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The Application of Metaphorical Semantic Extension in Teaching German Vocabulary
YANG Yitian
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DOI:10.17265/1539-8080/2025.11.004
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
This paper examines limitations in German vocabulary teaching in China, where overreliance on word-definition pairing neglects semantic relationships and metaphorical extension. By classifying four directional patterns of metaphorical semantic extension (tangible/tangible, tangible/intangible, intangible/tangible, and intangible/intangible), the study proposes a systematic framework to help learners grasp polysemy through conceptual metaphor. Using representative German examples, such as Zug and Seegurke, the analysis demonstrates how awareness of metaphor-based meaning transfer can shift instruction from rote memorization toward relational vocabulary acquisition, thereby enhancing lexical competence and cognitive engagement.
metaphorical thinking, semantic networks, lexical competence
YANG Yitian, The Application of Metaphorical Semantic Extension in Teaching German Vocabulary. US-China Foreign Language, November 2025, Vol. 23, No. 11, 405-409 doi:10.17265/1539-8080/2025.11.004
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