Similes in English and Vietnamese 1
Running head: SIMILES IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE
Similes in English and Vietnamese:
a contrastive analysis
Trương Thùy Dương
Class 4B-07
University of Education
Similes in English and Vietnamese 2
Abstract
Each country preserves the distinctive features of its language which lie in the
figure of speech. Both English and Vietnamese are rich in figurative expressions that
add colour, striking imagery or even emotion to statements in everyday conversation.
There are many English and Vietnamese proverbs in which two things of some
similarities, but of different categories are compared to create vivid phrases. Such
proverbs, in term of literary theory, are called similes. They reveal human aptitude for
the witty and creative use of language. Similes like other figure of speech belong to
treasure of oral folk language that has been passed down through many generations.
Thus, this paper is intended to explore and deal with the similarities as well as the
differences of similes in English and Vietnamese and offer recommendation on teaching
simile in high school context.
Similes in English and Vietnamese 3
Introduction
A large number of scholars and researchers all over the world have paid special
attention to the role of figurative expressions in literature as well as oral folk language.
Among these linguists, there are some famous ones in English such as Archer Taylor,
Wolfgang Mieder, George B. Bryan, Peter Lang, Pete Useth… in Vietnamese from 1945
until now we have Nguyen Van Ngoc, Vu Ngoc Phan, Le Van Hoe…
Along with metaphors, similes are used a lot in formal as well as colloquial English
and Vietnamese to compare the characteristic of a person or a thing to someone or
something else. Similes thus become the topic of discussion and examination owing to
their special effect in terms of literary implication as well as form.
Similes in English and Vietnamese 4
Similes in English and Vietnamese
Definition
A simile is the “use of comparison in which something is compared to something
else by the use of function words such as like or as”(Crowther, 1992). People often find
it hard to distinguish metaphors and similes. This is very understandable because both
are the figures of speech concerned with comparison. The main difference is that a
metaphor is an implicit or indirect comparison in which no function words are used
whereas a simile is an explicit or direct one with function words such as like or as.
“My hand is as cold as ice”
“ He eats like a horse.”
“Mặt anh ấy lạnh như tiền”
Simile is very common and witty way of saying that creates a very creative and
convincing language in people’s daily life.
Ex: Bạc đeo đầy mình không bằng thông minh sáng suốt
bạc- thông minh
Cơm với cá như mạ với con
cơm với cá- mạ với con
Vợ chồng như đũa có đôi
vợ chồng- đũa có đôi
“Bạc” represents the wealth which belongs to material category and “thông
minh”(the wisdom) that belongs to abstract category, they have only one thing in
common- that is they are both the source of human’s pride. However, wisdom is more
important than wealth.
Similarly, “rice” and “fish” are favorite dishes of the Vietnamese. “Mother” and
“child” are always in a very close and intimate relationship. They are completely
different except for the fact that they constitute a very harmonious combination ( rice
Similes in English and Vietnamese 5
and fish) and close-knit relationship( mother and child). Husband and wife are two
separate entities but they sometimes merge into one self only.
In English we have:
“Goodness is better than the beauty”
“Action speaks louder than words”
“Goodness” and “beauty” don’t seem to be similar apart from the value and the
strong desire people have for them. Here, the quality inside is appreciated more than
the outside appearance is. Likewise, “actions” and “words” are completely two different
concepts but people use them to achieve a particular purpose.
Construction of similes in English and Vietnamese.
Similes usually have two components, which are combined with each other by
the use of function words like “as” or “like”. The common patterns for similes:

Something/someone [stative verbs] AS adjective AS something.
“She looked as gentle as a lamb” (very gentle)
“His voice is as clear as the bell” (very clear)
“ It felt as hard as a rock” (very hard)

Something/someone[stative verbs] LIKE something
“These cookies taste like garbage” ( disgusting)
“ His temper is like a volcano”( explosive)

Something/someone [action verbs] LIKE something
“ He eat like a pig”( eat a lot)
“ My grandfather smokes like a chimney” ( smoke heavily, all the time)
Similes in English and Vietnamese 6
The above patterns of similes are most common, but there are others made with
adverbs or words such as “than” and “as if”, for example:
“ He ran as fast as the wind”( ran extremely fast)
“ He is larger than life” ( behave and look in an interesting and exciting way that
attracts attention)
“ They ran as if for their life” ( ran with all effort)
The general pattern of similes in Vietnamese can be depicted like the following:
( function words)
A__________________B. Here, A is thing that is compared with B-something else and
function words like: “như”, “bằng”, “tựa”, “hệt”… According to Mai (2005), the patterns of
similes in Vietnamese are much more complicated and diverse in terms of the number
of constituents and their delivery. Therefore, similes in Vietnamese are not always
composed of three components like the pattern above. They vary from time to time.
A ss. B: This is the full form of similes in Vietnamese.
“ Đắt như tôm tươi”; “nhẹ như lông hồng”; dai như đỉa đói”; “đủng đỉnh như chỉnh
trôi sông”; “lừ đừ như ông từ vào đền”…
A ss. B: in this case, the first component A can be implied from the context. A can
appear in the pattern or can be omited without affecting the listeners’ full understanding
of the sentence.
“(rẻ) như bèo”, “(chắc) như đinh đóng cột”, “(vui) như mở hội”, “(khinh) như mẻ”.
ss. B: This is the last case, A is not an inherent component of the pattern. When
these patterns are utilized in daily conversation, a particular A will be annexed to the
pattern properly according to certain context.
Similes in English and Vietnamese 7
Ăn ở với nhau
Xử sự với nhau
“ như mẹ chồng với nàng dâu”
Giữ ý giữ tứ với nhau….
This pattern also occurs quite often in daily conversation: “như tằm ăn rỗi”, “như vịt
nghe sấm”, “như chó ba tiền”, “như gà mắc tóc”, “như ngậm hột thị”…
Moreover, the constituent B of simile patterns in Vietnamese usually have its own
structure that is inconsistent and heterogeneous (Mai, 2005). This emphasizes a striking
difference between similes in English and those in Vietnamese.
-
B can be a noun or a noun phrase: both similes in English and Vietnamese share
this feature.
“ lạnh như tiền”, “ như bóng với hình”, “ đắng như bồ hòn”…
“ as cool as a cucumber”, “as sure as death and taxes”, “as busy as a cat on a
hot tin roof”, “fight like cats and dogs”, …
-
B can be a clause: It is very common pattern of similes in Vietnamese. But hardly
can we find similes with B like that in English
“ lừ đừ như ông từ vào đền”, “như thầy bói xem voi”, “như xẩm sờ vợ”…
In English we have only one simile with that pattern “ as black as one is
painted”.
Function words that are used to draw a comparison between two different things
are more numerous and various in Vietnamese similes than those in English similes for
example:“ như”, “bằng”, “tựa”, hệt”, “chẳng khác gì”, “ giống”, “y như là”, “ hơn”, “hơn
là” in Vietnames in comparison with “ like”, “as”, “as if” in English…
Similes in English and Vietnamese 8
The constituent A of similes in Vietnamese can be combined with one or two, even
a string of B via function words.
“Cổ tay em trắng như ngà,
Con mắt em liếc như là dao cau”
“ Những chị cào cào (…) khuôn mặt trái xoan như e thẹn, như làm dáng, như
ngượng ngùng.” This is a distinctive feature of similes in Vietnamese because in
English never can we find such a similes with such construction like that. This sharp
difference deserves special attention and considerable analysis.
Taxonomy of similes in English and Vietnamese
It is obvious that classifying similes based on an accurate system is absolutely
difficult. The experts have tried to find out the similarities in similes in order to come up
with a taxonomy of similes. The fundamental foundation of this classification is A – the
first component in pattern of similes. Tininis (1971) sketched a taxonomy of similes like
the followings:
1/ Human beings as subject in similes; 2/ Abstract concepts as subject in similes;
3/ Specific things as subject in similes; 4/ Animals as subject in similes.
Among those mentioned above, animals (type 4) are the first component of the
simile patterns, which do not exist in both English and Vietnamese similes because
animals are not the agent of similes. However, animals are chosen to be B- the second
component in similes.
Human beings as subject in similes
Vietnamese people like to convey the experience or the message of moral lessons
to their descendants through proverbs:
Similes in English and Vietnamese 9
“Gái có chồng như sông có nước, gái không chồng như lược gãy răng”
“Người không học như ngọc không mài”
There are some English proverbs that contain human beings as their subject.
“A child without parents is like a ship without a rudder”
“A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds”
Abstract concepts as subject in similes
A lot of example in this category can be found quite easily in both English and
Vietnamese.
“Đời người như ngọn nến.”;“ Lời chào cao hơn mâm cỗ”;“ Wisdom is better than
rubies.”
“Time flies like an arrow.”
Specific things as subject in similes
“Một kho vàng không bằng một nan chữ.”;“ Ruộng bề bề không bằng một nghề trong
tay.”
In English, people often say:
“ The tongue is more venomous than a serpent’s sting.”;“ Three removals are as bad
as a fire.”
Animals as subject in similes
No examples are found in English or Vietnamese to illustrate the last category.
However, in English, the term “ animal similes” is coined in order to indicate animals
which are used in this figure of speech. Animals function as things used to draw out the
comparison rather than the subjects of similes. This type of similes are popular for
Similes in English and Vietnamese 10
people often use them to give advice or warning as well as make impression on the
listener.
“Béo như chim ra ràng.”;“ Nhanh như ngựa chạy trạm.”;“ Nháo nhác như gà lạc mẹ.”
In English, there are also some similes of this type:
“ To swim like a duck”;“ As cunning as a fox”
“As snug as a bug in a rug.” ( Thoải mái và ấm áp như rệp trong chăn)
The linguistic features of similes in English and Vietnamese
The acoustic feature of speech
In Vietnamese proverbs, the acoustic feature has been particularly noticed.
Therefore, both two components in similes usually have alliteration or reduplication.
This acoustic feature is more prominent in Vietnamese similes than those in English
owing to the monosyllabism, the creative assonance of Vietnamese and the contribution
of a harmonious collection of six tones.
“ Rành rành như canh nấu hẹ.”;“Tiếng cười bằng mười thang thuốc bổ.”
“Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã.”; “ Chị em dâu như bầu nước lạnh.”
Some similes that have this feature in English can be found but they are very scanty.
“ The noise is greater than the nut.”
“ Fact is stranger than the fiction.”
Numerous components in Vietnamese similes
Some Vietnamese proverbs have four components, two sides or even more, which
specifically makes the difference between similes in Vietnamese from those in English:
“Công cha như núi Thái Sơn, nghĩa mẹ như nước trong nguồn chảy ra.”
“Con có cha như nhà có nóc, con có mẹ như bẹ ấp măng.”
Similes in English and Vietnamese 11
“ Ăn như rồng cuốn, nói như rồng leo, làm như mèo mửa.”
The implicit feature of comparative conjuctions
A lot of Vietnamese proverbs that are created by using similes have two sides
linked to each other by comma or implicit conjunction “cũng như”, “bằng” whereas
similes in English do not have this feature.
“Miếng ngon nhớ lâu, (cũng như) đòn đau nhớ đời.”
“Liệu cơm gắp mắm, (cũng như) liệu con gả chồng.”
The cultural trait of similes in English and Vietnamese
The national feature
Who is the first to create a very special and vivid way of comparing things – the socalled simile? That is the forefathers and our ancestors long time ago. The similes
reflect every aspect of their daily lives from their belief, their values as well as customs
and traditions. We can trace back the distinctive and ancient traits of Vietnamese and
English cultures through similes. So, people may have difficulty understanding these
long-standing similes fully without any explanation.
“ Gái có con như bồ hòn có rễ” ( the soapberry takes roots deeply and firmly into
the ground, just like the women, once they have already had children, they will strongly
adhere to their families)
“ as wise as Solomon” is a difficult and ambiguous simile in English. It may confuse
people who have never read the Bible in their life. Who is Solomon? Solomon is a king
mentioned in the Bible and he is famous for his foresight and his intelligence.
The involvement of other figures of speech
Similes can include other figures of speech. For example:
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“ He ran like greased lightning” and “khinh như rác” are similes that include hyperbole (
greased lightning, rác ).
Similes in English often make use of irony and sarcasm. In such cases, they may
even mean the opposite of the adjective used like these following examples:

His explanation was as clear as mud. (not clear at all since mud is opaque)

The film was about as interesting as watching a copy of Windows download.
(long and boring)

Watching the show was like watching paint dry. (very boring).
Some similes in Vietnamese are also very humorous and sarcastic
“Ăn như rồng cuốn, nói như rồng leo, làm như mèo mửa.”
The clichéd characteristic of similes
Some similes in English become clichés because they have been used so much
that they are not interesting and meaningful in terms of rhetoric anymore.
Like a fish out of water .(Như cá trên cạn)
Like water off a dusk’s back. ( Như nước đổ đầu vịt)
To eat like a pig. ( Ăn như heo)
As free as a bird. ( Tự do như chim trời)
As brave as a lion. ( Dũng mãnh như sư tử)
In contrast, similes in Vietnamese have never been considered as clichés. The
important role of similes in our country has never changed and simile always remains
an interesting feature of Vietnamese culture.
Similes in English and Vietnamese 13
Similes
Human beings as subject
Abstract concepts as subject
Specific things as subject
Animal similes
The acoustic feature
The numerous components
The implicit feature of comparative conjunction
The national trait
The involvement of other figures of speech
The clichéd feature
Vietnamese
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
English
+
+
+
+
Rare
+
+
+
Similes in English and Vietnamese 14
Teaching implication
After having investigated the striking differences and similarities between English
and Vietnamese similes, I would like to discuss some implication for English and
Vietnamese teaching concerning this figure of speech in our country nowadays.
First of all, most students are inclined to render word by word from their mother
tongue into their target language without truly understanding the discrepancies
between them. This results in numerous and considerable misinterpretation and
incorrect translation. Simile is one figure of speech that reflects and depicts the
distinctive cultural norms and values of each nation. In particular, it is something to
deal with different way of thinking and conceptualizing. Because similes is a creative
and special use of comparison, students may find some very vague, strange and
elusive concepts owing to culture and ideology barrier. The gap between simile in
English and Vietnamese is mainly caused by the different set of thought and concepts.
Then, what can teacher do for students when the confusion and ambiguity arise? The
teachers should be present to provide the students with some background information
related to the concept mentioned in similes and explain clearly so that they can gain a
solid foundation to bridge this gap and further their understanding when they encounter
similes.
Secondly, similes have been employed extensively and frequently in literature by
distinguished writers all over the world because of the wittiness and the essence this
figurative speech can carry. Simile is really beneficiary for the students for it gives them
opportunities to determine the meaning of words or phrased that are used in the text,
including figurative and connotative meanings. Interpreting the figure of speech
Similes in English and Vietnamese 15
successfully will enable students to analyze the nuance and the undertone of the text
or a piece of writing. I think at this stage, the teachers should give careful guidance for
students on how to analyze and comprehend the text. Consequently, students will be
able to explore a work of literature or a piece of writing effectively and appreciate its
beauty only when they truly perceive the meaning and function of similes. The suitable
method of teaching simile will help enhance students’ flair for literature and their ability
to read between the line.
Last but not least, the sufficient knowledge of similes helps to hone students’
writing skill. Students can adopt this creative use of sound and comparison to make
their own writing style in both English and Vietnamese more elegant and lively. In other
words, similes promote students’ linguistic skill and competence in both languages in
which the contribution of rhetorical device like simile is prominent and massive.
Similes in English and Vietnamese 16
Conclusion
In brief, similes is a figure of speech in which the typical feature and quality of
completely different entities are compared. Similes are incorporated in both written and
spoken form of English and Vietnamese to produce special effects. Moreover, this figure
of speech is widely used in an attempt to describe things in literature and bring the
vividness as well as aesthetics to sentences. Similes divulge the writer’s wittiness and
sense of humor. Simile is the heritage of human that deserves a painstaking and careful
preservation. The imaginative streak of a particular nation is portrayed very clearly and
obviously through these figurative expressions, we can explore the sentimental and
spiritual life of Vietnamese and English people through simile for it carries the essence
of almost every aspect in their daily life. The adequate understanding of simile in
English and Vietnamese is necessary for Vietnamese student to get access to the
literature of the world and appreciate its beauty. Additionally, they can develop their
linguistic skill considerably.
Similes in English and Vietnamese 17
References
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Publishing House.
Mieder, W. (2004). Proverbs: A Handbook. Westport, The USA: Greenwood Press.
Vu, T.N. (2006). Tu dien tuc ngu Viet-Anh, Anh- Viet thong dung. Ho chi minh city:
National University Press.
Similes and figurative expressions in English. (n.d). Retrieved December, 3 , 2010, from
http://www.waylink-english.co.uk/?page=11810.
Simile. (n.d). Retrieved December, 10, 2010, from
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/figures-simile.htm.
Nguyen, L. (1997). Tu dien thanh ngu va tuc ngu Viet nam. Ho Chi Minh city: Social
Science Publishing House.
Crowther, J. (1992). Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary. Encyclopedia edition. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Tininis, J. (1971). Similes in Lithuanian Folk Proverbs. Lituania: Lituanus Foundation
Inc.