A Comparative Study of Chinese Idiomatic Expressions Containing the Word “不” with Thai Idiomatic Expressions Containing the Word “Mai”

Abstract

Background and Aims: Negation is a universal linguistic mechanism, yet its use in idiomatic expressions often reveals culture-specific conceptualizations. This study aims to compare Chinese idioms containing “不” (bù) and Thai idioms containing “ไม่” (mai) by examining their structural functions, semantic prosodies, and cultural meanings. A total of 100 idioms (50 Chinese and 50 Thai) were purposively selected based on explicit criteria, including lexical presence of 不 or ไม่, idiomatic fixedness, and identifiable cultural significance.

Methodology: A qualitative analytical approach was employed. The idioms were collected from Chinese and Thai dictionaries, literary sources, and linguistic reference materials. All idioms were analyzed and compared in terms of semantic orientation, structural characteristics, and cultural context. A linguistic–cultural comparison framework was used to identify similarities and differences between idioms containing 不 and ไม่, supported by descriptive categorization.

Results: The findings reveal that Chinese idioms containing 不 frequently convey positive meanings, due to the lexicalization of 不 in fixed expressions, whereas Thai idioms containing ไม่ or their Chinese equivalents tend to express negative or cautionary meanings. (1) idioms in which both languages use explicit negators (不 and ไม่), (2) idioms in which Chinese uses 不 while Thai uses other lexical strategies, and (3) idioms in which Thai uses ไม่ while Chinese uses a non-negating form. Additionally, Chinese idioms containing 不 reflect key cultural values such as diligence, moral conduct, Confucian principles, filial piety, and traditional ways of life.

Conclusion: Although Chinese and Thai idioms containing the negative markers 不 and ไม่ share certain grammatical similarities, their idiomatic use reflects distinct cultural models and cognitive orientations. The study contributes to cross-linguistic understanding and offers practical insights for teaching Chinese as a foreign language, as well as for comparative linguistic and cultural studies between Chinese and Thai.