1. 'Treo biển' Essay 4
I - BASIC KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
1. A comedy story is one that highlights funny events in life to entertain or criticize negative behaviors in society.
2. Story Summary
A fish shop hung a large sign saying: 'Fresh fish sold here.'
As soon as the sign went up, someone joked that it implied the fish were probably stale. The shop removed the word 'fresh.'
The next day, someone criticized the phrase 'here' on the sign, so the shop took it down too.
Later, someone criticized the words 'for sale,' and the shop removed those as well.
Eventually, only the word 'fish' remained. The shop thought no one would criticize it further, but a neighbor still found fault.
The shop then decided to take the sign down.
3. 'Treo biển' is a humorous story criticizing the passivity and indecisiveness of the shop. The shop kept adjusting the sign based on random feedback until there was nothing left, and eventually, the sign was no longer needed. This story teaches the importance of thoughtful decision-making and having a clear stance when accepting criticism.
4. The story, though brief, highlights the passivity and inconsistency of the shop through four rounds of feedback.
5. The absurdity of taking down the sign after each change makes it a laughable situation, showing how wasted efforts result from a lack of clear direction.
II - READING COMPREHENSION GUIDELINES
1. The sign in the fish shop has four key elements:
- 'here' specifies the location;
- 'for sale' refers to the shop's activity;
- 'fish' indicates the product being sold;
- 'fresh' describes the quality of the fish.
2. There are four people who commented on the sign:
- The first person criticized the word 'fresh';
- The second person objected to 'here';
- The third person focused on 'for sale';
- The fourth person criticized 'fish.'
3. While each critique seemed reasonable, they were individual opinions, not the views of all customers. The sign's purpose is to convey essential information, so it needs to be clear and precise. A shop that removes key details based on every criticism will ultimately end up with nothing.
4. The most reasonable feedback was the second person's suggestion to remove 'here.' The third person's point was partially correct, as 'for sale' can be inferred from the context.
5. The humorous aspects of the story include:
- The shop putting up an overly detailed sign;
- Quickly changing it based on random feedback without considering the consequences;
- Removing parts until nothing remains, yet still facing criticism;
- The pointless effort of hanging and taking down the sign repeatedly. This highlights the shop's lack of conviction and unnecessary waste of time and energy.
6. The lesson from 'Treo biển' is about being cautious when making decisions and selectively accepting feedback, so as not to waste resources.
III - PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Review answer 2 in the 'Reading Comprehension' section.
The most appropriate sign would simply state: 'Fresh fish for sale,' as:
- 'for sale' is enough to convey the intended message;
- 'fish' clearly identifies the product;
- 'fresh' specifies the quality of the fish.
The lesson is to use only the necessary words and avoid unnecessary additions, ensuring clarity in communication.

2. Bài soạn "Treo biển" số 5
I. Về thể loại
Văn bản Treo biển thuộc thể loại truyện cười. Đây là thể loại truyện kể về những hiện tượng đáng cười trong cuộc sống, nhằm tạo ra tiếng cười mua vui hoặc phê phán những thói hư tật xấu trong xã hội.
Nước ta có kho tàng truyện cười rất phong phú với những câu chuyện nổi tiếng như Trạng Quỳnh, Trạng Lợn, Ba Giai Tú Xuất,… Đối tượng chủ yếu của những câu chuyện này là những giai cấp thống trị tham lam, kênh kiệu nhưng dốt nát. Tiếng cười khi đó trở thành vũ khí sắc bén của nhân dân lao động chống lại giai cấp thống trị.
Ngoài ra, còn một loại truyện cười khác mà đối tượng là những thói hư tật xấu, những hủ tục lạc hậu vẫn còn rơi rớt trong cuộc sống hằng ngày của nhân dân. Khi đó, tiếng cười giúp cho con người trở nên minh mẫn, sáng suốt, sống lành mạnh và khỏe khoắn hơn.
II. Tóm tắt
Truyện kể về một cửa hàng bán cá có treo biển với dòng chữ “Ở đây có bán cá tươi”. Cứ nghe người đi qua bình phẩm là nhà hàng lại bớt đi một hai chữ, từ “ở đây có bán cá tươi” thành “ở đây có bán cá”, đến “có bán cá”. Còn một chữ “cá” cuối cùng, thế mà vẫn có người đến góp ý, thế là chủ cửa hàng bèn cất nốt cả tấm biển.
III, Hướng dẫn soạn bài
Câu 1:
Nội dung của tấm biển “ở đây có bán cá tươi” của cửa hàng có 4 yếu tố:
Ở đây: chỉ địa điểm, vị trí
Có bán: chỉ hoạt động của cửa hàng
Cá: loại mặt hàng được bán tại cửa hàng
Tươi: chỉ chất lượng của mặt hàng
Câu 2:
Có 4 người góp ý về cái biển đề ở cửa hàng bán cá đó:
Người thứ nhất bình phẩm về chữ “tươi” rằng “nhà này xưa nay quen bán cá ươn”. Theo em, ý kiến này là không thỏa đáng, chữ “tươi” ở đây ngoài ý nghĩa chỉ phẩm chất tươi, còn có ý nghĩa chỉ chủng loại, tức là không phải cá khô, nên đặt chữ “tươi” là hoàn toàn hợp lý
Người thứ 2 bình phẩm về chữ “ở đây” rằng “chẳng lẽ ra hàng hoa mua cá?”. Ý kiến này thoạt đầu nghe thì có vẻ có lý. Tuy nhiên, nếu xét về nghệ thuật quảng cáo, hai chữ “ở đây” hoàn toàn không thừa. Bởi chúng có ý nghĩa tác động, tạo sự chú ý cho khách hàng
Người thứ 3 bình phẩm về chữ “có bán”. Có ý kiến cho rằng ý kiến này đúng một nửa (để chữ “bán”, bỏ chữ “có”). Chữ “bán” đúng thật là rất cần thiết, nó chỉ tính chất kinh doanh là bán chứ không phải mua. Không có chữ “bán” e rằng khách hàng sẽ không biết nơi này là bán cá hay mua cá. Tuy nhiên, nếu bỏ chữ “có” đi, tấm biển vẫn đủ ý nhưng sức tác động trong quảng cáo lại bị giảm đi rất nhiều. Chính vì thế, hai từ “có bán” là vô cùng quan trọng.
Người thứ 4 bình phẩm về chữ “cá”. Đây được coi là ý kiến vô lý nhất trong văn bản, vì mặt hàng là thứ quan trọng nhất trong việc quảng cáo để người khách hàng biết cửa hàng này bán gì.
Câu 3:
* Những chi tiết làm em cười đó là: cắt bỏ dần dần cho đến khi tưởng như không còn ai bắt bẻ, cuối cùng lại cất nốt tấm biển. Sự thiếu chính kiển của người chủ cửa hàng đã gây tốn công sức và tốn thời gian.
* Cái đáng cười bộc lộ rõ nhất là khi cửa hàng này treo biển mà không hiểu ý nghĩa công việc của mình, hoàn toàn mất hết chủ kiến.
Câu 4:
Truyện Treo biển có ý nghĩa là phê phán nhẹ nhàng những người không có chủ kiến trong cuộc sống, trong công việc. Không suy xét kỹ càng những góp ý, những bình phẩm của người khác. Từ đó, chúng ta rút ra được bài học là làm việc gì cũng phải suy nghĩ trước sau. Cũng có thể lắng nghe ý kiến của người khác nhưng phải chọn lọc, phải có chủ kiến kẻo phí công vô ích, bị thiên hạ cười chê mà lại tốn thời gian, công sức.

3. Bài soạn "Treo biển" số 6
I. Understanding the Story 'Treo biển'
1. Genre
A fable is a traditional folk tale that incorporates elements of real life to convey a message. By featuring animals with human characteristics, these stories often criticize and lampoon societal classes, especially the ruling class, creating laughter while imparting profound lessons and wisdom.
2. Summary of the Text
A shop hung a sign advertising 'Fresh fish sold here'. After several complaints from passersby, the shop owner gradually removed words, starting with 'fresh', then 'here', then 'for sale', and finally just 'fish'. Yet, there were still people who criticized the sign. Ultimately, the owner decided to take down the sign altogether.
II. Preparing for the 'Treo biển' Essay and Understanding the Text
1. Question 1 on page 125 of the 6th-grade Literature textbook
The sign at the fish shop 'Fresh fish sold here' conveys four key pieces of information to customers:
- 'Here' indicates the location;
- 'For sale' indicates the business activity;
- 'Fish' is the product being sold;
- 'Fresh' describes the quality of the fish.
2. Question 2 on page 125 of the 6th-grade Literature textbook
Four individuals gave feedback on the store's sign:
- The first criticized the word 'fresh';
- The second criticized 'here';
- The third criticized 'for sale';
- The fourth criticized 'fish'.
Each of their comments had its own reasoning, but the store owner failed to carefully consider and select which feedback to accept, lacking his own stance.
3. Question 3 on page 125 of the 6th-grade Literature textbook
Humorous details:
- The store hung a sign with unnecessary information;
- When customers complained, the owner hurriedly changed the sign without much thought;
- Gradually removing elements, the sign became ineffective;
- The store eventually removed the sign entirely.
The most comical aspect was when the store owner took down the entire sign, reflecting indecision and a lack of principles.
4. Question 4 on page 125 of the 6th-grade Literature textbook
The meaning of the story 'Treo biển': The story is humorous, yet it subtly criticizes those who lack thoughtful consideration and decisiveness when receiving feedback. It imparts the lesson to think carefully and choose feedback wisely before making decisions.
II. Practice with 'Treo biển'
Question on page 125 of the 6th-grade Literature textbook:
The original sign should be kept to maintain its full meaning. If revisions are necessary, it’s best to remove the words 'Here' or change it to 'The store sells fresh fish'.
The story teaches the lesson of being mindful in word choice: carefully selecting words that carry meaning and fully convey information to customers. One should not make changes based on others’ opinions without careful consideration of their impact on meaning.

4. Essay on 'Treo biển' No. 1
I. Overview of the Work: The Signboard
2. Structure (2 Parts)- Part 1 (from the beginning to 'fresh fish sold here'): The shop owner hangs up the fish sign- Part 2 (the rest): The various opinions and reactions of the shop owner.
3. Content ValueThe story, based on a fish shop listening to every 'suggestion' about its sign, humorously highlights the lack of critical thinking and blind obedience to others' advice.
4. Artistic Value- Creates an engaging plot- Surprising, unique ending- Uses humor effectively.II. Answering the Questions
Question 1 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1)
The sign at the fish shop 'Fresh Fish Sold Here' has four key elements:
+ 'Here': Indicates the location
+ 'Sold': Refers to the shop's activity
+ 'Fish': Indicates the product sold
+ 'Fresh': Refers to the quality of the goods.
Question 2 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1)
Four people commented on the fish shop's sign:
- The first person commented on the word 'fresh'
- The second person focused on 'here'
- The third person criticized 'sold'
- The fourth person questioned 'fish'
→ Each comment had its reasoning, but the shop owner failed to select and filter them wisely, ultimately removing the sign.
Question 3 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1)
Humorous details:
+ The shop displayed a sign with excessive information
+ When customers complained, the owner hastily adjusted the sign without thinking.
+ Gradually removed words from the sign
+ Finally, the shop removed the sign completely.
- The most humorous aspect was removing the entire sign, showcasing the shop owner's passivity and lack of decision-making.
Question 4 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1)
The Meaning of the Story 'The Signboard':
- The story offers a humorous perspective, subtly mocking those who lack critical thinking and blindly follow suggestions without thorough evaluation.
- The lesson: Being cautious and selective in accepting others' advice is important to avoid wasting time and effort.
III. Practice
It is important to retain key words like 'fresh fish sold' and avoid unnecessary or redundant words.
→ A lesson in word usage: use only necessary words to ensure information is clear, accurate, and not subject to misinterpretation.

5. Essay on 'The Signboard' - Version 2
Answer to Question 1 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1):
Read the story 'The Signboard' and answer the question: What are the elements in the signboard at the fish shop ('Fresh Fish Sold Here')? What role does each element play?
Detailed Solution:
The sign at the fish shop ('Fresh Fish Sold Here') consists of four key elements:
- 'Here': Indicates the shop's location.
- 'Sold': Indicates the shop's activity.
- 'Fish': Indicates the type of product sold.
- 'Fresh': Indicates the quality of the product.
These four elements are essential for a meaningful advertising sign in language.
Answer to Question 2 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1):
How many people commented on the sign at the fish shop? What is your opinion on each of their suggestions?
Detailed Solution:
Four customers commented on the sign at the fish shop:
- The first suggestion was to remove the word 'fresh'.
- The second suggestion was to remove 'here'.
- The third suggestion was to remove 'sold'.
- The fourth suggestion was to remove the word 'fish'.
All four suggestions are subjective and flawed.
- Removing 'fresh' would undermine the product's quality but could be acceptable.
- Removing 'here', indicating the shop's location, would make the sign ambiguous and impolite to customers.
- Removing 'sold' and leaving just the word 'fish' would render the sign nonsensical.
- The final suggestion to remove the sign entirely, claiming that people should already smell the fish, was blindly followed by the shop, resulting in the removal of the sign.
Answer to Question 3 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1):
What details in the story made you laugh? When is the humor most evident? Why?
Detailed Solution:
The humor comes from the shop owner blindly following every suggestion without thinking. It's funny because the shop owner does not understand the purpose of the sign or what the words on it represent.
The greatest humor is at the end when the sign is reduced to just the word 'fish'. Despite still receiving feedback, the shop removes the sign altogether, resulting in the loudest laugh. The irony is that each suggestion seemed reasonable, but following them led to absurdity. The humor highlights the shop owner’s inability to make independent decisions.
Answer to Question 4 (page 125, Literature 6, Volume 1):
What is the meaning of the story 'The Signboard'?
Detailed Solution:
'The Signboard' is a humorous story that subtly criticizes people who lack independent thinking, who blindly follow others’ advice without carefully considering it.
The story teaches us that when others give feedback, we should not act hastily without proper thought. We must work with awareness, make our own decisions, and be selective about which advice to accept.
EXERCISE
If you were asked to redesign the fish shop's sign, how would you handle the four suggestions? What lessons can be learned about word usage from this story?
Detailed Solution:
- The sign should be kept mostly as it is to maintain clarity. If changes are necessary, only the word 'Here' could be removed.
- From this story, we learn the lesson of word usage: words should be meaningful, concise, and necessary. The advertising sign must be clear, brief, and serve its purpose effectively.
Summary
A fish shop displays a sign that says 'Fresh Fish Sold Here'. As people comment on it, the shop keeps removing words. Eventually, only 'Fish' is left, and people continue giving suggestions. In the end, the shop removes the sign entirely.
Structure
The structure consists of two parts:
- Part 1 (from the beginning to 'Fresh Fish Sold Here'): The shop owner hangs the sign.
- Part 2 (the remainder): The shop owner makes changes to the sign and finally removes it.
Main Content
The story humorously criticizes people who lack independent judgment and fail to properly consider others’ feedback.

6. Essay on 'The Signboard' - Version 3
Lesson 1, Page 125, 6th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1
What elements are present in the signboard displayed at the store ("Fresh fish for sale")? What is the role of each element?
Answer
The store's signboard contains four key elements:
– "Here": indicates the store's location.
– "For sale": indicates the store's business activity (selling, not buying or collecting).
– "Fish": indicates the product being sold.
– "Fresh": specifies the quality and type of the product, distinguishing it from other types (e.g., dried fish).
Lesson 2, Page 125, 6th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1
How many people provided "feedback" about the store's sign? What do you think about each suggestion?
Answer
There were four people who commented on the sign:
– The first person criticized the word "fresh" (Has this store always sold spoiled fish?).
+ This comment is not valid. As previously analyzed, the word "fresh" here not only refers to quality (fresh) but also distinguishes the type (not dried fish), so it is necessary.
– The second person commented on the phrase "here" (Does this mean a flower shop is selling fish?).
+ This comment might seem reasonable at first. However, in advertising, the word "here" is essential. It serves to grab the customer's attention.
– The third person discussed the phrase "for sale".
+ There was a suggestion to leave out the word "for" and just keep "sell". The word "sell" is important as it indicates the nature of the business (selling, not buying). However, just like the word "here", the word "for" is not redundant. It serves to emphasize the business activity of the store. Removing "for" would still convey the message but weaken the advertisement's impact (compare "Here, fish for sale" and "Here, sell fish").
– The final person commented on the word "fish".
+ This comment is the most unreasonable. Anyone selling any product must advertise it. Without advertising, how would people know the store sells fish? Even if fish are displayed, without a sign, no one would come to buy. This comment might have been made just to ridicule the store, with no careful consideration. Despite that, the store owner followed this absurd advice.
Lesson 3, Page 125, 6th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1
What details in this story made you laugh? When is the humor most evident? Why?
Answer
All four elements of the sign are necessary to some degree. Some are even indispensable (sell, fish, fresh). The humor arises from the fact that the store owner put up a sign without understanding its purpose, merely following others' opinions without thinking critically, resulting in wasted time, money, and effort, and ultimately making the owner the subject of ridicule.
Lesson 4, Page 125, 6th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1
What is the meaning of the story?
Answer
The story is a humorous tale meant to criticize flaws and laughable behaviors within society. It specifically targets the passive, indecisive nature of the store owner. While putting up a sign for advertising is meaningful, the owner lacks self-awareness and fails to realize the sign's purpose. They constantly alter the sign based on unimportant suggestions, ultimately wasting effort and making themselves the subject of ridicule.
The story teaches an important lesson: when doing anything, one must think carefully and critically. It's okay to listen to others' suggestions, but one must analyze them and make informed decisions to avoid wasting time and effort, and to prevent being ridiculed without achieving the desired results.
Practice Exercise, Page 125, 6th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1
If you were to redesign the store's sign, how would you address or counter the four people's feedback? What lesson about word usage can be learned from this story?
Answer
- Keep the sign as it is to retain the full message. If changes are necessary, only remove the phrase "Here".
- From this story, we learn that words should have meaning and convey necessary information without redundancy. Words in advertising should be brief, clear, and effective in conveying the intended message.
Key Knowledge
I. About the Genre and the Story
- A humorous story is one that portrays funny situations in life to either entertain or subtly criticize societal flaws and vices.
- The story of the fish store's sign, where the owner continuously alters the sign based on others' feedback, creates laughter while also critiquing those who lack independence in their actions and fail to carefully consider others' suggestions.
II. Story Summary: The Fish Store's Sign
A fish store displays a sign that reads: "Fresh fish for sale here". As people pass by and comment, the store owner removes a few words, from "Fresh fish for sale here" to "Fish for sale here", and finally to just "Fish". Eventually, someone comments on the word "fish", prompting the store to take down the entire sign.
Remember
At its core, a humorous story presents situations that are laughable while offering subtle criticism of certain societal behaviors. The story of the fish store's sign illustrates how a lack of independent thought and critical evaluation of others' suggestions can lead to wasted effort and missed opportunities.

