ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to present a general picture of humour research in Chinese. The next section shows the various definitions for humour terms in authoritative dictionaries of Chinese and those given by well-known Chinese scholars. Classification distinctions between humour and other related terms are also discussed. Then, we provide a brief survey on research into the generation and interpretation of Chinese humour. We discuss research on humorous literature in Chinese, a topic which can be traced back to ancient times. Research on Chinese humorous novels are also considered, including the well-known novelists鲁迅 Lu Xun (1881–1936), 老舍 Lao She (1989–1966), and 钱钟书 Qian Zhongshu or Ch’ien Chung-shu (1910–1998). Finally, we introduce the latest trends in the study of Chinese humour, with concluding remarks for future studies.
