认知语义学视角下“甘い”的语义扩展及中日对比研究

Semantic Extension of “Amai” from the Perspective of Cognitive Semantics: A Contrastive Study between Chinese and Japanese

摘要: 本文以日语味觉形容词“甘い”为研究对象，旨在厘清其各义项之间的关系，揭示语义扩展机制，并通过中日对比为汉语母语者的日语习得提供参考。研究围绕籾山洋介提出的多义词分析的三大课题展开，先厘清“甘い”的9种义项并归为四个类别，再依托认知语义学中隐喻、转喻、提喻的理论剖析其语义扩展机制，构建“甘い”的语义扩展网络，最后对比“甘い”与汉语味觉形容词“甜”的语义异同。结果表明，“甘い”的原型义为义项①“味道如砂糖和蜂蜜的”，义项②③④⑤⑨通过隐喻从原型义扩展而来，义项⑥⑦通过隐喻从义项②扩展而来，义项⑧通过提喻从义项⑦扩展而来。“甘い”与“甜”的语义差异集中在义项②⑥⑦⑧，其差异成因可能与日本甜味剂的历史相关。

Abstract: This study examines the Japanese gustatory adjective “Amai” with the aim of clarifying the relationships among its various senses, uncovering its semantic extensions, and providing implications for Chinese learners of Japanese through a contrastive analysis. The study is conducted within the three-step framework for polysemy analysis proposed by Yosuke Momiyama. First, nine distinct senses of “Amai” are identified and classified into four categories. Then, based on the theories of metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche in cognitive semantics, the study analyzes the mechanisms of semantic extension and constructs a semantic network of “Amai”. Finally, a contrastive analysis is carried out between “Amai” and the Chinese gustatory adjective “Tian” to highlight their semantic similarities and differences. The findings show that the prototypical meaning of “Amai” corresponds to Sense ① “having a taste similar to that of sugar and honey”. Senses ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑨ are extended from the prototype through metaphor, while Senses ⑥ ⑦ further develop from Sense ② via the same mechanism. Moreover, Sense ⑧ is extended from Sense ⑦ through synecdoche. The semantic differences between “Amai” and “Tian” are mainly found in Senses ② ⑥ ⑦ ⑧, which may be related to the historical development of sweeteners in Japan.