Abstract: "Xiehou" refers to delayed presence of the back part of Chinese two- part allegorical sayings. The unique way of
introducing two parts in Chinese two-part allegorical sayings results in continuous arguments about the role the back part plays in
understanding them. Since the back part occurs behind the front part, it is thought to be less important and take even little effect on
understanding such sayings. This viewpoint is contrary to what previous experiments indicated, according to which the back part cannot
be omitted from the whole sayings only when the two-part allegorical sayings are with high familiarity. This study further explores the
effect of the back part on understanding figurative Chinese two-part allegorical sayings with eye-movement technique. The back part
were shown in three ways to examine which way will facilitate understanding such sayings. The results show that figurative Chinese
two-part allegorical sayings with " ——" accelerate the understanding process, which in fact involves semantic activation and
exhibition between front and back parts.

Key words: phrase, two-part allegorical saying, figurative, Xiehou condition, process