Features of directional word 東 in Chinese in comparison with directional word “đông” in Vietnamese

Abstract

Space and time are factors that have a close relationship with human life and have long been researched in many fields, including linguistics. In Chinese and Vietnamese, the group of words indicating directions and locations are very diverse. Besides their original meanings, this group of words also have many derived meanings, containing profound cultural implications. This article uses case study together with research methods and techniques such as statistics, description, and analysis to highlight the structural and semantic characteristics of the directional word 東 (east) in Chinese in comparison with the directional term "đông" (east) in Vietnamese. The aim is to point out the similarities and differences between these two words. The study hopes to contributing a reference material for the teaching and research of Chinese language in Vietnam.