Derivation Paths of the Indefinite Quantifier ‘yidian’ in Modern Chinese

This article mainly analyzes the diachronic derivation process of “cha(差)” in the meaning of the verb “Lack(缺少)”, quoting example sentences from the CCL corpus, from the appearance of the first case of the word “cha(差)” to the analysis of the grammatical mark before “Lack” in the meaning of the verb “Lack” Until the example sentences appear. The idea of “cha(差)” in the meaning of “Lack” has already appeared in the ancient Chinese “Lu Shi Chun Qiu《呂氏春秋》”during the Warring States Period. He also quoted the interpretations of major ancient Chinese experts in the “Complete Book of the Imperial Court 《欽定四庫全書》”, compared and explained the “cha(差)” in the meaning of “Lack” in each case, and finally came to a conclusion. It is summarized that the polysemous extension of the word “cha(差)” is basically the combination of another word and the co-occurrence of a two-syllable word to complete the extended meaning; there are three situations in total. One is to combine it with another synonymous word to form a complete extended meaning; the other is to co-occur with a synonym and use a synonym to mark the extended meaning. The meaning of “cha(差)” in the meaning of “Lack” is different from the above two extensions. The meaning of “Lack” means “cha(差)” before there is a corresponding negative adverb as a grammatical mark. According to the grammatical mark of the negative adverb, it is distinguished from the meaning of “Lack” in “cha(差)”. Confusing nouns with original meanings of “difference(差別)”and “error(差錯)”, it is proposed that the negative adverb is a grammatical marker that distinguishes the “Lack” meaning “cha(差)” from the nouns “difference(差別)”and “error(差錯)”.