Metaphors on “Sleeve”: A Cognitive Perspective on Chinese Characters and Traditional Clothing

This paper examines the cultural symbolism of the character "" (sleeve) through an analysis of its historical evolution, linking the intricate relationship between traditional clothing design and linguistic expression.Drawing on frameworks from cognitive linguistics, particularly metaphor and metonymy, the study investigates the diverse metaphorical uses of "" in the Chinese language.Through corpus-based analysis, findings reveal that these metaphorical expressions are shaped by cultural traditions, daily practices, and cognitive mechanisms.While many traditional usages of the term have diminished in modern discourse, it retains a rich spectrum of metaphorical meanings, reflecting the unique interconnection between language and culture in Chinese society.This research provides a nuanced understanding of the interplay between Chinese characters and traditional clothing, offering fresh perspectives for metaphor studies within cognitive linguistics.