Chinese Vocabulary

This book is a concise introduction to modern Chinese vocabulary by Guo Liangfu, a renowned Chinese linguist, covering the basic theories and research findings on Chinese morphology. Divided into seven chapters, it explores the fundamentals of how Chinese words are formed and their meanings. It discusses the basic categories of Chinese vocabulary sequentially, covering topics such as the definition of morphemes and words, the construction of compound words and abbreviations, the linguistic analysis of word meaning, and the concepts of synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and polysemy. The book also traces the development of Chinese vocabulary, examining vocabulary standardization and lexicological principles. This academically rigorous yet accessible book will serve as an essential reference for Chinese linguistics researchers and students, as well as Chinese language learners, teachers, and professionals working in Chinese language and writing fields.

Guo Liangfu (1916-2010) was an associate professor at the Chinese Department of Fujian Normal University, China, and he served as a council member of the Linguistics Society and a standing council member of the Beijing Linguistics Society.

1. Introduction 2. Morphemes and Words 3. Compound Words and Abbreviations 4. Word Meaning 5. Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms, and Partial Meanings 6. The Development of Vocabulary 7. Vocabulary Standardization and Dictionaries