A Study of Conceptual Metaphors of Humans in Chinese Idiomatic Expressions

Abstract

This research article aims to identify human metaphors found in Chinese idiomatic expressions (惯用语) and analyze the relationship between metaphors and human concepts in Chinese idiomatic expressions. The Chinese idiomatic expressions were selected from the “A Frequency Dictionary of Chinese Idiomatic Expressions”《常用惯用语词典》. The relationship between metaphors and human concepts in these idiomatic expressions is analyzed through conceptual mapping according to the framework of Lakoff and Johnson. The results of the study found that the conceptual metaphors related to humans originate from metaphors of living things and metaphors of non-living things. The most prevalent metaphor among living things is [humans are animals], which involves transferring meanings from the behaviors, characteristics, physical features, and body parts positions of animals to refer to types of people, people's gestures, and people's behaviors and personalities. Among non-living things, the most prevalent metaphor is [humans are objects], which involves transferring meanings from characteristics and physical features to refer to people's behaviors and personalities, types of people, and their outward appearances. The transfer of meaning from the source domain to the target domain of living and non-living metaphors is largely consistent, though there are slight differences due to the fundamental characteristics of those entities. The findings of this study help to understand the perspective in Chinese society that conveys ideas about people through the use of metaphors in Chinese idiomatic expressions.