IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE OF THREE - WORD VIETNAMESE IDIOMS

Abstract

This paper examined three-word Vietnamese idioms from the perspective of formal structure to identify their organizational features and the mechanisms of meaning formation. The results showed that, despite their short length, three-word idioms are organized according to specific rules, with each component not only serving a structural role but also directly contributing to representation, reflecting Vietnamese thought, culture, and community life experiences. The meaning of these idioms cannot be reduced to a simple additive combination of their elements; rather, it is constructed through the interaction between linguistic form and cultural depth. This study helped clarify the structural characteristics of Vietnamese idioms within a systematic analytical approach.