Figurative potential of the semantic field “PLANT” (Based on Russian and Chinese)

The article aims to analyze similarities and differences of figurative interpretations within the semantic field “Plant” in Russian and Chinese. Continuous sampling was used to select the units of lexicalphraseological level having a semantic connection with the image of a plant. The units were identified by means of components analysis. Then, the method of field modeling was applied to construct the figurative semantic field “Plant” in both languages. In the course of study, the figurative meanings of the units were described, and the main metaphorical models were analyzed. It was found that, these lexicalphraseological groups (microfields) describe people, different sides of their life activities, and they are also used to denote the color of objects. The paper reveals universal connotations conditioned by the general cognitive mechanisms of speech production as well as by the national ones resulting from the influence of cultural, historical, geographical factors on the language. The parallels “Human – plant”, “Human – part of plant”, “Human circle of life – plant circle of life”, “color – plant” were common for both languages. The differences were noticed for the primary lexical composition of the groups “Kinds of plants”, “Kinds of fruit”, “Kinds of flowers” within the microfield “Plant, kinds of plants”.