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Lexical and semantic features of phraseological units with a zoonym component in Russian and Chinese. Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2026. Issue 3 (245). P. 16-23

The issues of analyzing the specificity of the phraseological fund from the perspective of a comparative aspect do not lose their significance in modern linguistics. The purpose of this article is to identify the lexical and semantic features of phraseological units with a zoonym component in Russian and Chinese. The research work is based on the application of comparative analysis method, which allowed to identify universal and unique lexical and semantic features of phraseological units with a zoonym component in Russian and Chinese; the method of quantitative analysis was used as well, which gave the opportunity to determine the most and least frequent thematic groups of phraseological units with a zoonym component nominating the specifics of the studied linguistic cultures. It has been proven that phraseological units with a zoonym component that demonstrates human actions specific features prevail in both Russian and Chinese linguistic cultures, which is explained by the significance of implementing specific actions. It is established that the semantic field of the phraseological units under consideration represents the physical actions and deeds of a person, the commission of specific actions by a person. On the contrary, phraseological units with a zoonym component reflecting the features of a person’s appearance, namely tall stature and large figure, are included in a low-frequency group of phraseological units, since external qualities are not a factor determining social success in Russian and Chinese cultures. Russian and Chinese phraseological units with the help of zoonymic components reflect the energy and stubbornness in the character of Russians, desire to work and altruism in the character of the Chinese. It is proved that phraseological units with a zoonym component, representing the specifics of human labor activity, are included in the category of highfrequency units and reflect fundamental differences in Russian and Chinese linguistic cultures. If the Chinese phraseological foundation, with the help of the zoonymic component, symbolizes numerous accents of human labor activity, including the representation of working conditions, quality of work, and adaptation to modern realities, then the Russian phraseological foundation typically has a dual attitude to work – from excessive workaholism to unwillingness to work and a moderate pace of duties’ performance. It is proved that phraseological units with zoonymic components of the thematic group “emotions and feelings” in Russian convey a wide range of feelings’ manifestations (fear, love, sympathy, dislike, etc.), while in the phraseological fund of the Chinese language, the zoonymic component reflects such feelings as grief and sadness. Russian and Chinese languages have different degrees of emotions and feelings expression dictated by the specifics of cultures – the emotionality and openness of Russians and the closeness when expressing emotions in public of the Chinese.

Keywords: phraseological unit, zoonym component, Russian phraseological fund, Chinese phraseological fund, thematic groups