Chapter 1

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Traditionally, metaphors have been regarded as rhetorical devices used to enliven language. However, Lakoff and Johnson argue that metaphors are actually cognitive tools that profoundly influence our way of thinking and our understanding of the world. Metaphors are ubiquitous in everyday language, and we almost inevitably use them to express abstract concepts. For example, metaphors such as “Time is money” and “Love is a journey” help us understand abstract concepts through concrete things. Metaphors do not exist in isolation but form a systematic cognitive framework. These frameworks help us organize and interpret our experiences, but they also limit our way of thinking.
I used to see metaphors merely as rhetorical devices. After reading this section, I realized the importance of metaphors in language and thought. They are not just decorations in language but essential tools for understanding the world. Metaphors shape our way of thinking, but they can also restrict our perspective. For example, the metaphor “Time is money” makes us value time, but it may also make us overlook other dimensions of time, such as its emotional value. Meanwhile, metaphors are cognitive tools that help us understand the unknown through the known. This way of thinking is very useful in learning and life.
In Western culture, love is often metaphorized as a “journey.” This metaphor emphasizes that love is a dynamic process that requires both partners to work together to overcome difficulties along the way and move toward a common goal. For example, “We can't turn back now” expresses the determination to keep going in a love journey; “We're at a crossroad” implies choices and turning points in love; and “The relationship is off the track” describes problems in a relationship. This metaphor reflects the Western rational understanding of love: love is a journey that requires continuous effort and facing challenges, emphasizing goal orientation and proactivity in problem-solving.
In Chinese culture, love is often metaphorized as “water.” This metaphor reflects the Chinese cultural understanding of love as delicate, gentle, and in harmony with nature. For example, “如鱼似水相知” (As intimate as fish and water) emphasizes the harmony and tacit understanding in love; “在天愿为比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝” (Wishing to be a pair of lovebirds in the sky and a pair of entwined branches on the ground) from “长恨歌” by Bai Juyi uses lovebirds and entwined branches to symbolize the enduring love of a couple; and “结发为夫妻，恩爱两不疑” (Tied in marriage, loving each other without suspicion) from “诗四首” by Su Wu of the Han Dynasty expresses the long-lasting and steadfast nature of love through the traditional wedding custom of “tying the hair.” This metaphor reflects the Chinese emotional understanding of love: love is like water, gentle and inclusive, and needs to follow the laws of nature, emphasizing harmony and durability.