การวิเคราะห์ความหมายคำเรียกชื่อผักในภาษาจีน: การวิเคราะห์ความหมายคำเรียกชื่อผักในภาษาจีน

Aunyamanie Maomeechan; Kitika Karachakul; Thumwadee Siripanyathiti

Authors

Aunyamanie Maomeechan College of Chinese Studies, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University
Kitika Karachakul College of Chinese Studies, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University
Thumwadee Siripanyathiti College of Chinese Studies, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University

Keywords:

Semantic analysis, names of vegetables, Chinese language

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the naming patterns of vegetables in Chinese, focusing on the word structures “X+菜” “X+豆” and “X+瓜” Data were collected from 37 entries in Modern Chinese Dictionary (7th edition), with an emphasis on analyzing the meaning of the morpheme “X” The analysis revealed that “X” can be categorized into five semantic types: color, direction, shape, taste and smell, and location. These naming patterns reflect the cognitive and classificatory processes underlying vegetable nomenclature in Chinese, as well as their connections to Chinese culture, lifestyle, and worldview. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of vegetable naming in Chinese from both linguistic and cultural perspectives.

References

Ai Ming.(n.d.).kuguadili. Retrieved from http://journal.crnews.net/ncpsczk/2020n/d8q/msdl/931964_20200421024046.html

Brent Berlin & Paul Kay. (1969). Basic Color Terms. Their Universality and Evolution: University of California Press.

Cao Wei. (2004). A study of modern Chinese vocabulary. Beijing: Peking University Press.

Cui Xi liang. (2001). Language Understanding and Cognition. Beijing: Beijing Language and Culture University Press.

Handian. (n.d.). Meaning of “bei gua”. Retrieved from https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%8C%97%E7%93%9C#google_vignette

Huang Bo rong & Liao Xu Dong (2017). Modern Chinese. Beijing: Higher Education Press.

Humboldt, W. v. (1997). Language and the human spirit. Beijing: Beijing Normal University Press.

Saussure, F. de. (2017). Pu tong yu yan xue jiao cheng [Course in General Linguistics]. Beijing: Commercial Press.

Sirikun, P. (2024). Lexical semantics of gua. Chinese Language and Culture Journal, 12(1), 45–62.

Stdaily. (2025). Today is Lichun (Start of Autumn): Eat watermelons and life will be carefree. Retrieved from https://www.stdaily.com/web/gdxw/2025-08/07/content_381550.html

Zhu, De-Xi. (2017). Lectures on grammar. Beijing: The Commercial Press.

A Semantic Analysis of Vegetable Names in Chinese