A study of the Autumn’s Reflections through Chinese Proverbs

Abstract

This research is qualitative research that aims to study the reflection of the autumn season by collecting and categorising 4-syllable Chinese proverbs (or idioms) with 秋 from Chinese Idiom Dictionary, 2nd Edition (成语大词典). The study descriptively analyses utilising the classification of 4-syllable Chinese proverbs with 秋, based on its Chinese linguistic contexts and cultural milieu. The results reveal that 40 proverbs with 秋 can be classified into five main categories (including the proverbs that can be categorised into intersectional categories), 6 words in Category 1-Nature; 6 words in Category 2-Social life; 2 words in Category 3-Tradition; 14 words in Category 4-Psychology; 22 words in Category 5-Timing, incidents, aging, and appearances. The last category, which cannot be classified into any aforementioned categories, has found 4-syllable Chinese proverbs with 秋 the most. Additionally, some proverbs can be classified into intersectional categories, and some case studies can be applied.