Representation of the concept of "shame" in the phraseological fund of the Chinese language

The article investigates the representation of the concept of "shame" in the Chinese phraseological fund. The use of phraseological units of the Chinese language allows the identification of cultural, emotional, and moral aspects related to the notion of shame. The study includes an analysis of 150 phraseological units encompassing categories such as ready-made expressions (成语), proverbs and sayings (俗谚), habitual expressions (惯用语), as well as allusions-metaphors (歇后语). The concept of shame is represented through various aspects: physiological reactions, moral values, descriptions of shameless behavior, and connections with the meaning of "face" (面子 miànzǐ). The results of the study indicate that phraseologisms related to shame play an important role in conveying moral and ethical values, demonstrating a close relationship between emotions, language, and the cultural worldview of the Chinese people. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses of 150 phraseological units of the Chinese language were employed. Structural-typological classification, semantic and cultural analysis were applied to identify the representation of the concept of "shame." The novelty of the work lies in the comprehensive approach to studying the concept of "shame" in Chinese phraseology. For the first time, an analysis of 150 phraseological units selected based on criteria of frequency of use, semantic relevance, and categorical representativeness has been conducted. The developed classification model allows for the systematization of expressions into four structural types and five semantic categories. The identification of patterns holds particular value, notably the predominance of idiomatic constructions (46%) and their connection with the concept of "face" (30%). The study reveals the cultural conditioning of phraseologisms, demonstrating their role as tools of social control and transmitters of Confucian values. The findings provide a foundation for further comparative research. The conducted study demonstrates that the phraseological units of the Chinese language related to the concept of "shame" perform an important cultural and normative function. Phraseologisms that contrast shame and shamelessness (for example, "恬不知耻" – shameless) are of particular significance. They serve as crucial instruments of social control, marking the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Thus, Chinese phraseology not only describes the emotion of shame but also actively participates in the reproduction of cultural norms and traditional values.

shame, shamelessness, face, phraseology, emotional expression, idioms, Chinese, linguoculturology, emotive concepts, idiomatic expressions