Xin xiang in Chinese and thinking in the guts in Vietnamese-seen from the cognitive linguistics perspective

Abstract

Investigating the formation of cognitive related compound words in Chinese and  Vietnamese, we can see that the word “heart” in Chinese and “ tim, long, dạ” in Vietnamese do not only convey the meaning of cognition  but also contain human feelings and  thoughts. The two ways to perceive the functions of parts of human body have both  similarities and differences, expressing the possibilities to explore material world, including ourselves for Chinese and Vietnamese people. At the same time, they clearly reflect the  typical features of the national cultures in Chinese and Vietnamese.