THE LEXICO-SEMANTIC FIELD OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS IN MODERN CHINESE

Abstract

The study investigates the semantic architecture of words expressing positive emotions in modern Chinese. Moving beyond the prevalent fragmented approach that examines isolated emotive lexemes, the research employs lexico-semantic field theory. It establishes the concept of 快乐 (happy) as the semantic prototype and structural core. Through the collection of relevant vocabulary and meticulous semantic analysis utilizing dictionary definitions and corpus data, a three-tiered field model is constructed, organized according to a core – near periphery – remote periphery principle. The model not only validates the explanatory power of semantic field theory in analyzing emotional vocabulary but also deepens the understanding of how emotional concepts are categorized in Chinese. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical foundation and a structured resource for applied fields such as Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, the development of emotional vocabulary lists, sentiment analysis in natural language processing, and cross-cultural studies. The findings demonstrate that positive emotion lexis in Chinese constitutes an integrated network. Its internal structure reflects a continuum from pure emotional experience to complex states intertwined with cognitive evaluation.