Abstract

Symmetrical structures are a common form of expression in both Chinese and Vietnamese. They are not only a grammatical phenomenon but also reflect characteristics of cultural cognition. This study systematizes existing views on symmetrical structures and classifies them according to their structural formation and semantic relations in order to identify the similarities and differences between the two languages. It then conducts a contrastive analysis of the syntactic functions of symmetrical structures in Chinese and Vietnamese. Finally, from the perspective of cognitive linguistics, the study examines their semantic cognitive mechanisms, thereby highlighting certain cultural characteristics and modes of expression of the two linguistic communities.

Keywords: Cognitive semantics, contrastive analysis, structural types, symmetrical structures, syntax.