to read.

And the meaning of the next link is that when I was old, I knew the benefits of reading, "good hào) reading", but at this time I was already deaf and dizzy, and I was not energetic, and I couldn't read well.

In simple terms,This couplet is to advise people to study hard while they are young so that they will not regret it in the future. This is also the meaning of the so-called "young and strong do not work hard, and the boss is sad". Although the upper and lower couplets are the same, the meanings are different because of the different pronunciations of the two "good" words, which also makes this couplet profound and has a unique taste to read.

Xu Wei's couplet can be called one of the most "weird" couplets in history, and those who can read it are 'masters'. Although the upper and lower couplets are exactly the same, due to the different pronunciations, it can also make it a model for the ages.

The fourteen words of the whole union (in fact, it is a clever combination of four words), skillfully embedded and wonderful, the words are serious, the feelings are sincere, and the meaning is profound, which can be called the wonderful union of educating people! What do you think?

A couplet is a couplet that exists in two pairs, the upper and lower, and is a complete two sentences. Contrast, on the other hand, exists only in a single sentence, or two words in a pair.

The couplet pays attention to conciseness and conciseness, neat and neat, and is evenly coordinated, and its "pair" is not absolutely relative, but may also be the relative of the same kind, and there is no relative place in the meaning, and the emphasis is on the "shape of the pair". But the contrast is different, and the emphasis is on "meaning right".

There is a big difference, the couplet is about the neatness of the battle, and the contrast is a figure of speech, through the contrast of two different objects.

The main differences are that the properties are different, the functions are different, and the types are different, as follows:

First, the nature is different.

1. Duality. Duality is a rhetorical device that uses a pair of phrases or sentences with an equal number of words, the same structure, and symmetrical meaning to express two corresponding or similar words or the same meaning. For example: how high the sky is, how high the mountains are.

2. Contrast. Contrast is to put two opposite, opposite things or two opposite and opposite aspects of the same thing together, and use the method of comparison to describe or explain, this kind of writing technique is called contrast, also called contrast. For example, humility makes people progress, and pride makes people backward.

Second, the role is different.

1. Duality. The language is concise, the sentence structure is neat, the rhyme is harmonious, the sense of rhythm and beauty are abundant, so that the meaning of the two aspects complements and complements each other, and strengthens the touching effect of the language.

2. Contrast. This technique can highlight the opposition between good and bad, good and evil, beauty and ugliness, giving people a very vivid image and strong feelings.

Third, the types are different.

1. Duality and bidemolition.

Formally: single-sentence duality: using a sentence to a sentence is called a single-sentence pair.

Even sentence pairing: using two sentences to two sentences is called even sentence pairing.

Sentence pair: The upper and lower words in the same sentence are dual to each other.

In terms of content: Positive duality: the meaning expressed by the upper and lower links is the same or similar, and they are complementary to each other.

Anti-duality: The meaning expressed in the upper and lower couplets is opposite or relative, mostly referring to two aspects of the same thing.

String duality (flowing water pair): that is, "string pairs", like flowing water flowing down, so it is also called flowing water pairs. Its opening sentence and couplet are said from the course of development of things, therefore, the meaning is closely coherent.

Structurally: , component duality.

Sentence duality. 2. Contrast. , the opposite is contrasting.

Anti-object contrast.

When the person is facing the couplet, the upper panel is on the right and the lower panel is on the left. The couplet should pay attention to the relative sound rhythm, and judge that the upper and lower couplets are distinguished according to the flat sound of the last word, the upper couplet is the sound of the voice, and the lower couplet is the flat sound, which is mainly for the sake of harmonious rhyme and pleasant to the ear.

Divide by tone

Couplets are more plain, which is the characteristic of couplets. Specifically, the last word of the upper link is generally a voice, and the last word of the lower link is generally a flat voice, otherwise it often feels awkward to read. For example, "Spring returns to the land and thousands of mountains laugh" ("laugh" is the sound), "Blessing the world is full of people's joy" ("Huan" is a flat sound).

According to the causal relationship.

"Cause" is the upper link, and "effect" is the lower link. For example, "the direction is right, the urban and rural areas are rich, the policy is wise, and the food and clothing are abundant", because only the "cause" of "urban and rural wealth" will have the "fruit" of "abundant food and clothing".

Chronologically.

That is, the time before is the upper link, and the time after the time is the lower link; In other words, the first thing to do is the first, and the next thing to do is the next one. For example, "the door welcomes spring, summer, autumn and winter, and the door accepts the east, west, north and south"; "The small courtyard is planted with flowers and fragrant all seasons, and the gate is colorful and happy for the whole family."

According to the range of scenes

In terms of time, space and specific things, it is generally from large to small, such as "every year is good every year, and the moon is full of moons"; "A city of flowers and rain, mountains and rivers are strong, and the courtyard is full of spring breeze and sun and moon". In terms of time, the "year" is longer than the "month"; According to the spatial theory, the "city" is larger than the "courtyard".

Divided by language habits

For example, "Blessing is like the long flowing water of the East China Sea, and the longevity is better than the old pine of Nanshan"; "The wind blows the willows and thousands of doors are green, and the rain moistens the apricot and peach and thousands of households are red." People often say that "happiness and longevity" and "wind and rain are in the same boat", and there has never been a saying of "longevity and happiness" and "rain and wind are in the same boat".

According to the left and right directions.

When pasting couplets, the upper couplet should be pasted on the right, the lower couplet should be pasted on the left, and the left and right should be divided by facing the gate or pilaster. The reason why it is posted like this is because the straight line is written from right to left, so the couplet is also read from right to left.

Horizontal batches(also known as banners, rungs, banners, drapeds, etc.), is an important part of the couplet. Horizontal criticism is like the title of the article, which can indicate the theme of a couplet, is the finishing touch, is the icing on the cake. Generally speaking, horizontal criticism has the functions of summarizing, revealing, supplementing, and explaining the text.

In terms of the scope of use, the most commonly used and most primitive form of couplets is to be hung between the couplets (so they are also widely known as couplets). The upper and lower two texts, coupled with the horizontal batch on the lintel, show the trend of "door". Symmetry is the most significant form of expression of couplets, and the traditional form of symmetry is often used in Chinese architectural beauty.

The architecture and the couplet structure are contrasted, which is another reason for the Lianwen and horizontal criticism. But it is not to say that all couplets have horizontal batches, such as some door plaques can be used as horizontal batches, inscription gift couplets, elegiac couplets (not suitable for hanging between the trees) and so on can be omitted horizontal batches.

1.According to the tone, the last word of the upper link is generally the sound of the voice, and the last word of the lower link will be the flat sound.

2.According to the causal relationship: the existing cause is followed by the effect, so the cause will be the upper link, and the description of the effect will be the lower link.

3.According to chronological order: Spring Festival couplets are generally in positive order, so the ones in front of the time are the upper ones.

4.According to the spatial scope: generally the small range is the upper link, and the large range is the lower link.

Anyone who knows knows that when pasting a couplet, the upper couplet is pasted on the right side of the door, and the lower couplet is pasted on the left side of the door, and the couplet is read from right to left. Professionally speaking, look at the flat, because the characteristics of the couplet are important. The last word of the upper link is generally a voice, and the last word of the lower link is generally a flat sound.

Couplet culture, recognize the phonetic words.

Although the characters are the same, this kind of couplet uses polyphonic characters in order to form the rhythmic beauty of the couplet.

There are two of the most famous:

One is posted by a shop that sells bean sprouts

Uplink: Long long (often rising, often rising, always growing) Downlink: long (rising often rising, often rising, the longer the meaning of the higher the growth) The other is the couplet written by the legend Xu Wenchang:

Uplink: Good reading is not good (when there is a condition to read easily, I don't like to read) Downlink: Good reading is not good at reading (when I love reading, there are not so good conditions).

"Good reading is not good reading;

"Good reading is not good reading;

This is a pair of reading couplets written by Xu Wei, a great literati in the Ming Dynasty, and the correct reading is:

好 (hǎo) to read a bad book (hào) to read;

好 (hǎo) to read a bad book (hào) to read;

It means that when you are young, it is a good time to read, but you don't like to read; In my later years, I like to read, but it's not a good time to read. This couplet exhorts us to cherish the good times and study hard.

The all-around champion resounded through China, and the cool breeze caressed the Central Plains.

好 (hǎo) to read a bad book (hào) to read;

好 (hǎo) to read a bad book (hào) to read;

Time is less, but time is less, time is less, but time is less.

Uplink: long long long;

Downlink: Long long long.

This couplet has a total of fourteen "long" characters, and its correct pronunciation should be:

上联:cháng zhǎng cháng zhǎng cháng cháng zhǎng;

下联: zhǎng cháng zhǎng cháng zhǎng zhǎng cháng.

Once upon a time, there was a man who sold bean sprouts and asked Mr. Murakami to write Spring Festival couplets for him. The teacher wrote him this quirky couplet. The meaning of this couplet is:

The bean sprouts of the owner's family should always grow and grow, and they will not stop growing, and they will grow longer and longer. This couplet skillfully combines the characteristics of Chinese characters such as common and false and different readings, which literally looks very chic, and expresses the good wishes of the host's family.

The upper and lower links are all "long" words, and the upper and lower are seven words, but the words are homophonic, zhang, chang two sounds alternately, the last three words of the upper link are chang, chang, zhang, and the lower link is the opposite of the upper link, which is zhang, zhangchang

Shangjing dismantling the couplet: good reading is not good reading; Downlink: It's good to read a poor manuscript scum book, and it's not good to read. This homophone couplet is known as a couplet through the ages.

1. Generate background.

The background is that Xu Wei was invited to a school to take classes, and many people who came here gathered in the school. Xu Wei is the time for young people to study diligently. A man took pen and ink to Xu Wei and asked him to write a couplet.

Xu Wei did not refuse, and immediately wrote a couplet. But most of the young people in the school didn't understand the meaning of Xu Wei's couplet, so they asked Xu Wei for advice. Xu Wei re-read the couplet and explained it in detail, and everyone suddenly realized and praised it.

2. The meaning of the couplet.

Shanglian : Good reading is not good reading, the first one is good to read three tones, and the second one is good to read four tones.

Downlink: Good reading is not good reading. The first one is easy to read in four tones, and the second one is easy to read in three tones.

Shanglian means that when people are young, it is the time to study hard, and the comprehension ability is relatively strong, but often people only care about playing and do not like to read.

The next link means that in the twilight of life, when memory and comprehension are declining, people realize that knowledge is less time-sensitive, and they want to study hard, but they can't do it anymore.

Horizontal drawing with a white background).

Xu Wei wrote this couplet to hang in the private school, the purpose of which is to remind students to study hard while they are in good years.