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Fac. Of Grad. Studies, Mahidol Univ. M. A. (Linguistics) / 1

A CONCEPTUAL INTEGRATION APPROACH TO

MODERN CHINESE IDIOMS RELATED TO ECONOMY

HAN JIANGHUA

RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR LANGUAGES AND

CULTURES OF ASIA MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY

2013

Han Jianghua Research Institute foe Languages and Cultures of Asia / 2

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

2. Literature Review

……………………………………………………………………………… 83. Research

methodology……………………………………………………………………23

4.

Classification…………………………………………………………………………………………27

5. Conceptual blending and frame shifting in idioms: A

method for figurative meaning of

idioms……………………………40

6. Conclusion Discussion and suggestions ……………………………106

Appendix: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………115


References: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………123

1. Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

A language is an important tool of daily communication. It is used by a

number of people with various social backgrounds and in a lot of contexts. The larger

the number of speakers using the language, the higher the chance that the language is

subject to change in the daily use. The development trend of language is that the

structure will be from the simple to complex and its expression ability will be from

poor to rich and precise.(Geeraerts 2010) In this process, a marked characteristic is

that a large number of idioms generated and be widely used in daily communication.

In Chinese, the idiom refers to a set expression of two or more words

which has a fixed structure and means something other than the literal meanings of its

individual words. Generally, we cannot change the compositions of idiom arbitrarily


and cannot analyze its structure through the general rules of word-building. In

Chinese idioms, the idioms which have a strong written style characteristics and have

a four syllable expression are called “成语/ʦʰeŋ35jy214/”; and the idioms which have a

strong colloquial style characteristics and are not four syllable expression are called

“俗语 /su35jy214/”; and the “成语 /ʦʰeŋ35jy214/” and“俗语 /su35jy214/” are all called “熟语/ʂu35jy214/” or 习语/ɕi214jy214/. (Ci Hai dictionary, 2009.). People use idioms to make

their language richer and more colorful and to convey subtle shades of meaning or

intention. Idioms are used often to replace a literal word or expression, and many

times the idiom better describes the full nuance of meaning. Idioms and idiomatic

expressions can be more precise than the literal words, often using fewer words but

saying more. (Gail Brenner, Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook.

Webster's New World, 2003).

Chinese, the official language of China, is the major language spoken

by the Han people who are the largest ethnic group in country. The language has a

long history, and is the world’s oldest language still in use. In terms of history,

Chinese is generally divided into old Chinese (Eleventh Century B.C. to Seventh

Century A.D.), middle Chinese (Seventh Century A.D. to Tenth Century A.D.), and

modern Chinese (Tenth Century A.D to Present). (Wang, 1980). At present, there is

about 1/5 word’s population who use Chinese as daily communication language.

As previously mentioned, Chinese has a long history and generates a

large number of idioms in daily communication. The idioms are not only the marker

which represents the expression ability of Chinese become richer and more precise,

but also is an aggregation of cognition and culture of Chinese people. The generation

of idiom is not only the result of language development, but also the result of the

artistic expression of Chinese people’s understanding and experience of the real word

in daily life. This is especially the case for idioms that are related to the economy

reflecting the people’s ideas about the economic conditions in China.

The study of Chinese idioms, does not only help us to understand the

features of Chinese idioms and Chinese language, but will also help us to explore the

cognitive models and cultural models of Chinese people. And this is the core purpose

and topic significance of this thesis.


After a development of thousands of years, Chinese has formed a huge

number and highly expressive idiom system. Due to limited space, this paper only

selects the Chinese new idioms related to economy as the object of study.

1.2 Research questions

1) Which idioms are included in the term of idioms related to

economy?

2) Why the conceptual blending theory will help us to understand the

idioms better?

3) What kind of relationship does exist between idioms and social

change?

1.3 Object of the study

The research object of this thesis is the Chinese new idioms related to

economy. The author has collected about two hundreds Chinese new idioms, as

related to economy, which can be used to analyze. In this thesis, the author will

research the classification methods of Chinese idioms firstly; and then, will analyze

the characteristics of conceptual blending and frame shifting in Chinese idioms, and

analyze the cognitive models and cultural models which are involved in the processes

of conceptual blending and frame shifting; next, will discuss the formation model of

figurative meaning of Chinese idioms; and will also discuss the cultural nature and

culture value of Chinese idioms at last.

1.4 Scope of the study

The study of idioms always includes the form orientation and content

orientation. The form orientation approaches idioms from phonetic (or phonological)

and grammatical perspectives resulting in multidimensional descriptions of idioms.

On the other hand, the content orientation approaches idioms from meaning and

cultural perspectives resulting in multidimensional interpretations of idioms.

In this thesis, the study of modern Chinese idioms related to economy

will follow the content orientation. It will analyze and interpret Chinese idioms using

a conceptual blending approach and discuss the results against the background of

Chinese cultural context in order to gain a broader understanding of the phenomena.


1.5 Significance of the study

As mentioned earlier, the large number of idioms generated and be

widely used in daily communication represents that the expression ability of Chinese

becomes richer and more precise. So, the study of Chinese idioms will have a very

important significance.

As we know, studying idioms in particular languages are crucial to the

understanding of such languages and the cultural contexts to which they belong

because idioms are formed under a specific ethnic culture, cognition and background

knowledge, and so, it will reflect the culture and cognition of the ethnic group that use

the language. The study of the forming process of idiom’s figurative meaning will

help us to understand the national culture and cognitive characteristics better.

This thesis will mainly study the conceptual blending and frame

shifting in Chinese idioms, the method and model of the formation of Chinese idioms’

figurative meaning. According to the analysis of this thesis can know that the

conceptual blending and frame shifting is the main method of the formation of

Chinese idioms’ figurative meaning and the model of dissipative structure is the main

model of the formation and stabilized of Chinese idioms’ figurative meaning.

To establish a universal paradigm of content oriented study of idioms

according to the analysis of this method and model is the first purpose of this thesis.

Language is the easily noticeable characteristic of an ethnic group and a

cognitive product of an ethnic group. As the most general and expressive unit of a

language, the idioms show the cognition and wisdom of an ethnic group at whenever

and wherever possible. Therefore, the analysis of cognitive concept and cognitive

model which are reflected by the Chinese idioms will help us to understand the

Chinese ethnic group’s cognitive view better.

Furthermore, the language is not only the carrier of information and

culture, but the language itself is also a kind of cultural phenomenon, being a part of

the whole culture of an ethnic group, and the language is also a special culture which

has a system of itself. (Zhang, 1998). As an accumulation of an ethnic group’s culture,

the language contains almost all culture information which is created by an ethnic

group from ancient times to now.


Therefore, we can understand and interpret an ethnic group’s culture

through the language of that ethnic group. Furthermore, we can find the cultures,

which are created by an ethnic group in a certain historical period and then

disappeared with the development of history, from the language of that ethnic group.

This is so-called the cultural value of language. Analyzing the Chinese idioms

thoroughly from the cultural perspective in order to reveal the cultural value of

Chinese idioms is the last purpose of this paper.

1.6 Contribution

1.6.1 Combing and improving the classification standard and method of idioms in

order to establish a complete classification system of idioms.

1.6.2 Through the analysis of the conceptual blending, which is involved in the

Chinese new idioms, let people know about a series of characteristics of the conceptual

blending involved in Chinese idioms.

1.6.3 Through the analysis of the formation method and model of the idioms’

figurative meaning in order to let people understand the formation process of idioms clearly,

so as to understand and use idioms better.

1.6.4 Through the analysis of the relationship between the formations of Chinese

new idioms related to economy and the change of Chinese society in order to let people

understand the impact of social change on the language development.

1.6.5 Introducing the Chaos linguistics theory into the field of Semantic study to

let more and more people comprehend and familiar with the research paradigm of chaos

linguistics.

1.6.6 Explaining the culture nature and culture value of the idioms clearly by

analyzing the relationship between the idiom and culture


2. Literature review

2.1 The state of Chinese Idioms study

The Chinese idioms study has a long history. Since the Chinese idioms

generated, the Sinologists have been beginning to study the Chinese idioms from

multiple perspectives and made a lot of research achievements. In order to allow

people to know about the history of Chinese idiom study clearly, this article will

review the Chinese idiom study from the following aspects (The presentation order

will be based on the Chronological order of each aspect.):


2.1.1 The semantic study of Chinese idioms

This kind of study mainly discusses and interpretation that what are the

literal meaning and figurative meaning of the Chinese idiom, as well as discuss the

meaning change of the Chinese idiom in the process of using. The aspect of semantic

study is the main study aspect of Chinese idioms. The Chinese idioms generally

contain the literal meaning and figurative meaning. And it is very hard to derive the

figurative meaning from literal meaning directly. So interpret the idiom’s figurative

meaning in order to let people understand the meaning of idiom better has become

one of the main tasks of Chinese idiom study. The researchers have made a lot of

research achievements in this aspect, but most of them are collective achievement,

such as: “Chinese Idiom Dictionary”, “Etymology of Chinese”, “The Big Chinese

Idiom Dictionary”, etc…

In recent years, the study of semantic aspect of Chinese idiom has

achieved many new achievements. Many scholars began to introduce some new

semantic theories to study the Chinese idioms. Among these achievements, one of the

most groundbreaking is “A Cognitive Study on the Semantic Meanings of Common

Chinese Idioms” (Tang Xuening, 2010).

This book is the first monograph which sues cognitive theory and

predicate-argument theory to study the Chinese idioms comprehensively in

contemporary China. “A Cognitive Study on the Semantic Meanings of Common

Chinese Idioms” based on modern linguistics theories, and analyzed the closed corpus

deeply, as well as analyzed the various internal argument structures of Chinese

idioms. It also described the deep semantic structure of Chinese idioms, and presented

different types of semantic frame of Chinese idioms. At last, it generalized and

interpreted the law and mechanisms of semantic constitute of Chinese idioms. These

research achievements deepen people's understanding of Chinese idioms.

(Baidubaike, http://baike.baidu.com/view/3633946.htm)

In addition, the “The Analysis of semantic Word-formation Framework

of Modern Chinese Idioms” is another new achievement in the study of semantic

aspect of Chinese idioms.

The semantic word-formation analysis of idiom belongs to the syntactic

study category of idioms. But long-term since, the idiom formation research is mainly

follows the syntactical study aspect. The syntactic formation study of idioms is to use


syntactic analysis method to analyze the internal structure of idioms, and divided the

idioms into several limited types of syntactic structure. This traditional study conceals

the rich and colorful semantic relations among the compositions of the Chinese idiom.

It also hinders the study of internal semantic structure of Chinese idioms. We learn

from research results of semantic word-formation of compound words of Mr Guo

Yang and Zhu Yan etc… and use the predicate-argument theory, as well as use the

methods of closed corpus statistics and corpus frequency statistics to analyze the

semantic word-formation framework of modern Chinese idioms in detail. This opens

up a new way for semantic word-formation framework study. It will help us to

understand the idioms better, and grasp the meaning of idioms accurately. According

to the study, we find that the semantic structure of idioms can be classified as "noun

nuclear structure” and "predicate nuclear structure”. Noun nuclear structure also can

be divided into "single-noun nuclear structure”, "dual-noun nuclear structure” and

"Plural-noun nuclear structure”; the predicate nuclear structure also can be divided

into "single predicate nuclear structure " and " dual predicate nuclear structure ".

According to the internal component of idioms whether has a subordinate predicate

structure or downgraded predication structures, we divide these structures into

“complex structure " and " simple structure ". (Xu, 2008)

2.1.2 The Cultural mirrored study of Chinese idioms

This kind of study mainly discusses that the Chinese idioms reflect

what kind of Chinese cultures. As we know, the language is a part of the whole

culture of an ethnic group, also an accumulation of an ethnic group’s culture. As the

most general and expressive unit of a language, the idioms must reflect certain

national culture factors. Chinese idioms as the essence of the Chinese language and

culture, it formed in a specific geographic and social environment, and the specific

culture and cognitive concepts of Han ethnic group also affect on the formation of

Chinese idioms. So the Chinese idioms are rich in Chinese cultural connotation

inevitably. From the Chinese idioms we almost can know the every aspect of Chinese

culture: from the geography, history to ideas, art, music, dress, customs and so on.

The Cultural mirrored study of idiom intent to discuss that how do the idioms reflect

the culture and what kind of idioms reflect what kind of culture, etc... The research


results on this aspect mainly include the “Chinese Idiom and Chinese Culture” (Mo

Pengling, 2001), “Talk About Chinese Idiom And Chinese Culture”(Yang Wei,

2005), “Dragon Culture In Chinese Idiom”(Zhao Ming,2012), etc...

2.1.3 The Chinese idiom source study

Such studies mainly explore the source of Chinese idioms. Most of the

Chinese idioms is established by usage and handed down from generation to

generation. So we can find the origins for the Chinese idioms.

However, the Chinese has a long history and has a large number of

literatures. So, finding the source for every Chinese idiom is a very large and hard

work. But fortunately, the study in this area is still made gratifying achievements.

The research achievements in this area include: “The Source of Chinese

Idioms” (Yang Tianyi, 1982), “Source Correction of Commonly Used Idioms” (Li

Yihua 1984), “700 Idioms story: Will be a joke If We do not know” (Sun Lina, Sun

Wenxia, 2009), and so on.

To explore the source of Chinese idioms is the emphasis of these

papers, including: when did the idiom generate; which literature can be used as proof;

after the idioms generated, what changes and developments did occur in the process

of use. For example, the annotation of Chinese idiom “唯利是图/wei35 li51 ʂi51 tʰu35/”in the

book “700 Idioms Story: Will Be a Joke If We Do not Know” is as follows:

唯利是图：

典出《左转：成公三十年》：余虽与晋出入，余唯利是视。鲁成公十三年（公元前 578年），因为秦国背信弃义，晋厉公决定与秦国绝交。晋国的使臣见到秦桓公后，列出了秦国种种不守信用，背信弃义的卑劣行为。他说：“晋献公与秦穆公订立盟约后，我们晋国十分重视与秦国的交往，而秦国视盟约于不顾，秦康公图谋倾覆我国。因此，我们与康公断绝了盟国关系。如今，我们晋厉公与秦桓公约定再续盟好。然而，时间不长，秦国便做


出背信弃义之举，先是怂恿白狄攻打晋国，后又与楚国结盟，试图威慑我们晋国。但是，恐怕您还不知道吧，楚国对您反复无常的行为十分反感，他们时下告诉我们，您为了和楚国结盟，竟然对黄天上帝、秦楚先君发誓说：‘余虽与晋出入，余唯利是视。’这样看来，我们晋国没必要和秦国继续盟好，我们决定与贵国断绝一切来往！”“唯利是图”指只要有利可图，什么事都干。亦作“唯利是视”。Translation:

唯利是图/wei35 li51 ʂi51 tʰu35/

Allusions come from “Zuo Zhuan: Cheng Gong San Shi

Nian”: Although I have contacts with the Jin state, my purpose is

bent solely on profit.

Lu Cheng Gong thirteen years (578 BC), because Qin state

break faith with Jin state, Jin Ligong decided to break off relations

with the Qin state.

When the envoy of Jin met Qin Huangong, he listed a

variety of bad faith of Qin. He said: "After Jin xiangong make a

covenant with Qin Mugong, we attach great importance to the

intercourse of Qin, but Qin disregard the covenant between the two

states. Qin Kanggong attempt to overthrow our state, so we sever

allies’ relations with Qin Kanggong. Now, Jin Ligong and Qin

Huangong decide to be adjourned to the covenant. However, it is

not long before the Qin break faith with Jin again. At the same time,

Qin makes a covenant with Chu state and that although I have

contacts with the Jin state, my purpose is bent solely on profit. So

we decide that we will Sever relations with Qin state.

唯利是图 /wei35 li51 ʂi51 tʰu35/”means: to be intent on nothing but

profit, or to be bent solely on profit. This idiom also called “唯利是


视/wei35 li51 ʂi51 ʂi51/”.

In addition, in order to ascertain the true idioms sources, many scholars

focused to China’s most ancient classical literatures, and start to study the idioms in

these classic literatures so in detail, so as to provide better convincing evidence

sources of idioms. The research results on this aspect mainly include the " Shi Ji And

Chinese Idioms”( Huang Maoyi,1983 ), “Talk About The Idioms That Come From

Lun Yu”(Tang Kejing,1983), “A Discussion of Chinese Idioms That From Meng

Zi”(Zhang Min,1983), etc...

2.1.4 The Phonological study of Chinese idioms

The Phonological study of Chinese idiom mainly studies the internal

phonological structure of Chinese idiom. The first thing which is studied is the

syllable of the Chinese idioms. The Chinese idioms will be divided into different

categories according to the syllable number. This classification method is widely used

by the idiom dictionary compilation. The second thing which is studied is the rhyming

of the Chinese idioms. This will study the rhyme characteristics and rules of Chinese

idioms. Chinese idioms mostly pay attention to rhyme, such as:

城下之盟 /tʂʰəŋ35ɕia51tʂi55məŋ35/

Means: terms accepted under duress

人心齐，泰山移 /ʐən35ɕin55ʨʰi35，tʰai51ʂan55ji35/

Means: Both together do best of all

These thesises in this area mainly explore the laws of Rhyme and tonal

patterns in Chinese idioms in order to reveal the various characteristics of rhyme in

Chinese idioms. The research results on this aspect mainly include the “The

Relationship of Rhyme in Chinese Idioms”(Zhang Gonggui,1952), “The Rhyme in


Tetrasyllabic Idioms”(Yang Dong,1980), “Chinese and Tonal Patterns”(Liu

Junjie,1983) and so on.

2.1.5The syntactic study of Chinese idioms

The papers in this area mainly deal with an internal syntactic structure

of Chinese idioms and discuss the syntactic functions of Chinese idioms in the

sentence. The so-called internal syntactic structure refers to the syntactic relations

among the elements of the Chinese idiom. The internal syntactic structure of Chinese

idiom is very perplexed. The internal syntactic structure relations can be divided into

the following categories: parallel relationship, subject-predicate relation, predicate-

object relation, modifier-head relation, Predicates- complement relation, etc... The

syntactic functions of Chinese idioms in the sentence refers that what role does the

idiom play in the sentence, such as been subject, predicate, object, attribute, adverbial,

complements and so on. This kind of study intended to discuss that what kind of

idioms in what sentences can play what roles. The research results on this aspect

mainly include the “See The Word Conversion Of Chinese From The Ancient

Chinese Idioms”(Zhu Hongxi,1975), “Discussion of Chinese Idiom Structure”(Wei

Guoliang,1979) and so on.

2.1.6 The Comparative study of Chinese idiom

The study in this aspect mainly compares the Chinese idioms with

idioms of other languages, in order to analyze the similarities and differences of

Chinese idioms and idioms of other languages in Phonology, internal syntactic

structure and syntactic functions of idioms in the sentence, etc… Then explore the

similarities and differences of the various languages from these similarities and

differences of idioms. Another important study point is to explore the similarities and

differences of an ethnic group’s natural geographical environment, traditional culture,

cognitive model, and customs etc…which are reflected by the idioms of different

languages. The research results on this aspect mainly include the “A Comparative

Study of the Chinese and English idioms”(Yuan Shuowen,1995), “A comparison of

Chinese proverbs and Thai proverbs-idiomatic expressions”( Kannika

kowitakun,2001), “A Comparative Study of the Chinese and Thai idioms”(Cen


Ronglin,2011), “A Comparative Study of the Chinese and Vietnamese idioms”(Cai

Xinjiao,2011), and so on.

Different national culture background will form different idioms. As in

the “A Contrastive Analysis of Tiger-Idioms in Chinese and Thai and Corresponding

Teaching Strategies”(Li Lili, Zhang Yueqing, 2012), the authors analyzed the

similarities and differences of Metaphorical meaning of “tiger” in the Chinese and

Thai idioms. In Chinese idioms, the “tiger” generally has positive metaphorical

meaning. As for the Chinese people, “tiger” is the king of beasts, and is the animal

kingdom’s ruler. The “tiger” has been regarded as a symbol of power and strength in

China. The Chinese idioms generally use “tiger” to convey good luck and blessings.

But in the Thai idioms, the “tiger” generally has derogatory metaphorical meaning.

Because that in the Thai people's minds, "tiger" is a dangerous, evil and majestic

animal. Thai people often use "tiger" to refer bad person or bad thing. At the same

time, the author also further points out that because of the different geographical

environment, Chinese idiom generally like to use "tiger" and "wolf" together to

express the derogatory sense, but Thai idiom like to use "tiger" and "crocodile"

together to express the derogatory sense.

2.1.7 The Applied study of Chinese idiom

The Applied study of Chinese idiom mainly study that how to teach the

Chinese idioms in teaching activity of teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and

how to translate the Chinese idioms into foreign languages accurately. The research

results on this aspect mainly include the “A Discussion of Chinese Idioms Teaching

in The Teaching Activity of Teaching Chinese as A Foreign Language”(Wang

Meiling,2005), “A Brief Discussion of Chinese Idioms in the Teaching Activity of

Teaching Chinese as A Foreign Language”(Pan Xianjun,2006), “A Summary of

Chinese Idioms Teaching in the Teaching Activity of Teaching Chinese as A Foreign

Language in the Last Decade”(Shen Lina,2007), “The Methods of Translating

Chinese Idioms into Foreign Language”(Shen Peixian,2007), and so on.

All of above are the main aspects of the Chinese idioms study in

currently. According to the papers or books which are mentioned above, we can know

that the study of Chinese idioms mainly include the source exploring, structure


analysis, meaning interpreting, cultural mirror analysis and applied studying, etc…

The source exploring mainly discusses the origin of the Chinese idioms and find the

documented evidence. The structure analysis mainly includes the phonological

analysis and syntactic analysis. The phonological analysis mainly analyzes the

syllable structure of the Chinese idioms, such as syllable characteristics, syllable

numbers, and rhyme, etc… Syntactic analysis mainly discusses the internal structure

of the Chinese idioms and the syntactic function of the Chinese idioms in the

sentence. The meaning interpreting mainly interprets the meaning of idioms and

interprets how to use the idioms in the real context correctly. And the cultural mirror

study mainly analyzes that an idiom or a kind of idioms reflect what kind of national

cultures, etc…

However, the author thinks that in addition to the above aspects, the

comprehensive study of Chinese idioms also should include the following aspects of

studying:

Firstly, classification methods study. It means that how to classify the

Chinese idioms according a certain standard. The classification of Chinese idioms will

help us to form an overall understanding of the Chinese idioms.

Secondly, the cognitive semantics perspectives study. It mainly

explores that how to form the figurative meaning of Chinese idioms, as well as the

methods and model of the formation of figurative meaning of Chinese idioms. And

also discusses the status and role of national cultures in the process of formation of

Chinese idioms’ figurative meaning.

Thirdly, the cultural perspectives study. It mainly uses the Chaos theory

to discuss the cultural nature, cultural values and cultural ethos, etc…

The three aspects above is still a weak field of the Chinese idioms

studying. In order to compensate for this deficiency, this paper will use the Chinese

idioms as related to economic as the object of studying; and the Classification

method, the methods and model of formation of Chinese idioms’ figurative meaning,

as well as the status and role of national cultures in the process of formation of

Chinese idioms’ figurative meaning will be the study focus. At the same time, the

author will discuss the cultural nature, cultural values and cultural ethos of the

Chinese idioms at the end of this paper.


2.2 Conceptual blending theory

The conceptual blending theory could be considered as an extension of

conceptual metaphor theory (Geeraert, 2010). So, in order to understand the

conceptual blending theory better, we should understand the conceptual metaphor

theory firstly.

2.2.1 Relations among metaphorical, conceptual blending and idiom study

To understand what is metaphorical, we must begin with what is not

metaphorical. In brief, to the extent that a concept is understood and structured on its

own terms—without making use of structure imported from a completely different

conceptual domain—we will say that it is not metaphorical. (Lakoff and Turner,

1989)

Metaphor is the mechanism par excellence for “seeing one thing in

terms of another” (Geeraerts, 2010). However, the conceptual blending is a range of

cognitive activities that combine the frames which come from different cognitive

domains (Li, 2008). And the conceptual blending theory is also called conceptual

integration theory, so the term “conceptual blending” and “conceptual integration”

have the same meaning, and can substitute for each other.

The conceptual metaphor suggests that seeing A to B, if want to

understand A should understand B. Namely, understand B means understand A. But

conceptual blending, on one hand, understanding A through B and on the other, taking

elements from A and B in order to combine them in C, as something completely new.

There is in fact an asymmetry in the way the input spaces contribute to the blending

C. So the C is different from A and B. From this perspective, it seems more

appropriate to think of blending as a refinement and an expansion of conceptual

metaphor theory—admittedly, one with more expressive and analytic power than the

original (Geeraerts, 2010). So, from this perspective, we can say that the blending is a

thinking process, by which integrate 2 conceptual into a new one, and metaphor is a

special kind of blending.

All of the idioms are dead metaphors, which are formed through

blending different concepts into a new one. So, using the conceptual blending theory

to analyze the process of formation of idioms will help us to understand the idioms

better.


2.2.2 The development history of conceptual blending theory

At present, conceptual blending has become one of the important study

paradigms of cognitive linguistics. Fauconnier & Turner (1998) pointed out that

conceptual blending is a group of non-compositional processes, and in this process,

the thought ability of meaning construction is aroused, thereby generating emergent

structure. Conceptual blending theory has developed on the basis of mental space

theory. As we know, in the process of language using and psychological thinking,

people will form temporary concept set that consistent with a certain scene in the

brain. And these concept set are called mental space.

In recent years, the conceptual blending theory has gained a

considerable development. And the scholars, who engage in the study of this field,

revise and improve the conceptual blending theory continuously. Since the conceptual

blending theory was formally proposed in 1994, Fauconnier and other scholars have

done a lot of studies about the process and characteristics of conceptual blending. But

in earlier studies, scholars did not expound that how the related components from the

two input space blend into the blending space clearly. Soon afterwards, in 2002,

Fauconnier&Turner formally put forward that: the process that blends from the input

space to the blending space is achieved by the compression of key relationships.

These key relationships mainly include space, time, change, characterization, role,

value, analogy and causal etc… The key relationships, which are connected to the

corresponding components of the two input spaces, are used to establish new spatial

relationships. In the blending space, it will form inner spatial relationships through the

compression of those new spatial relationships.

★. The diagram of conceptual blending network


As early as in 1998, Fauconnier&Turner proposed a theoretical concept

of conceptual blending network. He pointed out that using the information that gains

by the speaker or listener from the contextual information and background knowledge

to build the frame, and the frame become a structure of the mental space. A complete

conceptual blending network is composed by these mental spaces. A typical

conceptual blending network includes four metal spaces: two input spaces, one

blending space and one generic space. The blending space is formed by blending the

two input spaces. And the generic space has the abstract features which can be applied

to all of these metal spaces. The role of the generic space is to help to create the

mappings between the two input spaces, in order to let the blending space complete

the conceptual blending smoothly. Later, in 2002, based on the achievements of

earlier studies, Fauconnier&Turner put forward the types of conceptual blending

network. The types of conceptual blending network are divided into two types: single

framing networks and frame networks. And, the frame networks can be further

divided into two types: one-sided network and two-sided network. The putting

forward of these theories greatly enrich and perfect the theoretical framework of

conceptual blending theory.

In 2005, Fauconnier explained the generation of the emergent structure,

as well as explained the relationship between the emergent structure and compression

of the key relationships. These explanations further completed the theories of the

internal operation mechanism of the blending model. He pointed out that the

psychological models of analogy, categorization, metaphor, metonymy, category-

extending, frame, counterfactual and the grammar structure etc... can be seen as the

result of conceptual blending. The blending network has two main characteristics: one

is the generation of emergent structure; two is the emergent structure of the blending

space is often more simple than the emergent structure of the input spaces. Fauconnier

also pointed out that the emergent structure is not the structure of the blending space,

but is a dynamic structure of the blending network. The advantages of the conceptual

blending theory are the simplification of the structure of the blending space and the

connectivity that between the blending network and the metal spaces.


In 2005, based on a large corpus analysis, Mendoza&Pena questioned

about the theory of inter structure of the conceptual blending which is put forward by

Fauconnier&Turner in 2002. At the same time, Ruiz de Mendoza&Pena put forward

their own modifications: conceptual blending is a concept mapping and blending. The

blending space is dynamic, it often has the emergent structure which the input spaces

do not have or have no correspondence. The existence of emergent structure and the

non- corresponding phenomenon is the unique in Fauconnier&Turner’s analysis. Ruiz

de Mendoza called it the emergent structure hypothesis.

In 2006, on the base of keeping the rationality of the theory of

Fauconnier&Turner, Mendoza&Pena put forward a new theory, called “resultant

input space hypothesis”. First of all, this hypothesis have been retained the metal

space as dynamically constructing concept, as well as retaining the correlation

corresponding structure between the source input space and the target input space.

Secondly, this hypothesis regards the “mapping” and the “blending” as key cognitive

operation in the process of conceptual blending. Thirdly, this hypothesis uses

mapping space to replace Fauconnier’s blending space. Finally, this hypothesis uses

the resultant source input space and resultant target input space to replace the original

source input space and target input space.

Furthermore, according to the internal characteristics of conceptual

blending network, it can be divided into the follows types: simple network, mirror

network, single-domain network, and dual-domain network (Li, 2008).

Simple network, as the name suggests, is the simplest conceptual

blending network. In this network, the conceptual blending integrates the roles of

frame with the corresponding specific values in the input spaces through the cross-

space mapping. The source input space only contains a particular abstract frame. As

opposed to this, the target input space only contains some of the frameless elements

(Li, 2008).

The so-called mirror network refers to conceptual blending net work

which the two input spaces share an organizational frame, and the elements of the two

input spaces map to each other (Li, 2008).

Single-domain network refers to the conceptual blending network that

the two input space have different organizational frame, but only one frame’s


hierarchy structure is projected into the blending space and extend to form the

organizational frame (Li, 2008).

In the dual-domain network of conceptual blending, the two input

spaces have different frame structures. Different from single-domain network, the

both frame hierarchies of the two input spaces are projected onto the blending space,

so as to form a structure that different from any one of the input space in the blending

space. The framework of the blending space is a mix of the frameworks of the two

input spaces (Li, 2008).

In this thesis, the theory of conceptual blending which is used is the

theory of 2006. However, in order to let readers to better understand, the author will

still use the term “blending space”, but not the term “mapping space”.

2.3 Chaos theory and linguistic study

Chaos theory is developed in the process of studying the interaction of

non-linear systems. In December 29, 1972, Edward Norton Lorenz, who is a pioneer

of chaos theory, presented a paper entitled "The Butterfly Effect" in the 139th meeting

of American Association for the Advancement of Science. In this paper, the author

puts forward a seemingly absurd assertion: the flapping of a butterfly in Brazil can

cause a Hurricane in the Texas of United States. And on the basis of this theory, the

author pointed out that the weather cannot be forecast accurately. Today, this theory is

still talked about by many people. More importantly, this theory has stimulated

people's interest of chaos theory. Nowadays, along with the development of science

and technology, such as computer Science, etc…, chaos theory has been developed

into a far-reaching influence and rapid development frontier science.

The so called chaos theory, using the most popular words to explain, it

is a discipline of studying the complex rules of the chaotic state, which hold the

intuition and entirety as the starting point. In the classic science, "order" and "disorder

"is a pair of opposite concepts."Order" refers to the regularity of spatial distribution

and the time continuity of periodic; “disordered” refers to the irregularity of spatial

distribution and random changes in the time continuity. When the two aspects of the

contradiction, that is "order" and "disorder”, show strongly, will form the chaotic

motion. (Zhang, 2004)


In traditional linguistic study, the language is regarded as a linear

system, and the linear analysis method are often used. However, in fact, language is

an opening and non-self-sufficient system, in which there is a great deal of nonlinear

phenomena. We should use chaos theory and methods to study and grasp these

nonlinear phenomena. In the nineties of the last century, the chaos theory was

introduced to the field of linguistic study by Mr. Zhang Gongjin. And he developed a

series of theory and methodology of Chaos which is suitable for linguistic study. After

a development of 20 years, the construction of theories of chaotic linguistics is

beginning to take shape, and has published a series of monographs and proceedings.

Currently, the core theories of chaotic linguistics include: sensitive dependence on the

initial value in the process of language development and evolution; the balance and

balance of breaking in the language system; internal random and external interference

in the process of language development; river network theory about the language

evolution; entropy and dissipation in the language development; dissipative structure

mode of the language development; fluctuation and the state of near balance; the

overall grasp principles; etc… These theories and principles will help us to explain

the nonlinear phenomena in the language system rationally and effectively.

Among these theories, the dissipative structure mode of the language

development will useful in the process of interpreting the semantic change from the

literal meaning to figurative meaning.

When an open system is far-from-equilibrium nonlinear area, and once

a system parameter reaches a certain threshold, through the fluctuation, the system

will have a sudden change, namely the non-equilibrium phase change; then, from the

disordered state into a new ordered state in time, space or function. In order to

maintain this ordered state and keep certain stability, it needs to exchange material

and energy with the outside world constantly and the small interference of the out

world will not lead it to disappear. This model of forming a new ordered structure in

the nonlinear region that is far from the equilibrium is called dissipative structure.

(Shen, 2008)


★. The diagram of dissipative structure model

The figurative meaning’s formation model of idioms is a typical model

of dissipation structure. In the early days, the literal meaning of idioms is an inherent

semantic balance point, along with the fluctuation of semantic changes, in the area

that far from the equilibrium point forms a figurative meaning. And after the

figurative meaning generated, it exchange the energy with the outside world

continuously, namely it is widely used in daily language communication constantly.

At the same time, the idiom’s literal meaning and figurative meaning will have a

semantic competition, the value of literal meaning is dissipated constantly, and

entropy increase. Finally, through the semantics fluctuations, the idioms form a new

semantic balance point, and complete the process of meaning transformation which

from the literal meaning to the figurative meaning.

3. Research methodology

3.1 Data definition

B : figurative meaning A:literal meaning


3.1.1 The definition of idiom

The idiom refers to a set expression of two or more words which has a

fixed structure and means something other than the literal meanings of its individual

words. Generally, we cannot change the compositions of idiom arbitrarily and cannot

analyze its structure through the general rules of word-building. In Chinese idioms,

the idioms which have a strong written style characteristics and have a four syllable

expression are called “ 成语 /ʦʰeŋ35jy214/”; and the idioms which have a strong

colloquial style characteristics and are not four syllable expression are called “俗语 /su35jy214/”; and the “成语 /ʦʰeŋ35jy214/” and“俗语 /su35jy214/” are all called “熟语/ʂu35jy214/” or 习语/ɕi214jy214/. (Ci Hai dictionary, 2009). People use idioms to make

their language richer and more colorful and to convey subtle shades of meaning or

intention. Idioms are used often to replace a literal word or expression, and many

times the idiom better describes the full nuance of meaning. Idioms and idiomatic

expressions can be more precise than the literal words, often using fewer words but

saying more. (Brenner, 2003).

3.1.2 The definition of economy

The economy refers to a large set of inter-related economic production

and consumption activities which aid in determining how scarce resources are

allocated (Mankiw, 1998). So the economy contains many aspects, such as

employment, income and consumption, production and product, reproduction and

allocation, financial and market, etc...

3.1.3 Chinese idioms related to economy

The Chinese new idioms related to economy means the idioms of which

content related to economy, such as Chinese new idioms related to employment,

money and income, economic and social group, economic activities, and economic

conditions, etc…

The Chinese idioms which are studied in this thesis are the Chinese

new idioms related to economy which generate from 1978 to nowadays. Chinese

government implements the policy of reform and opening from 1978. Since then, the


economic situation of Chinese society has undergone enormous changes. These

Chinese new idioms related to economy can reflect the contemporary social economic

situation of China and Chinese people's life style and cognitive model better.

3.2 Data Sources

This thesis is a document research, so, the Chinese idioms which are

used to analyze in this thesis mainly come from the various types of Chinese

literatures, including Chinese dictionary, Chinese newspapers and magazines as well

as website, as follows:

3.2.1 BaiDuBaiKe dictionary

BaiDuBaiKe dictionary is the largest and opening network

Encyclopedia dictionary. The language part of this dictionary will announce the new

words and idioms which are generated and widely used in contemporary society

annually and give a socially accepted semantic interpretation.

3.2.2 Website

The data of this thesis mainly reference from the official website of the

Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and China-language website,

which is the official website of the National Linguistics Work Committee of the

People's Republic of China.

Every year, the Language Information Management Division of the

Ministry of Education of PRC in conjunction with the National Linguistics Work

Committee of PRC and the National Language Resource Monitoring and Research

Center of PRC will announce the new word and idioms, which are collected through

scientific statistical studies, in their official website.

3.2.3 Chinese newspapers

The Chinese newspapers, which are sued for data collection in this

thesis, mainly include People’s daily, Xinhua Daily, Beijing daily and China Daily.

These newspapers are China's most authoritative newspapers.


These data source which refereed above are the most authoritative

source about Chinese new idioms in contemporary society of China. The author use

about one month to collect about three hundreds new Chinese idioms as related to

economy which generate from 1978 to nowadays. Well know, Chinese government

implements the policy of reform and opening from 1978. Since then, the economic

situation of Chinese society has undergone enormous changes. These new idioms

related to economy can reflect the contemporary social economic situation of China

and Chinese people's life style and cognitive model better.

3.3 Data Selection

The Chinese idioms which are used as the research data of this thesis

must meet the following two conditions simultaneously:

The first is that the idioms must be the idioms related to economy.

The second is that the idioms must be generated from 1978 to

nowadays.

3.4 Data analysis

The data analysis of this thesis will follow the steps below:

Step1: Classify the Chinese new idioms related to economy

According to the involving objects and contents to classify the new Chinese idioms related to economy into the following classes: I Employment, II Money and Income, III Economic and Social Group, IV Economic Activities, V Economic Conditions.

Step2: analyze the Chinese new idioms related to economy through conceptual blending theory

Using the conceptual blending network (four metal space: source input space,

target input space, generic space, blending space) to analyze the process of forming the

idiom’s figurative meaning, and explore the characteristics of conceptual blending in

idioms. And also will analyze the role of national culture, cognition and background

knowledge in the conceptual blending.


4. Classification

Step3: Discussion and conclusion

Using the theory of Dissipative Structure Model to discuss the formation model of the idiom’s figurative meaning. And using the theory of Sub-type and Hierarchical Self-similar to interpret and comprehend the relationship between the idioms and language, idioms and national culture, idioms and national cognition.


Making a reasonable and accurate classification of the research object

according to a certain standard will contribute to our overall understanding of the

research object. As expressive language units, the idioms have a large number and

multi-type. For such a vast and complex research object, the first thing should do is to

classify them according to a certain standard systematically. Through systematic

classification, making the idioms which have a certain common feature in the same

class will help us to analyze them qualitatively and quantitatively.

The general classification of idioms can be divided into the form

classification and content classification.

The form classifications of idioms mainly include classification

according to the number of syllables, classification according to the rhyme type,

classification according to the internal syntactic structure, classification according to

the generate time, etc…

However, the content classification is another kind of classification as

opposed with the form classification. The contain classification includes the

classification according to the source, classification according to the involving

objects, classification according to the cultural connotation, classification according to

the internal semantic relations, classification according to the metonymy-metaphor

type, etc…

According to the characteristics of the modern Chinese idioms related

to economy and the research purpose of this thesis, this chapter will use the

classification standard of classification according to the involving objects and

contents to classify the modern Chinese idioms related to economy. Through this

classification, we can obtain qualitative and quantitative understanding of the new

Chinese idioms related to economy from a macro level.

The statistics of the data which are collected from the relevant literature

show that from the Chinese government implements the reform and opening policy in

1978 to nowadays, Chinese has generated about 1900 new idioms. And the new

idioms related to economy are 166, share 9% of the total.


Figure 4.1 The diagram of the proportion of new Chinese idioms related to economy

According to the differences of the involving objects and contents of

the Chinese new idioms related economy collected in this thesis, the Chinese new

idioms related economy can be divided into the following classes:

I Employment; has a number of 10, share 6% of the total.

II Money & Income; has a number of 21, share 13% of the total.

III Economic and Social Group; has a number of 43, share 26% of the total.

IV Economic Activities; has a number of 66, share 40% of the total.

V Economic Conditions; has a number of 25, share 15% of the total.


Figure 4.2The diagram of proportion of each class of the Chinese new idioms related to economy

4.1 Employment

The total of this class is 10, mainly related to the description of the

employment nature and employment status. And most of these idioms express a

negative sense, which reflect the situation of contemporary Chinese people's concern

about unemployment. In contemporary China, because of overpopulation, the

employment pressure is very huge, and many people are worried for employment.

Everyone wants to have a stable job and better income.

According to the different objects involved and the different description

perspectives, the idioms in this class can be divided into several subclasses, and the

details are shown in the following diagram:


Iron rice bowl /tʰiɛ214fan51wan214/

Golden rice bowl /ʨin55fan51wan214/

“rice bowl” subclass Look for rice bowl /tʂao214fan51wan214/

Grab rice bowl /ʨʰiaŋ214fan51wan214/

Employment Break rice bowl /ʦa35fan51wan214/

up post /ʂaŋ51kaŋ214/

“post” subclass down post /ɕia51kaŋ214/

steady post /wen214kaŋ214/

Fry squid /tʂʰau214jou35jy35/

Soft layoff /ʐuan214ʦai35juan35/

4.2Money and Income

In this class idioms, one part are mainly related to the description of the

nature of the people’s income in daily lives, and the other part are mainly related to

the description of the things related to money, such as price, fines, credit, foreign

exchange rates and so on. In modern life, especially in market economy conditions,

income and money plays an indispensable role in people's daily life. However, since

ancient times, the Chinese people pay attention to "the gentleman loves fortune that

comes from proper channels." Therefore, people very concern about the sources of

income and money. That is why the Chinese people divide and descript the income

and money from different aspects in detail.





Black income / xei55sɣ51ʂou55ʐu51/

White income /pai214sɣ51ʂou55ʐu51/

“Color” subclass Gray income /xuei55sɣ51ʂou55ʐu51/

Red profit / xuŋ35li51/

Dirty money / xei55xin55ʨʰian35/

Naked oil price /luo214jou35ʨia51/

“Price” subclass Second kill price /miau214ʂa55ʨʰia51/

Sale at breakdown /tʰiau51lou35ʨʰia51/

Sky price /tʰian55ʨʰia51/

Outside income /wai51kʰuai51/

Money & Income “Spatial” subclass Gain outside income /lau55wai51kʰuai51/

Subsistence allowance /ti55bau214/

Living interest loan /xuo35li51tai51/

“Life” subclass Dead account /si214tʂaŋ51/

hard-earned money /ɕyɛ35xan51ʨʰian35/

Electronic currency /tian51ʦi214xuo51pi51/“Currency” subclass Basket of currencies /ji51lan35ʦi214xuo51pi51/

Money laundering /ɕi214ʨʰian35/

“Time” subclass 7 times /ʨʰi55ʂi35tai51/

6 times /liu51ʂi35tai51/

Wine amerce fee /fa35ʨiou214fei51/


4.3 Economic and Social Groups

The idioms in this class divided the people into different groups based

on the people's socio-economic status, occupation, place of work, manner and means

of the economic activities engaged in, etc… The people in the same group will have

some common economic characteristics.

As all know, making the division of social groups according to people’s

economic situation is a commonly used method of dividing the crowd. The different

groups, which are divided based on this method, are always preceded by specific

appellations, resulting in the generation of a large number of related idioms. The

generation of these idioms reflects that people concern about their own economic

status. Either from the semantic or emotional color, the vast majority of these idioms

has expressed a kind of mocking meaning and dissatisfaction, reflecting people's

complaints and dissatisfaction of their economic situation. The reason is that only a

small part of rich people benefit from the development of the economy, and there is a

growing gap between rich and poor. And most of the people at the bottom will face

enormous economic pressure all the time.





House slave /faŋ35nu35/

Car slave /tʂʰə55nu35/

Card slave /kʰa214nu35/

“Slave” subclass Code slave /ma214nu35/

Monopoly slave /luŋ214nu35/

White slave /pai214nu35/

Gift slave /li214nu35/

Sandwich tribe /ʨia214ɕin55ʦu35/

Gnaw old tribe /kʰən214lau214ʦu35/

Gnaw house tribe / kʰən214lou35ʦu35/

Ant tribe /ji214ʦu35/

Economic and

Social Groups

mouse tribe /ʂu214ʦu35/

Snail dwell tribe /wo55ʨy55ʦu23/

“Tribe” subclass Drift tribe in Beijing /pei214pʰiau55ʦu35/

Drift tribe in Shanghai /xu51pʰiau55ʦu35/

Drift tribe in Guangzhou /kuaŋ214pʰiau55ʦu35/

Drift tribe in China /xua35pʰiau55ʦu35/

Moonlight tribe /jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/

Defrauds insurance tribe /pʰian55pau214ʦu35/

Closing tribe /ta214jaŋ35ʦu35/

Phoenix man /fəŋ51xuaŋ35nan35/

Peacock girl /kʰuŋ214ʨʰyɛ51ny214/

“Male-Female” subclass Debt man /fu51wəŋ55/

Debt woman /fu51pʰo214/

Reselling man /tau214jɛ35/

White bone female /pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/


Gold-collar /ʨin55liŋ214/

White-collar /pai35liŋ214/

“Collar” subclass Blue-collar /lan35liŋ214/

Orange-collar /tʂəŋ35liŋ214/

Gray-collar /xuei55liŋ214/

Stock people /ku214min35/

“People” subclass Lottery ticket people /ʦai214min35/

Economic and

Social Groups

(Continue)

paying two loan people /fu52ə51tai51/

Farmer-worker /noŋ35min35koŋ55/

Second house generation /faŋ35ə51tai51/

“Generation” subclass Short work generation /tuan214kuŋ55ji35tai51/

Group of frying house /tʂau214faŋ35tʰuan35/

Oligarchs /kua214tou35/

Others Exhibition overlord /tʂan214pa51/

Petty bourgeoisie /ɕiao214ʦi55/

Grass-roots /ʦʰau214ken55/

4.4 Economic Activities

The idioms in this class are mainly related to the description of the

various economic activities. In the five classes of the Chinese new idioms related to

economy, this class shares the largest number. The main reason is that since the

Chinese government implements the reform and opening policy in 1978, China

gradually began to transform from a planned economy system to a market economy

system. In this process, many economic activities, which prohibited or non-existent

previously, gradually on the rise and more and more people participate in them.

However, due to a market economy in the initial period, a lot of

regulations and institution building is not perfect, mangy economic activities lack of


normative. Thus, there are a lot of illegal economic activities which bring great

damage to the economic interests of ordinary people. Therefore, people are

particularly concerned about these kinds of economic activities, resulting in the

generation of a large number of related idioms. And these idioms often carry a

meaning of belittling and ridiculing.

Of course, facing the not standardized of the market, the government

continues to improve the system and regulations in order to let the whole market

economy continue to standardize and improve. And this is the source of power that

generated lots of new idioms which are used to describe and praise some good

economic activities.




Dishonest donate gate /tʂa51ʨuan55mən35/

Dividends gate /fən55xuŋ35mən35/

“Gate” subclass Plant ballot gate /tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/

Insurance policy gate /pau214tan55mən35/

Flee goods gate /ʦʰuan51xuo51mən35/

Economic Activities Underground transactions /ti51ɕia51ʨiao55ji51/

Underground bank /ti51ɕia51ʨʰian35tʂuaŋ55/

Underground factory /ti51ɕia51koŋ55tʂaŋ214/

“Spatial” subclass Go to the sea /xia51xai214/

Golden port /xuaŋ35ʨin55kʰou214an51/

Shopping paradise /kou51wu51tʰiaŋ55tʰaŋ35/

Lift pull /tʰai35la55/

Holding the market /tʰuo55ʂi51/

Green factory / ly51sɣ51kuŋ55tʂaŋ214/


Green production / ly51sɣ51ʂəŋ55tʂʰan214/

Green product / ly51sɣ51 tʂʰan214pin214/

Business booming / ʂəŋ55ji51xuŋ35xuo214/

Write white note /ta214pai35tʰiau35/

“Color” subclass White note financial / pai35tʰiau35ʦai35tʂəŋ51/

Gray market /xuei55sɣ51ʂi51tʂʰaŋ214/

Black market / xei55 ʂi51/

Trade in black market / xei55 ʂi51ʨiao55ji51/

Black goods / xei55xuo51/

Black curtain in found /ʨi55ʨin55xei55mu51/

Buy a horse /mai214ma214/

Black horse /xei55ma214/

White horse /pai214ma214/

“Animal” subclass Rat account /lau214ʂu214ʦʰaŋ55/

Bear market /xioŋ35ʂi51/

Economic Activities

(Continue)

Bull market /niu35ʂi51/

One dragon /ji51tʰiau35loŋ35/

Open plate /kʰai55pʰan35/

“Plate” subclass Close plate /ʂou55pʰan35/

Suppress whipsaw /ta214ja55 ɕi214pʰan35/

“Be done” subclass Being forced speed /pei51kau55su51/

Being forced listed /pei51ʂaŋ51ʂi51/

Travel by sedan chair /ʦuo51ʨiau51ʦi214/


“Sedan chair” subclass Lifting sedan chair /tʰai35ʦʰiau51ʦi214/

Get off sedan chair /ɕia51ʨiau51ʦi214/

Eat demolition /tʂʰi55tʂʰai55ʨʰian55/

“Eat” subclass Eat commission /tʂi55xuei35kʰou51/

Mess together / tʂi55ta51kʰuo55fan51/

Fry stock /tʂau214ku214/

“Fry” subclass Fry house / tʂau214faŋ35/

Fry exchange /tʂau214wai51xuei51/

Bleeding /tʂʰu55ɕiɛ214/

“Body-Life” subclass Cut flesh /kʰə55ʐou51/

Two hands /liaŋ214tʂi55ʂou214/

Save market /ʨiou51ʂi51/

Trap firmly /tʰau51lau35/

“Trap” subclass Untie trap /ʨiɛ214tʰau51/

Trap cash /tʰau51ɕian51/

Economic Activities

(Continue) Slaughter customer /ʦai214kʰɣ51/

Li Gui drug /li214kuei214jau51/

“Person” subclass Angel investment /tʰian55ʂi214tʰou35ʦi55/

“She” times /tʰa55ʂi214tai51/

“He” decline /tʰa55ʂuai55tʰuei51/

Vegetable basket /ʦʰai51lan35ʦi214/

Bag company /pʰi35pau55koŋ55si55/

“Instrument” subclass Rubber check /kuŋ55tʰou35tʂi55pʰiao51/

Micro-payment /wei55fu51/

Dark case operation /an51ɕiaŋ55ʦʰau55ʦuo51/

Welfare corruption /fu35li35fu214pai51/

Assembly line /liu35ʂuei214xian51/

Others Township enterprises /ɕiaŋ55ʨʰi214/


Ensure eight /pau214pa55/

4.5 Economic Conditions

The idioms in this class mainly related to the description of the various

states of the overall socio-economic operation. In contemporary China, in the process

of socialist market economy operation, there exist both good and bad aspects. For the

good side, it is generally taken for granted, thus people generally do not pay attention

to them. On the contrary, the negative side is always the focus of attention. Because

that these bad aspects would bring direct economic losses to people. Especially in

recent years, the middle class and lower class under a bad economic situation, even if

it is a faint loss will be a strong stimulus to people’s sensitive and fragile nerves. This

reflects in the language is that a large number of related new idioms generated and are

widely used.




Green economy / ly51sɣ51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

“Color” subclass Gray economy /xuei55sɣ51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

Black economy /xei55sɣ51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

Economic bubble /pʰau51mo51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

Economic

Conditions

“Bubble” subclass Real estate bubble /faŋ35tʂan214pʰau51mo51/

Financial bubble /ʨin55ʐoŋ35pʰau51mo51/

Underground economy /ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/


“Spatial” subclass Economy glissade /ʨiŋ55ʨi51ɕia51xua35/

Economic take off /ʨiŋ55ʨi51tʰəŋ35fei55/

Soft landing / ʐuan214ʦuo214lu51/

Reform myth /kai214kə35ʂən35xua51/

“Myth” subclass Shenzhen myth /ʂən55tʂən51ʂən35xua51/

I T myth /ai55ti55ʂən35xua51/

“Door” subclass Glass door /po55li35mən35/

Spring door /tʰan35xuaŋ35mən35/

Business sea /ʂaŋ55xai214/

Economic

Conditions

( Continue)

“sea” subclass Blue sea /lan35xai214/

Red sea / xuŋ35xai214 /

“Basket” subclass Vegetable basket industry /ʦʰai51lan35ʦi214tʂan214jɛ51/

Vegetable basket project /ʦʰai51lan35ʦi214koŋ55tʂʰəŋ35/

Economic iron curtain /ʨiŋ55ʨi51tʰiɛ214mu51/

Financial opium /ʨin55ʐoŋ35ja55pʰian51/

Others Harvest disaster /fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/

Overheated economy /ʨiŋ55ʨi51kuo51ʐə51/

price scissors /ʨian214tau55tʂa55/

Economic lifeline /ʨiŋ55ʨi51miŋ51mai51/


5. Conceptual blending and frame shifting in idioms:

A method for figurative meaning of idioms

5.1 Conceptual blending in idioms

Conceptual blending theory is developed based on mental space theory.

Fauconnier formally proposed the theory of conceptual blending in his monograph of

“Mappings in Thought and Language” (1997). Since then, he and other researchers

made a continuous development and improvement to this theory in the further

research.

In short, conceptual blending is a range of cognitive activities that

combine the frames which come from different cognitive domains. In the process of

thinking and talking, people need to continue to understand and act, and will continue

to build some of the conceptual packages, and store them in a virtual mental space. In

the process of talking, people will continue to create new mental spaces, and each

mental space is only a temporary structure. Its existence is dependent on one or some

specific or a broader and more fixed related structure of knowledge.

Specifically, conceptual blending theory takes the mental space as the

basic unit, according to cognitive operation, which is basis on the mental activities of

analogy, recursion, mental modeling, conceptual packages, and intellectual frame, to

establish four abstract mental spaces, namely generic space, input space I (or called

source mental space), input space II (or called target mental space), and blending

space (Li, 2008). Input space I and II, as the name suggest, will provide input


information for the upcoming blending space. Generic space also provides

information for the upcoming blending space. Generic space is established on the

basis of the two input space, and is a selective space which is established through the

analog and cognition. It reflexes the common abstract structures of the two input

spaces. The blending space undertakes the all knowledge of background, structure,

and cognitive model of the two input spaces to achieve a new cognition.

In the process of conceptual blending, the input space I and the input

space II will project the contents of the two input spaces onto the third space

selectively through cross-space mapping firstly, namely project onto the blending

space which has the emergent structure. And then, after the compositions and

structures of the two input spaces enter the blending space selectively, it will form a

new conceptual structure which is different from the conceptual structures of the

original input spaces in a certain extent. Such as in the example of “A is B”, A and B

belong to different domains, in the generic space, they are the similar characteristics

which come from the two input space. The blending space expresses selective

thinking of the similar characteristics of the two input space, which is caused by the

different domains of A and B. This reflects a dynamic creative activity of cognition.

Conceptual blending theory takes the semantic building as a kind of on-line process,

in other words, the generating of semantic is a dynamic process. Such as A or B

appear in different domains, the integration of meaning will become different.

From this point of view, the conceptual blending theory consists of five

main characteristics: cross-space mapping, part of the mapping from the two input

spaces, generic space, emergent structure, and event of integration (Li, 2008). The

process of conceptual blending can be divided into three basic processes: 1)

composition, namely, mapping from the input space to the blending space; 2)

completion, namely, it is a process of matching the projection structure that come

from the input space and the long-term memory information structure, and it is the

source of the emergent structure; 3) elaboration, namely, it is the process of

conducting the cognitive operation in the blending space according to its emergent

logic.

Considering, spatial mode of conceptual blending that is established by

Fauconnier is not only emphasis on the role of context, but also can reveal the

dynamic process of the meaning construction from the simple spatial structure. It


explains the space mechanism of dynamically generating of meaning. It also can

explain the dynamic, random, and fuzzy thinking and cognitive activities effectively.

So it can be used to explain many language phenomena.

The formation of figurative meaning of idiom is the result of the

conceptual blending. In other words, the conceptual blending is a primary means of

forming the figurative meaning of idiom. It blends the concepts which come from

different cognitive frame through the cross-space mapping to form the new

concept，namely, the figurative meaning of idiom. In the following, we will deduce

and interpretation the conceptual blending in idioms through a series of case analysis.

5.1.1 Instance resolution of conceptual blending in idioms

5.1.1.1 A case of conceptual blending network: /ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗)

Golden rice bowl (/ʨin55fan51wan214/金饭碗) refers to the rice bowl

which was used to eat by the emperor in the ancient times. It is said that the ancient

Chinese emperors used the golden rice bowl to eat. Therefore, civil rumors that if

someone is able to get golden rice bowl, he will live comfortably all life. However, in

the modern society, the “golden rice bowl” is used to refer to high-paying job. Getting

this “golden rice bowl” will have glorious future, be well-fed and well-clothed.

In China, the history of bowl stretches for thousands of years. Since the

human civilization generated, the bowl has become an indispensable part of people’s

life. And bowls of varying texture emerge in endlessly, such as wooden bowl,

porcelain bowl, iron bowl, silver bowl, and golden bowl, etc... Since the bowl has

generated, it become the tool which is used to hold rice by people, and become the

essential utensils for people’s eating. In ancient times, people in order to show their

status and wealth, they were very particular about the choice of the bowl. The

ordinary people generally only were able to use wooden bowl or ordinary porcelain

bowl. But the wealthy people would tend to choose silver bowl or golden bowl, which

has high value, to show their honor.

In modern society, people have to rely on their own earned income for

food and clothing. If a person who has a good job with higher income, he would use

plenty of money for substance consumption, and can be enough to live comfortably


and enjoy the generous material life. And among the many consumers, eating is

paramount. Therefore, the level of income of job and daily food and clothing

consumer are closely linked. Over time, people put the level of job income and reach

people chose golden rice bowl in ancient times linked together and formed an idiom

“golden rice bowl (/ʨin55fan51wan214/金饭碗)”.

In this idiom, it contains two conceptual blending. The first conceptual

blending conducted between the rice bowl and the job. The rice bowl and the job

formed the two input spaces of the conceptual blending, namely, the rice bowl is input

space I (also known as source space) and the job is input space II (or called target

space). The process of the elements of the two input spaces is projected onto blending

space to conduct the conceptual blending is as shown in the following diagram:

Subject

Theme

(Goal/Means)

Participate: Rice bowel

Identity of tool of eating

Participate: Rice

Identity of food

Goal: Fill stomach

Means: Eating (food)

Participate: Job

Identity of means of livelihood

Participate: Income

Identity of purchasing

Goal: living

Means: Buying (daily goods)

Rice bowel – Job

Fill stomach – living

Means: Eating Goal: Living

Rice bowl means job


Conceptual blending diagram of “/fan51wan214/(饭碗)”

In this conceptual blending, the rice bowl in the input space I, which

has the identity of tool of eating, map the job in the input space II, which has the

identity of means of livelihood; and the rice, which has the identity of food in the

input space I map to the income, which has the identity of purchasing in the input

space II. People use rice bowl to eat rice in order to not hungry and live comfortable.

And people do job in order to earn money to buy daily goods so as to live

comfortable. The whole conceptual blending completed based on the compressing this

key relationship. The frame works of the two spaces are partly projected onto the

blending space, and form an emergent structure, which is different with the structures

of the two input spaces. Namely, a new concept: rice bowl means job.

When the new concept of rice bowl means job formed, it participated in

the second conceptual blending. In the second conceptual blending, we can see that

the golden rice bowl and the high-paying job formed the two input spaces of the

conceptual blending, namely, the input space I (also known as source space) and the

input space II (or called target space). These two spaces shared the same framework

of wealth; both the gold rice bowl and the high-paying job indicate that its owner has

a rich wealth. Since the elements of the two input spaces exist portion mapping

relationship, a cross-space mapping has formed. The process of the elements of the

two input spaces is projected onto blending space to conduct the conceptual blending

is as shown in the following diagram:


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗)”

From the diagram can see that the rice bowl of the input space I is

mapped to the job of the input space II; the high-value of golden bowl is mapped to

the high-paying of the job. Having a golden rice bowl means has wealth; likewise

having a high-paying job means has wealth. And the whole conceptual blending

Subject

Feature

(Goal/Means)

Subject: Rice bowel

Feature: Golden (high value)

Goal: Wealth

Means: Money

Subject: Job

Feature: High-paying

Goal: Income

Means: Money

Golden bowel – High-paying job

Wealth – income

Means: Money Goal: Income

Very Wealthy


completed based on the compressing this key relationship. The frame works of the

two spaces are partly projected onto the blending space, and form an emergent

structure, which is different with the structures of the two input spaces, through the

compression of the key relationships.

5.1.1.2 A case of conceptual blending network: /ɕia51kaŋ214/ (下岗)

/ɕia51kaŋ214/ (下岗 down post) originally referred to people laid off from

a post, do not continue to work on this post, may go to work on other post, or over a

period of time may also work on this position again, and so on. However, at present,

the language unit is widely used to refer to lose job. /ɕia51kaŋ214/ (下岗 down post) was

first used to refer to lose job since the 1990s. Since the 1990s the Chinese government

implemented the reform of state-owned enterprises, and a large number of workers

forced leave from their own work post. Although these workers still belong to the

enterprises, but there is no work to do, so they did not have income. In fact, they lose

job.

For this idioms, we can see that the post and the job formed the two

input spaces of the conceptual blending, namely, the input space I (also known as

source space) and the input space II (or called target space). These two spaces shared

the same framework of employment. Both the job and the post are closely related to

the employment, and thus there is a very close relationship between them. The

process of the elements of the two input spaces is projected onto blending space to

conduct the conceptual blending is as shown in the following diagram:


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/ɕia51kaŋ214/ (下岗)”

In the conceptual blending, through a cross-space mapping, the

mapping relationship are established between job and post, stepped down from the

post and lose job, without salary because do not report to work and without income

because lose job. After the frame works of the two input spaces are party projected

Participate

Feature

(Goal/Means)

Participate: Post

Identity of work plate

Action: Get down

Feature: Temporarily

leave

Means: Leave

Participate: Job

Identity of making a

living

Action: Lose

Feature: Gone forever

Means: Dismiss

Identity of work plate – Identity of making a living

Feature: Temporarily leave – Feature: Gone forever

Means: Leave Goal: Dismiss

Lose job


onto the blending space, based on the cross-space mapping, the conceptual blending

compress the key relationship of " without salary because do not report to work and

without income because lose job" to form a emergent structure, which is different

with the structures of the two input spaces, namely: the essence of forcing to leave

work post in long time resulting in no salary is unemployment, so it can say that down

post means lose job. After the emergent structure formed, through further completion

and elaboration, the idiom “/ɕia51kaŋ214/ (下岗 down post)” has formed.

5.1.1.3 A case of conceptual blending network: /tʂʰau214jou35jy35/(炒鱿鱼)

In China, due to the vast territory and large population, a lot of people

should go to work far from home. In the era of transportation systems were

underdeveloped, it would take a long time to come bank home from the work place.

So many people cannot come bank home every day. For this reason, almost all of the

work units would provide accommodation for the staff. And the staffs need to bring

their own bed linen to the dormitory. If the employees were dismissed, employees had

to pack their own bed linen and leave the unit staff quarters.

In the past, Chinese people still not very popular to use travel bag or

suitcase to hold things. For the convenience and saving, the employees will put

towels, clothing and other valuables things in the middle of the bedding, with bedding

rolled up and bundled, then took them home.

Later, in daily life, from the dish of fried squid, people find that in the

process of cooking squid, without exception, every squid pieces is rolled slowly from

a flat shape into a cylindrical shape. This change of the squid is very similar to the

process of the employees rolled up the bedding and take it away from the unit staff

quarters when is dismissed. This result the people’s association, they compare the

process of fried squid with the dismiss of employees, and form the

idiom/tʂʰau214jou35jy35/(炒鱿鱼 Fry squid), which refers to the employee is dismissed

by the work unit.

In the idiom/tʂʰau214jou35jy35/(炒鱿鱼 Fry squid),we can know that the

two input spaces have the different frame, the input space I is cooking frame, and the

input space II is the dismissal frame. The cooking frame of the input space I is

projected onto the blending space and extend to the organizational frame of the


blending space. With the process of cooking squid in the cooking frame, people show

the phenomenon of employee is dismissed by the work unit vivid and lively. It use

squid to map staff, fried the squid map the employee is dismissed, squid is rolled up

map the staff packs things and rolled up the bedding, take the squid away from the

pan map the employee forced to leave the work unit, etc… Through this conceptual

blending, people understand the phenomenon of dismissal more clearly. The process

of the elements of the two input spaces is projected onto blending space to conduct

the conceptual blending is as shown in the following diagram:

Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/tʂʰau214jou35jy35/(炒鱿鱼)”

In the conceptual blending net-work of this idiom, the organizational

frame of the input space I is projected onto the blending space, and form the emergent

Participate

Theme

Change

Means/Goal

Identity of being fried dish - Identity of being

dismissed

Change: Roll up - Change: Lose job

Participate: Staff

Identity of being dismissed

Place: Work unit

Action: Dismiss

Change: Lose jobAction: Leave the work unit

Means: Be fired and lose job

Participate: Squids

Identity of being fried dish

Place: Wok

Action: Cooking

Change: Roll up

Action: Take away from wok

Means: Roll up while stir fry

Means: Roll up while stir fry Goal: Be fired and lose job

Be fired


structure through the compression of the key relationships. It uses the fried squid and

the change of the squid during the cooking process to show the phenomenon of

employee is dismissed by the work unit vivid and lively. Conversely, the

organizational frame of the input space II did not participate in the formation of frame

of the emergent structure in the blending space.

5.1.1.4 A case of conceptual blending network: /si214tʂaŋ51/ (死账)

Dead account (/si214tʂaŋ51/死账) is an idiom which is frequently used in

market economy. As there are many uncertainties in the market economy, in the

course of operation, many enterprises will have receivables, which cannot be

recovered or recovered very unlikely. For enterprises, such receivables are actual

economic losses.

In real life, people often take inanimate objects and living things to

conduct conceptual blending to form vivid idioms. The generation of the idiom

“/si214tʂaŋ51/(死账 dead accounts)” is a good example. Originally, the receivables of

the enterprises are inanimate things, but when people compare them to living things

through analogy, new concepts are formed; these receivables will be like living things

as have life and death.

For this idioms, we can see that the life body and the receivables of

enterprises formed the two input spaces of the conceptual blending, namely, the input

space I (also known as source space) and the input space II (or called target space).

Based on similarities between the two input spaces, cross-space mapping can be

formed between them. The process of the elements of the two input spaces is

projected onto blending space to conduct the conceptual blending is as shown in the

following diagram:


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/si214tʂaŋ51/(死账)”

From the diagram can see that the receivables of enterprises mapped to

the life body, receivables cannot be recovered or recovered very unlikely mapped to

the death of living body, the economic loss caused by irrecoverable of receivables

mapped to the loss caused by the death of living body. The most important common

feature between the two input spaces is “loss”, both irrecoverable of receivables and

death of living body indicate “lose”. The whole concept blending based on inheriting

part of the organization structures of the two input spaces, through a compression of

this key relationship, formed a emergent structure in the blending space, so as to form

a new concept: the irrecoverable of receivables of enterprises like the death of living

Participate

Feature

(Goal/Means)

Participate: Life

Identity of living thingFeature: Loss of life

Goal: Dead Means: Die

Participate: Receivables

Identity of money

Feature: Irrecoverable

Goal: Lost

Means: lose

Identity of living thing– Identity of money

Feature: Loss of life – Feature: Irrecoverable

Means: Dead Goal: Lost

Irrecoverable


body that is irreparable. Since then, a new idiom “/si214tʂaŋ51/(死账 dead accounts)” is

formed.

5.1.1.5 A case of conceptual blending network: /ʨia35ɕin55ʦu35/ (夹心族)

There is such a group of middle-aged crowd in today's Chinese society:

they had a fixed job and stable income; and usually has hundreds of thousands of

deposits. In the opinion of the underlying ordinary people, they are belonged to the

white-collar group and their income was quite good enough to live comfortably. But

the real life state of these people is not like this. In fact, they were a crowd who are in

an invisible caught. Due to the impact of the family planning policy in contemporary

China, and combined with guidance of Chinese traditional values, a lot of couples

need to support for the four elderly, and raise one child. For this crowd, the daunting

task of support for the four elderly and raise one child, except love, the main problem

is money.

This crowd has a stable middle-income and hundreds of thousands of

deposits. Therefore, they do not meet the state regulations of the conditions of

applying for the purchase of affordable housing, but for the million mansions they can

only keep at a distance. So they also bear the tremendous economic pressure on the

purchase of house.

Although in middle age, they should support for the four elderly, and

raise one child. They do not only exhaust to care for the elderly, but also over worked

for the children's healthy growth and academic development. For them, the main

theme of life is that continuing to work in exchange for income to maintain family

economic overhead. They have no energy to develop interpersonal relationships and

have no time and effort to consider their own spiritual life. They are always faced

with economic pressures from all quarters. They are squeezed by these economic

pressures, liking the sandwich filling of Hamburg. So people call this

crowd /ʨia35ɕin55ʦu35/ (夹心族, Sandwich tribe) jokingly.

From this idiom, we can see that the sandwich as the source domain

and the middle-aged that under a variety of economic pressures as the target domain

to form the two input spaces, the two input spaces share the same frame of "pressure".

As part of the elements of the two input space exist mapping relationship, thus


forming a cross-space mapping. The target domain contains the main elements of

sandwich filling (a variety of material), the two pieces of Hamburg's up and down, the

sandwich filling is clamped by the two pieces of Hamburg's up and down, and the

sandwich filling is under pressure and cannot move, and so on. The source domain

contains the main elements of middle-aged crowd, economic pressure from

supporting for the four elderly, and raising one child, no time to think about the

personal spiritual life, and so on. From the analysis above, we can see that the

elements of the two input spaces exist the similar organization structure. The

sandwich filling map to the middle-aged crowd, the physical pressure from the two

pieces of Hamburg's up and down map to the economic pressure from supporting for

the four elderly, and raising one child, etc... The process of the elements of the two

input spaces is projected onto blending space to conduct the conceptual blending is as

shown in the following diagram:

Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/ʨia35ɕin55ʦu35/ (夹心族)”

Participate

Theme

Goal/Means

Role: Oppressed - Role: Bearer of economy

Pressure of Physical - Burden of economy

Participate: Middle age people

Role: Bearer of economy

Participate: Children and old people

Role: Need economy support

Burden of economy

Means: Under economy pressure

Participate: Sandwich filling

Role: Oppressed

Participate: Hamburger

Role: Oppressor

Pressure of Physical

Means: Being pressed and cannot

move

Means: Under pressure Goal: Economic burden

Have economic burden and lack of freedom


In the conceptual blending of this idiom, the pressure frame is the

shared frame of the two input spaces. The difference is that the pressure in the input

space I is the physical pressure, and it is a physical presence that can be measured; the

pressure in the input space II is an economic pressure, and it is invisible. In the

blending space, through the compression of the critical relationship between the two

input spaces, blend the physical pressure of the sandwich and the economic pressure

of the middle-aged crowd to form the emergent structure: under tremendous

economic pressure lead to a great deal of lacking freedom.

5.1.1.6 A case of conceptual blending network: /tʰai35ʦʰiau51ʦi214/ (抬轿子)

The sedan chair is an important means of transport in ancient times,

and was widely used in the eastern and western countries. In ancient China, the sedan

chair is normally used manpower to carry. The number of person who carried the

sedan chair was decided by the status and position of the passenger. The sedan chair

of the most honored person was carried by eight persons. The sedan chair of the

person who has a certain status was carried by four persons. And the sedan chair of

ordinary person was carried by two persons.

With the introduction of modern means of transport, in the beginning

of the last century, the sedan chair gradually withdraw from the stage of history and

no longer used by people in China. However, the sedan chair began to be enabled by

the tourism from the eighties of last century, and set in tourist areas to serve for

domestic and foreign tourists in order to allow visitors to experience and understand

the ancient Chinese culture.

Later, the people familiar with stock trading discovered that the

physical strength behavior of lifting sedan chair had so many similar characteristics

with a trading phenomenon that existed in the stock market, and created a new idiom

“/tʰai35ʦʰiau51ʦi214/ (抬轿子 lifting sedan chair). It refers to someone buy the stocks

after the stock price has risen; their behavior will let the stock price rise more and let

the stocks owners who buy stocks at a low price gain more profit but not themselves.

For this idiom, we can see that the lifting sedan chair and the buy

stocks formed the two input spaces of the conceptual blending, namely, the input



The two input space shared the same framework of paying and benefits. Based on

similarities between the two input spaces, cross-space mapping can be formed

between them. People buying stocks later mapped to the people lifting the sedan

chair, both of them have paid, and the difference is the stocks buyer pay money but

the people lifting the sedan chair pay physical labor; the stocks mapped to the sedan

chair, both are the object that the participants to pay for; people buying stocks earlier

mapped to the passenger of the sedan chair, both of them are the are the beneficiaries

of the events, and the difference is that the people buying stocks earlier obtain the

profit but the passenger gain the convenience of travel. The process of the elements of

the two input spaces is projected onto blending space to conduct the conceptual

blending is as shown in the following diagram:

Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/tʰai35ʦʰiau51ʦi214/ (抬轿子)”

Subject

Change

(Goal/Means)

Subject: Lifting sedan

Identity of means of travel

Action: Lifting

Change: Moving

Goal: Service

Means: Physical labor

Subject: stock price

Identity of stock trading

Action: Buy

Change: price rises

Goal: Profitability

Means: Investment

Identity of means of travel – Identity of stock trading

Change: Moving – Change: price

risesMeans: Physical labor Goal: Profitability

Obtain a benefit


Based on the cross-mapping, the frame works of the two input space

were partly projected onto the blending space, and formed a emergent structure in the

blending space through a conceptual blending. And the new idiom “/tʰai35ʦʰiau51ʦi214/

(抬轿子 lifting sedan chair) is formed through further completion and elaboration

eventually.

5.1.1.7 A case of conceptual blending network: /loŋ35tʰou35ʨʰi214jei51/ (龙头企业)

Dragon is one kind of supernatural animals in the ancient Chinese

myths. In Chinese culture, the dragon is a symbol of both the power and status, and

also a symbol of good fortune and wisdom. So people tend to prefer to use a dragon

or parts of dragon’s body to refer the finer things or phenomena in real word. And this

usage is often achieved through conceptual blending. The idiom

“/loŋ35tʰou35ʨʰi214jei51/ (龙头企业 The leading enterprise)” is a good example. It refers

to an enterprise which has a deep impact, rallying point and guiding role to other

enterprises in a certain industry and has has made outstanding contributions to the

industry or to the country.

For this idiom, we can see that dragon head and enterprise formed the

two input spaces of the conceptual blending, namely, the input space I (also known as

source space) and the input space II (or called target space). The two input space

shared the same framework of paying and benefits. Based on similarities between the

two input spaces, cross-space mapping can be formed between them. The enterprise

mapped to the dragon head; the status and role of good enterprise in the industry

mapped to the role and status of the dragon head in various parts of the dragon body,

both of them play a leading and dominant role in their own framework; the other

enterprises in the same industry mapped to the others parts of the dragon body,

although they are indispensable their own frame, but both are in a position of being

guided. The process of the elements of the two input spaces is projected onto blending

space to conduct the conceptual blending is as shown in the following diagram:


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom “/loŋ35tʰou35ʨʰi214jei51/ (龙头企业)”

Through structural projection, the frame works of the two input spaces

were partly projected onto the blending space. Based on this, the conceptual blending

formed an emergent structure, which was different with the structures of the input

spaces, in the blending space through a compression of key relationship. Through

further completion and elaboration, a new idiom “/loŋ35tʰou35ʨʰi214jei51/ (龙头企业The leading enterprise)” formed eventually.

5.1.1.9 A case of conceptual blending network: /pʰau51mo51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/ ( 泡沫经济)

Subject

Feature

(Goal/Means)

Subject: Drag head

Identity of core part

Feature: Has dominant

position

Goal: Function

Means:

Control

Subject: Leading enterprise

Identity of leader

Feature: Has leading position

Goal: Status

Means: Lead

Identity of core part– Identity of leader

Feature: Has dominant position– Feature: Has leading

positionMeans: Control Goal: Status

Has a status of leading


/pʰau51mo51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(泡沫经济 Bubble economic) refers to the macro-

economic state of the asset value is far beyond the real economy, can easily lose the

capacity of sustainable development, so as to led to the economic downturn, and even

led to the economic crisis. The development trajectory of this economy state is that

after a period of rapid prosperity will have a sharp decline, and leads to prosperity

burst and has an economic crisis eventually. This whole process is like a soap bubble,

rapidly produces, expands, and then vanished in a moment.

In the entire process of formation of this idiom, the false economic

growth mode frame and foam physical change frame form the two input spaces.

Frameworks of the two input space are partially projected onto the blending space to

form the emergent structure. Through the cross-space mapping, the conceptual

blending is completed eventually, and the physical expansion of the foam mapping

with the false prosperity of the economy, the foam vanished in a moment mapping

with the economic collapse. And so form an emergent structure which is different

from the structures of the two input spaces in the blending space, and form a new

concept of /pʰau51mo51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/ (泡沫经济 Bubble economy), using to refer the false

prosperity of the economy. The process of the elements of the two input spaces is

projected onto the blending space to conduct the conceptual blending is as shown in

the following diagram:

Theme

Event

Property

Means/Goal


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom/pʰao51mo51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/ (泡沫经济 Bubble economy)

After the formation of the new concept, the emergent structure is

expanded continuously under the effect of background knowledge, cognition and the

cultural models. And according to the emergent logic of the emergent structure, this

new concept is further improved and then applied to other areas to refer to the things

which have the similar structure and features with the false prosperity of the economy.

Such as: the false cultural prosperity show called "bubble culture”; some unrealistic

and false propaganda called" bubble publicity”; some fictional knowledge is called

"bubble knowledge”.

"Bubble", from a physical phenomenon to refer to the false prosperity

of the economy and then is future used to refer to all kind of false things; from this

process we can see a complete conceptual blending and the composition, completion

and elaboration in the process of conceptual blending. Of course, in real life, the

conceptual blending does not stop the development pace, but it will further continue.

Property of instant disappeared - Property of cannot be sustained growth

Event: Bubble burst - Event: Economic collapse

Entity: High price

Event: Price growth

Property of cannot be sustained growth

Event: Economic collapse

Means: False prosperity will

disappear soon

Entity: Bubble

Event: Bubble inflated

Property of instant disappeared

Event: Bubble burst

Means: The time of the bubble’s

existence is very short

Means: The time of existence is very short Goal: False prosperity

False prosperity will disappear soon


5.1.1.10 A case of conceptual blending network: /kai214kɣ35ʂen35xua51/(改革神话)

In Chinese, the word /ʂen35xua51/ (神话 myth) generally refers to

ancient sacred stories about the changes in human beings or the world (Xinhua

dictionary, 2005). Therefore it also can be widely used to refer to any ancient legend.

Myths generally originated in primitive society. In that historical period, people

cannot make a reasonable explanation for some natural phenomenon. In order to

satisfy their desire for recognition, they made some explanation through imagination

and reasoning, so as to form the myths. Because of this interpretation is based on the

imagination, it is often with a lot of mystery. From the perspective of modern science,

these myths have some exaggeration, fantasy, mystery, rather incredible features.

As all know, after the implementation of the reform and opening

policy, the entire social economy undergone a rapid development, there has been a lot

of economic development miracle rather incredible. It appears that this reality miracle

of economic development is like a mythical story, full of mystery and elusive. Thus a

new idiom "reform myth" was born. It used to refer to economic development miracle

which is created in China after the reform and opening up the country.

For this idiom, we can see that the myth and economic development

miracle formed the two input spaces of the conceptual blending, namely, the input


The two input space shared the same framework of paying and benefits. Based on

similarities between the two input spaces, cross-space mapping can be formed

between them. Reform mapped to the myth; economic development miracle created in

the reform mapped to exaggerated and fantasy storyline of the myth; the sense of

mystery which is brought by the speed of economic development mapped to the

mystery shrouded everywhere in the myth. The process of the elements of the two

input spaces is projected onto blending space to conduct the conceptual blending is as

shown in the following diagram:

Subject

Feature

(Goal/Means)


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom“/kai214kɣ35ʂen35xua51/(改革神话)

The one of the most important thing in common is that both the myth

and reform give people a sense of mystery and incredible. Based on inheriting the

frame woks of the two input spaces partly, the conceptual blending formed a emergent

structure, which was different with the structures of the input spaces, in the blending

space through a compression of the key relationship. Through further completion and

elaboration, a new idiom “/kai214kɣ35ʂen35xua51/(改革神话myth)”formed eventually.

5.1.1.11 A case of conceptual blending network: /fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/(丰收灾)

/fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/(丰收灾 Harvest disaster) refers to a phenomenon that

farmer lack of market awareness, based on past market information, invest in certain

Subject: Myth

Identity of story

Feature: Fantasy

Exaggeration

Unreal

Goal: Explain things

Means: Fantasy and

Reasoning

Subject: Economy reform

Identity of social activity

Feature: Rapid development

Great achievements

Unbelievable

Goal: Economic miracle

Means: Innovation

Identity of story – Identity of social

activityMeans: Fantasy and Reasoning Goal: Economic miracle

Economic miracle is unbelievable


agricultural products, when the agricultural produce has a bumper harvest, because of

the prices falling, the farmer do not only increase revenue, but also has a large

number of loss. In china, due to the lack of knowledge, most farmers do not

understand the relationship between supply and demand in the market economy, and

so lack of awareness of market-oriented. When making the cultivation of farm

products, the vast majority of farmers thanks to their own experiences and feelings to

decide cultivation, such as: a certain agricultural products has a low price in this year,

they will not plant it in the next year; and if a certain agricultural products has a high

price in this year, it will be planted by many farmers. This investment, which depends

on experience and lack of scientific analysis of the market supply and demand

information, often lead to an oversupply of agricultural products and causing prices to

fall. In the case of investment costs remain constant, investors generally will suffer

huge economic losses.

The conceptual blending of this idiom involves two different

frameworks, namely: agricultural input-output framework and disaster framework.

Cross-space mapping is established between the agricultural harvest and catastrophic

events, agricultural products lead to economic loss due to low prices and economic

loss caused by the disaster damage, farmers affected by economic losses and disaster

victims. Framework of agricultural input - output and framework of disaster are

partially projected into the blending space to form the emergent structure. After the

cognitive operations of combined, complement and extend, we can see clearly that the

economic phenomena such as oversupply led to farmers do not only increase

production without increasing income, but also have a large number of loss-making

almost like a disaster to the farmers whose economy state is not good. The process of

the elements of the two input spaces is projected to blending space to conduct the

conceptual blending is as shown in the following diagram:

Theme

Participate

Means/Goal


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom/fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/(丰收灾 Harvest disaster)

In the conceptual blending of this idiom, the organizational framework

of the input space I and the input space II is partially projected into the blending space

to form an emergent structure which is different with the input spaces completely.

Through the compression and integration of key relationships, blending the

agricultural products lead to economic loss due to low prices and economic loss

caused by the disaster damage into one concept, so as to form the new concept of

/fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/(丰收灾 ,Harvest disaster). The element of harvest comes from the

input space I, and the element of disaster comes from the input space II. The harvest

and disaster are two irrelevant concepts originally. However, through this conceptual

blending, they are formed a new complete concept. The greatest common feature of

the two input spaces is loss. This common feature is also the core concept of the

emergent structure of blending space. And the differences of the tow input spaces are

that the causes of the loss are different. In the input space I, the loss is caused by the

poor operation, after improving operations, such losses can be avoided. However, in

Role: The loser - Role: Disaster victim

Event: Low price lead to a lose - Event: Suffer various types of losses

Event: Disaster

Participate: people

Role: Disaster victim

Event: Suffer various types of losses

Means: Suffered huge losses

Event: Good harvest

Participate： peasant

Role: The loser

Event: Low price lead to a loseMeans: Suffered economic losses

Means: Suffered economic losses Goal: Good harvest

Have a good harvest but suffered economic losses


the input space II, losses caused by disasters, and cannot be avoided. The new concept

which is formed through conceptual blending abandons this difference.

5.1.2 The conceptual blending chain

In the idioms, some idioms’ figurative meaning is not formed in only

one conceptual blending, but be formed after several conceptual blending. In this

thesis, this phenomenon will be called conceptual blending chain. In the conceptual

blending chain, the figurative meaning which is formed in the first level of conceptual

blending will become an input space of the second level of conceptual blending.

According to the feature of the conceptual blending chain, we can divide it into two

categories: U-type conceptual blending chain and linear conceptual blending chain.

5.1.2.1 U-type conceptual blending chain

The so-called U-type conceptual blending chain refers to that in the

first level of conceptual blending chain will have two different conceptual blending,

and the new concepts of the two conceptual blending will form the two input spaces

of the second level of conceptual blending chain. The whole conceptual blending

chain is as shown in the following diagram:

First level:

Generic Space


Second level: Input l1 Input l2

Blend

Conceptual blending chain diagram of U-type conceptual blending chain

In the Chinese new idioms related to economy, the conceptual

blending in the idiom /tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/(种票门 Planting vote gate)is a typical U-

type conceptual blending chain. The whole conceptual blending chain in this idiom is

as shown in the following diagram:

. .. .• • . • • • . •

.

.


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom /tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/(种票门)

Event： Watergate scandal - Event: Any event

Key word： Gate -- Bad

influence

Means: scandal Goal: A bad thing

Gate means a bad thing

Input illegally resource - Bad influence

Gain votes -- Gate

Participants

Input

Goal/Means

Input： Resource - Input： Illegally resource

Goal： Gain output - Goal： Gain votes

Subject： Candidate

Object： Voters

Input： Illegally resource

Goal： Gain votes

Means: Win the election

Subject： Grower

Object: Cultivated plants

Input： Resource

Goal： Gain output

Means: Have a harvest

Theme

Property

Goal/Means

Event： Watergate

scandal

Property： Political

scandal

Key word： Gate

Means: Disgraceful political scandal

Event: Any event

Property：Scandal

Bad influence

Means: A bad thing

Means: Have a harvest Goal：Gain votes

Win the election

Event

property

Means/Goal

Means: Win the vote illegally Goal: scandal

Win the vote illegally is scandal


In the whole conceptual blending chain of the idiom

/tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/(种票门 Planting vote gate), there are two different conceptual

blending in the first level. The one is / tʂuŋ51pʰiau51/(种票 Planting vote) and the other

is / mən35/(门 Gate). In the conceptual blending of /tʂuŋ51pʰiau51/(种票 Planting vote),

it involves the planting framework and the win votes framework. Through the cross-

space mapping, connections are established between the growers and the candidate,

species of plants and voters, as well as between the plant output and get votes. One of

the most significant key relationships in these two frameworks is that both need to

invest a lot of manpower and material resources. The difference is that the planting

need to invest a lot of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, etc… and win votes is required to

invest a lot of cash, all kinds of interests which are needed by the voters, etc…

Through the key relationship compression, this conceptual bleeding form a emergent

structure that different from the structures of the two input spaces in the blending

space eventually. After the completion of conceptual blending, the new conceptual /

tʂuŋ51pʰiau51/(种票 Planting vote) is formed. It refers to use variety of ways to win

votes.

The second conceptual blending is about / mən35/(门 Gate). In Chinese,

gate (/ mən35/) do not have any contact with the bad things originally. The two entities

can be linked to together because of Watergate scandal of the United States. As well

known, the Watergate scandal is one of the most disgraceful political scandals in the

history of the United States. And the word “gate” in the “Watergate scandal”

translated into Chinese is / mən35/. After a comparison between the Watergate scandal

and other scandals, people compressed out the key word “gate” and to confer it means

bad things. From then on, whenever hear the idiom of “x x / mən35/”, Chinese people

will understand that it is a bad thing immediately. Such as /tʂa51ʨuan55mən35/ refers to

an event that pledged donation, but did not honor its donation; /fən55xuŋ35mən35/ refers

to the dispute between the fund holders and the fund company, which is caused by the

issues of fund dividends; /pau214tan55mən35/ refers to the event that people bring a

claim to insurance sellers when people found the insurance policy which they have

bought is invalid; etc…

The two new concepts which are formed in the conceptual blending in

the first level of the conceptual blending chain constitute the two input spaces of the


conceptual blending in the second level of the conceptual blending chain. Through a

new round of conceptual blending, the idiom /tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/(种票门 Planting

vote gate) is formed eventually. At first, the idiom/tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/( 种票门Planting vote gate) refers to the event that the PCCW of Hong Kong used the stock to

exchange the vote of in favor of the privatization. Later, after a completion and

elaboration, this idiom is widely used and refers to any scandal that the candidate uses

the method of bribing voters to get votes to win the election.

5.1.2.2 Linear conceptual blending chain

The so-called linear conceptual blending chain refers to that in the

every level of the conceptual blending chain, it will have only one conceptual

blending and the new concept which is formed in the blending space will became one

input space of the conceptual blending in the next level of the conceptual blending

chain. And the other input space of the conceptual blending in the next level of the

conceptual blending chain will come from outside. The whole conceptual blending

chain is as shown in the following diagram:


The first level:

Generic Space

The second level: Input l1 Input l2

Generic Space

Blend Input l2

The third level: Input l1

• • . • • • . •

.

.

• •

• •

.

.

• •

• •


★ The conceptual blending chain of this kind can have two levels, or three levels or even more three levels.

In the Chinese idioms related to economy, the idioms which involve

color are typical liner conceptual blending chain. In the first level of the conceptual

blending chain, the colors in real are given different figurative meanings. Such as

green means good and healthy, because of green is the color of the vast majority

healthy plants in the nature and these plants provide oxygen to the survival of

mankind, etc… Blank means bad, illegal; gray means not good; and so on.

After completing the conceptual blending in the first level of the

conceptual blending chain, the new conceptual, namely the colors that have different

figurative meanings will became one of the input spaces to participate in the

conceptual blending in the next level of the conceptual blending chain so as to form

idioms, such as:

/ ly51sə51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(绿色经济Green economy),

/ ly51sə51 tʂʰan214pin214/(绿色产品Green products),

/ ly51sə51ɕiau55fei51/(绿色消费Green consumption),

/xuei55sə51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(灰色经济Gray economy),

/xuei55sə51ʂou55ʐu51/ (灰色收入Gray income),

/ xei55sə51ʂou55ʐu51/(黑色收入 Black income),

/ xei55 ʂi51/(黑市 Black market),

Etc…

At here, we will take the / xei55sə51ʂou55ʐu51/(黑色收入) as a example

to show the whole diagram of the liner conceptual blending chain:

• • . • • • . •


The first level ：

The second level ：

Theme

Nature/characteristic

Lack of light - illegal

Can not see anything - Can not allow outsiders to

see

Theme： Nature of

things

Nature： illegal

Characteristic: Cannot

allow outsiders to see

Theme： blank color

Nature： Lack of lightCharacteristic: Cannot see anything

Nature

Means/Goal


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom / xei55sə51ʂou55ʐu51/(黑色收入)

In addition, the Chinese idioms related to economy which involve the

spatial orientation are another kind of typical liner conceptual blending examples. In

the first, the different spatial orientations are given different figurative meanings

through the conceptual blending, and then, the spatial orientation which has figurative

meaning will as an input space to participate in the conceptual blending in the next

level of the conceptual blending chain so as to form idioms. Such as:

/ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(地下经济Underground economy),

/ti51ɕia51koŋ55tʂaŋ214/(地下工厂Underground factories),

/ ti51ɕia51ʨiao55ji51/(地下交易Underground trading),

/ti51ɕia51ʨʰian35tʂuaŋ55/(地下钱庄Underground bank) Etc…

5.1.3 The relationship between the cognitive model and the concept blending

The so-called cognitive mode refers to the mode of acquiring and

processing information, the cognitive model of different people or groups of people

have their own different characteristics (Ci Hai dictionary, 2009). The conceptual

blending is essentially a cognitive activity, and is affected by people’s various

cognitive models. Different cognitive models tend to form different conceptual

Theme: income

Nature: illegal

Characteristic: can not openly

Means: illegal income can not openly

Theme: black color - Theme: income

Lack of light - illegal income

Means: cannot see anything Goal: illegal thing

Black means illegal

Means: Black means illegal Goal: illegal income

Black income means illegal income


blending, because each cognitive model will provide a particular kind of possibility

and oriented to carry out the conceptual blending.

This analysis of conceptual blending and frame shifting in idioms is

based on the case study of Chinese idioms related economy. So, in this section, the

author will take the main cognitive models of Chinese people as examples to analyze

the impact of cognitive model to the conceptual blending.

5.1.3.1The conceptual blending under the experiential cognition model

Chinese people emphasis on experience since ancient times. They are

good at summing up experience from the practice of daily production and life to form

the theoretical knowledge to guide further practice. For the importance of experience,

predecessors had a lot of brilliant expositions, such as: "A journey of a thousand miles

begins with a single step", “the best knowledge do not come from books, but come

from practice”, “Knowledge is action, action is knowledge”, “genuine knowledge

comes from practice”, etc… these discourses is intended to warn future generations

must pay attention to practical experience, do not be imagined. These build the model

of experiential cognition.

This cognitive model is applied to the conceptual blending in the

Chinese idioms related economy manifested as: Chinese people always like to select

the entities that are familiar and loved by people in daily life to participate in the

conceptual blending, so as to achieve the goal that let people understand some abstract

or difficult things easily. In the Chinese idioms related economy, there are so many

idioms that are formed through the conceptual blending take the experiential view as a

guide. For example, the idioms involve the concept of eating are typical cases. At

here, the author will take the idiom /kʰən214lau214ʦu35/ (啃老族 Eat old people) as an

example to conduct a detailed analysis.

/kʰən214lau214ʦu35/ (啃老族 Eat old people) is also called "near old

family". They are not cannot find a job, but take the initiative to give up the

opportunity of obtain employment, stay idle at home, not only the basic necessities of

life depends on parents, and often have an expensive cost. They often have an age

between 23-30 years old. The conceptual blending network of this idiom is as shown

in the following diagram:


Theme

Recipient/Provider

Property

Means/Goal

Food consumer - Economic consumer

Been consumed food - Economic provider

Participant： Any one

Role: food consumer

Characteristic: Hungry

Participant： Food

Role: Been consumed

Goal: Eating food

Means: Eating

Participant: young people

Role: Economic consumer

Characteristic： No work

Participant: Parents

Role: Economic provider

Goal: consume

Means: Spent money of

parents

Means: Eating Goal: Spent money of parents

Lack of economic income


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom/kʰən214lau214ʦu35/ (啃老族 Eat old people)

In the conceptual blending of this idiom, the conceptual blending

conduct between the economic consumption, which is abstract and difficult to grasp,

and the eating that is familiar by everyone. Cross-space mapping is established

between the eater and economy consumers (a group of young people), between food

and economic providers (parents). The eater and the economy consumers have the

common feature of getting. The food and the economy consumers have the common

feature of losing. The conceptual blending is completed ultimately by compress this

key relationships. At last the idiom/kʰən214lau214ʦu35/ (啃老族 Eat old people) is

formed.

5.1.3.2 The conceptual blending under the model of spatial orientation

cognition

The concept of spatial orientation is an important foundation for us to

understand and grasp the real world. And it plays a very important role in the

cognitive activities of our daily lives. In the development process of history, spatial

orientation often has been given a particular figurative meaning, so as to form an

inherent model of spatial orientation cognition.

In the civilization history development of Chinese, it has been in a

male - dominated society for a long time. At this period, man is the master of all

things in the world, and the woman is man's slave. The Chinese believe that the sky is

father and the earth is mother. They thought that the sky is the master of the universe,

and the earth is dominated by the sky. On this basis, the ancient Chinese people

formed a spatial orientation cognition model of up is good and low is bad. So up

means good and positive; low means bad and negative.

In addition, in ancient long feudal society of China, a lot of space

orientation has been given different figurative meaning, such as East and West, North

and South, Left and Right, and so on.


In the ancient Chinese society, the South stands for extreme noble;

however, the North represents failure and surrender. So, the palaces and temples

which is a symbol of the power of feudal society are always facing south. And the

emperor's seat is block south. The emperor ascended the throne is known as the "get

south respect”; lost the battle known as the "defeat to north"; surrender to others is

called "north concede defeat"; etc… Usually due south orientation has been given the

highest honor in the feudal era, when people build houses, no one dared to let their

houses toward located in the south direction of the meridian, they always let it have a

little biased to east or west direction to avoid breaching the imperial power. Expect

respect for South and despise North, the Chinese people often take the East as the

head and the west as the end. In ancient China, the palace of queens was always

located at east. On the contrary, the palace of imperial concubine was always located

at west. In addition, the Imperial Ancestral Temple which worships the tablets of

deceased was built at the east of the palace.

Moreover, the orientation word Lift and Right also have different

figurative meanings. In ancient times, the emperor is the royal prerogative, on any

occasion, he emphasizes that his seat should south-facing and back to north, so the

left-hand side of the emperor is always the East. So, the "left" orientation become

noble due to the people respect for the east orientation. In the Three Kingdoms period

of China, Soochow Sun Quan ruled the east area of Changjiang River, so he is also

called “Jiangzuo (left river)”. Furthermore, the code system of civilian standing in the

left and the military attaché standing in the right in ancient China, and the customs of

male left female right all reflect the concept of respect lift orientation.

These above constitute the main model of spatial orientation cognition

of Chinese people. And these cognitive models more or less reflected in the Chinese

idiom related economy, such as:

/ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(地下经济Underground economy),

/ti51ɕia51koŋ55tʂaŋ214/(地下工厂Underground factories),

/ʂaŋ51kaŋ214/(上岗Go to work on a post),

etc…


At here, we will take the idiom /ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(地下经济Underground economy) as an example to conduct a detailed analysis. The conceptual

blending network of this idiom is as shown in the following diagram:

Theme

Feature

Means/Goal

Theme: underground - Theme: economic

Feature: cannot see - Feature: not

public

Theme: economic activities

Feature: not publicNature: illegal

Means: illegal economic can

not public

Theme: underground

Feature: can not see

Represent: illegal

Means: underground is

illegal

Means: underground is illegal Goal: illegal economic

Underground economic means illegal economic


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom/ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(地下经济)

Note: In this network diagram, it omitted the first level of the conceptual blending chain. Namely, that omitted

the orientation word “lower” is give a figurative meaning of bad or illegal through the conceptual blending.

In this conceptual blending, the orientation of underground represents

illegal. As all know, the two input spaces have a common feature of unknown.

"Underground" is a position that people cannot see with the naked eye; and the illegal

economy are also in the dark, and in order to avoid legal sanctions, it will not let the

public know. It is the common feature that links up the two input spaces. In the whole

conceptual blending process, through the compression of key relationship, it formed

an emergent structure in the blending space eventually and formed the idiom

/ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(地下经济Underground economy).

5.1.3.3 The conceptual blending under the model of harmonious cognition

Chinese people believe in doctrine of the mean, so everything

emphasizes appropriate, moderate, not extreme, just right, and a degree of relaxation.

Thousands of years ago, the famous thinker Dong Zhongshu of Han Dynasty had put

forward the idea of harmony between man and nature.

Since ancient times, China is a large agricultural country, and land is

the key resources that people resistance to survival. Because of this, each dynasty

emphasized the harmony between the people and land, and believed that economic

development cannot be at the expense of the environment. To the contemporary,

according to the actual national conditions, the Chinese government put forward the

mission of building a harmonious society in the beginning of this century. From these

historical events, we can see clearly that the model of harmonious cognition occupies

a pivotal position in the Cognitive activities of Chinese people. In the Chinese idioms

related economy, there are so many idioms that are formed through the conceptual

blending take the harmonious cognition as a guide. At here, the author will take the

idiom / ʐuan214ʦau214lu51/ (软着陆 Soft landing) as an example to conduct a detailed

analysis.


/ʐuan214ʦau214lu51/ (软着陆 Soft landing) is a terminology of aerospace

field. It refers to the technology of the aircraft descend to the ground or other planet

surface at a slower speed and without damage through a special reduction gear device

to reduce the speed. Later, this terminology is referenced to the economic field

through the conceptual blending, so as to form the

idiom / ʨiŋ55ʨi51ʐuan214ʦau214lu51/ (经济软着陆Economy soft landing). And this idioms is often abbreviated as/ ʐuan214ʦau214lu51/. It

refers to that when a country's economic development overheating, has a large area of

inflation, the state in order to ensure the steady growth of the economy, adopted a

series of positive measures to curb inflation, let the overheated economy slowly back

down to a normal growth pattern. In this process, the key is to ensure that the

economy do not have huge ups and downs, and not occur a large number of

unemployed. The conceptual blending of this idiom involves two input space, the one

is the aircraft landing mode, and the other is downturn of the overheating economy.

The former is a physical process, and the latter is a process of social activity.

The common feature of the two input spaces is that in the beginning,

both are in a high point, and reduced to a lower point eventually. The aircraft descend

to the ground or other planet surface from a higher point has two options. One is

without a deceleration landing directly to the ground or the surface of other planet and

this landing method often leads to damage to the aircraft. The other option is that let

descend to the ground or other planet surface at a slower speed through a special

reduction gear device to reduce the speed and this landing method has no damage to

the aircraft. In order to let the overheating economy back down to normal growth

mode, it needs the government to take a series of economic control policies. But if the

economic control policies are too harsh, it will lead to a large area of deflation and the

economy downturn too fast will resulting in the increase of unemployed and is not

conducive to the steady development of the whole economy. Conversely, if the proper

control policies and measures are taken, let the overheated economic growth slowly

back down to a reasonable range of growth will not occur massive deflation and mass

unemployment, so as to guarantee the sustainable and stable development of the

socio-economic. This is similar to the soft landing of the aircraft without causing

damage. The whole conceptual blending is to seize the common feature of the two


input spaces and form an emergent structure in the blending space through a

compression of this key relationship, and complete the conceptual blending

eventually. The conceptual blending network of this idiom is as shown in the

following diagram:

Conceptual blending diagram of idiom/ ʐuan214ʦau214lu51/ (软着陆 Soft landing)

Theme

Activity

Feature/Nature

Means/Goal

Feature： decelerate - Feature： andante

Nature： no damage - Nature： no destruction

Theme： economic slowdown

Activity： slowdown

Feature： andante

Nature： no destruction

Means： economy go down steadily

Theme： aerobat landing

Activity： landing

Feature： decelerate

Nature： no damage

Means： Landed safely

Means: Landed safely Goal: economic slowdown

Soft landing of economy has no destruction


5.1.3.4 The conceptual blending under the model of overall cognition

Chinese people focus on the overall cognition since ancient times. The

so-called overall cognition means: when learn about things should be good from the

overall focus, and understand the parts through the whole; when solve a problem

should be good at dealing with problems from an overall consideration, seeking a

complete solution to the problem. In the overall cognition, the nature is seen as a

whole, people and all things are part of the whole of nature; and at the same time, the

each individual entity of the nature is seen as a whole. In the whole, if a part is

damaged, the other part will therefore be negatively affected, and thus causes the

destruction of the whole.

In the Chinese idioms related economy, there are so many idioms that

are formed through the conceptual blending take the overall cognition as a guide, such

as:

/ji51tʰiau35loŋ35/(一条龙),

/liu35ʂuei214xian51/(流水线),

/ji51lan35ʦi214xuo51pi51/(一篮子货币),

Etc…

5.1.4 The relationship between the cultural model and the concept blending

Human behavior has a wide range of possibilities, but in the numerous

kinds of possibilities, an ethnic group or country can only select some of them as their

cultural content factors; and these choices often with the value of their social

tendency, constraining by the entire natural and human social environmental. These

chosen cultural contents interrelates each other and ultimately form a complete and

consistent structure through the integration. This is known as the cultural model.

(Zhongguo Baike Dictionary, 2005)

Therefore, with respect to the independent individual behavior, cultural

model is a manifestation of a collective behavior, with a strong social orientation.

As mentioned before, the conceptual blending is essentially a cognitive

activity. Therefore, it necessarily involves the participation of culture. In the


conceptual blending, to a certain concept, the cognitive model just provide a

possibility and guidance quality. This leads to diversity choice of the input spaces.

Among these choices, the factor that let the conceptual blending to choose certain

input spaces to conduct the conceptual blending is the cultural model. So, we can say

that the cultural model provides an implementation to the conceptual blending. In the

following discussions, the author will take some Chinese idioms related to economy

as examples to analyze the relationship between cultural model and conceptual

blending.

1) /fəŋ51xuaŋ35nan35/(凤凰男 Phoenix boy)

In Chinese culture, Phoenix is a symbol of gaining a newborn after

suffering. It is the king of birds, has lofty status and is very clever and sensible.

/fəŋ51xuaŋ35nan35/(凤凰男 Phoenix boy), as the name implies, “Golden Phoenix fly out

of the ravine”, it refers to these men who born in the rural poor families, admitted to

the University eventually through hard work and hone, finally work and stay in the

city after graduation. Since childhood through hardships, they develop a spirit of hard-

working and hard to forge ahead. In this conceptual blending, there are so many

entities that can be used to refer to the men who born in the rural poor families,

admitted to the University eventually through hard work and hone, finally work and

stay in the city after graduation. In other words, there are so many entities that have

similar features with the men mentioned above. But the whole conceptual blending

network ultimately chose the image of the Phoenix participate in the conceptual

blending. The cultural factors provide a final implementation. If there is no image of

Phoenix and its cultural connotations in Chinese culture, this conceptual blending

cannot be achieved and accepted by the people. At the same time, the culture has

extensibility. In Chinese, except the /fəŋ51xuaŋ35nan35/(凤凰男 Phoenix boy), there

exists another idiom /kʰuŋ214ʨʰyɛ51ny214/(孔雀女 Peacock girl). In Chinese culture, the

Peacock represents enervated by good living and do not experience the suffering.

Therefore, Chinese people use it to refer to the girls who grew up in the wealthy

families of the city.The conceptual blending in the two idioms can be completed

successfully and be understood and accepted by the people because that the Phoenix


and Peacock have been endowed with rich cultural connotations in Chinese culture. If

the two idioms appeared in the Western culture, Westerners will feel difficult to

understand them, because in their culture, Phoenix and Peacock are not given the

cultural connotations as they have in Chinese culture. In other words, a certain

conceptual blending only can be understood and accepted under a specific cultural

model, and achieve its rightful perceived value.

2) /ta55ʂi35tai51/(她时代 She times) and /ta55ʂuai55tuei51/(他衰退He decline)

In China, the whole society advocates male chauvinism since ancient

times. The man is considered to be the backbone of the family, society and the nation-

state. In ancient China, since entered the patriarchal society, the male power has been

respected. In particular, after Emperor Han wu implemented the policy of “paying

supreme tribute to Confucianism while banning all other schools of thought”, the

Chinese society had established a complete set of Feudal ethics, advocating the

patriarchal. This Feudal ethics is very discriminatory against women, and the women

were asked: before married should obey father, when married should obey husband,

when husband died should obey son. From the beginning to end, women had to obey

the will of men, and are regarded as the property of the men. So, women mainly did

housework at home and almost did not participate in national and social management.

However, with the development of society, the Chinese feudal ethics

collapsed. And the patriarchal gender discrimination also becomes weaker and

weaker. Women began to participate in the activities of social production widely, and

play their role in various trades and industries. So the social status of women has

gradually improved. Especially in recent years, women play a more and more

important role in the economic sphere, coupled with their respected for consumption,

they make a big contribution to the economic development. At the same time, due to

the impact of the financial crisis, the men who had been played a leading role in the

economic field have suffered a severe psychological blow and gradually lost the

leading role in the economic field. And more and more important positions have been

occupied by women. To this end, this phenomenon is dubbed /ta55ʂi35tai51/(她时代 She

times) and /ta55ʂuai55tuei51/(他衰退He decline).


The conceptual blending in the two idioms reflects the change of the

gender cultural in Chinese society. It is the change of rising of feminism and the

recession of patriarchal promotes the successful completion of the conceptual

blending. If we do not know the developments and changes of gender cultural of

Chinese society, we will be very difficult to understand these two idioms that formed

through the conceptual blending.

3) /lau214ʂu214ʦʰaŋ55/(老鼠仓 Rat accounts)

In different cultures, animals will often be given different cultural

connotations. Such as: in Thai culture, the elephant is a symbol of good fortune and

wisdom; in German culture, bear is a symbol of good fortune and wisdom; however,

in Chinese culture, the animal which represents the good fortune and wisdom is

dragon; etc…

In Chinese culture, mouse is a symbol of insatiable and stealing the

achievement of others. They do not do work, and encroach on the achievement of

others. The most vivid description of this image of mouse is the poem “Shuo Shu” in

the book of “Shi Jing”. The full text is as follows:

硕鼠硕鼠，无食我黍！三岁贯女，莫我肯顾。逝将去女，适彼乐土。乐土乐土，爰得我所。硕鼠硕鼠，无食我麦！三岁贯女，莫我肯德。逝将去女，适彼乐国。乐国乐国，爰得我直。硕鼠硕鼠，无食我苗！三岁贯女，莫我肯劳。逝将去女，适彼乐郊。乐郊乐郊，谁之永号？

Translation:

Field mouse, field mouse, keeps away from our millet!　　Three years we have served you,　but what do you care about us?　　Now we shall leave you, for a happier realm, a happy realm where we shall have a place.

　　Field mouse, field mouse, keeps away from our wheat!　　　

Three years we have served you, but what have you done for us?　　 Now we shall leave you, for a happier land, a happy land where we shall get our due.　　

Field mouse, field mouse, keeps away from our rice shoots!　　

Three years we have served you, but what have you rewarded us?　　

http://baike.baidu.com/view/334654.htm

http://baike.baidu.com/view/6177635.htm


Now we shall leave you, for those happy plains, those happy plains where weeping is never

heard.

In this poem, the symbol of insatiable and stealing the achievement of

others of the mouse is depicted in vivid and impressive through parallelism

techniques. It is because of the mouse that was given the cultural connotations

above, The idiom /lau214ʂu214ʦʰaŋ55/(老鼠仓 Rat accounts) generated. This idiom

refers that before using public funds to prop up share prices, the makers create an

account in the low position of share price and buy a lot of stock with their own

personal funds firstly; and after the share price is raised by the public funds, the

makers sell their own share firstly to obtain huge profits. In the whole process, the

makers use the public power to seek personal gains. When they line their own

pockets with the using of public funds, they let the other people suffer huge

losses. This behavior and the behavior of mice is exactly the same possession.

In the conceptual blending of this idiom, the behavior of the

maker and the behavior of the mouse have a commonality: harm others to benefit

oneself. However, there are so many entities that have this feature. But under

the guide of culture, the mouse is chosen to participate in this conceptual

blending eventually. If the mouse has not been given the cultural connotations

above, this conceptual blending would not exist and this idiom will not generate.

5.1.5 The human commonality and ethnic personality in conceptual blending

The conceptual blending is essentially a way of thinking and cognitive

activity. As we know, the thought and cognition is based on a function of human

brain, and all normal brain of human have the same structure. At this point, there are

no ethnic differences. So, the thinking and cognitive activity, as a brain function, has

the human commonality. Looking at the conceptual blending from this perspective,

we will find that the conceptual blending has some human commonality. In other

words, when carrying out conceptual blending, people from different countries or

different ethnics will have some commonalities, such as selecting the same entities as

the source of input. For example, in the conceptual blending that relate to wealth,

almost all of the nation will choose gold as the sources of input. Such as: in Chinese,

it has /ʨin55liŋ214/(金领, Gold-collar), /ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗, Golden rice bowl); in


English, it has golden handcuffs; in Thai language, it has /weː33laː33pen33ŋən33pen33tʰɔːŋ33/

(เวลาเป็นเงินเป็นทอง Time is wealth).

Although, the cognitive activity based on the human brain function has

the human commonality; but at the same time, it also has the ethnic personality,

because that different ethnic groups tend to form distinctive cognitive modes due to

the different geographical environment, history and culture. And each specific

conceptual blending is completed under a specific ethnic group cognitive models and

cultural models oriented. Different cognitive models and cultural models often lead to

select different entities to participate in the conceptual blending of the same concept,

or a same entity in the conceptual blending will be given different figurative meanings

in different cognitive models and cultural models, so as to form conceptual blending

that have different national characteristics. This is so –called the ethnic personality of

the conceptual blending.

On the one hand, to the same concept, different ethnic groups tend to

choose a different entity to participate in the conceptual blending. Such as Chinese

select the Phoenix to participate in the conceptual blending to refer these men who

born in the rural poor families, admitted to the University eventually through hard

work and hone, finally work and stay in the city after graduation. However, in

English, people select the duck participate in the conceptual blending and form an

idiom Ugly Duckling. Just think, if we select a duck in Chinese and Phoenix in

English to complete the conceptual blending above, it will be difficult for people to

understand and accept. Because that in China, the duck do not has the connotation of

gaining a newborn after suffering, and the Phoenix also do not has the connotation

like this in English. Therefore, if we want the conceptual blending to achieve

smoothly and be understood and accepted by people, we should let it comply with the

ethnic personality. And another example is that Chinese use Gold chains to refer to

the financial arrangements given by a company to an important employee in order to

influence them to stay with the company. But English uses the golden handcuffs to

refer it. The reason for this difference is that China does not have handcuffs in the

past, and often uses the iron chain to handcuff criminals. And the handcuff in modern

China is introduced from the West.

The other manifestation of the ethnic personality of conceptual

blending is that the same entity will have different figurative meanings in the


conceptual blending under the different cognitive models and cultural models of

different ethnic groups. For example, in Chinese, the blank (/xei55/) represents bad and

illegal things, such as in the idioms:

/ xei55sə51ʂou55ʐu51/(黑色收入 Black income),

/ xei55 ʂi51/(黑市 Black market),

/ xei55xuo51/(黑货 Smuggled goods),

Etc…

However, for Lolo people (or Yi people), the blank has the positive

significance of noble and dignified. Another example is that in Chinese idioms related

economy, red (/xuŋ35/) often has complimentary sense, such as

/ xuŋ35li51/(红利Dividend),

/ʂəŋ55ji51xuŋ35xuo214/(生意红火 Business booming),

etc…

But in English idioms, red often has derogatory sense, such as: be in

the red, red figure, etc…

As all know, Chinese people like to use Dragon to refer to the good

things. After the reform and opening policy, China's economy has made a tremendous

development. And nowadays China is the second largest economy of the world. And

so, Chinese people called the Chinese economy that has a rapid development as the

economic dragon. At the same time, the leading enterprises in the economy are called

dragon head enterprises. It means that these enterprises are in a leading position in

their respective areas and play a great role in guiding the development of the entire

industry. While in the West, the dragon is a symbol of evil, greed, cruelty and

despotism, etc… In Western culture, the language units related Dragon often have

derogatory sense. In the Middle Ages, the dragon is a symbol of evil, in the Bible

story, Satan is considered to be The Great Dragon. There is an idiom related dragon in

English is Sow dragon's teeth. This idiom is derived from the Greek myth: Phoenician

prince Cadmus killed one fierce dragon, and planted the dragon’s teeth in the soil.

However, it grew a team of fierce warriors and they kill each other, finally, only left

five warriors. Since Cadmus caused battle by planting the dragon’s teeth in the soil,

the West people use the idiom sow dragon’s teeth to refer to provoke disputes or sow

the seeds of discord.


These cases above show that the human commonality of conceptual

blending is absolute, but the ethnic personality is relative. As mentioned earlier, the

conceptual blending is a kind of human cognitive activity based on the function of

human brain. The human brain function is the same, so the conceptual blending which

bases on this function will inevitably have human commonality. The ethnic

personality of conceptual blending is essentially a difference of cognitive models and

cultural models. Every ethnic group has its own specific natural and social

environment. People in different environments bound to form specific cognitive

models and cultural models which can adapt to their environment. This is the source

which forms the ethnic personality of the conceptual blending. However, different

ethnic groups can exchange and learn culture and cognition from each other. Through

exchanges and learn from, different ethnic groups can maintain the same culture and

cognitive models. From this sense, the ethnic personality of conceptual blending is

relative rather than absolute. Such as the idioms /ʦʰau214ken55/(草根 grass roots). At

first, it rises in the West, refers to the civilians. This idiom was introduced to China at

the eighties of last century through the cultural exchange. Nowadays this idiom is

widely used by Chinese people to refer to the civilians who are in the bottom of the

social and relative to the elite in China.

5.1.6 Highlighting and hiding: trade-offs in conceptual blending

In the conceptual blending, not all but only some elements of the input

spaces are projected onto the blending space to participate in the formation of the

emergent structure. This is the highlighting and hiding in the conceptual blending. In

the process of conceptual blending, which elements are highlighted and which

elements are hidden will be decided according to the target of the conceptual

blending. The elements that will help to express the new concept which is formed in

the blending space will be highlighted. On the contrary, the elements that have

nothing to do with the new concept which is formed in the blending space will be

hidden. Such as in the conceptual blending of /fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/(丰收灾 Harvest

disaster), the agricultural input-output framework of the input space I involves a lot of

elements, such as: farmer who is the agricultural producer, types of agricultural

products, agricultural harvest, input, output, price, low price lead to a loss, time,


place, and other activities related production process, and so on; and the disaster

framework of the input space II involves the following elements: the event of a

disaster, the victims, the damage and losses caused by disasters, time, place, etc… But

in the whole conceptual blending, only part of these elements involved in the two

input spaces project onto the blending space to participate in the formation of the

emergent structure and is highlighted. The elements which are highlighted are as

follows: farmers, harvest agricultural products, low prices lead to loss; the event of a

disaster, the victims, the damage and losses caused by disasters, etc… And the other

elements, such as types of agricultural products, input, output, time, and place, etc…

are hidden because that they do not participate in the formation of the emergent

structure in the blending space.

The elements of the two input space that are highlighted in the

conceptual blending are the ones that have some similarity and can make contribution

to the emergent structure in the blending space. Such as in the conceptual blending

above, the farmers and victims share the feature of "subject"; the damage and losses

caused by disasters and the low prices lead to loss share the feature of "loss";etc…

The conceptual blending is based on commonalities; the elements that do not have

common features often cannot make their own contribution to the conceptual

blending, so they will be hidden.

5.1.7 Background implied in conceptual blending

The conceptual blending, which complete under the guiding of cultural

models and cognitive models, will be fully understood by people eventually, often

need to evoke the hidden relevant background knowledge. Without these background

knowledge, the emergent structure that form in the blending space will be difficult to

understood. Such as the conceptual blending in the idiom/li214kuei214jau51/(李鬼药 Li

Gui medicine), the background knowledge which needs to be evoked is that the story

of Li Gui impersonate Li Kui in the novel “Shui Hu Zhuan”.

In the novel “Shui Hu Zhuan”, Li Kui and Li Gui are two different

characters. They are mortal enemies: Li Kui is a hero praised by everyone, and

delivers the poor and all those who are oppressed; Li Gui is a furry thief cast aside by

the world, and rob at everywhere. In order to pull the banner as a guise, and also in


order to facilitate to do all kinds of evil, Li Gui impersonate as Li Kui: smear ink on

the face and hold two ax in order to make himself like Li Kui so as to posing as Li

Kui to rob. However, no story without coincidences, when the false Li Kui met true

Li Kui, he immediately appears the true face.

For this reason, Chinese people take the name Li Gui as synonym for

fake products in daily life. Nowadays, driven by economic interests, there are a lot of

fake drugs in the Chinese market. These fake drugs caused a lot of harm to society.

Thus forming the idiom /li214kuei214jau51/( 李鬼药 Li Gui medicine). It refers to the

products that confused as real ones, looks like drugs, but in reality as ordinary food or

disinfectant. In this conceptual blending, fake drugs and Li Gui have a common

feature, that is to impersonate other good things, leading unworthy of the name. Such

behavior of damage others are hated by everyone.

Another example is the idiom /ɕia51kaŋ214/ (下岗 Down from the post,

means lost job). In the conceptual blending of this idiom, the background knowledge

which needs to be evoked is the faith of labor system in the socialist countries. They

believe that in the socialist countries, everyone has work to do, there is no

unemployment. People who have lost their jobs just temporarily leave existing jobs,

and will get new jobs soon. Because of the background of the social belief, the

conceptual blending can complete smoothly and is fully understood and accepted. By

the way, there is extending a series of related idioms, such as /ʂaŋ51kaŋ214/(上岗 )

refers to obtain job, or go to work on a post; /wen214 kaŋ214/ refers to improve skills in

order to maintain current job, etc…

As we know, /ʨ/ʰi55ʂi35tai51/(7时代) and /liu51 ʂi35tai51/(6时代) is the

widely discussed topic in economic circles in nowadays. The two idioms refers to the

U.S. dollar against the RMB exchange rate fell below 8 to 7 times and fell below 7 to

6 times. It is a Logo that marks China-US economic relations have entered a new era.

If we do not know the background knowledge of the relationship between Chinese

economy and USA economy, we cannot understand the two idioms completely.

5.1.8 The relationship between social change and conceptual blending

The language develops with the change of society. So the new idioms

that are formed through conceptual blending bound to reflect the current social


changes, as well as the views of the people to these social changes. This can be

proved from the formation of the following idioms.

1) /Pei214pʰiau55ʦu35/(北漂族North drift race)

/Pei214pʰiau55ʦu35/(北漂族 North drift race) refers to a group of people

who come from all over the country to work in Beijing. They do not have Beijing

accounts, income is not high, and have no house, living in rented accommodation, has

a feeling of floating around, all of them have knowledge, many people have a master's

or doctor's degree, and many of them working in the entertainment industry, IT

industry, etc…

They live in Beijing, the capital gave them a job and a rental estates,

but do not admit that they belong to the city. For the city, they just temporarily live in

here and without the identity of the institutionally recognized. Most of them came to

the capital alone, so they often have a lingering sense of loneliness, liking a duckweed

drifting with no fixed.

The change of society reflected by this idiom is that after

implementing the reform and opening policy, the Chinese government relaxes on the

free movement of people and people can free to go out looking for job and seeking

opportunities for personal growth. But at the same time, the traditional Chinese

household registration system has not changed. This cause those people who come

from all over the country to work in Beijing cannot gain the identity of the

institutionally recognized and thus cannot enjoy the same social welfare treatment

with the locals.

In addition, this idiom also reflects people’s cognition of this life state

in contemporary Chinese society. Since ancient times, Chinese people pay attention to

homebody, and think that there is always a sense of insecurity to leave their homeland

to go into exile, because people away from home as erratic duckweed. The separation

of domicile and place of residence in reality increase the sense of insecurity and

psychological shadow of loneliness. So, Chinese people use the state of drifting to

describe the state of life and psychological characteristics of these people. Finally,

through a conceptual blending, the idiom /Pei214pʰiau55ʦu35/(北漂族 North drift race)

has formed.


2) /ji214ʦu35/(蚁族Ant tribe)

Ant tribe is a vivid metaphor of the groups of low-income college

graduates who settle in a compact community. Most of them were born in the eighties

or the nineties of the last century. Due to the very low-income, they can only choose

to live in lower consumption of urban fringe. This group of people due to poor living

conditions and lack of social security, often have a large thoughts and mood swings,

resulting in a sense of frustration and anxiety. But at the same time, these people have

a strong self-esteem, even though the hardships of life, they will persevere for their

own goals. Such a group of people have many similar characteristics with ant colony.

For example: have a higher IQ; adopted a gregarious lifestyle; unremitting, never give

up; although very weak, but sometimes they will tend to cause serious disaster.

Because of this crowd and the ant colony have so many similarities, a conceptual

blending can be conducted between them and form the idiom/ji214ʦu35/(蚁族Ant tribe)

The formation of idiom /ji214ʦu35/(蚁族Ant tribe) reflect the change of

contemporary Chinese society: On the one hand, due to the university enrollment, the

number of university graduates become more and more; on the other hand, the

employment situation has been getting worse. University graduates are not the

darlings like before. But a lot of people still cannot face reality, still want to work in a

big city, unwilling to return to the small places. This led to many university graduates

cannot find a good job, and have a very low-income. So as to result in a large number

of /ji214ʦu35/(蚁族Ant tribe).

3) /noŋ35min35koŋ55/(农民工 Farmer-worker)

/noŋ35min35koŋ55/( 农民工 Farmer-worker) refers to a special

populations in mainland of China. Due to China's long-term implementation of the

separation of urban and rural household registration system, in the past, people who

have rural household registration are called farmer, and people who have urban

household registration are called worker. With China's reform and opening up,

promoting and implementing market economic system, the process of urbanization is

accelerating. On the one hand, large-scale municipal construction requires a large


number of labor forces to participate. On the other hand, due to the low farm product

prices result in a large number of rural families’ income cannot cover expenses. These

lead to a large number of farmers to leave their homes to rely on to work for the

employer to obtain income in the city. Although they work in the city, but they do not

have urban household registration, their official capacity is farmer, because they have

rural household registration. When they work in the city, they do not have their own

labor union organizations, the legitimate rights and interests cannot be guaranteed,

also were unable to enjoy a variety of benefits arising from urban development. They

bear a lot of the heavy work in the urban development, they are the backbone of urban

development, but due to the limitations of identity, they become a victim of urban

development. Due to the reform of China's household registration system cannot keep

up with the changes of Chinese society, it led to the existence of dual identity: their

official capacity is farmer, but they doing the work of the workers in the city. In order

to show the special identity of this group, people blend the identity of farmer and

identity of worker into one, so as to form the idiom /noŋ35min35koŋ55/( 农民工Farmer-worker)to refer to the people who have the rural household registration, but

work in the city.

5.1.9 Old word in new using: the conceptual blending related the word /nu35/ (奴)

With the development of society, because of the referred entity of a

certain word has no longer existed or changed, the word will not be used in the daily

communication and become an old word. (Wang, 2009)

But in some case, some of these old words will be used in the daily

communication again with a new identity. Moreover, some of them even become the

popular words. This phenomenon is called old word in new using. In the process of

old word in new using, it often involves the conceptual blending. The old word gains

a new meaning through the conceptual blending and gets the opportunity of being

used in the daily communication again. And we can understand this in detail through

the examples of the idioms which contain the word / nu35/ (奴 Slave).

The so-called / nu35/ (奴 Slave) refers to the crowd who work for slave

owners without paying and have no personal freedom in the ancient slave society

originally (Ci Hai Dictionary, 2009). Everything of them, even including their life, is


the private property of the slave owners, and slave owners can kill them or sell them

freely. Later, with the Chinese society entered the feudal society, slaves as a social

class disappeared. Although the slave class had disappeared, the relationship of

exploiting and being exploited still exist as a major social relation. So the word / nu35/

(奴 Slave) change into refer to the people economically exploited and oppressed. This

is a slight change of meaning, and the core meaning of "oppression, exploitation and

lack of freedom" has not changed.

With the founding of The People's Republic of China in 1949, China

has come into the socialist society. The exploiters as a social class was completely

wiped out, the whole society does not exist the relationship of exploiting and being

exploited. A new equal relationship between people is set up. Since then, the referred

entity of the word / nu35/ (奴 Slave) disappeared completely, and the word / nu35/ (奴Slave) became an old word in Chinese, it only mentioned by talk about some

historical event.

However, with the development of society, the word / nu35/ (奴 Slave)

is given a new using through the conceptual blending, and re-enter the modern

Chinese vocabulary system to participate in the daily language communication in a

new look. So a series of idioms that contain the word / nu35/ (奴 Slave) has formed,

such as:

/faŋ35nu35/(房奴 House slave),

/tʂʰə55nu35/(车奴 Car slave),

/kʰa214nu35/(卡奴 Card slave) ,

/luŋ214nu35/(垄奴 Monopoly slaves),

etc…

At here, the author will take the idiom /faŋ35nu35/(房奴 House slave) as

an example to conduct a detailed analysis.

As we know, with the process of reform and opening up, Chinese

society has undergone tremendous changes, particularly the economic field. The

previous national housing allocation welfare system no longer exists. People need to

purchase house. And this will spend a lot of family income. As the process of

urbanization, the sharp increase in urban population cause a lot of purchase demand of


house, and the house prices has a straight up. Many families had to use mortgage

loans to buy house, and they often need to take two to three decades to repay

mortgage loans. So a new idiom is formed to refer to this phenomenon, that is

/faŋ35nu35/(房奴 House slave).

/faŋ35nu35/(房奴 House slave) refers to someone under the pressure of

paying back housing mortgage loan. House slaves loan money from the back to buy

house. They should spend 20-30 years of the golden period of life to pay off the loan.

Every year, they should use 40-50% annual income to pay for the loan. This Give

them a great deal of economic pressure.

This conceptual blending involves two input spaces. The elements

involved in the input space I are as follows: slaveholders, slave, slavery, freedom, control

and be controlled, ownership, etc… In this frame, the slaveholders and slave are the

persons in real world. The role of slaveholders is owner and the slave is owned by the

slaveholders. The slaveholders control the Personal freedom of the slave. The whole

relationship illustrates as follows:

Enslave action

Sending Accepted

Slaveholders

be controlled

Slave Control


The elements are involved in the Input space II are as follows: house

buyers, house, mortgage loans, mortgages, ownership, bank (i.e. mortgage loan

providers), etc… In this frame, the buyer is the owner of house, and the house is owned

by the buyer. However, due to have not enough money to pay off the house, the house

buyer has to loan from the bank and guaranty the house to the bank. In this process,

house ownership has been legally transferred from the hand of buyer into the hand of

bank, which banks became the legal owner of the house. Buyers have to repay the

mortgage loan to redeem the house ownership from the bank. In the process of

redemption of house ownership, buyer must repay part of the mortgage loan at a fixed

time in each month. This greatly limits the economic freedom of the house buyer. And

the whole process illustrates as follows:

Owner OwnerHouse buyer House Bank Mortgage

Be owned Be owned

(House buyer：Ownership of house)

Guaranty (Bank：Ownership of mortgage )

Loan

(House buyer：mortgage) (Bank：Ownership of house)

Banks recover loans and return house ownership

House buyers pay off mortgage, redeem ownership of house


The house buyer loses economic freedom

In this frame, the main relationship is the lending relationship between the

house buyer and the bank, and the houses just acts as collateral. But the purchase of

house is the purpose of the loan. If do not buy a house, there is no need loans, it will

not have a mandatory debt repayment behavior relationship, and of course, will not

lose the economic freedom.

Through the above analysis of the two input space can know that there

are certain common characteristics between the input space I and input space II.

Namely, both of them contains owner, be owned, ownership and limit behavior, etc…

which constitutes the third space: generic space. These elements which project onto

generic space provide a realistic to the cross-space mapping. The conceptual blending

net-work of this idioms shows in the following diagram:

Possessor

Theme

Procedure

(Goal/Means)

Role: Owner

Identity of Master

Role: Property

Identity of Slave

Goal: Service

Means: Strict

control

Role: Mortgagor

Identity of Owner

Role: Property

Identity of House

Goal: Ownership

Means: Mortgage


Conceptual blending diagram of idiom”/faŋ35nu35/(房奴)”

And in this conceptual blending, the slave of the input space I and the

house buyers of the input space II form the first cross-space mapping. They share the

features of restricted and lack of freedom. The difference is that the slaves have no

personal freedom and dominated by slaveholders completely; but the house buyers

only lost the economic freedom because of repaying bank loans, and the freedom of

the other aspects have not be restricted. Furthermore, the slaveholder of the input

space I and the house of the input space II form the second cross-space mapping.

They play the same role of restricting others in the respective frames. But the slave

owners can dominate slaves completely, also include the life-and-death power.

However the house itself cannot dominate the house buyer, the entity that can restrict

the house buyer is the debt that due to the purchase of house. From this sense, the

entity that restricts the homebuyer’s economic freedom is not the house but the debt.

The conceptual blending compresses the two pairs of key relationship and discard

inconsequential information to form an emergent structure that is different with the frame

structures of the two input spaces in the blending space to form a new concept, that is the new

idiom/faŋ35nu35/( 房奴 House slave). In the input space I, the slave is dominated

completely, but when it is projected into the blending space, it becomes a role of a partial

restricted. In the blending space, the conceptual blending has inherited the future of

restricted and abandoned the relationship of owner and owned of the input space I.

Identity of Slave – Role Mortgagor

Identity of Master – Role Property

Means: Strict control Goal: Ownership

Lack of Freedom


When this idiom is generated, the conceptual blending is not end. The

emergent structure of blending space will have a completion and elaboration

according to its own logic and form a new cognitive model. And this new cognitive

model will be widely used in other entities, and form series of similar idiom.

For example, when this new cognitive model is used in the event of

buying a car through mortgage loan, it generated the new idiom /tʂʰə55nu35/(车奴 Car

slave). Because people should repay the mortgage loan monthly and loss the

economic freedom. And when this new cognitive model is used in the event of using

credit card, it generated the new idioms /kʰa214nu35/( 卡奴 Card slave). People often

will bear a high debt because of excessive overdraft and loss the economic freedom.

Etc…

5.1.10 The art in Chinese expression: the conceptual blending under homophone

and polysemy

After a development of thousands of years, Chinese has a high artistic

expression. At the same time, Chinese people often prefer artistic expression to

communicate. The artistic expression in Chinese idioms related economy mainly

display in the following aspects:

5.1.10.1 The conceptual blending under polysemy

Most of the Chinese characters have many meanings, and these

polysemous words often give people a semantic reverie. When first heard the word,

we will feel that it has such a meaning, but after a careful thinking, we will find that it

express another meaning. The most typical Chinese idiom related economy is

/jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族Moonlight tribe). In Chinese, the character/jyɛ51/(月) has two

meanings, the first is "moon", and the second is "month"; at the same, the

character/kuaŋ55/(光 ) also has two meanings, the first is " light ", and the second is

“over, nothing left”. The meaning of the compound word /jyɛ51kuaŋ55/(月光) which is

made up by the characters of /jyɛ51/( 月 ) and /kuaŋ55/( 光 ) in “Modern Chinese

Dictionary” is “the light of the moon”. This meaning selects the meaning “moon”of

the character/jyɛ51/( 月 ) and the meaning " light " of the character/kuaŋ55/( 光 ) to


compose. However, in the practical language application, through the re-selection of

the semantic, people select the meaning "month" of the character/jyɛ51/(月 ) and the

meaning“over, nothing left” of the character/kuaŋ55/(光) to make a new blending, so

as to form a new meaning of “monthly runs out, nothing left”. Thus form a new idiom

/jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族Moonlight clan) through a conceptual blending. It refers to a

crowd who spends all income every month and has no savings. The

/jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族 Moonlight tribe) is generally young generation and do not

care about money. They have knowledge, intelligent, capable, but income is not high.

The reason of appearing /jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族moonlight tribe), on

one hand is the change of consumer attitudes of the Chinese younger generation.

Different with the diligence and thrift consumer attitudes of their parents, they like to

pursue fashion, buy pretty dresses. They do not care about the money as long as

happy to eat, dress nice. Spending money not only to express their mad love of

material life, but also is their power to earn money. Chinese elder generation

generally believe that can save money better than can earn money. So they have a

deep hatred and resentment for the behavior of the /jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族moonlight

tribe). However, the /jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族 moonlight tribe) believe that will spend

can earn more money. On the other hand, In contemporary China, a lot of people who

become /jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族 moonlight tribe) are not a voluntary choice, but are

forced by the reality of the economic situation. This group of people has lower

income. Facing the rising social consumption, get rid of daily expenses, their monthly

income almost depleted. Every month, they are unable to save money. Facing this

economic dilemma, a lot of people could do nothing but self-deprecating that they

are /jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/(月光族moonlight tribe).

5.1.10.2 The conceptual blending under homophone

Such idioms generally select some homophone characters to participate

in the conceptual blending. Although these word have the same speech sounds, but

their meanings are different or even opposite. In Chinese idioms related to economy,

the most typical example is the idiom /fu51wəŋ55/(负翁—富翁 ). /fu51wəŋ55/(富翁 )


refers to a person with a lot of wealth; however, /fu51wəŋ55/(负翁) refers to a person

with heavily indebted. In the conceptual blending of this idiom, it mainly use the

character /fu51/(负) and /fu51/(富) have the same speech sounds but their meanings are

opposite. /fu51/( 富 ) means rich,and /fu51/( 负 ) means owe money. So the two

/fu51wəŋ55/ have the same speech sounds but opposite meaning. In this idiom, it uses

the homonyms to participate in the conceptual blending artfully to form a semantic

double entender, so as to achieve a humorous effect of expression. Of course, this

idiom also reflects the people’s ridicule of the widening gap between the rich and the

poor, and the underlying people's lives become more and more difficult. This gives us

a sense of cynicism and makes interesting reading.

5.1.10.3 Semantic reinterpretation and conceptual blending

Chinese is a character-based language. Almost every character can be

interpreted its meaning individually. This provides a new perspective for the

conceptual blending in Chinese idioms, and that is the re-analysis of the semantic or

called semantic reinterpretation. Such idioms often select inherent word or phrase,

and then re-interpret every character of these words or phrases, and form a new

meaning through conceptual blending. The most typical example is

/pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/(白骨精).

/pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/(白骨精) originally is a name of a female demon who

is insidious and good at camouflage in the novel “Xi You Ji”. But later, by a

reinterpreting of the characters /pai35/(白 ), /ku214/( 骨 ) and /ʨiŋ55/( 精 ) in the word

/pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/(白骨精 ), the character /pai35/(白 ) is reinterpreted as white-collar

workers, the character/ku214/(骨) is reinterpreted as the backbone of the business, and

the character/ʨiŋ55/( 精 ) is reinterpreted as elite. So as to form a new idiom

/pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/(白骨精),referring to a spike groups of women in the workplace, they

have the identity of the white-collar workers, the backbone of the business and social

elite. They are the indispensable beauty scenery in modern life and the bright colors in

the gray workplace. They think like a man, act like a gentlewoman, smiling like a

baby, work like a slave. They often have subtle observation on the environment and


superior adaptation ability. When have turned unfavorable, they can quickly balance

and harmony to turn the tide.

Thanks to the character-standard feature of Chinese, the use of

semantic reinterpretation to conduct the conceptual blending can complete

successfully. The Chinese characters have the feature of one character has one sound,

and one character may has many meaning. This feature provides unlimited

possibilities for semantic reinterpretation. And it also provides adequate conditions

and guarantees for the conceptual blending.

5.1.11 Conceptual blending and idiom interpretation

Through the analysis of the previous sections, we can know clearly that

the conceptual blending is the method of the formation of idiom’s figurative meaning.

In the process conceptual blending, a lot of semantic elements are regrouping and

innovation, so as to form a figurative meaning which completely different from the

literal meaning of the idiom. In order to interpret the meaning of idiom, we e must not

rigidly adhere to the literal meaning of the idiom, and the best way is to make a

reverse analysis of the conceptual blending process which is the method of forming

the idiom’s figurative meaning. Only when we understand how the figurative meaning

of idiom is formed by which elements through the conceptual blending, we can really

understand the figurative meaning of idiom, so as to achieve the purpose of using

idiom properly.

5.2 Frame-shifting and semantic leaps in idiom

As mentioned earlier, idiom is the fixed language expression unit

which is formed in the process of long-term using of language and it means something

other than the literal meanings of its individual words. Therefore, the idiom is not the

inherent expression unit of language, but has a complicated formation process. And

the process of its formation has a series of semantic operations. In the beginning of

the formation, these language units have their own inherent literal meaning. When

people use these linguistic units in daily communication, they give these units

figurative meaning which are more expressive than the literal meaning through the

cognitive method of conceptual blending. From then on, these units have the dual

semantics, namely literal meaning and figurative meaning. When the figurative


meanings of these language units are immobilized, these language units became the

idioms. The process of formation of idiom is essentially a semantic leap, and the

process is a process of frame-shifting, and the conceptual blending is the method

achieving the semantic leaps and frame-shifting.

5.2.1 Figurative meaning and frame-shifting

Giving a certain language unit a figurative meaning through the

conceptual blending will inevitably lead to frame-shifting. In the original framework,

the element which is selected to participate in the meaning construction is the literal

meaning of these linguistic units. In this frame, figurative meaning is entirely useless.

Only when leap out of the existing semantic frame, and shift to a new semantic frame,

the figurative meaning will be selected to participate in the meaning construction, so

as to achieve the value in the semantic construction. Here, let us take the idiom

/ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗 Golden rice bowl) as an example. Its literal meaning is an

apparatus, which is forged by gold, uses to hold rice. This literal meaning involves a

food apparatus framework. In this framework, involving all kinds of food apparatus,

application object and so on; such as bowls, plates, pots, rice, dishes, eating, etc… In

this framework, each word has its referent entity. The definition of the meaning of

each word is based on this frame. Once leave this frame, the meaning of these word

cannot be clearly defined and categorization. But when people give the language

unit /ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗 Golden rice bowl) a figurative meaning through the

conceptual blending in the daily language using, the language unit

/ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗 Golden rice bowl) has a semantic frame-shifting. The

figurative meaning of /ʨin55fan51wan214/(金饭碗 Golden rice bowl) is that refers to a

job that has excellent pay. This figurative meaning obviously does not fit the original

frame. The referent of figurative meaning is job, which involves another semantic

frame, which is the frame of the work. In this frame, it involves work, workers, salary,

workplace, job content, the nature of the work, and so on. Only implanted them in the

frame of the work, them can be cross-referenced and defined to each other. Leave this

frame will be hard to give an accurate definition.

5.2.2 Frame-shifting and reorganization of the semantic system


Giving a certain language unit a figurative meaning through the

conceptual blending will let this language unit is implanted into a new semantic

frame, and this will lead to a semantic adjustment within the semantic system

inevitably. Because that before the formation of the figurative meaning of the idiom,

the language has already exists the inherent unit which expresses the same meaning

with the figurative meaning of the idiom. After the formation of the figurative

meaning of idiom, there exists a situation that the idiom and the inherent unit express

the same meaning. This violates the economic mechanism of language. In order to

comply with the economic mechanism, the idiom and the inherent unit will adjust the

semantics through a semantic competition. As mentioned previously, both the

idiom /ʨin55fan51wan214/( 金饭碗 Golden rice bowl) and the phrase

/kau55ɕin55tʂi35wuei51/( 高薪职位 High-paying jobs) refer to a job that has excellent

pay. After both of them adjusting the semantics through a semantic competition, they

will be used in different field. As we know, in nowadays, the

idiom/ʨin55fan51wan214/( 金饭碗 Golden rice bowl) is generally used in spoken

language, literary works, news reports, and so on, implying an informal means;

however, the phrase/kau55ɕin55tʂi35wuei51/( 高薪职位 High-paying jobs) is generally

used in laws, regulations, government documents, and so on, reflecting a solemn.

5.2.3 The cognitive and cultural orientation in frame-shifting

The conceptual blending is the method to achieve the frame-shifting

and semantic leaps in idiom. As mentioned before, cognitive model provides a

guiding for the conceptual blending, and this guiding become a kind of reality

induced by the cultural model eventually. In other words, cognitive and cultural

model play a very important role in the whole process of conceptual blending. Frame-

shifting, which achieve based on the conceptual blending, has a inextricably linked

with the cognitive and cultural model naturally. Semantics shifts from one frame to

another frame, the participation of cognition and culture cannot be ignored. Based on

this, it can be said that cognition and culture is the induced factors of the frame-

shifting. For example, the idiom /ʂu214ʦu35/(鼠族 The mouse tribe), its literal meaning

is that refers to the mice in the real world. However, through a conceptual blending, it

is given a figurative meaning, referring to a group of people who live in some of the


1,374 civil air defense shelters beneath the city having low income, and no money to

live in better house. The literal meaning of this idiom involves the animals frame, but

the figurative meaning involves the social crowd frame. The semantics shift from the

animals frame to the social crowd frame, the cognition and culture have played a role

of induction and lubrication. Only when we know about the social status and

economic conditions of the migrant workers in the cities of China, as well as the

similarity between basements and rat holes, we can understand and grasp the frame-

shifting.

5.2.4 The realization of frame-shifting: semantic leaps

Semantic leaps are not a linguistic term in the strict sense, but a

linguistic phenomenon in which the process of language using are caught by the

conceptual blending under the guiding of cognition and culture. The semantic leaps in

idioms mainly refer to the semantics of idiom shift from literal meaning to figurative

meaning. The figurative meaning of idiom cannot analyze from the literal meaning

through the traditional methods, because this is a non-compositional phenomenon.

From the literal meaning to figurative meaning, there is no slow transition, but a direct

leap. Sometimes, it is hard to find the contact between the literal meaning and

figurative meaning. Although, sometimes there exists some contact between the literal

meaning and figurative meaning, but the relevance is not so obvious. For example, the

idiom /niu35ʂi51/, its literal meaning is that refers to the market which sale and

purchase cattle. However, through a conceptual blending, it is given a figurative

meaning, referring to the stock market condition that generally bullish and has a

longer duration soared. It is very difficult to find the contact between the literal

meaning and figurative meaning of this idiom. It is a Semantic leap completely. It is

difficult for us to departure from the meaning of the market which sale and purchase

cattle to get the meaning of the stock market condition that generally bullish and has a

longer duration soared through the traditional method of semantic analysis. The

generation of this semantics is a non-compositional process. This process completes

through the conceptual blending, which form an emergent structure in the blending

space, and evoke the long-term memory factor. At last achieve the semantic leap

going through the completion and elaboration.


6. Conclusion Discussion and suggestions


6.1 Conclusion

The object of the study in this paper is the Chinese new idioms related

to economy. In this study, the Chinese new idioms related to economy are divided

into five classes according to the involving objects and contents. From the

classification can know that the most involving objects and contents are the color and

spatial orientation. Various colors and different spatial orientation has been given a

variety of figurative meaning to refer to a variety of different economic phenomenon.

In addition, the most of the Chinese new idioms related to economy refer to the

economic phenomena which have the negative sense. These reflect the Chinese

people’s dissatisfaction with their own economic situation and helpless of inability to

change the status quo.

Based on the classification, this thesis uses the conceptual blending

theory to analyze the semantic formation methods and features of the Chinese new

idioms related to economy in detail. Through the analysis can know that the

conceptual blending and frame shifting is the main methods of the formation of

Chinese new idioms related to economy. Most of the Chinese new idioms related to

economy generate by forming the figurative meaning through the conceptual blending

and making the figurative meaning immobilized through a cognitive process of frame

shifting. The national cognitive models and cultural models play a very important role

in the conceptual blending which forms the idioms. The national cognitive model

provides a possibility to the conceptual blending and under the participation of the

nation cultural model, this possibility eventually become a reality, so as to form a lot

of idioms which contain unique national cultural connotation. So, in order to

understand these idioms accurately, do not only should to understand the conceptual

blending which is involved in the idioms but also should to know the cognitive

models and cultural models which promote the conceptual blending to be completed.

Additionally, this thesis uses the chaos linguistics theory to explore the

formation model of figurative meaning in Chinese idioms. Through the study can

know that the formation and stabilization of the idiom’s figurative meaning is a

typical dissipative structure model: the literal meaning is dissipating constantly and let

the semantic center shift from the literal meaning to the figurative meaning.

Finally, the thesis also discusses the cultural nature and cultural values

of the idioms. The idiom itself is a cultural phenomenon, is a popular culture and


mass culture which has distinctive national characteristics, societal characteristics and

era characteristics. Meanwhile, idioms are also rich in cultural values. Through the

idioms can know a lot of national cultural content.

6.2 Discussion

6. 2.1Dissipative structure: formation model of figurative meaning in

Chinese idioms

The generation of idiom is a process that the literal meaning is

dissipating constantly and entropy is increasing, causing the using frequency of the

literal meaning closes to the critical point of the disappearance infinitely; at the same

time, the using frequency of the figurative meaning is increasing continuously, the

entropy is reducing, so as to replace the literal meaning become the semantic center.

In this process, in the non-linear area which is far from the inherent semantic

equilibrium point of literal meaning, the figurative meaning is gradually recognized

by the people using the language through exchanging energy with the outside world;

namely, being used in people's daily communication continuously. At the same time,

under the action of semantic fluctuations, the semantic of idiom break the balance

state, leading the semantic of idiom from equilibrium to approximate equilibrium

state, then far away from the equilibrium state, and eventually led the semantic to

have a non - equilibrium disguise form. So that let the figurative meaning gradually

replace the main body status of the literal meaning and become the semantic center of

idiom, so as to form a new ordered semantic equilibrium point. The method which

achieves this process of shifting is the conceptual blending, and this process is

essentially a semantic leap and frame shifting and also a typical dissipative process.

The model of formation of new semantic center which take the figurative meaning as

the core is a typical dissipative structure model.

B : figurative meaning


★.Dissipative Structure Model

In the process of forming the figurative meaning, the literal meaning of the idiom is dissipative

constantly, and the entropy is increasing constantly; at the same time, the figurative meaning is being

used more frequent, the entropy is gradually reduced. These result the semantic center of idioms shifted

from the literal meaning(node A) to the figurative meaning(node B), and form a new semantics

center(node B) ultimately.

In the dissipative process of semantics of idiom, it involves a series of

chaotic operation. Firstly, the generation of figurative meaning of idiom is a result of

internal random and external disturbance. The dissipative process of literal meaning is

essentially a semantic competition between the literal meaning and figurative

meaning, and it also a process of semantic system from equilibrium to equilibrium of

breaking and then to a new equilibrium. Of course, the equilibrium of semantics is

only momentary, and the approximate equilibrium is the normality of semantics

system. And the semantic fluctuation is the mechanism which to maintain the

approximate equilibrium of semantics. And all aspects of above will be discussed in

detail in the following sections.

6. 2.1.1 Internal random and external disturbance: the formation of idiom’s

figurative meaning

The formation of idiom’s figurative meaning is the result of internal

random and external disturbance. The so-called internal random refers that only from

the aspect of semantic changes and development, the generation of figurative meaning

has the randomness. A certain language unit can form a figurative meaning like this,

and also can form a figurative meaning like that; a certain figurative meaning can be

given to this language unit, and also can be given to that language unit. The so-called

external disturbance refers to the guiding role of ethnic cultural models and cognitive

A: literal meaning


models in the process of forming the idiom’s figurative meaning. In many of these

possibilities, under the role of cultural models and cognitive models, there is only one

possibility has become a reality ultimately. Such as: the black color represents illegal

in Chinese, but represents noble in Lolo (Yi) language; the red color represents

auspicious and happiness, but represents warning in English; to represent good

fortune, Chinese select the dragon, but Thai select the elephant; to represent the

financial arrangements given by a company to an important employee in order to

influence them to stay with the company, Chinese select Gold chains, but English

select Gold handcuffs; etc…

6.2.1.2The equilibrium and equilibrium of breaking: A semantic competition

in the formation process of figurative meaning

The figurative meaning of idiom is formed through conceptual

blending. The key that the conceptual blending can be achieved is to build the

corresponding mental spaces; and then, extracting the information, which is in line

with a particular context, from the long-term memory knowledge characterization to

form emergent structure in the blending space, in order to achieve discourse online

understanding. And form a new concept eventually. The new concept which is formed

through the conceptual blending is the figurative meaning of idiom. At an early stage

of generation, the figurative meaning of idiom has randomness and instability, so its

development will have chaos.

Language is an open and non-self-contained equilibrium system. When

the figurative meaning of idiom has generated, the language expression adds new

alternative forms. This situation will inevitably break the internal semantic

equilibrium of language and lead to a semantic competition. Through semantic

competition, the units of language will have a semantic adjustment and redistribution,

so as to achieve new semantic equilibrium to maintain the stability and vitality of the

language system.

In the semantic competition, the figurative meaning and the literal

meaning will have a competition firstly. Thanks to more expressive and attractive, the

figurative meaning often will become the winner in the competition, showing a very

strong vitality. When people refer to an idiom, the first thought in the brain is its

figurative meaning. For example, when people refer the idiom /tʰiɛ214fan51wan214/(铁饭


碗 Iron rice bowl), people will first think of its figurative meaning: refers to a job

which is stable and do not have to worry about income. Only in particular contexts,

such as a real iron rice bowl or a picture is in front of them, etc… people will think of

the literal meaning of iron rice bowl. In other words, the literal meaning of the idiom

will be used only in special contexts. And the use of the scope and frequency of

figurative meaning will be more than the frequency of literal meaning using.

In addition, the figurative meaning of idiom will have a semantic

competition with the inherent language unit which expresses the same meaning with

the figurative meaning of idiom. In this kind of semantic competition, different idioms

often will lead to a different competition result.

The first situation is the figurative meaning of idiom win completely;

and its using frequency is much higher than the using frequency of inherent language

unit. The inherent language unit is seldom used. For example, when the idiom

/ɕia51kaŋ214/(下岗 Down from the post) is generated, it is applied to a variety of

occasions, such as legal instruments, government documents, news reports or literary

works, etc… At the same time, the inherent language unit /ʂi55jei51/（失业 lose

job）is seldom used.

The second situation is the idiom and inherent unit will be used in

different areas or contexts. For example, the idiom /tʂʰao214jou35jy35/(炒鱿鱼 Fry

squid) is often used in spoken language, literary works, as well as news reports, etc…

however, in the formal legal instruments or government documents, it will use the

inherent language unit /ʨiɛ214pʰin51 /. In other word, the idiom and the inherent

language unit will have a complementary distribution state in this situation.

The third situation is that the idiom and the inherent language unit are

evenly matched in the semantic competition. Which one will be used will depend on

the preferences of language user. For example, the idiom / xei55 ʂi51ʨiao55ji51/(黑市交易 Black market trade) and the inherent language unit /fei55fa214 ʨiao55ji51/(非法交易 Illegal trade) can be freely replaced each other. The language user can use anyone of

them freely.

6. 2.1.3 Overall grasp: comprehension of figurative meaning in Chinese


idioms

The traditional language analysis often uses the compositional

viewpoint. Under the preference of compositional viewpoint, the linguists believe that

the meaning of a language unit is decided by the meaning of each component of this

language unit and the way of their combination. But in reality, the meanings of many

language units are formed by the way of non-composition. These non-compositional

language units cannot use the traditional method of linear analysis to analyze them.

This requires us to examine them through a way of overall grasp.

The figurative meaning of idiom is formed through a non-

compositional process. We cannot gain the figurative meaning of idiom through the

analysis of each component’s meaning and the way of their combination. Because that

the figurative meaning of idiom is formed through the conceptual blending which

blend the effective information from the input spaces and evoke related knowledge

representation in long-term memory, so as to form an emergent structure in the

blending space. The all kinds of related information that participate in the formation

of emergent structure form a whole through a method of non-compositional blending.

Therefore, in order to understand and grasp the figurative meaning of idiom correctly,

we must take all kinds of related information as a whole, and use the overall grasp

method to analyze them. For example, the idiom /ʨin55ʐoŋ35ja55pʰian51/(金融鸦片Financial opium), this idiom is composed by the elements /ʨin55ʐoŋ35/(金融 Financial

) and /ja55pʰian51/(鸦片 opium). The element /ʨin55ʐoŋ35/(金融 Financial ) refers to the

circulation of value, and the element /ja55pʰian51/( 鸦片 opium) refers to a natural

anesthetic inhibitors. It will be difficult for us to gain the figurative meaning of the

idiom /ʨin55ʐoŋ35ja55pʰian51/(金融鸦片 Financial opium), which refers financial

derivatives that using a series of financial terms or virtual concept to confuse

enterprise and make it bogged down into financial trap inextricably, through the way

of analyzing the meaning of each element and the way of their combination. Only

using the method of overall grasp and knowing about the common feature between

financial derivatives and opium, that is both of them will bring loss to people, we can

understand the figurative meaning of this idiom completely.

6. 2.2Cultural nature and cultural value of Chinese idioms


6. 2.2.1 Cultural nature of idiom

Language, as a carrier of the information and culture, itself is a cultural

phenomenon, being a part of the whole culture of an ethnic group, and the language is

also a special culture which has a system of itself (Zhang, 1998). The idiom as fixed

expression units of language, which formed in the process of language development,

is the products of national cognition, and is the cultural aggregations. So, the idiom

itself is also a cultural phenomenon naturally, and the idiom also has its own structure

and form.

The idiom is not only a cultural phenomenon, but also a popular

culture and mass culture. Once generated, the idioms will be widely used in daily

communication. Whether is adult or child, male or female, and regardless of the

cultural level of a person, etc…will not become the factors that affect people's use of

idioms. Because the idioms have the concise and comprehensive expression effect,

they become people’s favorite using objects in everyday language communication.

Using idioms in communication, especially using new idioms, do not

only reflect the speaker’s humorous and language skills, but also a sign of following

the trend of the times. Being able to use idioms accurately and extensively indicate

that the speaker maintains a consistent trend and pace of the times and being able to

follow the language development trends. Conversely, if a person always uses the

obscure language units while is not familiar with or even cannot understand new

idioms exactly, indicates that this person cannot keep up the pace with the

development of times, and without knowledge for the development of language.

6. 2.2.2 Hierarchical and self-similarity: Cultural value of idioms

There is a theory in chaos linguistics called hierarchical and self-

similarity. It refers that the part often has the same or similar features with the whole,

namely the self-similarity between the part and whole. Therefore, the part contains a

lot of information of the whole. If we understand the part we can also know about

large amount of information of the whole. (Zhang, 2004).

As mention before (see chapter 1), language is the easily noticeable

characteristic of an ethnic group and a cognitive product of an ethnic group. As the


most general and expressive unit of a language, the idioms show the cognition and

wisdom of an ethnic group at whenever and wherever possible. As an accumulation of

an ethnic group’s culture, the language contains almost all culture information which

is created by an ethnic group from ancient times to now. Therefore, we can

understand and interpret an ethnic group’s culture through the language of that ethnic

group. Furthermore, we also can find the cultures, which are created by an ethnic

group in a certain historical period and then disappeared with the development of

history, from the language of that ethnic group. This is so-called the cultural value of

language.

The idioms as a part of the overall national culture, we can gain a lot of

culture information through the study of idioms due to the part contains much

information of the whole. Through Chinese idioms related to economy we can know

about a lot of Chinese cultural information.

Such as:

The idiom /noŋ35min35koŋ/( 农民工 Farmer-worker),

/Pei214pʰiau55ʦu35/(北漂族 North drift race), /xu51pʰiau55ʦu35/ (沪漂族 Hu drift race),

/kuaŋ214pʰiau55ʦu35/ ( 广漂族 Guang drift race) reflect that after Implementing the

reform and opening policy, the Chinese government relaxed controls on population

movement, and a large number of migrant workers can freely go to work everywhere

of the country.

The idiom /li214nu35/ (礼奴 Gift slave) reflects the culture of human

intercourse in Chinese society. China is a big favor country since ancient times and

pay attention to reciprocity. In each festival, people will send gifts to relatives and

friends, and when relatives or friends have ceremonial occasion, people also have to

give gifts. This will cost a lot of money.

The idiom /kʰa214nu35/(卡奴 Card slave), /tʂʰə55nu35/(车奴) reflect that

Over-consuming awareness is become the popularity in current Chinese society.

The idiom / ly51sə51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/(绿色经济绿色经济 Green economy), /

ly51sə51 tʂʰan214pin214/(绿色产品 Green products), / ly51sə51ɕiau55fei51/(绿色消费 Green

consumption), / ly51sə51ʂəŋ55tʂʰan214/( 绿色生产 Green production), /

ly51sə51kuŋ55tʂaŋ214/( 绿色工厂 Green Factory) reflect the enhancement of


environmental awareness of Chinese society, and people pay more and more attention

to environmental protection.

Etc…

6.3 suggestions

The Chinese new idioms are a complex and extensive study object.

Due to limited space, this thesis only selects the Chinese new idioms related to

economy as the object of study and mainly studies them from the semantic aspect. For

the study of Chinese new idioms, there are many aspects worth studying. In addition

to Chinese new idioms related to economy, the Chinese new idioms related to politics

is another class which is worth studying. Through the study of the idioms related to

politics can pry out the various changes in the political sphere of China in the half a

century, and also can pry out the change of people’s status and people’s political

status quo. In addition, the syntax features, pragmatic features and cultural

connotations also have high research value. Current research in these areas is still

relatively weak, and need people with lofty ideals to study.

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APPENDIX:

Interpretation of China new idioms related to economy


铁饭碗/tʰiɛ214fan51wan214/

铁饭碗指稳定的工作，不用担心收入问题。

Gloss: tʰiɛ214---------fan51--------wan214

iron ----------rice ---------bowlFree translation: Iron rice bowlMeaning: Iron rice bowl refers to a job which is stable and do not have to worry about income.

金饭碗/ʨin55fan51wan214/

金饭碗指收入很高的工作。

Gloss: ʨin55-------fan51-------wan214

golden------rice-------- bowlFree translation: Golden rice bowlMeaning: Golden rice bowl refers to a job that has excellent pay.

找饭碗/tʂao214fan51wan214/

找饭碗指寻找工作。Gloss: tʂao214-------fan51-----wan214

look for-----rice------ bowlFree translation: Look for rice bowlMeaning: Look for rice bowl means looking for job.

砸饭碗/ʦa35fan51wan214/

砸饭碗指丢掉工作。Gloss: ʦa35-------fan51-----wan214

break ----rice----- bowlFree translation: Break rice bowlMeaning: Break rice bowl refers to lose job.


抢饭碗/ʨʰiaŋ214fan51wan214/

抢饭碗指抢别人的工作。Gloss: ʨʰiaŋ214-----fan51-----wan214

grab -------rice ------bowlFree translation: Grab rice bowlMeaning: Grab rice bowl means grabs someone else's job.

炒鱿鱼/tʂʰau214jou35jy35/

炒鱿鱼指被工作单位解聘。Gloss: tʂʰao214------jou35jy35

fry---------- squidFree translation: Fry squidMeaning: Fry squid refers to a person who is dismissed by the work unit.

软裁员/ʐuan214ʦai35juan35/

软裁员指不直接解聘职工而是采取降低工资，减少福利等手段迫使职工自己辞职从而得到裁员的目的。Gloss: ʐuan214------ʦai35juan35

soft---------- layoffsFree translation: Soft layoffsMeaning: Soft layoffs refers to a phenomena that in the process of layoff, in order to reduce labor disputes, the corporation does not directly dismissing employees, but use the means of reduce salary, swap jobs, change the work place, etc… to forcing employees to take the initiative to resign.

上岗/ʂaŋ51kaŋ214/

上岗指获得工作。Gloss: ʂaŋ51------kaŋ214

up-------postFree translation: Up to postMeaning: Refers to obtain job, or go to work on a post.


下岗/ɕia51kaŋ214/

下岗指失去工作。Gloss: ɕia51-------kaŋ214

down-----postFree translation: Down from postMeaning: Down from the post refers to lose job.

稳岗/wen214kaŋ214/

指员工通过提高知识、技能等手段保住现有工作。Gloss: wen214------kaŋ214

steady------postFree translation: Steady postMeaning: Steady post refers to employees maintain existing jobs by improving knowledge, skills and other means.

黑色收入/ xei55sɣ51ʂou55ʐu51/

黑色收入指通过非法渠道获得的收入，如贪污受贿，盗窃等等。Gloss: xei55-----------sə51---------ʂou55ʐu51

black--------color--------incomeFree translation: Black incomeMeaning: Refers to revenue gained through corruption, bribery and other illegal means. In Chinese culture, black means bad, and usually refers to things that cannot be made public, so black income means income come from illegal means and cannot be made public.

白色收入/pai214sɣ51ʂou55ʐu51/

白色收入指正当的合法收入。Gloss: pai214-------sɣ51---------ʂou55ʐu51

white----color--------incomeFree translation: White incomeMeaning: It refers to open and transparent income, and is legitimate income.


灰色收入/xuei55sɣ51ʂou55ʐu51/

灰色收入指介于合法收入和非法收入之间的收入，这些收入往往没有正规的获得渠道，也未缴纳个人所得税。Gloss: xuei55--------sə51----------ʂou55ʐu51

gray-------color---------incomeFree translation: Gray incomeMeaning: In China," black income" refers illegal income; "white income" refers open and transparent income, and is legitimate income; "gray income" is in between the two incomes. The connotation of "Gray income" is very complex, economic income such as royalties, moonlighting income, the transfer of patent fees, and all called "gray income". "Gray income" should be divided into two kinds, one kind is neither legal nor reasonable income, indirect or disguised a bribe, should be eliminated; a reasonable but not normative income, should be regulated and management. In Chinese culture, gray is not good, Gray income means income do not come from good ways.

红利/ xoŋ35li51/

红利一开始是指股份公司分给股票持有者的经济收入，后来泛指人们从某事或某物中获得的好处。Gloss: xuŋ35--------li51

red--------profit

Free translation: red profit

Meaning: At first, it refers to the profit that the listed

companies distribute to the shareholders that pursuant to the

Share during the distribution of profits; and nowadays, it

also refers to the benefit which is gained by people from a

certain thing.


黑心钱/ xei55xin55ʨʰian35/

黑心钱指通过非法渠道获得的钱财。Gloss: xei55--------xin55--------ʨʰian35

black------heart--------moneyFree translation: Dirty moneyMeaning: It refers to the all illegal income which comes from any illegal means.

外快/wai51kʰuai51/

外快指赚取的工资以外的收入。Gloss: wai51--------kʰuai51

outside------incomeFree translation: Outside incomeMeaning: It refers to income other than normal wage income.

捞外快/lau55wai51kʰuai51/

捞外快指通过各种手段和方式赚取外快。Gloss: lau55------wai51---------kʰuai51

gain-----outside-------incomeFree translation: Gain outside incomeMeaning: It refers to through a variety of ways to earn money outside working hours.

低保/ti55bau214/

低保指中国政府向无经济收入或收入特别低的人发放的最低生活保障金，以确保其能维持正常生活。Gloss: ti55----------bau214

lowest----- insuranceFree translation: Subsistence allowanceMeaning: Subsistence allowance refers to the allowance which is provided to the people, who without income or


have very little income, by the Chinese government.

电子货币/tian51ʦi214xuo51pi51/

电子货币是指用一定金额的现金或存款从发行者处兑换并获得代表相同金额的数据，通过使用某些电子化方法将该数据直接转移给支付对象，从而能够清偿债务。Gloss: tian51ʦi214---------xuo51pi51

electronic------ currencyFree translation: Electronic currencyMeaning: Electronic currency refers to use cash or deposit to obtain data which can represent the money same as the cash or deposit from the issuer; transferring these data to the payment object by using certain electronic methods can achieve shopping ,paying off debt, etc…

一篮子货币/ji51lan35ʦi214xuo51pi51/

一篮子货币指用于确定货币汇率的一系列参考外币。Gloss: ji51-----lan35ʦi214------xuo51pi51

one------basket--------currencyFree translation: Basket of currenciesMeaning: Basket of currencies refers to a combination of a set of foreign currency, which is used as a reference to set foreign exchange.

洗钱/ɕi214ʨʰian35/

洗钱指通过一系列非法手段将一些非法的收入转换为表面上看起来是合法的收入的现象。Gloss: ɕi214---------------ʨʰian35

laundering--------moneyFree translation: Money launderingMeaning: Money laundering refers to a behavior that disguises and conceals the source and nature of the illegal


income through various means，and makes it legalization in the form.

7时代/ 6时代/ʨʰi55ʂi35tai51/, /liu51ʂi35tai51/

7时代指美元与人民币 1:7的时代，6时代指美元与人民币 1:6的时代，这预示着中美经济关系进入一种全新阶段。Gloss: ʨʰi55-------ʂi35tai51 / liu51--------ʂi35tai51

seven------ times / six----------timesFree translation: 7 times / 6 timesMeaning: 7 times / 6 times refers to the U.S. dollar against the RMB exchange rate fell below 8 to 7 times and fell below 7 times to 6 times, It is a Logo that marks China-US economic relations have entered a new era.

活利贷/xuo35li51tai51/

活利贷指银行针对购房贷款推出的一项较为灵活的还贷方式。Gloss: xuo35--------li51---------tai51

living-----interest-----loanFree translation:Meaning: Living interest loan refers to a more flexible loan repayment mode which is provided to the house buyers by the bank.

死账/si214tʂaŋ51/

死账指一个企业的应收账款不能收回或收回的可能性很小部分。Gloss: si214---------tʂaŋ51

dead--------account


Free translation: Dead accountMeaning: Dead account refers to the receivables of a enterprise, which cannot be recovered or recovered very unlikely.

血汗钱/ɕyɛ35xan51ʨʰian35/

血汗钱指通过辛勤劳动（尤其指体力劳动）赚来的钱。Gloss: ɕyɛ35--------xan51-------ʨʰian35

blood-------sweat--------moneyFree translation: Hard-earned moneyMeaning: Hard-earned money refers to the money which is earned through hard-working (especially refers to muscular labor).

裸油价/luo214jou35ʨia51/

裸油价指不含税费的油价。Gloss: luo214-------jou35------ʨia51

naked--------oil--------priceFree translation: Naked oil priceMeaning: Naked oil price refers to the oil price excluding taxes and other fees.

秒杀价/miau214ʂa55ʨʰia51/

秒杀价指在限时时间里抢购特定的限量优惠商品，此类产品通常优惠的幅度很大，抢购的人很多，可能几秒钟就全部售完。故称之为“秒杀价”。Gloss: miau214---------ʂa55--------ʨʰia51

second----------kill---------price Free translation: Second kill priceMeaning: Second kill price refer to the price of buying a particular goods in limited time; these goods often have large range of preferential and usually sold out in a few seconds.

跳楼价


/tʰiau51lou35ʨʰia51/ 跳楼价指远低于商品价值的价格。Gloss: tʰiau51--------lou35--------ʨʰia51

jump--------building----priceFree translation: Sale at breakdownMeaning: Sale at breakdown refers to the price which is much lower than the value of the goods.

天价/tʰian55ʨʰia51/

天价指远远高出商品价值的价格。Gloss: tʰian55-------ʨʰia51

sky---------priceFree translation: Sky priceMeaning: Sky price refers to a Price which is far higher than the value of the goods

罚酒费/fa35ʨiou214fei51/

罚酒费指凡卖酒的商户，即使没有违法违规经营行为，也无一例外被酒类监督管理局处以莫名其妙的罚款。Gloss: fa35--------ʨiou214--------fei51

amerce--------wine---------feeFree translation: Wine amerce feeMeaning: Wine amerce fee refers to fine of Punishing the liquor traders even though the traders have no illegal operation.

房奴/faŋ35nu35/

房奴指由于收入低不能一次性付清购房款，只能选择贷款买房，而后每年都要承受巨大的还款压力。人生的黄金阶段都是在还款的压力中度过的人群。Gloss: faŋ35---------nu35

house------slave


Free translation: House slave or mortgage slaveMeaning: House slave or mortgage slave refers to someone under the pressure of paying back housing mortgage loan. House slaves loan money from the back to buy house. They should spend 20-30 years of the golden period of life to pay off the loan. Every year, they should use 40-50% annual income to pay for the loan. This Give themselves a great deal of economic pressure

车奴/tʂʰə55nu35/

车奴指贷款买车，然后要花很长时间来还贷款的人群。

Gloss: tʂʰə55--------nu35

car---------slave

Free translation: Car slave

Meaning: Car slave refers to someone under the pressure of

paying back car mortgage loan. Car slave loan money from

the back to buy car. They should spend many years of the

golden period of life to Pay off the loan.

卡奴/kʰa214nu35/

卡奴指大量使用信用卡透支消费，而自身的经济收入又无法偿还透支部分，从而导致自己陷入债务危机的人群。

Gloss: kʰa214--------nu35

card--------slave

Free translation: Card slave

Meaning: Card slave refers to people, who use credit cards

or cash cards to do overdraft consumption, but their

monthly salary or income unable to pay off the overdraft


amount. Because of cannot pay off the overdraft, they need

to pay liquidated damages for financial institutions. At the

same time, they should pay revolving interest and other fee

to the financial institutions, so take on a heavy debt

码奴/ma214nu35/

码奴指在当代社会中，人们随时随地都需要记住很多密码，如银行卡，邮箱，电脑等的密码，从而需要花费大量的精力。Gloss: ma214----------nu35

code ---------slave

Free translation: Code slave

Meaning: Code slave, as the name suggests, is the slave of

the code. Nowadays, computer, mailbox, bank cards, etc…

all of these require a password, and all of these password

have different requirement. These result people who use

these things need to spend a lot of time and effort to

manage and remember these passwords, and may have

mental exhaustion, trance, and even have a very serious

psychological disorder frequently.

垄奴/luŋ214nu35/

垄奴一方面指在垄断性企业打工的人群，工作很辛苦可得到的报酬却很低；另一方面指别无选择只能购买垄断企业产品的消费者。

Gloss: luŋ214---------------nu35

monopoly --------slave

Free translation: Monopoly slave


Meaning: Monopoly slaves on the one hand refer to people

who work in monopoly industries as the identity of

temporary workers, and they do a lot of work but gain a

little remuneration; on the other hand refers to consumers

who have no choice but to be forced to accept unequal

terms of consumption of the monopoly industries.

白奴/pai214nu35/

白奴指虽然身为白领，工作稳定，收入不菲，但是却需要支付很多固定的开销，从而承担巨大经济压力的人群。Gloss: pai214--------nu35

white------slaveFree translation: White slaveMeaning: White slave refers to the people who are the white-collar, and have Stable job and valuable income, but must be timed to pay off many loans to several fixed creditors. So their economic pressure is very large.

礼奴/li214nu35/

礼奴指每年需要花大量金钱在送礼上，而自己只能默默承受。Gloss: li214-------nu35

gift-------slaveFree translation: Gift slaveMeaning: It refers to people who should provide financial support or unpaid services for some kind of virtual ways of the world, and cannot resist, can only endure in silence.

夹心族/ʨia214ɕin55ʦu35/

夹心族指在当今中国既需要赡养老人，又需要抚养小孩的一群中年人，他们承受着巨大的经济压力。


Gloss: ʨia214ɕin55-------ʦu35

sandwich---------tribeFree translation: Sandwich tribeMeaning: Sandwich tribe refers to a generation that needs to support for the elderly and raising children, they caught in the middle like sandwiches. Their ages are between 30 to 55 years old. At the time, they should burden the living expenses of three generations. Their economic burden is very heavy.

啃老族/kʰən214lau214ʦu35/

啃老族指当今中国年轻一代放弃工作的机会，呆在家里靠父母养活，而且消费还很高。

Gloss: kʰən214--------lau214--------ʦu35

gnaw -----------old---------tribe

Free translation: Neet or gnaw old tribe

Meaning: It is also called "eat old people" or "near old

family". They are not cannot find a job, but take the

initiative to give up the opportunity of obtain employment,

stay idle at home, not only the basic necessities of life

depends on parents, and often have an expensive cost. They

often have an age between 23-30 years old.

啃楼族/ kʰən214lou35ʦu35/

啃楼族指当今中国一个特殊的人群，他们主要依靠倒卖房屋赚取差价，或将房屋出租而获得租金来维持自己的经济收入。

Gloss: kʰən214--------lou35-------ʦu35


gnaw -----house------tribe

Free translation: Gnaw house tribe

Meaning: It refers to the people who obtain the economic

benefits in taking advantage of continuous surge housing

prices to reselling housing or go through the relevant

financial business.

蚁族/ji214ʦu35/

“蚁族”，在这里并不是一种昆虫族群，而是“80后”一个鲜为人知的庞大群体——“大学毕业生低收入聚居群体”。之所以将该群体名之为“蚁族”，是因为这个群体和蚂蚁有许多相类似的特点：高智、弱小、群居。蚁族是指没钱租房子，更没钱买房子，而住集体宿舍的人群。是中国的第四大弱势群体。Gloss: ji214---------ʦu35

ant ---------tribe

Free translation: Ant tribe

Meaning: Ant tribe is a vivid metaphor of the groups of

low-income college graduates who settle in a compact

community. As these low-income university graduates have

the same characteristics as ants, for example, they are weak,

gregarious and hard-working, they are called "ant clan".

Next to farmers, rural migrant workers and laid-off

workers, ant tribe is the fourth disadvantaged group in

Chinese society.


鼠族/ʂu214ʦu35/

鼠族指在城市的打工者由于收入低，不能租住条件较好的房屋，只能租住在租金较低的地下室或防空洞里。Gloss: ʂu214----------ʦu35

mouse------- tribeFree translation: Mouse tribeMeaning: The mouse tribe, known as the Shuzu, is thought to number about 1 million and is well known for living in some of the 1,374 civil air defense shelters beneath the city。Low income, no money to live in better house.

蜗居族/wo55ʨy55ʦu35/

蜗居族指由于经济收入低，不能卖面积较大的住房，全家人只能住在很小的房子里。

Gloss: wo55--------ʨy55---------ʦu35

snail--------dwell---------tribe

Free translation: Snail dwell tribe

Meaning: Snail dwell tribe refers to a group of people living

in cramped housing. Because of low-income, they cannot

buy a large house, the whole family has to live in a cramped

housing, like snail Like a snail shrink in its carapace.

北漂族/pei214pʰiau55ʦu35/

北漂族指从全国各地到北京打工的人群，他们虽然在北京工作，但是他们没有当地的户籍，也没有自己的房子，在这座城市里他们的生活飘忽不定，无法融入当地社会，心理总会有一种挥之不去的孤独感。


Gloss: pei214---------pʰiau55--------ʦu35

Beijing---------drift----------tribe

Free translation: Drift tribe in Beijing

Meaning: This refers to a group of people who come from

all over the country to work in Beijing. They do not have

Beijing accounts, income is not high, and have no house,

living in rented accommodation, has a feeling of floating

around, all of them have knowledge, many people have a

master's or doctor's degree, and many of them working in

the entertainment industry, IT industry, etc…

沪漂族/xu51pʰiau55ʦu35/

沪漂族指从全国各地到上海打工的人群，他们虽然在上海工作，但是他们没有当地的户籍，也没有自己的房子，在这座城市里他们的生活飘忽不定，无法融入当地社会，心理总会有一种挥之不去的孤独感。Gloss: xu51--------------pʰiau5-------ʦu35

Shanghai---------drift--------tribeFree translation: Drift tribe in ShanghaiMeaning: This refers to a group of people who come from all over the country to come to work in Shanghai. They do not have Shanghai accounts, income is not high, and have no house, living in rented accommodation, has a feeling of floating around, all of them have knowledge, many people have a master's or doctor's degree, and many of them working in the entertainment industry, IT industry, etc…

广漂族/kuaŋ214pʰiau55ʦu35/

广漂族指从全国各地到广州打工的人群，他们虽然在广州工作，但是他们没有当地的户籍，也没有自己的房子，在这座城市里他们的生活飘忽不定，无法融入当地


社会，心理总会有一种挥之不去的孤独感。Gloss: kuaŋ214-------------pʰiau55--------ʦu35

Guangzhou--------drift--------tribeFree translation: Drift tribe in GuangzhouMeaning: This refers to a group of people who come from all over the country to come to work in Guangzhou. They do not have Guangzhou accounts, income is not high, and have no house, living in rented accommodation, has a feeling of floating around, all of them have knowledge, many people have a master's or doctor's degree, and many of them working in the entertainment industry, IT industry, etc…

华漂族/xua35pʰiau55ʦu35/

华漂族指从世界各国到中国工作的人群，他们在中国一般没有自己的房屋，租住在集体公寓里，他们虽然有着较高的学历，从事的都是高薪行业，但是漂泊在异国他乡总有一种挥之不去的孤独感。Gloss: xua35--------pʰiau55-------ʦu35

China--------drift---------tribeFree translation: Drift tribe in ChinaMeaning: This refers to a group of people who come from all over the word to come to work in China. They have no house and family in China, living in rented accommodation, has a feeling of floating around, all of them have knowledge, many people have a master's or doctor's degree, and many of them working in the entertainment industry, IT industry, etc…

月光族/jyɛ51kuaŋ55ʦu35/

月光族指将每月收入都花光，没有节余的人。Gloss: jyɛ51----------------kuaŋ55-----------ʦu35

month/moon-------over/light---------tribeFree translation: Moonlight tribe


Meaning: Live from paycheck to paycheck. Every month, spend all income. The moonlight clan are generally young generation, don't care about money, have knowledge, intelligent, capable, but income is not high.

骗保族/pʰian55pau214ʦu35/

骗保族指采用非法手段骗取保险赔偿的人群。Gloss: pʰian55---------pau214----------ʦu35

defrauds -----insurance -------tribeFree translation: Defrauds insurance money tribeMeaning: Defrauds insurance money tribe refers to the people who use illegal means to defraud insurance claims.

打烊族/ta214jaŋ35ʦu35/

打烊族指专门在超市在快打样时去购物的人群。Gloss: ta214jaŋ35---------ʦu35

closing----------- tribeFree translation: Closing tribe

Meaning: Closing tribe refers to the people who go

shopping in the supermarket when the supermarket is about

to be closed. Before closed, a lot of merchandise will be

discounted, and to buy things at this time can save a lot of

money.

凤凰男/fəŋ51xuaŋ35nan35/

凤凰男指出生农村贫寒家庭，通过自身努力获得了在城市里的较好的生活条件的男性。Gloss: fəŋ51xuaŋ35-------nan35

phoenix----------manFree translation: Phoenix man

Meaning: It refers to a man who born in a poor family in


rural areas, and through their own efforts, they get a better

living environment in the city.

孔雀女/kʰuŋ214ʨʰyɛ51ny214/

孔雀女是指从小生活在城市富裕家庭，没有受过大挫折的女生。Gloss: kʰuŋ214ʨʰyɛ51------ny214

peacock-----------girlFree translation: Peacock girl

Meaning: It refers to a girl who born in the city and have a

wealthy family and is well cared, and have not had any

setbacks.

负翁（富翁）/fu51wəŋ55/(/fu51wəŋ55/)

负翁指欠了大量债务的男性。Gloss: fu51-------wəŋ55 (fu51-------wəŋ55) debt ------man (rich-------man)Free translation: Debt manMeaning: Refer to the man who owns others debts.

负婆（富婆）/fu51pʰo214/(/fu51pʰo214/)

负婆指欠了大量债务的女性。Gloss: fu51------- pʰo214 (fu51------- pʰo214) debt ------woman (rich-------woman)Free translation: Debt womanMeaning: Refer to the woman who owns others debts.

倒爷/tau214jɛ35/

倒爷指专门从事商品倒卖赚钱的人。Gloss: tau214-----------jɛ35

reselling -------manFree translation: Reselling man


Meaning: Reselling man refers to the people who use price difference of the market to reselling commodity to make money.

白骨精/pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/

指职场中的一个特殊人群：白领身份，业务骨干，企业精英。Gloss: pai35 ---------ku214------------ʨiŋ55

white---------bone---------- femaleFree translation: White bone femaleMeaning: “/pai35ku214ʨiŋ55/ ”originally is a name of a female demon who is insidious and good at camouflage in the novel “Xi You Ji”. Nowadays it referring to a spike group of women in the workplace, they have the identity of the white-collar workers, the backbone of the business and social elite.

金领/ʨin55liŋ214/

金领指有着高学历、高智商的人群，他们不仅是相关行业的尖端人才，而且还擅长经营管理。Gloss: ʨin55-------liŋ214

gold-------collarFree translation: Gold-collarMeaning: Gold-collar refers to people who have a good

education background and have success a particular

industry. They have a good team coordination ability and

management ability. They are not only the top technical

expert, but also have the operation rights that can determine

the fate of white-collar.

白领/pai35liŋ214/

白领指具有较高知识文化，从事脑力劳动的人。Gloss: pai35--------liŋ214

white-------collar


Free translation: White-collar

Meaning: White-collar worker refers to the people who

have a higher educational background and work experience,

engage in mental work.

蓝领/lan35liŋ214/

蓝领指从事体力劳动的工人。Gloss: lan35-------liŋ214

blue-----collarFree translation: Blue-collar

Meaning: Blue-collar worker refers to the workers who

obtain remuneration rely on manual labor.

橙领/tʂəŋ35liŋ214/

橙领指在淘宝网上从事交易赚钱的人，因为淘宝的主题色是橙色，故这些人被称为橙领。Gloss: tʂəŋ35--------liŋ214

orange------collarFree translation: Orange-collar

Meaning: Orange-collar worker refers to the people who

earn money through the Taobao network alliance. Taobao's

main color is orange, so the practitioners who is related to

Taobao is called Orange-collar worker.

灰领/xuei55liŋ214/

灰领指那些既有较深的理论知识修养同时又具有较高的动手能里的人群。Gloss: xuei55-------liŋ214

gray--------collarFree translation: Gray-collar


Meaning: Gray-collar worker refers to the people who have

a high level of knowledge, strong ability to innovate, strong

skills. They not only can engage in mental work, but also

can do hand-operation. They often wear gray uniforms, so

they are called Gray-collar worker.

股民/ku214min35/

股民指从事股票买卖的人群。Gloss: ku214---------min35

stock---------peopleFree translation: Stock people

Meaning: Stock people refer to the people who have long

been engaged in stock trading.

彩民/ʦai214min35/

彩民指长期购买彩票的人群。Gloss: ʦai214---------------min35

lottery ticket------- people

Free translation: Lottery ticket people

Meaning: Lottery ticket people refer to the people who buy

lottery tickets in long-term.

付二贷（富二代）/fu52ə51tai51/ (/fu52ə51tai51/)

付二贷指既要偿还购房贷款又要偿还购车贷款的人。Gloss: fu52-----ə51-----tai51 (fu51-----ə51--------tai51)

pay--two------loan (rich-- -second---

generation)

Free translation: Paying two loans people

Meaning: Refers to the people who should pay car purchase

loan and loan of buying house.


农民工/noŋ35min35koŋ55/

农民工指在中国拥有农业户口但在城市打工的人群。Gloss: noŋ35min35-------koŋ55

farmer---------workerFree translation: Farmer-worker

Meaning: Farmer-worker refers to special populations in

mainland of China. They work in the city, but they do not

have urban household registration, their official capacity is

farmer, because they have rural household registration. Due

to China's long-term implementation of the separation of

urban and rural household registration system, in the past,

people who have rural household registration are called

farmer, and people who have urban household registration

are called worker.

房二代/faŋ35ə51tai51/

房二代是指父母已经为其购买好住房，不用担心购房问题的年轻一代。Gloss: faŋ35---------ə51-----------tai51

house-------second------generationFree translation: Second house generationMeaning: Second house generation refer to the young people who do not worry about the economic burden of buying house, because their parents have bought house for them.

短工一代/tuan214kuŋ55ji35tai51/

短工一代指 80后 90后一代，他们崇尚自由，很难长时间从事同一工作。一旦觉得现有工作妨碍了自由，他们就会换工作。换工作对他们来说是家常便饭。Gloss: tuan214------kuŋ55--------ji35--------tai51

short------work---------one--------generationFree translation: Short work generation


Meaning: Refers to people who born in the nineties or eighties of the last century. The received a good education since childhood and has a higher level of education. They are open-minded and advocate freedom. They will not be willing to do the same job in day-to-day. For each work, as long as they feel tired of it, they will resign without hesitation, and look for new jobs.

炒房团/tʂʰau214faŋ35tʰuan35/fry---house---group

炒房团指在全国房地产市场上进行投资并在一定程度上对商品房价格产生影响的全国各地购房者。Gloss: tʂʰau214------faŋ35--------tʰuan35

fry---------house--------groupFree translation: Group of frying houseMeaning: Group of frying house refer to the people who take the purchase of houses as an investment and the houses purchase behavior of these people can affect house prices.

寡头/kua214tou35/

寡头指垄断某种商品生产或销售的商人。

Gloss: kua214--------tou35

few---------- head

Free translation: Oligarchs

Meaning: Oligarchs refer to a few businessmen who can

monopolize the production or sales of a certain goods.

展霸/tʂan214pa51/

展霸指向展户们收取保护费的人。Gloss: tʂan214----------pa51

exhibition----overlord


Free translation: Exhibition overlord

Meaning: Exhibition overlord refers to the person who

charges protection money from people who participate in

the exhibition.

小资/ɕiao214ʦi55/

小资指有较高的教育背景，向往西方思想和生活方式的年轻人，他们追求内心体验，物质和精神享受。

Gloss: ɕiao214---------ʦi55

small-------- bourgeoisie

Free translation: Petty bourgeoisie

Meaning: Petty bourgeoisie refers to the young people who

have a higher education background, yearn for Western

thought and lifestyle, pursue the inner experience, and

pursue of material and spiritual enjoyment.

草根/ʦʰau214ken55/

草根指处于底层的老百姓。Gloss: ʦʰau214-----ken55

grass------rootFree translation: Grass-rootsMeaning: Grass-roots refer to the vulnerable groups who are in the bottom of the social and relative to the elite.

种票门/tʂuŋ51pʰiau51mən35/

种票门指通过行贿等非法手段拉选票以获得胜选的丑闻。Gloss: tʂuŋ51------------pʰiau51------------mən35

plant----------ballot paper---------gateFree translation: Plant ballot gateMeaning: It refers to the event of elections scandal, which bribed the voters in order to win votes and win elections


诈捐门/tʂa51ʨuan55mən35/

诈捐门指承若捐款，但实际上却没有兑现承诺Gloss: tʂa51------------ʨuan55-------mən35

dishonest-------donate-------gateFree translation: Dishonest donate gateMeaning: It refers to an event that pledged donation, but did not honor its donation.

分红门/fən55xuŋ35mən35/

分红门指股票公司和股民因股票分红而产生的利益纠纷。Gloss: fən55-----------xuŋ35-------mən35

allocation------red----------gateFree translation: Dividends gateMeaning: It refers to the dispute between the fund holders and the fund company, which is caused by the issues of fund dividends

保单门/pau214tan55mən35/

保单门指保险购买者因购买到过期保险单而导致的经济利益纠纷。Gloss: pau214tan55----------------mən35

insurance policy-----------gateFree translation: Insurance policy gateMeaning: It refers to the event that people bring a claim to insurance sellers when people found the insurance policy which they have bought is invalid.

窜货门/ʦʰuan51xuo51mən35/

窜货门指产品代理商为了经济利益将自己代理的产品销售到自己代理区域以外的区域的违规行为。Gloss: ʦ ʰuan51------xuo51----------mən35

flee------goods---------gateFree translation: Flee goods gate


Meaning: It refers to the event that an agent of a certain area sales his products to the area where belongs to another agent who sales the same products.

地下交易/ ti51ɕia51ʨiao55ji51/

地下交易指非法的交易行为。Gloss: ti51ɕia51---------------ʨiao55ji51

underground --------transactionFree translation: Underground transactionsMeaning: Underground transactions generally refer to the illegal trading activities.

地下钱庄/ti51ɕia51ʨʰian35tʂuaŋ55/

地下钱庄指从事非法金融交易的组织。Gloss: ti51ɕia51------------ʨʰian35tʂuaŋ55

underground -------bankFree translation: Underground bankMeaning: Underground banks refer to the organizations which engage in illegal financial activities.

地下工厂/ti51ɕia51koŋ55tʂaŋ214/

地下工厂指未获得国家办厂许可证而设立的工厂，这类工厂一般从事的都是一些非法产品的生产。

Gloss: ti51ɕia51-------------koŋ55tʂaŋ214

underground -------factory

Free translation: Underground factory

Meaning: Underground factory refers to a factory which has

not yet obtained a legitimate business license and engaged

in the illegal production activities.

下海下海指辞掉固定的工作去从事经商活动。


/xia51xai214/

Gloss: xia51--------xai214

down------sea

Free translation: Go to the sea

Meaning: Go to the sea refers to the behavior that a person

quits his steady job and Engages in commercial activities.

黄金口岸/xuaŋ35ʨin55kʰou214an51/

黄金口岸指能够带来大量经济利益收入的地段。

Gloss: xuaŋ35ʨin55---------kʰou214an51

golden -------------port

Free translation: Golden port

Meaning: The golden port refers to a certain place that has

convenient traffic, comprehensive facilities and elegant

environment. And it can bring a variety of benefits for the

owners.

购物天堂/kou51wu51tʰiaŋ55tʰaŋ35/

购物天堂是指商品种类齐全、价格实惠且服务优良的购物地点。Gloss: kou51wu51----------tʰiaŋ55tʰaŋ35

shopping-----------paradise

Free translation: Shopping paradise

Meaning: Shopping paradise refers to a shopping location

that has full range of goods, affordable prices and excellent

service.

抬拉/tʰai35la55/

抬拉指用非常方法，将股价大幅度抬起。


Gloss: tʰai35---------la55

lift--------- pull

Free translation: Lift pull

Meaning: Lift pull refers to use the very means to let the

stock prices raise significantly.

托市/tʰuo55ʂi51/holding-----market

托市指政府或公司在股市连续下跌，或跌破某一指数点位时利用政策支持或投入一笔资金大量买进，使股市回升。Gloss: tʰuo55---------ʂi51

holding------market

Free translation: Holding the market

Meaning: Holding the market refers to the government or a

company uses the policy support or uses a large sum of

money to buy the stocks in order to let the stock markets

rebounded when the stock market falling continuously or

fell below an index point.

绿色工厂/ ly51sɣ51kuŋ55tʂaŋ214/

绿色工厂指整个工厂在生产过程中既不会对工人的身体健康产生危害，也不会造成环境污染。Gloss: ly51--------sə51---------kuŋ55tʂaŋ214

green-----color-------factoryFree translation: Green factoryMeaning: It refers to a factory which has no danger to the

life safety of employees and no pollution to the

environment in the entire operation process.

绿色生产绿色生产指在生产过程中耗能低，并且不会对环境产生


/ ly51sɣ51ʂəŋ55tʂʰan214/ 污染。Gloss: ly51---------sə51-------ʂəŋ55tʂʰan214

green------color-------productionFree translation: Green productionMeaning: It refers to the production process which has low

consumption of resources, and has no pollution to the

environment.

绿色产品/ ly51sɣ51 tʂʰan214pin214/

绿色产品指产品在生产和使用过程中以及使用后既不会对人体健康产生危害也不会造成环境污染。Gloss: ly51--------sə51 -------tʂʰan214pin214

green------color-------productFree translation: green product

Meaning: It refers to the product which has no danger to the

life safety and no pollution to the environment in the

process of production, and in the process of using, or even

after the process of using.

生意红火/ ʂəŋ55ji51xoŋ35xuo214/

生意红火指生意非常顺利，赚到了很多钱。

Gloss: ʂəŋ55ji51-------xuŋ35------xuo214

business-------red---------fire

Free translation: Business booming

Meaning: It means business is very good and earned a lot of

money.

打白条打白条指欠款者用白纸随意写的欠条，缺乏正规性。


/ta214pai35tʰiau35/

Gloss: ta214----------pai35------------tʰiau35

write---------white---------note

Free translation: Write white note

Meaning: It also called illegitimate promissory notes, that

refers to a receipt or IOU which written with a piece of

white paper or paper notes by the arrears units. Receipt or

IOU like this is informal.

白条财政/ pai35tʰiau35ʦai35tʂəŋ51/

白条财政指中国地方政府开出的不正规的欠条，这类欠条兑现的可能非常的小。

Gloss: pai35---------tʰiau35-------ʦai35tʂəŋ51

white-------note-------financial

Free translation: White note financial

Meaning: It also called registered Warrants, which refer

to the IOU which is issued by the local governments of

China. IOU like this is always very difficult to cash.

灰色市场/xuei55sɣ51ʂi51tʂʰaŋ214/

灰色市场指采用非法的途径来销售正规合法的产品。在灰色市场上流通的商品一般是正规产品，但是这些产品的销售没有得到生产商的销售许可。

Gloss: xuei55---------sə51------------ʂi51tʂʰaŋ214

gray----------color-----------market

Free translation: Gray market

Meaning: It refers to a marketing channel that sail a certain

product of a brand but without authorize from the brand


owner. It sails genuine goods but the unauthorized belongs

to illegal operation.

黑市/ xei55 ʂi51/

黑市指未经国家法律法规允许而形成的市场，这类市场所流通的往往是一些非法产品或者是国家法律所禁止的商品。还有一种是流通的商品虽然是合法的产品，但其价格远远高于合法市场，销售者从中非法牟取暴利。

Gloss: xei55 -------ʂi51

black------market

Free translation: Black market

Meaning: It refers to the market which without government

approval and forms in illegal, and merchandise the goods

that Prohibit to merchandise; or refers to the market which

make secret transactions that the price is far higher than the

open market.

黑市交易/ xei55 ʂi51ʨiao55ji51/

黑市交易指违反国家法律及政策规定而进行的交易，如违反国家价格政策，汇率政策等等。

Gloss: xei55 --------ʂi51-------ʨiao55ji51

black------market-----trade

Free translation: Trade in black market

Meaning: It refers to trading behaviors which evade the

government’s restrictions of commodity prices, exchange


rates, or market prices and interest rates of securities.

黑货/ xei55xuo51/

黑货指通过发非法渠道获得的货物，如通过抢劫，盗窃等渠道获得的货物等。

Gloss: xei55--------xuo51

black--------goods

Free translation: Black goods

Meaning: It refers to the goods which are obtained or hold

through smuggling, robbing, Stealing or other illegal

means.

基金黑幕/ʨi55ʨin55xei55mu51/

基金黑幕泛指基金行业中的各种违规操作行为。Gloss: ʨi55ʨin55--------xei55---------mu51

found----------black-------curtain

Free translation: Black curtain in fund

Meaning: Black curtain in fund refers a variety of illegal operations in the fund industry.

买马/mai214ma214/

买马原本是专业赌徒术语，起源于赌马时下注，目前多用于指借高利贷。

Gloss: mai214---------ma214

buy-----------horse

Free translation: Buy a horse

Meaning: Buy a horse is originally a professional gambler

terminology, originated from the horse racing, nowadays it


refers to borrow usurious loan.

黑马/xei55ma214/

黑马是指股价在一定时间内，上涨一倍或数倍的股票。

Gloss: xei55--------ma214

blank------horse

Free translation: Blank horse

Meaning: Blank horse refers to a stock that its share price

has double or multiple rising within a certain time.

白马/pai214ma214/

白马指股价已形成慢慢上涨的长升通道，还有一定的上涨空间。

Gloss: pai214----------ma214

white---------horse

Free translation: White horse

Meaning: White horse refers to a stock that its price has a

rising trend and still has upside potential.

老鼠仓/lau214ʂu214ʦʰaŋ55/

老鼠仓指庄家利用职务之便在低位建仓，待利用公用基金将股票价格拉升后，将自己手中的股票卖出以获取暴利的行为。Gloss: lau214ʂu214---------ʦʰaŋ55

rat-----------accountsFree translation: Rat accountMeaning: Rat account refers that before using public funds to prop up share prices, the makers create an account in the low position of share price and buy a lot of stock with their own personal funds firstly; and after the share


price is raised by the public funds, the makers sell their own share firstly to obtain huge profits.

熊市/xioŋ35ʂi51/

熊市指股价不断下跌，人们纷纷卖出股票持空仓观望的市场现象。Gloss: xioŋ35--------ʂi51

bear--------marketFree translation: Bear market

Meaning: Bear market refers to a phenomenon of stock

market that the stock prices continue to decline and a large

number of people sell stocks.

牛市/niu35ʂi51/

牛市是指股价的基本趋势持续上升时形成的投机者不断买进股票的市场现象。Gloss: niu35--------ʂi51

bull--------market

Free translation: Bull market

Meaning: Bull market refers to a phenomenon of stock

market that the stock prices continue to rise and a large

number of people buy stocks.

一条龙/ji51tʰiau35loŋ35/

一条龙指提供一整套的完整的产品或服务。Gloss: ji51-----------tʰiau35-----------loŋ35

one------(classifier)-----dragonFree translation: One dragonMeaning: One dragon refers to provide a full set of products or services.

龙头企业/loŋ35tʰou35ʨʰi214jei51/

龙头企业指在某个行业中，对同行业的其他企业具有很深的影响、号召力和一定的示范、引导作用，并对该地区、该行业或者国家做出突出贡献的企业。


Gloss: loŋ35--------tʰou35---------ʨʰi214jei51

dragon-------head--------- enterpriseFree translation: The leading enterpriseMeaning: It refers to an enterprise which has a deep impact, rallying point and guiding role to other enterprises in a certain industry and has made outstanding contributions to the industry or to the country.

开盘/kʰai55pʰan35/open-----plate

开盘指每天股市开始交易。Gloss: kʰai55--------pʰan35

open--------plateFree translation: Open plateMeaning: Open plate refers to began trading of stock market in everyday.

收盘/ʂou55pʰan35/close----plate

收盘指每天股市停止交易。Gloss: ʂou55--------pʰan35

close-------plate

Free translation: Close plate

Meaning: Close plate refers to stop trading of stock market

in everyday.

打压洗盘/ta214ja55 ɕi214pʰan35/

打压洗盘指庄家通过压低股票价格迫使散户将手中股票卖出，同时庄家不断买进这些股票，从而达到将股票集中到庄家手中的目的。

Gloss: ta214-------ja55 --------ɕi214---------pʰan35

beat-----press--------wash -------plate

Free translation: Suppress whipsaw

Meaning: Suppress whipsaw refers to the behavior that the


maker forces the individual investors to sail their stock by

holding down the price of the stocks; at the same time the

maker took the opportunity to buy these stocks so that let

the stocks concentrate in the hand of maker.

被高速/pei51kau55su51/

被高速指人们被迫接受高速铁路的昂贵票价的行为。Gloss: pei51------------kau55su51

be forced--------high speed

Free translation: Be speed

Meaning: Be speed refers to the behavior that people are

forced to accept an expensive high-speed rail fares.

被上市/pei51ʂaŋ51ʂi51/

被上市指在资产所有者不知情或未授权的情况下，自己的资产被别人用于上市交易。Gloss: pei51----------ʂaŋ51ʂi51

be forced------ listed

Free translation: Being listed

Meaning: Being listed refers that the asset owners is

unaware or unauthorized, however, their assets are listed for

trading by others.

坐轿子/ʦuo51ʨiau51ʦi214/

坐轿子指预测股价将涨，抢在众人前以低价先行买进，待众多散户跟进、股价节节升高后，卖出获利。

Gloss: ʦuo51---------ʨiau51ʦi214

sit----------- sedan chairFree translation: Travel by sedan chair

Meaning: Travel by sedan chair refers to someone predicts

that the stock price will rise and buy a lot of stocks at a low

price in advance, and when the stock price has risen, sell all


of the stocks to gain profit.

抬轿子/tʰai35ʦʰiau51ʦi214/

抬轿子指在别人早已买进后才醒悟，也跟着买进，结果是把股价抬高让他人获利，而自己买进的股价已非低价，无利可图。 Gloss: tʰai35---------ʦʰiau51ʦi214

lifting---------sedan chairFree translation: Lifting the sedan chairMeaning: Lifting the sedan chair refers to someone buy the

stocks after the stock price has risen; their behavior will let

the stock price rise more and let the stocks owners who buy

stocks at a low price gain more profit but not themselves.

下轿子/ɕia51ʨiau51ʦi214/

下轿子指坐轿客逢高获利结算。 Gloss: ɕia51----------ʨiau51ʦi214

get off--------sedan chairFree translation: Get off the sedan chair

Meaning: Get off the sedan chair refers to someone sell

their stocks, which are bought at a low price, when the

stock price has risen.

吃拆迁/tʂʰi55tʂʰai55ʨʰian55/

吃拆迁指在当今中国城市化进程中，依靠拆迁获得大量经济赔偿的人群。Gloss: tʂʰi55------------tʂʰai55ʨʰian55

eat--------------demolition

Free translation: Eat demolition

Meaning: It refers to the people who obtain the economic

benefits bent on the use of demolition in the process of


urbanization construction in contemporary Chinese society.

吃回扣/tʂi55xuei35kʰou51/

吃回扣指帮助销售商销售产品，然后从中收取佣金的行为。

Gloss: tʂi55------------xuei35kʰou51

eat----------sales commission

Free translation: Eat commission

Meaning: It refers the event that the purchaser party or

people who help sellers attract customers request

commission from the sellers.

吃大锅饭/ tʂi55ta51kʰuo55fan51/

吃大锅饭指在经济利益分配中，不按贡献大小，所有人都分得相等利益的行为。Gloss: tʂi55--------ta51-------kʰuo55-------fan51

eat--------big---------pot----------riceFree translation: Mess togetherMeaning: It refers to the event that does egalitarianism in

the distribution of variety benefits, and people whether to

make contribution or not, or the contribution that made is

small or large, will share the same interests.

炒股/tʂau214ku214/

炒股指从事股票交易，低价买进，高价卖出以赚取差价的行为。Gloss: tʂau214-----ku214

fry --------stockFree translation: Fry stocks

Meaning: Fry stocks refer to engage in the trading activities

of the stock. Buying stocks in low price, and sell them in


high price in order to earn money.

炒房/ tʂau214faŋ35/

炒房指人们购买房屋不是为了居住而是为了转手卖出赚取差价的行为。Gloss: tʂau214--------faŋ35

fry ----------house

Free translation: Fry house

Meaning: Fry house refers to a behavior that someone buys

a house is not in order to live in it, but in order to sell it to

earn money when the price of house goes up.

炒外汇/tʂau214wai51xuei51/

炒外汇是指从事外汇买卖，以低价买进高价卖出以赚取差价的行为。Gloss: tʂau214-------wai51xuei51

fry ---------exchange

Free translation: Fry exchange

Meaning: Fry exchange refers to engage in Foreign

Exchange Trading. Buying exchange in low price, and sell

them in high price in order to earn money.

出血/tʂʰu55ɕiɛ214/

出血指某人为某事支付金钱，尤其是指请客送礼之类的事情。Gloss: tʂʰu55-------ɕiɛ214

out---------blood

Free translation: Bleeding

Meaning: The bleeding refers to a person who pays the

money for something. It especially refers to inviting


somebody to dinner, send someone a gift, etc…

割肉/kʰə55ʐou51/

割肉指人们在买股票时被套牢后为了避免更大的损失，只能亏本将股票卖出的行为。Gloss: kʰə55------ʐou51

cut --------flesh

Free translation: Cut flesh

Meaning: Cut flesh refers to a phenomenon that someone

buy stocks at high prices, and then the price of stock fell

sharply; in order to avoid a greater loss, he sell the stocks

despite losing money.

两只手/liaŋ214tʂi55ʂou214/two---( classifier)--hand

两只手指宏观政策和市场两种调节经济的手段。Gloss: liaŋ214---------tʂi55----------ʂou214

two-------( classifier)-----hand

Free translation:

Meaning: Two hands refer to the macroeconomic policies

and markets which are the means of regulate the economy.

救市/ʨiou51ʂi51/

救市指在市场低迷的时候，政府采取积极的宏观政策促进市场繁荣，以保持经济平稳发展的行为。Gloss: ʨiou51-------ʂi51

save--------marketFree translation: Save the marketMeaning: Save the market refers to a behavior that when


the market downturn, the government take some measures to promote the prosperity of the market in order to maintain steady economic development.

套牢/tʰau51lau35/

套牢指人们在认为某种商品的价格会上涨，于是便大量购以便日后卖出赚钱，但当买进后这些商品的价格反而下跌，无法卖出赚钱。Gloss: tʰau51-------lau35

trap--------firmFree translation: Trap firmlyMeaning: Trap firmly refers to a phenomenon that in the investment process, people expect that the price of a commodity will rise, but after buying it, the price went into a downward trend.

解套/ʨiɛ214tʰau51/

解套指价格上涨与购买价持平或高于购买价格，投资者抛售商品，以收回投资资金。Gloss: ʨiɛ214---------tʰau51

untie---------trapFree translation: Sort of reliefMeaning: Sort of relief refers that when the price rise bank to or higher than the purchase price, the investors sell the commodity in time in order to recover the investment funds.

套现/tʰau51ɕian51/

套现指利用同一商品的价格差异或同等商品在不同的市场中赚钱。Gloss: tʰau51-------ɕian51

trap------cash

Free translation: Make cash


Meaning: Make cash refers to take advantage of price

differences of the same commodity or equivalent

commodity in different markets to earn money.

宰客/ʦai214kʰɣ51/

宰客指经营者使用非法手段欺诈消费者，侵犯消费者的合法权利和利益，以获取非法利益。Gloss: ʦai214----------------kʰɣ51

slaughter-------- customer

Free translation: Slaughter customer

Meaning: Slaughter customer refers to the operators use

illegal methods to fraud consumer and encroach the

legitimate rights and interests of consumers in order to

obtain illegal profits

李鬼药/li214kuei214jau51/

李鬼药指以假充好的药品。Gloss: li214kuei214 ---------------jau51

person’s name----------drug

Free translation: Li Gui drug

Meaning: It refers to the products that confused as real

ones, looks like drugs, but in reality as ordinary food or

disinfectant.

天使投资/tʰian55ʂi214tʰou35ʦi55/

指富有的个人出资协助具有专门技术或独特概念的原创项目或小型初创企业，进行一次性的前期投资。Gloss: tʰian55ʂi214--------tʰou35ʦi55

angel------------investment


Free translation: Angel investmentMeaning: Angel investment refers to the wealthy individual

investors to assist with specialized technical or unique

original concept projects or small start-ups, bearing one-

time up-front investment.

她时代/tʰa55ʂi214tai51/

她时代指在经济领域中越来越多的重要职位被女性占领，从而她们在经济领域发挥着越来越重要的作用。

Gloss: tʰa55---------ʂi214tai51

she----------times

Free translation: “She” times

Meaning: “She” times refer that more and more important

positions of the economic field have been occupied by

women and women play an increasingly important role in

the economic field.

他衰退/tʰa55ʂuai55tʰuei51/

他衰退指受到各种心理和社会因素的影响，导致男性逐渐失去了在经济领域的主导地位。Gloss: tʰa55----------ʂuai55tʰuei51

he------------ declineFree translation: “He” decline

Meaning: “He” decline refers the men who had been

played a leading role in the economic field have suffered a

severe psychological blow and gradually lost the leading

role in the economic field.

菜篮子/ʦʰai51lan35ʦi214/

菜篮子指人们日常生活中所吃的蔬菜肉食等。Gloss: ʦʰai51-------------lan35ʦi214

vegetable------ basket

Free translation: Vegetable basket


Meaning: Vegetable basket is often used refers the

vegetable, meet and age, etc… which are eat by the people

in daily life.

皮包公司/pʰi35pau55koŋ55si55/

皮包公司指没有固定资产、没有固定经营地点及定额人员，只提着皮包，从事社会经济活动的人或集体,通常冠以公司的名义。Gloss: pʰi35pau55---------koŋ55si55

bag-----------company

Free translation: Bag company

Bag company refers to a person or a group who engage in

economic activities in the name of a company, but they do

not have fixed assets, fixed place of operation and fixed

staff.

空头支票/kuŋ55tʰou35tʂi55pʰiao51/

空头支票指不能兑现的支票或者不能兑现的承若。Gloss: kuŋ55 --------tʰou35--------tʂi55pʰiao51

empty-------head---------check

Free translation: Rubber check

Meaning: Rubber check refers to a check that cannot be

cashed, and it also refers to a promise that cannot be

honored.

微付/wei55fu51/

微付是指以手机为终端，利用 NFC通信技术实现的一种全新电子支付方式。


Gloss: wei55----------fu51

micro-------payment

Free translation: Micro-payment

Meaning: Micro-payment refers to a new electronic

payment method which use mobile phone as terminals and

make full use of near field communication technology.

暗箱操作/an51ɕiaŋ55ʦʰau55ʦuo51/

暗箱操作指利用职务之便进行的不公正，不合法的交易活动。Gloss: an51-------ɕiaŋ55---------ʦʰau55ʦuo51

dark------- case---------- operation

Free translation: Dark case operation

Meaning: Dark case operation refers to take use of personal

position unjust to engage in unjust and illegal trading

activities.

福利腐败/fu35li35fu214pai51/

福利腐败指垄断性行业将自己的资源低价或无偿地提供给自己的员工，对外宣称是福利待遇，但实际上这已经超出了福利的范围，是一种变相的腐败行为。Gloss: fu35li35--------fu214pai51

welfare------ corruptionFree translation: Welfare corruptionMeaning: Welfare corruption refers to a phenomenon that some monopoly industries provide resources of their own to their employees free or at low cost, which is under the behalf of the welfare. But in fact, this is beyond the scope of welfare. It is actually a corruption.

流水线/liu35ʂuei214xian51/

流水线指在生产过程中工人们分工协作，每人负责一部分，最终形成一个整体。Gloss: liu35---------ʂuei214-------xian51


flowing -----water--------lineFree translation: Assembly lineMeaning: Assembly line refers to a phenomenon, which during the production process, each worker responsible for processing a segment of the work, and connecting the work of all workers together will form a complete step.

乡企/ɕiaŋ55ʨʰi214/

乡企指农村集体经济组织或者农民投资为主，在乡镇（包括所辖村）举办的承担支援农业义务的各类企业。Gloss: ɕiaŋ55-------------ʨʰi214

township-------enterpriseFree translation: Township enterprisesMeaning: Township enterprises as referred to various enterprises invested in mainly by rural collective economic organizations or peasants and established in townships or towns （ including villages under their jurisdiction）， which bear the duty of supporting agriculture.

保八/pau214pa55/ensure-----eight

保八指政府采取一切措施保证全年国民经济平均保持百分之八的增长率。Gloss: pau214---------pa55

ensure-------eight

Free translation: Ensure eight

Meaning: Ensure eight refers to the government to take all measures to ensure that the national economy has maintained an annual average growth rate of eight per cent.

绿色经济/ ly51sɣ51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

绿色经济喻指一种健康和谐的经济发展模式，在这一发展模式中，资源可以循环再利用，以实现无污染，高产


值。Gloss: ly51---------sɣ51-------ʨiŋ55ʨi51

green-------color-----economy Free translation: Green economyMeaning: It refers to a healthy and harmonious economic pattern which the resources can be recycled, has low consumption, no pollution, and high product added value.

灰色经济/xuei55sɣ51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

灰色经济指没有纳入国民经济管理体系，不受国家法律和行政部门监管的经济，这一部分经济也不会向政府交纳应交纳的税费，是一种不合法的经济。Gloss: xuei55-----sə51-------ʨiŋ55ʨi51

gray------color------economyFree translation: Gray economyMeaning: It refers to a part of the national economy which is not reported and registered to the government, and economic activity is out of the control of the government laws and regulations and do not pay taxes to the government

黑色经济/xei55sɣ51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

黑色经济是对社会构成直接危害的法律禁止的各种经济的总称。Gloss: xei55--------sɣ51--------ʨiŋ55ʨi51

Black-------color------- economy

Free translation: Black economy

Meaning: Black economy generally refers to all of the

economic activities which are prohibited by the law.

泡沫经济/pʰau51mo51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/

泡沫经济指因虚假的需求而导致的经济虚假繁荣。


Gloss: pʰau51mo51----------ʨiŋ55ʨi51

bubble-------------economy

Free translation: Economic bubble

Meaning: Economic bubble refers to the false prosperity of

the economy that due to the partial speculative demand

(false needs).

房产泡沫/faŋ35tʂan214pʰau51mo51/

房产泡沫指由于虚假的购房需求导致房价不断上涨，脱离正常的范围，导致市场虚假繁荣。Gloss: faŋ35tʂan214----------pʰau51mo51

real estate--------- bubble

Free translation: Real estate bubble

Meaning: Real estate bubble refers to the excessive

expansion of virtual demand of housing buying led the

market price level of housing is far away from the

theoretical price.

金融泡沫/ʨin55ʐoŋ35pʰau51mo51/

金融泡沫指一个或一系列的金融资产经历了连续的价格上涨导致市场价格远远高于实际值的现象。Gloss: ʨin55ʐoŋ35-----------pʰau51mo51

financial -----------bubbleFree translation: Financial bubbleMeaning: The financial bubble refers to the phenomenon

that one or a series of financial assets experienced a

continuous price increases led the market price is far greater

than the actual value.

地下经济地下经济指为了逃避管制，税收和政府的监控，不申报


/ti51ɕia51ʨiŋ55ʨi51/ 并不缴纳税款的经济，它的产值和收入不包括在国民生产总值之内。Gloss: ti51ɕia51---------------ʨiŋ55ʨi51

underground---------economyFree translation: Underground economy

Meaning: Underground economy Generally refers to the

economic activities, which is in order to evade controls,

taxes, and monitoring of the government, do not declare

and pay taxes to the government and its output value and

income is not included in the gross national product.

经济下滑/ʨiŋ55ʨi51ɕia51xua35/

经济下滑指经济增长缓慢甚至出现倒退的现象。Gloss: ʨiŋ55ʨi51--------ɕia51xua35

economy-------glissade

Free translation: Economy glissading

Meaning: Economy glissading refers to the growth of

economy is slow or downturn.

经济腾飞/ʨiŋ55ʨi51tʰəŋ35fei55/

经济腾飞指经济获得飞速发展的现象。

Gloss: ʨiŋ55ʨi51---------tʰəŋ35fei55

economic------- take-off

Free translation: Economic take-off

Meaning: Economic take-off refers to the rapid

development of economy.


软着陆/ ʐuan214ʦuo214lu51/

软着陆指在经济增长过热的时候采用适当的宏观政策调节使经济回到合理的增长模式中来。

Gloss: ʐuan214--------ʦuo214lu51

soft -----------landing

Free translation: Soft landing

Meaning: Soft landing refers to economic phenomena that

after a period of over-expansion, under the guidance of

macro-control policies, the economy down to a moderate

growth range smoothly.

改革神话/kai214kə35ʂən35xua51/

改革神话指在中国改革开放后创造的经济发展奇迹。Gloss: kai214kə35-------ʂən35xua51

reform ---------mythFree translation: Reform myth

Meaning: Reform myth refers to economic development

miracle which is created in China after the reform and

opening up the country.

深圳神话/ʂən55tʂən51ʂən35xua51/

深圳神话指在改革开放后深圳城了中国第一个经济特区，创造出了一些列的经济发展奇迹。Gloss: ʂən55tʂən51-------ʂən35xua51

Shenzhen-------mythFree translation: Shenzhen myth

Meaning: After the reform and opening up the country,

Shenzhen became the first Special Economic Zone in

China. The so-called Shenzhen myth refers to economic

development miracle which is created in Shenzhen.


IT神话/ai55ti55ʂən35xua51/

指因为 IT行业的发展所带来的经济发展奇迹。Gloss: ai55ti55-------ʂən35xua51

IT ----------mythFree translation: IT mythMeaning: IT myth refers to economic development miracle, which is promoted by the development of the IT industry.

玻璃门/po55li35mən35/

玻璃门指在当今中国市场经济中很多领域存在的诸多阻碍民营企业进入的隐形的障碍性规则。Gloss: po55li35-------mən35

glass --------doorFree translation: Glass doorMeaning: The glass door refers that the principle of non ban

means can enter has not really been implemented in the

China's socialist market economy. Although some

industries does not expressly provide private capital is not

allowed to enter, but actually there are a variety of hidden

obstacles preventing private capital into these industries.

弹簧门/tʰan35xuaŋ35mən35/

弹簧门喻指（某些民营企业）刚刚涉足某一行业领域又被一些“硬性政策”弹出的现象。Gloss: tʰan35xuaŋ35---------mən35

spring --------------doorFree translation: Spring doorMeaning: Spring door refers to unfair competition means

and operating rules which is operated by state-owned

enterprises in some industries. Many private enterprises

which enter these industries will be squeezed out by these

unfair competition means and operating rules.


商海/ʂaŋ55xai214/

商海喻指整个商界。

Gloss: ʂaŋ55----------xai214

business-------sea

Free translation: Business sea

Meaning: Business sea refers to the whole business

community.

蓝海/lan35xai214/

蓝海指未形成饱和竞争的新兴领域，在这样的领域中还存在丰厚的利润空间。

Gloss: lan35--------xai214

blue--------sea

Free translation: Blue sea

Meaning: Blue sea refers to the market space which is

unknown and has not yet formed competition

红海/ xuŋ35xai214 /

红海指商业领域中已经饱和的，竞争异常激烈的行业，在这些行业中利润已经非常低，甚至还会出现亏损。

Gloss: xuŋ35------xai214

red--------sea

Free translation: Red sea

Meaning: It refers to the business areas which have intense

competition, products and services have serious

homogenization, and profits are meager or even at a loss.


菜篮子工程/ʦʰai51lan35ʦi214koŋ55tʂʰəŋ35/

菜篮子工程指政府实施的意在解决人们日常生活所需的蔬菜肉食供应难这一问题的工程。Gloss: ʦʰai51----------lan35ʦi214-------koŋ55tʂʰəŋ35

vegetable------ basket ----------project

Free translation: Vegetable basket project

Meaning: Vegetable basket project refers to the

government-led project which has the purpose of resolving

supply shortages of vegetables, meat and eggs, etc…

菜篮子产业/ʦʰai51lan35ʦi214tʂan214jɛ51/

菜篮子产业指和人们日常生活所吃的蔬菜肉食有关的产业。Gloss: ʦʰai51-----------lan35ʦi214-------tʂan214jɛ51

vegetable ------basket----------- industry

Free translation: Vegetable basket industry

Meaning: Vegetable basket industry refers to the industry

that engaged in the production and marketing of vegetables,

meat and eggs, etc…

经济铁幕/ʨiŋ55ʨi51tʰiɛ214mu51/

经济铁幕指妨碍经济正常发展的经济保护政策。Gloss: ʨiŋ55ʨi51-----tʰiɛ214-------mu51

economic------ iron ---------curtain

Free translation: Economic iron curtain

Meaning: Economic iron curtain refers to the trade

protectionist policies or measures in the financial, economic

and other areas, which prevent the economic development

of state or financial entities.


金融鸦片/ʨin55ʐoŋ35ja55pʰian51/ 金融鸦片指通过一系列的金融名词来迷惑投资者，让投

资者陷入投资圈套。Gloss: ʨin55ʐoŋ35--------ja55pʰian51

financial ----------opiumFree translation: Financial opiumMeaning: Financial opium refers financial derivatives that using a series of financial terms or virtual concept to confuse enterprise and make it bogged down into financial trap inextricably.

丰收灾/fəŋ55ʂou55ʦai55/

丰收灾指农民由于缺乏市场意识，导致农产品生产过剩，出现增产后不断不能增加收入，反而出现亏损的现象。Gloss: fəŋ55ʂou55--------ʦai55

harvest---------- disasterFree translation: Harvest disasterMeaning: Harvest disaster refers to a phenomenon that farmer lack of market awareness, based on past market information, invest in certain agricultural products, when the agricultural produce has a bumper harvest, because of the prices falling, the farmer not only do not increase revenue, but also has a large number of loss.


经济过热/ʨiŋ55ʨi51kuo51ʐə51/

经济过热指市场供求关系失衡，导致经济的过快增长从而导致物价上涨的飞正常发展模式。Gloss: ʨiŋ55ʨi51 -----kuo51------ʐə51

economy------over-------hotFree translation: Overheated economyMeaning: Overheated economy refers to a phenomenon that the speed of the development of market supply and market demand is disproportionate, and resulting rapid development of economy and comprehensive continuing rise of the price index.

剪刀差/ʨian214tau55tʂa55/

剪刀差指工农业产品交换过程中，工业产品价格高于价值，而农业产品价格低于价值而导致的经济差。Gloss: ʨian214tau55-------tʂa55

scissor------------differentFree translation: Price scissorsMeaning: Price scissors refers to a phenomenon that in the process of exchange between the industrial products and agricultural products, the price of industrial products is higher than the value and at the same time, the price of agricultural products is lower than the value.

经济命脉/ʨiŋ55ʨi51miŋ51mai51/

经济命脉指在国家经济领域中起主导作用，对整个国民经济发展有重大影响的行业。Gloss: ʨiŋ55ʨi51-----------miŋ51mai51

economic----------- lifelineFree translation: Economic lifelineMeaning: Economic lifeline refers to the industry which occupies an important position in the development of the national overall economy.

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