A question about the phrase 打破沙锅问到底
I would like to know more about the phrase 打破沙锅问到底. I know the meaning of it, but I am curious to know the thinking behind it as it is very strange phrase. Why do you say it like this, and not in a less abstract way?

Question

Answer

Literally, "Incessant questioning until the pot cracks".  It is just a colorful idiom of exaggeration.  不要让她知道, 否則她会打破沙锅问到底.  It is just like in English using "raining like cats and dogs".

Answer

打破沙锅问到底 the original sentence is 打破砂锅璺到底. "璺" is "纹“ ，means crack. so the sentence means " the casserole brokn , the cracks got to the bottom."
If you want to know why we say it like this . just remmember : China's food culture penetrates into many aspects of Chinese culture..

Answer

It comes from a play on words.

“问” puns “纹”, which is the crack at the bottom of a broken “砂锅”.

A decent broken 砂锅 tends to have “纹/问” all the way to the bottom.

Answer

This information might be a bit long, but i think it's quite helpful for this question.

http://iask.sina.com.cn/b/16950147.html

Answers · 4

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!