<p>成語 and 諺語 are well established common expressions , well known by the whole population. 俗語 is more often, limited to regional use.</p>
<ul>
<li>成語 mostly refer to Chinese idiom.</li>
<li>諺語 can be from different countries.</li>
<li>Chinese 成語 are uniformly four characters phrases.</li>
<li>For 俗語 and 諺語,  number of character are flexible, some come in two parts.</li>
</ul>
<p>Examples:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>俗語 : &quot;有便宜唔好使頸&quot; (Cantonese) : &quot;If there's benefit to be have, don't be stubborn.&quot;</p>
<p>諺語: &quot;神要毀滅某人，必先使其瘋狂&quot; (western): &quot; &quot;Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>諺語 (proverb) include  &quot;common sense&quot; and &quot;words of wisdom&quot;. from known or unknown origins.</li>
<li>俗語 (folk saying) include &quot;situation description&quot;, &quot;common sense&quot; and &quot;words of wisdom&quot;.</li>
<li>成語 (idiom) include  &quot;situation description&quot; , &quot;common sense&quot;, and &quot;words of wisdom&quot;.  Mostly came from known historical references, like poems, classical literature or famous quotes by historic figures .</li>
</ul>
<p>Edit:</p>
<p><strong>熟语</strong> (Well known phrases) include:</p>
<p>惯用语(common phrase), usually contain three characters, for example: &quot;打秋風&quot;，&quot;拍馬屁&quot; , 成語, 諺語, 俗語, 歇后语(two-part allegorical saying), for example: &quot;和尚打傘，無法無天&quot; and 格言(motto), usually from famous people, for example: &quot;We have nothing to fear but fear itself.&quot; by Franklin D. Roosevelt.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-22T21:00:13.323Z
Thank you for your descriptive answer. I would be happy to invite your post, if you could do me the favor of including your description of 熟语. This is from the front of a book.
Jack Maddington
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-22T22:43:13.730Z
＂front of a  book"? cover/封面? title page/书名页／扉页? There exists ＂汉语熟语小词典＂containing 成语、惯用语 and **歇后语**  bkrs：[a two-part allegorical saying; sequel]通常只说前一部分, 后一部分不言而喻 e。g。十五个吊桶（打水）──七上八下
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-24T15:12:41.490Z
famous example of 谚语：闰七不闰八，闰八过刀杀 （see web) mentioned in 《饥饿的女儿》，作者：虹影

author writes 我正是能随口念叨这些谚语的孩子中的一个
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-29T20:03:39.680Z
格言 bkrs：（含有教育意义的成语） maxim; motto; aphorism; an established maxim:e。g。“规范的调查是犯罪学的道德基础。”"Uniform codes of investigation are the moral foundation of criminology." http://www.baiyun.net/detective/wccs07.html
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-29T20:40:08.507Z
语录 quotation，e。g。 **毛主席语录**  e。g。教育必须为无产阶级政治服务，必须同生产劳动相结合。为什么语言要学，并且要用很大的气力去学呢？因为语言这东西，不是随便可以学好的，非下苦动不可。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T21:16:04.267Z
2018-04-08T06:24:26.433Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>I know the rough difference between a 成语 (4-character proverb)and a 俗语 (8-character or so saying), but what is a 谚语, and how does it differ from these?</p>

<p>I am also interested in 熟语。 How does this differ from these three?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-22T20:56:05.013Z
I have updated my post to take a fourth word into account. Can you please explain?
Jack Maddington
<proverb><saying>
成语 versus 俗语 versus 谚语, what is the difference?
# 成语 versus 俗语 versus 谚语, what is the difference?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-18)

I know the rough difference between a 成语 (4-character proverb)and a 俗语 (8-character or so saying), but what is a 谚语, and how does it differ from these?

I am also interested in 熟语。 How does this differ from these three?

**Tags:** proverb, saying

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I have updated my post to take a fourth word into account. Can you please explain?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-18. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

成語 and 諺語 are well established common expressions , well known by the whole population. 俗語 is more often, limited to regional use.

* 成語 mostly refer to Chinese idiom.
* 諺語 can be from different countries.
* Chinese 成語 are uniformly four characters phrases.
* For 俗語 and 諺語, number of character are flexible, some come in two parts.

Examples:

> 俗語 : "有便宜唔好使頸" (Cantonese) : "If there's benefit to be have, don't be stubborn."
>
> 諺語: "神要毀滅某人，必先使其瘋狂" (western): " "Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad."

* 諺語 (proverb) include "common sense" and "words of wisdom". from known or unknown origins.
* 俗語 (folk saying) include "situation description", "common sense" and "words of wisdom".
* 成語 (idiom) include "situation description" , "common sense", and "words of wisdom". Mostly came from known historical references, like poems, classical literature or famous quotes by historic figures .

Edit:

**熟语** (Well known phrases) include:

惯用语(common phrase), usually contain three characters, for example: "打秋風"，"拍馬屁" , 成語, 諺語, 俗語, 歇后语(two-part allegorical saying), for example: "和尚打傘，無法無天" and 格言(motto), usually from famous people, for example: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your descriptive answer. I would be happy to invite your post, if you could do me the favor of including your description of 熟语. This is from the front of a book.  
> **username_2**: ＂front of a  book"? cover/封面? title page/书名页／扉页? There exists ＂汉语熟语小词典＂containing 成语、惯用语 and **歇后语**  bkrs：[a two-part allegorical saying; sequel]通常只说前一部分, 后一部分不言而喻 e。g。十五个吊桶（打水）──七上八下  
> **username_2**: famous example of 谚语：闰七不闰八，闰八过刀杀 （see web) mentioned in 《饥饿的女儿》，作者：虹影  author writes 我正是能随口念叨这些谚语的孩子中的一个  
> **username_2**: 格言 bkrs：（含有教育意义的成语） maxim; motto; aphorism; an established maxim:e。g。“规范的调查是犯罪学的道德基础。”"Uniform codes of investigation are the moral foundation of criminology." http://www.baiyun.net/detective/wccs07.html  
> **username_2**: 语录 quotation，e。g。 **毛主席语录**  e。g。教育必须为无产阶级政治服务，必须同生产劳动相结合。为什么语言要学，并且要用很大的气力去学呢？因为语言这东西，不是随便可以学好的，非下苦动不可。  

---

