B2 Lesson 1: Using Figurative Language (Similes, Metaphors)
Welcome to B2 Descriptive and Narrative Writing! You have learned to create clear descriptions with adjectives and adverbs. At this advanced level, we will learn to make your writing more powerful and creative by using figurative language1.
This means using words in a non-literal way to create a strong image or feeling in the reader's mind. Today, we will master the two most common types: similes and metaphors.
Technique 1: Simile (Comparing with 'like' or 'as')
A simile2 is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things by using the words like or as. It's a way of saying something is *similar* to something else.
Formula: A is like B. / A is as [adjective] as B.
Examples:
- The afternoon sun was like an oven. (Compares the sun's heat to an oven's heat).
- After his long journey, the old man's face was like a map of his life.
- The water in the bay at Kep was as clear as glass.
Technique 2: Metaphor (Direct Comparison)
A metaphor3 is a stronger, more direct comparison. It says something is something else. It does NOT use the words 'like' or 'as'.
Formula: A is B.
Examples:
- The afternoon sun was an oven. (This is stronger than saying it was *like* an oven).
- The traffic jam in Phnom Penh is a monster that never sleeps.
- Her friendly advice was a lighthouse in the storm of my confusion.
Simile vs. Metaphor: The Key Difference
The only difference is the use of "like" or "as". A simile says A is *like* B. A metaphor says A *is* B.
| Simile | Metaphor |
|---|---|
| He is as strong as an ox. | He is an ox. |
| Her words were like daggers. | Her words were daggers. |
🧠 Practice Quiz: Simile or Metaphor?
Read each sentence and decide if it contains a simile or a metaphor.
1. After the long meeting, my brain was a computer with too many windows open.
Answer: Metaphor (It makes a direct comparison without using "like" or "as").
2. From the top of Bokor Mountain, the cars on the road looked like tiny insects.
Answer: Simile (It uses the word "like" to make the comparison).
3. The night sky was a black velvet blanket sprinkled with diamond dust.
Answer: Metaphor (It directly says the sky "was" a blanket).
📝 Homework: Create Your Own Comparisons
Get your notebook and pen. It's time to practice your creative writing.
Part 1: Convert the Comparison
- Turn this simile into a metaphor: The clouds were like giant pillows in the sky.
- Turn this metaphor into a simile: The full moon was a silver coin.
Part 2: Write a Descriptive Paragraph
Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing a familiar scene (e.g., a rainy day in Cambodia, a busy market, a quiet temple). In your paragraph, you must include one simile and one metaphor.
(Answers for Part 1: 1. The clouds were giant pillows in the sky. 2. The full moon was like a silver coin.)
Vocabulary Glossary
- Figurative Language: (Noun Phrase) - ភាសាន័យធៀប - Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. ↩
- Simile: (Noun) - (ការប្រៀបធៀប 'like'/'as') - A comparison of two different things using the word "like" or "as". ↩
- Metaphor: (Noun) - (ការប្រៀបធៀប 'is') - A direct comparison where one thing is said to be another thing. ↩
- Literal: (Adjective) - តាមព្យញ្ជនៈ - Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration. ↩
- Comparison: (Noun) - ការប្រៀបធៀប - The act of finding out the differences or similarities between two or more things. ↩