EXAMPLE MEANING OF THE WORD “SOUR” IN CHINESE, COMPARED TO THE WORD “SOUR” IN VIETNAMESE

Abstract

Taste words in modern Chinese not only show one of the basic characteristics of quintessential cuisine, but also contain a deep cultural connotation, reflecting the spiritual value of the Han people. From a philosophical and biological perspective, people often refer to the "five flavors", which the basic taste words are including: sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty. In order to better understand the semantics and cultural implications of the word “toan” (sour) in Chinese, the article applies perceptive metaphorical theory, through analytical and contrasting methods to conduct language research cultural meanings and implications of the Chinese word “toan” (sour), and compared with equivalent expressions in Vietnamese, thereby indicating similarities and differences between the two languages.