Author Archives: Eric Jimenez

“Dripping water can penetrate the stone”

Age: 20


Date of performance: 2/22/25


Language: Chinese


Nationality: Chinese


Occupation: Student


Primary Language: Chinese & English


Residence: United States

Background:

“水滴石穿 (shuǐ dī shí chuān)” is a Chinese proverb commonly used by teachers, parents, and adults in general to encourage young kids.

Context:

For context, the interviewee was told this proverb as a kid growing up whenever they would attend their art class. Upon getting frustrated with their work, their teacher would recite the phrase, “水滴石穿 (shuǐ dī shí chuān)” which translates to “Dripping water can penetrate the stone.”

Interviewee Interpretation:

As understood by the interviewee, this phrase means to have patience and persistence, or that if you have enough patience, you can achieve anything.

Analysis:

Per my interviewee’s understanding, I interpret this metaphor similarly to having an ease of mind and clear consciousness; just like water. Not only then through patience and perseverance can you achieve that which is beyond expectation; dripping water deteriorating stone gradually over time. I found it interesting that dripping is involved with the water asset. Based on my interpretation, it serves to emphasize and directly change the direction of the entire saying. Through its addition, it presents the passage with the additional concept of time which helps guide listeners to gain the insight that patience holds immense power.

“I whisper secrets, , make trees sway, My voice is felt, but not seen in play. Though I’m invisible, I can be heard all day.”

Age: 20


Date of performance: 2/22/25


Language: Chinese


Nationality: Chinese


Occupation: Student


Primary Language: Chinese & English


Residence: United States

Riddle:

“I whisper secrets, make trees sway, My voice is felt, but not seen in play. Though I’m invisible, I can be heard all day.”

Context:

This riddle is usually heard at Chinese lantern festivals in which is meant to be interacted with predominantly by children. This is the case because it is considered a beginner-level riddle. Children interact with these riddles from the festival as they are attached to lanterns during the event. These lanterns serve as a reward system and if you get a riddle correct, you are awarded a rice dumpling.

Interviewee mentions that most riddles from Chinese Culture are predominantly from Chinese Lantern Festivals. They heard this knowledge while growing up from their mom, but it is also generally well-known in Chinese culture. Furthermore, they mentioned it was such an easy riddle and refused to provide the answer upon introduction of the riddle having me try to figure it out on my own.

Analysis:

I was able to answer the riddle pretty easily despite feeling like I was being tricked by my friend. The answer was the wind, which felt pretty self-explanatory to me in the end. I find myself so used to the trend that riddles try to trick people through the use of making the answer something you can’t see that I naturally fell back to thinking of the wind first; which in this case was right as it’s a common riddle answer.

I found it quite interesting how riddles were introduced to children at events, not only that but through the use of lanterns. I’m so accustomed to them just being a verbal challenge that this is such a fun way to implement them and challenge kids. I find it such a fun way to help children integrate into Chinese festivals and help them feel involved in their culture

Fox Window Hand Sign

Age: 20


Date of performance: 2/22/25


Nationality: Chinese


Occupation: Student


Primary Language: Chinese & English


Residence: United States

Context:

The interviewee believes that the hand sign provides a window for the user to see someone close that’s deceased. They originally heard it from other kids while growing up. Despite this knowledge, and influence as a kid growing up, they have never tried the hand sign as a result of superstition. This superstition stems from the fact that they believe that if it’s done incorrectly, the dead will haunt them instead. According to them, they believe that its origins stem from Japan. Furthermore, this concept is also seen in general throughout Asian Literature

Analysis:

I found this concept to be interesting as I feel like I’ve heard of this hand sign before in media. Despite having a faint memory of previous references, I’ve never encountered one with a concept such as this one and its connection to a dead loved one. I feel like I’ve naturally heard of ones with similar ideas that are all connected to some vision of the dead. Much like my interviewee’s interpretation, I’ve heard of one that serves as a lens to the world of the dead in general, with the consequences serving from staring at the ghosts or certain animals.

How much does it cost to get married?

Age: 20


Date of performance: 2/22/25


Nationality: Chinese


Occupation: Student


Primary Language: Chinese & English


Residence: United States

Joke:

Kid: Dad, how much does it cost to get married?

Dad: I don’t know, I’m still paying for it

Context:

Growing up, the interviewee, heard this phrase from listening to Chinese Soap Opera. They believe this joke plays on the stereotypical husband ‘hating’ his wife archetype and is commonly seen in old media. The interviewee interprets it as a dig towards a woman’s pricy needs and serves as a misogynistic comment towards wives in general.

Analysis:

While I agree with it serving as a misogynistic comment, I believe it might also play into the concept of marriage as a whole being an overwhelming price. May it be because of the wife’s choices/preferences or the cost of marriage as a whole, the whole act of having a marriage over the years has become a general burden on people’s wallets as we grow expensive tastes to accentuate our “love” for one another in physical form.

Yeoubi

Age: 20


Date of performance: 2/12/25


Nationality: Korean


Occupation: Student


Primary Language: Korean & English


Residence: United States

Metaphor:

Yeoubi

This word is a Korean folklore metaphor for “Sun Shower” or “Foxes Rain.” Sun shower refers to when it rains and the sun is out while Foxes Rain refers to the folktale surrounding the phrase.

Context:

The interviewee states that this originates from a folktale about a fox’s unrequited love. This story is about a cloud that fell in love with a fox during the fox’s marriage. As a whole the word “Yeoubi” refers to a story about bittersweet love. She originally heard this story from her mom as a child.

Analysis:

My interpretation of the story and its origin follows through with its bittersweet nature. I found it endearing to piece together how the rain is meant to reflect the cloud’s tears as it comes to terms with being unable to stand alongside the fox whom he fell in love with, watching them make a big lifetime commitment to one another. The meaning of Sun Shower helps to exemplify this matter, as it is such a wonderful day for the fox as it gets married, but behind the scenes, it’s a sad day for the cloud, where it watches the love of its life marry someone else.