Features of the Figurative-Symbolic Interpretation of the Gesture “толкать/推 (tuī)” in Russian and Chinese Linguistic Cultures
DOI: 10.23951/1609-624X-2026-3-24-30
The article is dedicated to a comparative analysis of the figurative-symbolic interpretation of the tactile gesture verbalized by the verbs “толкать” (push) (Russian) and “推 (tuī)” (push) (Chinese) in Russian and Chinese linguocultures. The relevance of the work is determined by the inclusion of issues related to the representation of tactile gestures in Russian and Chinese phraseology within the general scientific trend of cross-cultural studies, as well as the limited extent of research on the specifics of cognitive models of metaphorical signification based on images of forceful tactile influence. The aim of the work is to identify the specifics of conceptualizing the frame “толкать/ 推 (tuī)” and the features of its figurative-symbolic reinterpretation, determined by differences in cultural contexts. The research material consists of Russian and Chinese phraseological units containing lexical components describing this gesture, selected from authoritative phraseological and explanatory dictionaries. The methodology includes semantic analysis of figurative meanings and metaphors, comparative analysis to identify parallels and discrepancies in the formation of the conceptual field, functional analysis of the use of units in speech, as well as analysis of cultural features entrenched in phraseology. The results of the study demonstrate that, despite the universality of using physical action as a basis for metaphorical transfer, the Russian and Chinese phraseological systems differ significantly. In the Russian language, the gesture “толкать” develops an extensive network of metaphors encoding social conflicts, competitive practices, negatively charged speech activity, and the experience of existing in confined social spaces. The semantics are characterized by duality, encompassing both positive encouragement and obstruction. In Chinese linguoculture, the gesture “推 (tuī)” undergoes significant symbolic transformation within the framework of Confucian ethics, becoming a marker of moral norms: absolute trust, compliance, hierarchy, and self-sacrifice. Grammatical structures also differ: Chinese idioms are characterized by parallelism and the use of paired characters, whereas Russian idioms predominantly feature verb-prepositional constructions. The theoretical significance of the work lies in deepening the understanding of the mechanisms of metaphorizing tactile experience and ethnocultural differences in the linguistic worldview. The research contributes to the development of comparative linguistics, linguoculturology, and phraseology theory. The practical significance of the obtained results is associated with their application in the field of intercultural communication, language teaching (teaching Russian and Chinese as foreign languages), as well as in translation practice, where it is necessary to consider the cultural connotations behind the images of seemingly similar gestures. The obtained results open prospects for further research on other concepts from the sphere of tactile interaction in various linguocultures.
Keywords: tactile gestures, phraseology, comparative linguistics, linguistic culturology, metaphor, cognitive linguistics, Russian language, Chinese language, intercultural communication, figurative-symbolic interpretation
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Issue: 3, 2026
Series of issue: Issue 3
Rubric: THEORETICAL AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS
Pages: 24 — 30
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