VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES

TRẦN THỊ HƢƠNG
A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MEANINGS OF WATER
RELATING IDIOMS IN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH

(Nghiên cứu so sánh về nghĩa của các thành ngữ có liên
quan đến nƣớc trong Tiếng Việt và Tiếng Anh) M.A. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS
Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60220201
Hanoi, 2014

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DECLARATION

I, Trần Thị Hương, hereby declare that the work contained in this thesis
is the result of my own research. It is recognized that, should this declaration
be found to be false, disciplinary action could be taken and penalties imposed
in accordance with the University policy and rules.

Ha noi, 2014

Trần Thị Hương

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ABSTRACT

Idioms, a special form of language use, are shaped in the daily lives of
people. Idioms can also be considered as a reliable measure of the proficiency
of foreign languages in general and English in particular. It is the semantic
and grammatical problems that cause difficulties for learners to grasp
meanings of idioms. With the aim of providing in - depth information about
English and Vietnamese idioms, we have tried to work out some syntactic and
semantic features of idioms relating to water in English and Vietnamese.
Moreover, some cultural contexts hidden behind these idioms are mentioned
and analyzed in this thesis. The study also puts forwards some implications
for teaching and learning idioms. We believe that they are helpful to teachers
and students as well as translators of English.


1.1.3. Typology of idioms 6
1.1.4. Meaning of idioms 8
1.2.Culture and the relationship between language and culture 9
1.2.1.Culture and some characteristics of culture 9
1.2.2.Relationship between language and culture 10
1.2.3. Culture in idioms 11
1.2.4. The image of water in Vietnamese culture 12
1.2.5. The image of water in English culture 14

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1.2.6. Previous studies related to the theme of this thesis 15
CHAPTER 2: “WATER” RELATING IDIOMS IN ENGLISH AND
VIETNAMESE
2. 1. A quantitative survey of water relating idioms in English and
Vietnamese 17
2. 2. Syntactic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 17
2. 3. Semantic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese .21
CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese water relating
idioms in terms of syntactic features 29
3.2. Similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese water relating
idioms in terms of semantic features 31
PART C: CONCLUSION
1.Recapitulation 34
2.Implications 34
3.Limitations and suggestions for further studies 35 1
PART A: INTRODUCTION


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2.2. Objectives of the study
The objectives of this study are to:
- Investigate English and Vietnamese idioms relating to water.
- Clarify the cultural differences and similarities.
- Provide some suggestions for teaching, learning and translating English
idioms denoting water.
2.3. Research questions
The study tries to answer the following questions:
- What are the general syntactic, semantic and cultural features of
English and Vietnamese water relating idioms?
- What are similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese
water relating idioms from cultural viewpoint?
3. Scope of the study
In this research, both English and Vietnamese idioms relating to water are
discussed in terms of syntactic, semantic and cultural features. All English
and Vietnamese idioms are collected from two dictionaries: “Vietnamese
Dictionary of Idioms and Proverbs” (2010) by Nguyễn Lân and “The Oxford
Dictionary of Idioms” (2004) by Oxford University Press.
4. Theoretical and practical significance of the study
The study is an attempt to look into idioms for the Vietnamese postgraduates
of English. Thus, once completed, its outcome may offer significant benefits
to Vietnamese learners and teachers of English. In addition, the findings of
this study will familiarize Vietnamese teachers of English with meanings of
idioms that their students may use in class and that they might consider as
errors or mistakes. Furthermore, in regard to Vietnamese learners, the
research may provide them with deep and comprehensive insight into water
relating idioms. Last but not least, researchers of the related fields can use this
study for reference and carry out further and deeper investigation.

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PART B: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 1: IDIOMS - THEORETICAL BACKGROUND FOR THE
STUDY
1.1. Idioms and meanings of idioms
1.1.1. Definition of idioms
In the Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, idiom
is defined as “a fixed phrase that has its own special meaning. It’s often
impossible to guess the meaning of the whole phrase from the meanings of
the separate words that it is formed from”. The Collins Cobuild Dictionary
of Idioms (2002) explains it as “a special kind of phrase. It is a group of
words which have a different meaning when used together from the one it
would have if the meaning of each word were taken individually. Idioms are
typically metaphorical: they are effectively metaphors which have become
“fixed” or “fossilized”. Martin H. Manser (1997) states in his Dictionary of
Everyday Idioms: “Idioms are fairly fixed phrases that consist of more than
one word, with a meaning that cannot be understood from putting together the
meanings of the individual words”.
From the above given definitions of idioms, it is clear that although
there are some differences among the definitions of idiom, all idioms share 3
main characteristics in common:
Firstly, idioms are basically fixed expressions in terms of words, their
orders, and their grammatical forms. These expressions are phrases of two or
more words and belong to both spoken and written English.

Specifically, proverbs give advice, make an observation, express the truth
based on a common sense or practicality, present a teaching in a brief and
memorable way. For example, the proverb “Don’t cry over spilled
milk” indicates “Don’t get upset over something that has already been done.
It’s too late to worry about it now, just get on with your life.” Idioms, on the
other hands, function as naming, depicting things, properties or various
phenomena. The idiom “By the skin of your teeth” means that something was
successful, but only just barely. In term of grammatical structures, idioms
often serve as parts of sentences (e.g. “In hot water”, “A keen worker”)

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whereas, proverbs are complete phrases or sentences that can pass on the
whole idea (e.g. “Spare the rod, spoil the child”).
Not all idioms are proverbs but all proverbs are idioms.
1.1.3. Typology of idioms
“Long man Dictionary of English Idioms” (1979) divides idioms into
8 types:
Traditional idioms: Most of these idioms are full sentences of which only
subjects are added to make full sentences of the verb phrases like “spill the
beans”. Other types of idiomatic expression act as particular parts of speech.
For example, the idiomatic noun phrase the salt of the earth is used as a
complement in the sentence he is the salt of the earth.
Idioms in which actions stand for emotions or feelings: These idioms
mention actions that are culture - specific which create misunderstanding for
beginning learners of English. Consider the idiom throw up one’s hands/
arms in the sentence I threw up my hands when I heard how much money he
heard. The action in this idiom means that the speaker is annoyed, or
impatient, or not glad with what happened. The meaning in these idioms is
often specific in English - speaking countries. These idiomatic expressions
should be carefully learnt and translated.

Restricted collocations: These idioms are referred to as semi- idioms and
idiom- like. They are considered as semi- idioms in the case that one word (in
the case of two- word expressions) has a figurative sense not found outside
that limited context. The other element emerges in a familiar, literal sense
(e.g. a blind alley). And some idioms allow a degree of lexical variation (e.g.
a virtue). In other respects, restricted collocations are idiom- like. For
example, chequered is limited to collocations with career and history.
Open collocations: In open collocations, each element is used in a common
literal sense and both elements (verb and object, or adjective and noun) are
freely recombinable, e.g. fill, empty, drain the sink and fill the sink, basin, and
bucket
According to Oxford Dictionary of Current Idiomatic English, idioms
are classified under two general headings- phrase idioms and clause idioms.
The most common clause patterns covered by idioms are the following:

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Idioms as verb phrase: pour (or throw) cold water on (be discourging or
negative about a plan or suggestion): I really do not want to pour cold water
on your plan but I don’t think it will work
Idioms as noun phrase: a bargain basement (part of a shop where goods are
sold at reduced price): It's not bargain basement but will brighten up a special
room.
Idioms as adjective phrase: like water off a duck’s back (a remark or incident
which has no apparent effect on a person): I didn't care what they talked to
me - it was like water off a duck's back.
Idioms as prepositional phrase: in hot water (in a situation of difficulty,
trouble or disgrace): I found myself in hot water over their comments on my
appearance.
Idioms as adverbial phrase: as never before (in a way that has never
been possible before): He will be under pressure as never before when he tries

1.2.1. Culture and some characteristics of culture
The word “culture” that hails from the Latin word, “cultura” derived from
“colere” (to cultivate). Samovar & Porter (2003) defines culture as “the
deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings,
hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the
universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people
in the course of generations through individual and group striving” (Samovar
& Porter, 2003, p.8).
Levine and Adelman (1993: XVII) considers culture as “a shared background
(for example, national, ethnic, religious) resulting from a common language
and communication style, customs, beliefs, attitudes and values”.
Porter, Samovar and McDaniel (2007: 21-30) submit six features of culture as
follows:
In the first place, culture is learned. We learn unconsciously culture
from families, peers, institutions, and media. We live in a certain group of
people in a society and share certain ideals and shape our lives. The ideals we
base our lives on is a part of culture. Cultural values are transfered from one
generation to another. The language, the literature and the art forms pass

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across generations. Culture is learned, understood and adopted by the younger
generations of society
Secondly, culture is shared. It is easy for us to act in appropriate ways
as well as predict how others will act as a result of sharing our culture to other
members in our group. Customs, beliefs, traditions, values are all shared by
man in a social situation and adopted by all equally.
Thirdly, culture is transmitted. Culture is capable of transmitted from
one generation to the next. Parents pass cultural traits to their children and in
return they pass to their children and so on. It is transmitted through language.
Language is a means to pass cultural traits on to future generations.

In his first point of view, language is “an inevitable part”, “a major part” of
culture. He emphasizes that language is a part of its “associated” culture, but
culture is also a part of its “associated” language. To explain for the second
point “language as an index of culture”, he describes “languages reveal the
way of thinking or of organizing experience that are common in the
associated cultures”. In the third point on the relationship between language
and culture, Fishman explains that “language movements and language
conflicts utilize languages as symbols to mobilize populations to defend (or
attack) and to foster (or reject) the cultures associated with them”
1.2.3. Culture in idioms
English is a language rich in idiomatic expressions. The idiom is a kind
of special speech form that is particular in meaning, grammatical structure
and usage. Idioms are shaped after a long period’s living and working of the
local people. As it is said above, it is impossible to explain the idiom from the
literal meaning of the individual words. Using idioms when speaking is a
usual way for the local people to express their ideas clearly and
vividly.Therefore, the differences on geography, history, custom and living
habits result in the word-usage in idioms. Little knowledge about the history
and the culture behind these idioms makes it hard for people to understand
them in a right way. The cultural context occupies a very important position

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in idioms learning. Learners must understand the specific cultural context of
the idioms, and then they can understand the idioms.
As we all know, language is closely related to culture and can be said
as a part of culture. From a dynamic view, language and culture intermingle
with each other and shape each other. Language is the bearer of culture which
in turn is the content of language. Idioms as a special form of language exist
in both of them and carry a large amount of cultural information such as
history, geography, and religion, custom, nationality psychology, thought

creates the largest amount of jobs, and is the main source of the
poor’s income. Main products of Vietnamese agriculture are rice, coffee, tea,
rubber, sugar and cashew nut. Vietnam is one of the top rice exporting
countries in the world. Natural conditions in Vietnam have some advantages
for agricultural development especially two vast, rich, and flat deltas: Red
River Delta and Mekong River Delta which consequently base the two largest
cities in the country - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. When residents in the
Red River Delta and Mekong Delta start learning to walk, they also begin to
play with water. The childhood memories are imprinted with the sight of
water, bathing in the river or launching paper boats. That is why water is
friendly to people and people are not afraid of it. Water brings people a great
deal of free services. Daily activities such as: growing rice, fruit and
vegetables, raising poultry, fish and shrimps, etc take place with water. There
are, however, some certain disadvantages to agriculture brought about by
natural factors. Rice production is often the main source of incomes for
majority of rural population. Therefore, people are happy and society is
peaceful when rice crops are good. Unstable weather with frequent drought or
flood has bad impacts on agricultural production. The mingling of land, water
and human beings for centuries runs deep in the veins of the Vietnamese
people so that the name for their country stands for “land” and “water” (đất
nước). Invaluable life experiences passed on to future generations through
folk sayings, such as “Flowing water will wear away stone” (Nước chảy đá
mòn). Such proverbs carry philosophical meanings and educate people about
self - discipline, treatment of others as well as nature.
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1.2.5. The image of water in English culture
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the

Although water is important for all civilizations, one can guess from
the studies on the UK’s history and socio - economic system that the role of
water is less omnipresent in the UK than in Vietnam. And we will see later in
this thesis that the image of water occurs less often in English than in
Vietnamese.
1.2.6. Previous studies related to the theme of this thesis
Idioms have taken into much consideration from many linguists and
scholars both in English and Vietnam, and so far a number of studies of
idioms from different angles have been explored. Among them, there are
some excellent studies from which the author of this study benefits from
while working on the topic of her thesis.
First of all, the research by Kathleen Bjornson (2010) about the
analysis of idioms in terms of definition, figurative and literal meanings
demonstrated the role metaphorical awareness, cultural background
knowledge in the acquisition of idioms.
The author also benefits from Chunli Yang (2010) who investigated
idioms of diet which has a close relation the eating custom, history, fairy
tales, and geographic situations. Also, different ways of translation on
different diet idioms in English and Chinese were analyzed in this study. This
study brought about the great culture contents in the idioms of diet in order to
do a better job in the research of cross-culture communication and the
translation.
Dealing a similar topic, Sinh (2010) focused on the general syntactic,
semantic and especially cultural features of English and Vietnamese idioms
denoting weather. The author found out the similarities and differences in the
use of idioms denoting weather in both cultures. Some suggestions for
teaching, learning of the English idioms about weather were also provided in
this thesis.
Another research on this theme was taken by Giang (2013). In her
research, she studied marriage- related proverbs in English and Vietnamese.
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CHAPTER 2: “WATER” RELATING IDIOMS IN ENGLISH AND
VIETNAMESE
2. 1. A quantitative survey of water relating idioms in English and
Vietnamese
As we stated earlier, idioms relating to water are collected from two
typical dictionaries: “Dictionary of Vietnamese idioms and proverbs” by
Nguyễn Lân and “The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms”. There are more than
9000 idioms and proverbs in the dictionary by Nguyễn Lân and over 5000
idioms in the “Oxford Dictionary of Idioms”. From what we have collected,
we can come to conclusion that of 9000 Vietnamese idioms and proverbs,
there are 140 idioms relating to water, whereas, of 5000 English idioms,
only 23 ones. Here is the statistical summary:

Idioms
English
Vietnamese
Number
(/5000)
Percent
(%)
Number
(/9000)
Percent
(%)

Non xanh nước biếc
2.2.1.2. Water relating idioms with verb phrase structure
English

Vietnamese
Be blown out of the water
Chọc trời quấy nước
Pour (or throw) cold water on
Còn nước, còn tát
Take to something like a duck to water
Ăn cỗ đi trước, lội nước theo sau
Fish in troubled water
Lên cạn xuống nước
Come hell or high water
Nói như nước đổ đầu vịt
2.2.1.3. Water relating idioms with adjective phrase structure
English

Vietnamese
Dead in the water
Nhạt như nước ốc
Like water off a duck’s back
Lạ nước lạ cái

Búng ra nước

Của như nước

Đắt chè hơn rẻ nước
2.2.1.4. Water relating idioms with prepositional phrase structure