修辞 (xiūcí) — rhetoric, rhetorical device
HSK 5 | n | the art of effective language use; a rhetorical figure or device
修辞 (xiūcí)
修辞 covers both the broad art of rhetoric (using language effectively and persuasively) and specific rhetorical devices such as metaphor, parallelism, and personification. In Chinese language arts education, 修辞 is a core curriculum topic. It is more technical than simply saying "figures of speech" and implies a systematic study of how language choices affect meaning and impact.
Meanings
- [n] rhetoric; the art of effective language use; a rhetorical device or figure of speech
Example Sentences
这篇演讲运用了大量修辞，感染力极强。 Zhè piān yǎnjiǎng yùnyòng le dàliàng xiūcí, gǎnrǎn lì jí qiáng. This speech employed extensive rhetorical devices and was extremely moving.
中学语文课会系统讲解比喻、排比等常见修辞格。 Zhōngxué yǔwén kè huì xìtǒng jiǎngjiě bǐyù, páibǐ děng chángjiàn xiūcí gé. Middle school Chinese language classes systematically explain common rhetorical figures such as metaphor and parallelism.
优秀的散文不仅内容丰富，修辞也十分精妙。 Yōuxiù de sǎnwén bùjǐn nèiróng fēngfù, xiūcí yě shífēn jīngmiào. Excellent prose is not only rich in content but also highly refined in its rhetorical devices.
他批评这篇文章修辞过度，掩盖了核心论点。 Tā pīpíng zhè piān wénzhāng xiūcí guòdù, yǎngài le héxīn lùndiǎn. He criticized this essay for its excessive rhetoric, which obscured the central argument.
修辞学是研究语言表达艺术的一门学科。 Xiūcíxué shì yánjiū yǔyán biǎodá yìshù de yī mén xuékē. Rhetoric is a discipline that studies the art of linguistic expression.
广告语往往大量使用修辞手段来吸引消费者的注意。 Guǎnggào yǔ wǎngwǎng dàliàng shǐyòng xiūcí shǒuduàn lái xīyǐn xiāofèizhě de zhùyì. Advertising slogans often use extensive rhetorical means to attract consumers' attention.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 修辞手法 | rhetorical technique |
| 修辞格 | rhetorical figure |
| 运用修辞 | to employ rhetoric |
| 修辞学 | the study of rhetoric |
| 修辞效果 | rhetorical effect |
Usage Notes
修辞 in Chinese education refers specifically to 修辞格 (rhetorical figures), which include 比喻 (metaphor), 拟人 (personification), 排比 (parallelism), 夸张 (hyperbole), 对偶 (antithesis), and others. Knowing these terms is essential for Chinese language exams. The broader field is 修辞学 (xiūcíxué), the academic discipline of rhetoric.
In critical contexts, saying someone's writing is 修辞华丽 (huálì) might be a compliment (ornate rhetoric) or a mild criticism (all style, no substance), depending on context.
Memory Hook
修 means to polish or refine; 辞 means words or speech — 修辞 is "polishing your words," the art of refined expression.