A corpus-based study of the Chinese synonymous approximatives shangxia, qianhou and zuoyou

Abstract

Abstract The Chinese antonymous compounds shangxia ‘up-down’, qianhou ‘front-back’ and zuoyou ‘left-right’ can convey similar meanings as approximatives, indicating ‘about’ or ‘around’. Based on data from the CCL (Centre for Chinese Linguistics) corpus and adopting a behavioral profile (BP) approach, this study investigates the semantic and usage differences between the three approximatives. The corpus analysis yields the following findings. First, the most frequently used of the three approximatives is zuoyou, followed by qianhou and shangxia, in that order. Second, qianhou mainly approximates time; zuoyou approximates quantity; and shangxia, age. Third, in approximating age, time and quantity, the three approximatives exhibit subtle behavioral preferences. Based on these corpus findings, I discuss the motivations underlying the similarities and differences between the three synonyms. I argue that their similarities are explained by the metaphor QUANTIFICATION IS SPACE and their differences are explained by the different kinds of quantification they are used to approximate.