歇后语：A——B
a two-part saying: an image, a pause, then the point
Structure
形象的前半句 —— 真正的意思
What it means
A two-part saying: the first half paints a vivid or funny picture, then a pause, then the real meaning. Speakers often say only the first half and let you supply the rest.
How it is built
Image + —— + meaning: 竹篮打水——一场空 (drawing water with a bamboo basket: all for nothing). Many turn on a pun: 外甥打灯笼——照舅（旧）, where 照舅 sounds like 照旧, 'as before'.
When to use it
Spoken and playful, for humour or a gentle jab. Unlike a 谚语 (proverb), which states its lesson outright, a 歇后语 makes the listener fill in the punchline. Common: 泥菩萨过江——自身难保.
Watch out
Learn both halves together, since the listener is expected to know the second. With pun sayings, the written second half (照舅) is not the meaning; the sound-alike (照旧) is.
Examples
泥菩萨过江——自身难保。
A clay Buddha crossing the river: hard put to save itself.
竹篮打水——一场空。
Drawing water with a bamboo basket: all for nothing.
Learn this in Lesson 211 · HSK 9+: 俗语、谚语与歇后语 (Sayings, proverbs and two-part riddles)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →