A Comparative Study of Love Metaphors in Chinese and English

Abstract

Metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also a cognitive phenomenon of human beings. This paper attempts to compare the similarities and differences between Chinese and English love metaphors, and to explore the factors leading to the similarities and differences. It is found that there are both similarities and differences in Chinese and English love metaphors. The similarities are caused by the common physiological and psychological characteristics, physical and social experiences of human beings. The differences result from the fact that Chinese people and westerners have different cultural experiences, including differences in cultural origins, geographical environments, historical backgrounds, legends and customs, as well as differences in language itself.