Applied Linguistics (Yuyan Wenzi Yingyong)

Abstract

The suffix of “~ 門” (“~ gate”) is a loan affixation from English word-formation. After its introduction into Chinese, the suffix “X 門” has extended its semantic scope and gained some additional collocational patterns different from the English suffix “~ gate”. The Chinese suffix “X 門” is predominantly seen in a three-syllable noun which frequently performs as apposition or a pre-modifier of nominal phrases like shijian (event or sensation) or chouwen (scandal). Very often it acts as the object of expressions like xianru (be stuck in) or yinchu (disclose). Chinese suffix “X 門” usually conveys a negative connotation associated with scandal, predicament, accident, lapse, suspicion and so forth. The negative event concerned might not necessarily be truthful, but generally all of them can cause certain tumult or sensation among the readers.

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