A Study on Identity-Related Internet Buzzwords：Based on the Conceptual Metaphor Theory

With the rapid rise of online communication, internet buzzwords have become integral to daily life, attracting attention from linguists and cognitive experts. Among these, identity-related buzzwords carry rich social and cultural mean-ings, serving as tools for expressing emotions, attitudes, and social con-cepts. However, limited research categorizes these buzzwords as a distinct group. This study, grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory, explores the con-ceptual met-aphors within identity-related internet buzzwords and their influ-ence on se-mantic generalization. Findings reveal that identity-related buzzwords feature structural, orientational, and ontological metaphors, with entity metaphors be-ing most prevalent. The source domains of these metaphors often reflect tangi-ble objects, while the target domains represent abstract hu-man qualities.