Abstract

The study of human emotion as a universal phenomenon, with linguistic expressions varying across cultures, particularly focuses on the emotion of fear as expressed and understood through Chinese and English phraseological units (PhUs). The purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the national and cultural specificity of PhUs that reflect the psychoemotional state of individuals, using Chinese and English as examples. The study examines the emotion of fear as a psychoemotional phenomenon, specifically analyzing how it is conceptualized in the PhUs of both English and Chinese. The main tasks were to examine the theoretical basis of emotion expression in PhUs, compare Chinese and English units, and draw conclusions from the study. The methods included comparison, generalization of dictionary definitions, quantitative and statistical data processing, and theoretical methods such as analysis, synthesis, and generalization. Quantitative methods were used for statistical data processing, in particular the collection and analysis of PhUs expressing emotional states. The analysis of PhUs expressing fear in Chinese and English reveals cultural differences in how fear is represented. In Chinese, fear is often linked to internal bodily responses, with terms like “heart” and “gallbladder” symbolizing fear and courage. In English, fear is expressed through sensory metaphors and physiological reactions. Chinese phrases show a higher frequency of fear-related expressions compared to other emotions, while English focuses more on mental and sensory perceptions. Diagnostic materials will be useful for scholars of language, psycholinguists, philologists, and psychologists.